I got my first commercial truck driver’s license in 1988. Millions of miles and smiles later, I want to answer a question that has preoccupied me for practically my entire career: Are we facing the end of the self-employed truck driver?

It has been predicted many times, disproven many times, and there really hasn’t been a clear prediction that I could safely support.

In my early years, I hoped there would still be a career opportunity for me as an owner-operator. I worked toward that goal and achieved it fairly early in my career.

For about 20 years I was either a single O/O, had multiple trucks under my own company, or was the manager of my own division. It was quite a ride – sometimes bumpier than a Manitoba highway and sometimes as smooth as a new interstate in the US. Just a normal truck driving career.

I’ve written in the past that the exhaust aftertreatment systems – namely Diesel Exhaust Fluid – were a death sentence for me. Within three years, the replacement cost increased by about $40,000.

Emissions-related downtime

I’ve had a DEF truck before and the cost of ownership was insane. The warranty coverage was good for me, but the killer is always the downtime. No matter how you look at it, lost days are a direct hit to the bottom line. If you’re not reliable, it will always hurt your relationships with your customers.

Today, when I look at the specs for a 2027 model, I find the old anger that I thought had passed is bubbling up again. Anger at engineers who don’t know what it feels like to be cold. Anger at politicians who think the trucking industry is a football they can kick around, ignoring their own wanton waste and hypocrisy.

At the Californians who destroyed their state and now want to destroy all the others to create a level playing field. And finally, anger at the transportation associations on both sides of the border who don’t care about tackling the problems properly.

This industry has gone crazy. While some are so obsessed with Driver Inc. or a “level playing field,” we are on the brink of a crisis. If you think it’s bad now, just wait until 2027.

Say “no” to cheap freight

You will beg the government for more handouts or cheaper labor, and I’m sure they won’t care. Why? Instead of bettering yourself by sticking to your stance, refusing to transport cheap cargo, and treating your current drivers with respect, you whine about nonsense.

The same people who want others to pay their taxes will give a load to a rogue company that will sell their freight for a few dollars less than a third party. Once the load is on someone else’s insurance, you don’t care. Hypocrisy. Greed. Don’t sell loads below cost if you really want to solve the problems of the trucking industry. Don’t try to get O/Os to support your business by paying them less than a living wage.

The big players in this industry have contributed to these problems. Don’t like it when an experienced driver stands up for what’s right? Listen to him instead of begging the government for foreign workers or newbies.

Has everyone forgotten about the “Never, Never” leasing program? Where you lease your truck from your company and never manage to pay off the money because the company starves you for the last two years? And then they sell the truck for a tidy profit? Oh wait, that still exists…but Driver Inc. is the problem!

What will you be doing in less than two years? With today’s low wages and high costs, who can afford to be O/O?

Plan a world without O/Os

I hope all the companies that are currently crying have a plan to become 100% owned soon.

Are you angry enough to change yet? How about this? Start lobbying against the insane emissions controls. Yes, you heard right. Politically incorrect, but that’s what you should focus on. I don’t agree with current emissions, but let’s not make the trucking situation exponentially worse.

So yes, I now predict that in a few years there will be no more owner-operated businesses. That’s really sad. I think I’m over the anger now.

There should be room for small companies, big players, individual O/Os, niche players, and people who just want to ride.

Many years ago I started writing in the hope that I could make a difference. I wanted to discuss solutions, not rehash old problems. Just call me Don Quixote.