Owner-Operators

What We Offer

The business opportunity: earnings, equipment, dispatch freedom, and support — with the status of each item labeled, so you can tell at a glance what is included, what is optional, and what is case-by-case.

CompensationPROVIDED — STANDARD PROGRAM

• 85% of eligible load revenue with your own trailer, or on qualifying power-only loads.
• 75% of eligible load revenue when using a JASKO-provided trailer.
• Percentage-based compensation, with the revenue calculation, deductions, and settlement terms documented in your independent contractor agreement.
• Settlements are processed weekly once required load documentation is received, with deductions itemized on your settlement statement.

Dispatch FreedomINCLUDED

• Self-dispatch opportunities for approved contractors — select loads, negotiate rates, and choose the areas where you want to operate.
• Freedom to express preferred lanes, destinations, and operating schedules.
• Access to JASKO’s dispatch team when you prefer assistance instead.
• Ability to pursue qualifying power-only opportunities.
• You run under JASKO’s operating authority (MC 461470) — JASKO handles customer billing and collections, so you can focus on the freight.
• All freight remains subject to JASKO’s carrier authority, customer requirements, and load approval procedures. Your choices on freight, routes, and operating costs directly affect your profitability.

Trailer Options & EscrowBY ARRANGEMENT

Bring Your Own Trailer — 85%. Operate with your own approved trailer, or one you rent independently. No JASKO trailer escrow is required.

Power-Only — 85%. Operate approved power-only loads without leasing a trailer from JASKO. No JASKO trailer escrow is required.

Use a JASKO Trailer — 75%. JASKO provides an approved refrigerated trailer, with routine maintenance and trailer insurance included, and no separate trailer rental fee. The contractor is responsible for reefer fuel and for trailer damage attributable to the contractor.

• Additional $2,500 trailer security escrow — out-of-state contractors only: contractors based outside Arizona who use a JASKO-provided trailer maintain a further $2,500 escrow, as security for the trailer’s return and applicable authorized equipment obligations — on top of the $2,500 security escrow every contractor maintains (see What We Require). It is not automatically forfeited for a late return — charges must be documented, attributable to the contractor under the agreement, and legally deductible. Arizona-based contractors are not charged this additional escrow. Refunds follow the same accounting and 45-day rule.

Branding & DecalsPROVIDED

• Your tractor operates under JASKO’s authority with JASKO identification decals — JASKO pays for, or provides, the required decals.
• Decal installation — the federal marking rule (49 CFR § 390.21). Every power unit must display, on both sides: the carrier’s legal name (or single trade name) exactly as it appears on its federal filing — JASKO Enterprises, Inc. — and its USDOT number: USDOT 1134923.
• Letters must contrast sharply with the background behind them and be readily legible in daylight from 50 feet while the truck is stationary — and they must be kept that way. Faded, peeling, damaged, or covered markings are replaced before dispatch.
• If your own company name also appears on the tractor, JASKO’s name and USDOT number must still be displayed, preceded by the words “operated by.”
• Markings may be painted on or mounted on a removable device, as long as the device meets the same legibility standard. Federal rules do not require the city and state on the vehicle.
• Source: FMCSA, Highlights of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Marking Final Rule; rule text at 49 CFR § 390.21.

Insurance ProgramsPROVIDED / OPTIONAL

• Primary auto liability: provided by JASKO while you operate under its authority, without a separate charge.
• Cargo insurance: JASKO coverage available at $250 per month, with a $5,000 deductible. Contractors may instead arrange acceptable cargo coverage independently, approved before operations begin.
• Occupational Accident: enrollment available through JASKO’s program at $165.00 per month, deducted from settlements, subject to policy terms and eligibility.
• Physical damage: obtain your own acceptable coverage, or request a JASKO program quote (priced on your equipment’s insured value).
• Non-trucking liability / bobtail: obtain your own acceptable coverage, or inquire about JASKO’s available options.

Fuel & Operating ResourcesAVAILABLE TO APPROVED CONTRACTORS

• Fuel purchasing programs and participating network discounts.
• Major national tire purchasing accounts (Tier 1 and Tier 2 major brands).
• Volvo owners: parts through JASKO’s national Volvo FleetPreferred account — pre-negotiated fleet pricing on genuine Volvo parts at 350+ Volvo dealers nationwide. About FleetPreferred
• Participating truck repair and maintenance service accounts.
• Access to approved payment methods for authorized business expenses (such as lumpers and load-related road expenses).
• Roadside service coordination and assistance locating repair facilities.
• Applicable charges and program conditions are disclosed during onboarding.

