Recruiting
Owner-Operator
An owner-operator is a CDL driver who owns or leases the truck they drive, contracting with carriers under their own authority or a carrier's MC.
Owner-operators (O/Os) come in two flavors: leased on (running under a carrier's authority and getting dispatched loads), or independent (running under their own MC, finding their own freight via load boards or direct shippers).
Leased-on O/Os typically take 70-85% of the gross plus fuel surcharge, with the carrier providing dispatch, insurance, trailers, and back-office. Pay packages vary wildly — recruiting one requires showing transparent settlement math.
Carriers that recruit O/Os successfully publish a real settlement example, fuel program details, and home-time policy upfront — and respond to applications within an hour.
Run compliance & dispatch in one place
Hayes combines a DOT-aware ATS, dispatch, EDI, and document compliance — built for carriers who don't want five logins.
Related terms
Compliance
MC Number
An MC (Motor Carrier) number is the FMCSA operating authority required to transport regulated commodities or passengers for hire across state lines.
Compliance
DOT Number
A DOT number is the unique identifier the FMCSA assigns to every interstate commercial motor carrier in the United States.
Finance
Factoring (Freight)
Factoring is selling your accounts receivable to a third party for immediate cash, typically at a 1-4% discount.