How do you become a tractor trailer owner operator?

The first thing you need to do is to find out if you like driving trucks for a living, so get your CDL and take a job as a company driver for a couple of years. There is a MASSIVE turnover in this business because people get into it then find out they don't like being away from home for a month at a time, or they don't like driving, or they go out once and get the hell scared out of them by something--the truck, the traffic, trying to back in truck stops, whatever. Anyway, it's better to find out you're not a truck driver before you spend a ton of money on a truck. Assuming you like driving trucks, you then have to decide: contractor, or true owner-operator? A contractor owns a truck but drives only for one company. There are some advantages to this, such as not having to wonder where your next load's coming from. You can usually use their authority, and you might be able to buy fuel at company prices. The tradeoff here is some companies won't let you turn loads down. If you chose a company that runs a lot of Northeast freight and you hate the Northeast, this might not be good. A true owner-operator doesn't run exclusively for anyone--good if you want maximum freedom but you have to find your own loads.

Anyway, you will need:

* a truck, and a trailer if you're a true O/O--contractors pull company-owned trailers

* license plates for the tractor and trailer--they are licensed separately

* a DOT number and a Motor Carrier number (formerly known as an "Interstate Commerce Commission" number).

* an International Fuel Tax Agreement sticker

* a DOT inspection sticker for the tractor and for the trailer

* insurance

* lots and lots of extra money for things like oil changes (about $200 a pop) and new tires ($300-$400 depending on brand and position on the truck)

There are consultants that will set all this up for you, and they're worth the under $500 they charge.

When it comes to buying equipment, make a choice: new or used? You can buy four good used trucks for the price of one new one. OTOH, a new truck is set up the way YOU want it to be. If you want a real high rear-end gear for maximum speed and the person who specced out your truck wanted a low one because he was pulling coal, which has a really high weight limit in all the states they mine it in, you're going to go pretty slow on the freeway. Or if you fall in love with a truck that has a manual transmission in it and you like autoshift transmissions, you're gonna be a double-clutchin' fool when all this is over.