Technology & Compliance ServicesREQUIRED EQUIPMENT / OPTIONAL PROVIDERS

• Use your own approved ELD with JASKO administrative access, or use JASKO’s Motive ELD equipment, subject to applicable equipment and subscription charges.
• An approved road-facing AI dash camera is mandatory for equipment operating under JASKO’s authority.
• Optional PrePass, toll transponder, and weigh-station bypass services for eligible contractors.
• Applicable device, deposit, and subscription charges are disclosed before enrollment.

Emergency & Breakdown AssistanceCASE-BY-CASE

• Locating and coordinating repairs.
• Emergency tire or maintenance arrangements.
• Temporary rental truck arrangements, when practical, to reduce downtime.
• Consideration of authorized emergency advances — any approved advance or repayment arrangement is documented in writing.

Assistance is discretionary, not guaranteed. It depends on the circumstances, your history with JASKO, availability, and management approval.

Before You Buy a TruckAVAILABLE / SUBJECT TO APPROVAL

• Contact JASKO before purchasing equipment to discuss driver qualifications, equipment suitability, and operating arrangements — so you can make an informed purchasing decision.
• JASKO may consider a conditional letter of intent after preliminary screening and management review. A letter of intent is not a guarantee of financing, freight, revenue, or final contractor approval.

What We Require

The mandatory side: every item below must be satisfied before a contractor is authorized for dispatch. Approving a contractor’s business and approving the individual who operates the truck are two separate approvals.

Driver & Business QualificationsREQUIRED

• Every individual operating a truck must meet JASKO’s driver qualification and eligibility standards and be approved before dispatch — owning a truck or a business does not exempt the driver.
• A properly registered LLC, corporation, or other JASKO-approved business entity. You may begin inquiry and prescreening while organizing your business; registration must be complete before final activation.
• Employer Identification Number (EIN) and a completed IRS Form W-9 with the business’s legal name and matching tax identification number.
• A business bank account in the contracting company’s name, with authorization for electronic settlement payments.
• A signed independent contractor agreement and the required onboarding documentation.
• Acceptable Workers’ Compensation or Occupational Accident insurance coverage, with proof provided before activation.

Equipment & MaintenanceREQUIRED

• A commercial tractor approved by JASKO, with current registration, applicable permits, and required insurance.
• Previous six months of equipment maintenance and repair records, or a fresh DOT annual inspection performed by a reputable, qualified commercial truck inspection facility.
• Continued compliance with DOT inspection, repair, and maintenance requirements (49 CFR Part 396).
• JASKO identification decals displayed as required while operating under JASKO’s authority (JASKO pays for, or provides, the decals).
• An approved electronic logging device (ELD) with access provided to JASKO.
• A road-facing AI dash camera meeting JASKO’s requirements.

Equipment Maintenance VerificationREQUIRED

• Before equipment is approved for dispatch, the contractor provides documentation showing it has been properly maintained.
• Option A — Maintenance History: maintenance and repair records covering the previous six (6) months, including available preventive maintenance, inspections, and repair documentation.
• Option B — Fresh Annual Inspection: a current, comprehensive DOT annual inspection performed by a reputable, qualified commercial truck repair facility, with a completed inspection report.
• Documentation must identify the equipment, the inspection or service dates, and the facility that performed the work.
• A fresh annual inspection satisfies this requirement at onboarding; it does not replace the ongoing duty to keep inspection, repair, and maintenance records.
• This requirement applies to each contractor-provided tractor and trailer.
• JASKO may request additional documentation, or an equipment inspection, before approving the tractor or trailer for operation.

