An Owner Operator is one who owns & operates a business.

Owner Operator is not a trucking industry specific term. An Owner Operator is one who owns & operates ANY business.

Equipment acquisition is part of operating a business. It is not the entire business, nor does it have ANY role in defining the business or the business owner. It is simply a task for a business Owner Operator.

How & where a business Owner Operator chooses to acquire equipment is irrelevant to the fact that they own & operate a business.

How a business Owner Operator chooses to pay for the equipment that they acquire is irrelevant to the fact that they own & operate a business.

In ANY industry, an Owner Operator’s choice to purchase, finance, or lease equipment has no role in defining their position of business owner.

In ANY industry, acquired equipment serves the same function to the business, regardless of whether it is purchased, leased, or financed. The only differential is tax implications.

A restaurant owner who leases or finances their building, ovens, seating, bar, etc.,is no less of an Owner Operator.

A beautician who leases or finances their floor space & hair tools, sinks, dryers, etc., is no less of an Owner Operator.

Ditto for a(n):
Attorney
Car Dealership
Caterer
Doctor
Gas Station Owner
Repair Shop Owner
Seamstress
Store Owner

…and any other business who finances or leases equipment.

Trucking is the only industry where I see business owners attempting to distinguish & define themselves & their peers, solely based on how they choose to acquire & pay for their equipment (truck).

If you, as a trucker, are defining your role as an Owner Operator based on whether or not you hold the title to your truck, you should research, learn & rethink a few things. How others define you is irrelevant. Make sure that YOU understand your role. An Owner Operator owns & operates a BUSINESS. Equipment acquisition is a task for an Owner Operator, but it does NOT define your role as one.