If you've taken the plunge and started looking for owner-operator jobs, rather than continuing to be a company driver for one company, you've likely been scouring the web and talking to freight brokers for opportunities. One big distinction you'll find is between local and long-distance or cross-country jobs. Some drivers pick up both, but many stick to one type. That impacts costs, family life, and ability to pick up more jobs depending on what you haul and what part of the year it is. But the benefits all together may make one type better for you.

Home at Night

If you stay local, you'll have a better chances of getting home at night and seeing your family. If you have kids and your spouse works a lot, too, being able to get home on a regular basis is extremely beneficial. It makes it easier to trade off times watching over the kids, and of course, you just get to see your family more. If you are concerned at how being an owner-operator might affect your family relationships, sticking with local hauling jobs is better.

Need for Drivers

There is a tremendous need for truck drivers right now; the job has a relatively high turnover. If you can add cross-country routes to the list of jobs you're willing to take, as well as develop sound working relationships with freight brokers, you can stay very, very busy and earn a lot of money. If you are more concerned with getting work -- any work -- than being in one particular location, cross-country is for you.

Operating Costs

However, all that driving comes at a cost; you may have to do more maintenance on the truck and spend more on gas if you drive cross-country routes, depending on where you're driving. If you live in an area with cheap fuel rates and good infrastructure, local jobs could end up taking less of a maintenance bite out of your pay. But if you're in an area that has already high fuel costs, a cross-country route could land you in cheaper areas. One option here is to try some moderately long-distance jobs and compare them to local driving to see which ends up costing less in terms of fuel, food, and truck wear and tear.

Start contacting companies that contract with owner-operators and see where their routes go. Find out about delivery timing and availability of freight, as well as what opportunities you have to do independent hauling arranged through freight brokers if you contract with specific companies.