An owner-operator is a truck driver who owns his own truck and hauls loads as an independent contractor for a company. The owner-operator has the ability to chose his own loads and manage his own schedule. However, he must run his operation as a business and be aware of many factors that affect the profitability of that business. Calculating fuel costs, expenses and other factors are just part of the owner-operator's job.

First calculate your truck's gas mileage using accurate data that you have collected while driving the truck. It is all right to estimate the gas mileage at first until you have data to compare the estimate with. Use this estimate as a basis for deciding whether a route is profitable. Break the estimate down into a cost-per-mile number, by dividing the cost of gas by the number of miles your truck travels.

Compare this number to the rate per mile that the contracting company is willing to pay. Multiply the amount by the number of miles in your route, and then multiply the cost of gas per mile by the number of miles in the route. Subtract the second number from the first and then enter the final number into a spreadsheet

In another column add up your additional expenses and then subtract this number from the final figure. They should include the cost of food, tolls, and a percentage of maintenance fees on the truck that you perform regularly. The resulting number is your pay for that trip. This should be performed whenever you find a new route to determine how profitable it is.

Continue to work on your spreadsheet and always be aware of new expenses as they appear. Keep a detailed list of expenses. Break them down into a monthly figure, and factor them into your total expenses. Subtract the monthly expenses from your total pay for the month to find out how profitable your routes are.

Work only with reputable companies that provide the most profitable routes. In this way you can build stronger relationships with your clients and eventually earn better and more profitable routes.

Keep money in reserve to pay for unexpected repairs. If you do not have money to pay for a repair your truck sits in the shop, which means you cannot haul goods and eventually lose money.Continue to network and expand your business using your earnings to improve your truck or lease new trucks. In this way, your business will expand and grow.

Earn additional certifications and endorsements to widen and improve your skill set. Hazardous materials endorsements and double or triple trailer endorsements allow you to haul different types of loads which may earn more money for your business.