Security EscrowREQUIRED — ALL CONTRACTORS

• Every independent contractor maintains a $2,500 security escrow, regardless of trailer ownership or operating arrangement — own trailer, independently rented trailer, power-only, or JASKO-provided trailer.
• The general escrow is funded through settlement deductions of $250–$500 per settlement until fully established, as provided in the agreement.
• The escrow is security for documented contractor obligations that may remain unpaid, or become payable, after the final settlement — for example late-posting fuel purchases, EFS fuel-card transactions, authorized company credit card charges, tolls, citations assessed against JASKO that are the contractor’s responsibility, IFTA balances, and contractor-responsible insurance charges or deductibles.
• Only documented deductions authorized under the signed contractor agreement may be applied. The escrow is not a rental charge, and it is not a fee.
• JASKO provides an accounting of escrow deductions and refunds the remaining balance within 45 days after termination of the contractor agreement, in accordance with the agreement and federal Truth-in-Leasing regulations (49 CFR § 376.12(k)).
• Out-of-state contractors using a JASKO-provided trailer maintain an additional $2,500 trailer security escrow, as security for the trailer’s return and applicable authorized equipment obligations — including documented recovery expenses, towing, storage, or damage if the trailer is not returned as required. It is not automatically forfeited if a trailer is returned late: any charge must be documented, attributable to the contractor under the agreement, and legally deductible. Arizona-based contractors are not charged an additional trailer escrow.
• Optional: contractors may elect to build a separate maintenance reserve escrow through settlement deductions, as a reserve for future equipment repairs and maintenance.

Registration & PlatesCONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITY

• Contractors obtain, maintain, and pay for their own apportioned registration (IRP) and license plates.
• JASKO can provide guidance on registration options and processing resources, but does not ordinarily advance registration costs or guarantee immediate plate availability.
• Keeping registration in your own name gives you greater control and flexibility if you later change carriers, subject to applicable registration rules.

InsuranceREQUIRED

• Primary commercial auto liability coverage — provided by JASKO while operating under its authority.
• Acceptable cargo coverage (your own approved coverage, or JASKO’s cargo arrangement).
• Workers’ Compensation or Occupational Accident coverage.
• Other coverage applicable to your equipment and operations, including physical damage and non-trucking liability where required.
• JASKO reviews insurance documentation and available enrollment options during onboarding. Contact JASKO for current requirements before purchasing or changing coverage.

Before Your First Dispatch — and When Your Contract Ends

The Owner-Operator path — Independent Contractor:

1. Owner-Operator Inquiry. Talk with recruiting about the program: 85% with your own trailer, 75% with a JASKO trailer, weekly settlements.
2. Owner-Operator Application. Tell us about you, your business, and your equipment.
3. Business and Equipment Review. The contractor entity submits business, tax, insurance, and equipment records; tractor and trailer are reviewed (a current DOT annual inspection, or the records option, per unit).
4. Owner-Operator Driver Qualification. The individual driver — you, or your authorized contractor driver — completes DOT qualification: records review, Clearinghouse, drug testing, road test.
5. Independent Contractor Operating Agreement. The entity signs the agreement with JASKO Enterprises (MC 461470). JASKO provides or pays for the decals.
6. Compensation and Equipment Elections. Your elections, in writing: trailer arrangement, escrows ($2,500 general; plus $2,500 trailer escrow only if you are out-of-state with a JASKO trailer), insurance elections (cargo $250/mo, Occupational Accident $165/mo), ELD and camera, fuel card, plates and IFTA.
7. Owner-Operator Orientation. Systems, safety, paperwork — and the Equipment & Services Checklist (Form JASKO-OO-F01).
8. Approved for Activation. When every step is complete, your status is OWNER-OPERATOR APPROVED FOR ACTIVATION — then first dispatch.

If your business employs another driver, the roles stay separate: the contractor entity signs the agreement and submits the business, tax, insurance, and equipment records; the owner-operator driver or authorized contractor driver completes the individual DOT qualification, Clearinghouse, drug-testing, road-test, and orientation process. An owner-operator is never hired, placed on payroll, or made a JASKO employee.

Two checklists bookend every contract — the same items, at both ends. What JASKO issues is recorded when you start, so what comes back when you finish is exact. Items marked “if provided / if applicable” apply only when JASKO actually issued them; your own plates, IFTA, accounts and equipment remain yours.

Equipment & Services ChecklistAT ONBOARDING

• At onboarding, JASKO records each item below as Issued, Contractor-Owned, or Not Applicable — the record both sides sign is the record reconciled at the end.
• Equipment & devices, if provided: JASKO trailer and related equipment; Motive ELD, dashcam, vehicle gateway, cables and mounts; toll transponders (Bestpass, PrePass or others); load locks, straps, keys and other issued equipment.
• Cards, plates & permits, if issued: EFS fuel card; JASKO-issued credit card for on-the-road business expenses (lumper fees, repairs and similar); license plates, registration and permits provided through JASKO; IFTA credentials and decals issued under JASKO’s account; JASKO company decals and identification.
• Services & enrollment: fuel purchasing program; toll services linked to your tractor/trailer plates; weigh-station bypass service; ELD, dashcam and tracking subscriptions; parking or other company-provided services.
• Personally owned equipment, independent accounts and credentials issued under your own authority remain yours — JASKO documents only what JASKO provides, pays for or administers.

