Company Drivers vs. Owner Operators

Company drivers and owner operators are both in the transportation industry but there’s a big difference in their roles, responsibilities and employment:

Company Drivers

• Company drivers are employees of a trucking company or carrier.
• They drive trucks owned by the company and operate under the company’s authority.
• Company drivers get a regular salary or hourly wage and may get benefits like health insurance, retirement plans and paid time off.
• They don’t own the trucks they operate and are not responsible for the maintenance, fuel costs or other expenses of the vehicle.
• Company drivers have a set schedule and are assigned routes by their employer.
• They are subject to the company’s rules, policies and regulations for safety, conduct and performance.

Owner Operators

• Owner operators are independent contractors who own and operate their own trucks.
• They have their own authority to operate as a carrier or lease their services to a trucking company.
• Owner operators are responsible for the purchase, maintenance, insurance and operating costs of their trucks.
• They have more control over their schedule, routes and work arrangements compared to company drivers.
• Owner operators are paid based on a percentage of the revenue generated from the loads they haul or per mile.
• They can choose the loads they want to haul and may work with multiple shippers or brokers to find freight.

In a nutshell, company drivers are employees of a trucking company who drive trucks owned by the company and owner operators are independent contractors who own and operate their own trucks. The main differences are employment status, control of equipment and operations and financial arrangements.