Owner-operator profit playbook
Rate-per-mile math, dispatcher and factoring fees, fuel strategy, detention billing — written for solo and small-fleet trucking.
Reduce Deadhead Miles: The Single Biggest Lever for Owner-Operator Profit
If 25% of your weekly miles are empty, you're working a 6-day week and getting paid for 4 1/2. Here's how to push deadhead under 15% and what that adds to your bank account.
How to Pick a Factoring Company (and 5 Red Flags That Mean Run)
Factoring fees, recourse vs non-recourse, ACH delays, fuel advances, contract lock-in — the things factoring companies don't put on the website. Here's what to ask before you sign.
How to Bill Detention Pay — The Money Most Owner-Operators Leave on the Table
If you spend 6 hours at a shipper for free, you're working for that broker — not for yourself. Here's how detention pay actually works, what to charge, and how to make sure you collect.
What's a Good Rate Per Mile for an Owner-Operator in 2026?
Current owner-operator RPM benchmarks by lane, truck type, and season — plus the one number that actually tells you if you're winning the week.
Dispatcher, Factoring, and Driver Pay Fees — Where Your Linehaul Actually Goes
Most owner-operators don't realize how much of every load goes to middleman fees. Here's the full breakdown of dispatcher, factoring, and driver pay percentages — and how to track them per load.
How to Tell If a Load Is Profitable Before You Accept It
A 30-second decision framework for owner-operators: what to check on the rate sheet, the math you actually need, and how to stop accepting losing loads.