Return & Closing ChecklistAT CONTRACT END

• 1. Confirm your last dispatch — provide the required contract termination notice, coordinate your final load and equipment return, and confirm the termination date and time.
• 2. Return the JASKO trailer & equipment — trailer to the Buckeye, Arizona yard, unless JASKO management authorizes another location in writing; return all JASKO-issued devices, cards, transponders, keys and property; complete equipment inspections and photographs. Only items issued by JASKO must be returned.
• 3. Return plates & permits; remove identification — return JASKO-issued plates, registration, permits and IFTA decals, if applicable; remove JASKO decals and identification from your equipment and submit photographs confirming removal. Do not remove your own IFTA decals, independently issued plates or legally required identification.
• 4. Submit outstanding documents — all outstanding original BOLs, PODs and shipping documents, receipts and scale tickets. Before departure, the office verifies that the scans on file for your loads are complete and legible — every page; if a scan cannot be read or pages are missing, the original is required at exit, not after. If required documents are still outstanding, final settlement and escrow reconciliation hold until they are received — at the latest, until the escrow is released — per the signed agreement.
• 5. Review outstanding charges — report unpaid tolls, parking tickets, overweight citations, fuel transactions, unresolved damage or missing items. JASKO reviews delayed transactions and determines responsibility according to the signed agreement and applicable law.
• 6. Close accounts & services — JASKO deactivates or removes you from company-provided services: fuel cards, toll programs, ELD and tracking, permits, parking accounts and system access. The deactivation date and time are documented.
• 7. Final settlement & escrow — final freight settlements per the signed agreement and applicable law; escrow reconciled with only lawful, documented deductions; the remaining escrow balance is refunded within 45 calendar days after contract termination, or sooner when reconciliation is complete; a final itemized accounting is provided.
• How you finish matters: equipment returned clean and complete, documents in, and a handshake at the end keep the door open.

Yard procedures (Buckeye): Trailer Pickup & Exchange and Trailer Drop-Off & Return — status tags, pre-trip, cleaning, reefer fuel, and the condition report — in Driver Best Practices.

How Much Can I Make at JASKO?

That’s usually the first question an owner-operator asks, and we understand why.

We can show you what our contractors are currently grossing, what our freight is paying, and how our compensation works. However, before comparing numbers, there’s an important question:

Are you comparing a mileage-based operation with a percentage-based operation?

They are two different compensation models, and understanding the difference is essential.

Why Work on Percentage Instead of Per Mile?

Mileage-Based Compensation

With a mileage-based arrangement, compensation is generally easier to estimate.

Depending on the agreement, you may receive:

• An established rate per mile.
• A fuel surcharge.
• Additional stop compensation.
• Detention or waiting-time compensation.
• Toll reimbursements and other approved accessorials.

Once you understand the rate structure, the biggest question is usually: How many paid miles can I realistically get each week?

That helps you estimate weekly gross compensation, assuming the anticipated miles and additional payments are available.

Percentage-Based Compensation

With percentage compensation, your earnings are tied to the revenue generated by the freight you haul.

This creates a different business relationship.

You have more involvement in decisions about where you operate, which freight opportunities work for you, and which loads you are willing to accept.

But those decisions affect your revenue.

Two loads covering similar distances can pay very differently because of the freight market, season, equipment requirements, number of stops, delivery schedules, and other conditions.

Likewise, two contractors operating under the same percentage may generate very different weekly revenue.

Percentage compensation gives you an opportunity to participate more directly in freight decisions, but it does not guarantee that every decision will produce the highest revenue.

How Do My Decisions Affect My Gross Revenue?

Consider the following situations.

Contractor A — Flexible Nationwide Operation

This contractor is willing to operate nationwide, accepts different freight markets, handles multiple-stop loads, and stays on the road for extended periods.

Their flexibility gives dispatch more freight opportunities to consider.

