What does it mean to be an owner-operator of a semi truck?

You might sometimes hear of truckers being called "owner-operators", but what exactly does that mean, and why would a trucker ...
Truckinginfo

Walking the Fine Line on Truck Owner-Operator Classification

Being an independent trucker is an example of the American Dream. Many find it advantageous to lease their truck and services to a larger motor carrier. However, the trucking company needs to take ...
Truckinginfo

Owner-Operator Model Gets Boost as DOL Proposes 2024 Independent Contractor Definition Reversal

For trucking companies that rely on owner-operators, the federal government may once again be shifting the ground rules. The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed rescinding its 2024 independent ...
JD Supra

Independent Contractor Owner-Operators and the Second Trump Administration: Motor Carrier Expectations for the Road Ahead

The role of independent contractor owner-operators (“ICOOs”) in the trucking industry has a long history as a business model and also as a lightning rod for scrutiny. At the start of 2025, the popular ...
Overdrive

You don’t get any do-overs: A word of caution about expanding by leasing on owner-operators

I’ve recently had a few conversations with other truck owners who, like myself, have their own operating authority. Each conversation took me back 25 years to my earliest experiences and challenges ...