From what I have seen OTR looks worse than dump trucking, but again, I am not in it.
Agree with Crane Op, I make my money with my excavator, the truck is mostly for dragging it around.
Most all of the trucking business was profitable at one time. Carter championed it Reagan
implemented it--Deregulation. Before that happened in 1980, a small owner operator could
make a decent go at it. The regulated freight kept the {everybody and their brother outfits
out of it}. A guy could even make a go of it with a dump truck many did.
You had to have a permit for any and every type of commodity/freight. You had to apply for
it under ICC and other trucking companies could contest it. It kept the loads at steady level
and rates at a respectable level. There were permits for household goods, fresh farm goods
and dairy. When I bought my first truck that 66 351 Pete the original owner showed me
paper work dating back to 1966, fuel receipts for 125 gallons at 0.20 a gallon. Insurance was
a mere trifle compared to today. And yes trucks were running all 48 in those days. You could
afford to have a set down meal at a diner everyday. That's what deregulation does, without
the regulations no body makes what they should.
Deregulation put companies like P.I.E. and many like it out of business very slowly, those
freight companies bled out over time. When the regs were dropped the business of slashing
rates became the norm, which led to a family of immigrants all living in one truck-all driving
that truck for a lot lower rate than the average OO. Nothing against immigrants mind you.
It's just a sample of what took place.
With todays on time delivery system and little warehousing, trucks bump the dock and
more often than not can sit up to 24 hrs waiting to unload even though they have appointed
load and unload times. Used as warehouse till there is room inside, that can even happen
to a produce hauler. Hurry up then set and wait. Some drivers get a subsistence pay most
don't.
A little history about the trucking business, a lot more I haven't said. Below is a photo from
the regulated days when a Owner Operator could make a decent living without loosing his
ass.