Owner Operators Survive?

by American Trucker
(Highway)

I've been a O/O for 25yrs. I'm doing well.

The question that always arises after any economic downturn is, will owner-operators survive? Those still standing today may be battered and bruised, but if they survive the next six months, they'll be well positioned to profit from what could be a rather dramatic upturn in our economic fortunes - for a while, at least.

The question we ought to ask is not whether owner-operators have a future, but what does the future hold for owner-operators? Their success will depend on how they can respond to change and adapt to the new operating environment. To quote Nashville songwriter Mickey Newbury, "the future's not what it used to be."

Many analysts are suggesting major change in the supply chain is already under way, and will continue as we move forward. They see more long-haul freight shifting from trucks to trains, leaving trucking with the shorter regional and local hauls. Since the traditional owner-operator business model is mileage-based and presumes that an adequate supply of miles will produce a reasonable amount of revenue, something will need to bend in order to make shorter runs profitable.....

Carl
American Trucker
americantrucker.wordpress.com
americantrkr@yahoo.com