Contractor B — Restricted Operating Area

This contractor avoids California, the Northeast, and the Northwest during winter. They also prefer single-stop loads and return home frequently.

Those are legitimate business preferences, but they reduce available freight options.

Contractor C — Regional or Seasonal Operation

This contractor prefers specific regions and wants to take advantage of seasonal freight opportunities.

During a strong season, the market may offer attractive revenue opportunities. During the off-season, freight availability and rates may decrease considerably.

All three contractors could receive the same percentage from JASKO and produce very different financial results.

That doesn’t necessarily mean one contractor is more successful. Their operating goals, workload, expenses, and personal priorities may simply be different.

What Else Affects My Revenue?

Your revenue potential depends on more than the percentage in your agreement.

Consider:

• Your home location: Where you start and finish your trips.
• Your trailer: JASKO’s core operation is refrigerated freight; your equipment determines which freight you can haul.
• Your operating territory: Which states and lanes you’re willing to run.
• Your flexibility: Which destinations, loads, appointments, and number of stops you’re willing to accept.
• Your home time: How often you go home and how long you remain unavailable.
• Your working schedule: How many days you’re available and how efficiently you use your legal driving hours.
• Seasonality: Whether freight demand is strong or weak in your preferred markets.
• Current freight rates: What customers and brokers are paying when you operate.
• Your decisions: Which available loads you accept, decline, or request alternatives for.

You can choose to avoid certain markets, take additional home time, or limit the freight you handle.

We respect those choices. We simply cannot assume your revenue will match a contractor who operates differently.

The more restrictions you place on your operation, the smaller your available freight pool may become.

Does a Higher Gross Always Mean More Profit?

No.

A contractor regularly running Northeast freight may generate strong gross revenue while also paying substantial tolls.

Another contractor may accept multiple-stop freight with higher revenue but experience additional loading and unloading time.

Someone else may prefer fewer stops, shorter trips, or a more predictable schedule.

You also have to consider fuel, maintenance, truck payments, insurance, empty miles, and downtime.

The goal isn’t simply to generate the largest gross number. It’s to operate your business profitably in a way that works for you.

A Higher Percentage Isn’t Automatically Better

Percentage pay is not just about the percentage. It’s about the freight available to you, the decisions you’re willing to make, and what remains after your operating expenses.

A carrier offering 90% is not automatically better than one offering 85% if its freight rates, utilization, empty miles, discounts, or operating support are materially different.

Compare the whole opportunity — freight, rates, support, and costs — not just the headline number.

What Percentage Does JASKO Pay?

Our standard percentage arrangements depend on the equipment you provide.

Compensation is calculated according to the freight-revenue definitions and settlement terms in your contractor agreement.

We’ll explain how freight revenue, applicable accessorials, charges, and deductions are handled before you begin.

What If I Don’t Have a Trailer?

We may be able to help you obtain one.

If you’re near our Buckeye (Phoenix area), Arizona, operation, we can explore available JASKO equipment.

If you’re located elsewhere, we can discuss power-only arrangements to connect you with a JASKO trailer, or assistance locating suitable rental equipment near your home market. When your work with the trailer is done, it returns to the same JASKO location where you picked it up.

Trailer availability, rental charges, and insurance requirements depend on the arrangement and are confirmed before dispatch. Availability is not guaranteed in every market.

Every JASKO contractor maintains a $2,500 security escrow, funded a little at a time from settlements. Contractors based outside Arizona who use a JASKO-provided trailer maintain an additional $2,500 trailer escrow as security for the trailer’s return — it is released as soon as the trailer is back on JASKO property. Where a rental trailer is arranged instead, $5,000 is held against the damage deductible in case the trailer comes back damaged. Escrow is never automatically forfeited; any charge must be documented and authorized under the agreement, and balances are accounted for and returned under the agreement and federal Truth-in-Leasing rules.

What Can JASKO Help Me Save on Operating Expenses?

Gross revenue matters, but so do operating expenses.

Depending on your arrangement, JASKO offers access to:

• Fuel purchasing advantages: access to our established fuel purchasing network and available discounts. Detailed fuel pricing and program terms are provided to qualified independent contractors during onboarding.
• EFS fuel card services.
• Fleet tire purchasing discounts through major national tire accounts.
• Dispatch, freight negotiations, and load planning.
• Primary auto liability insurance for operations under JASKO’s authority — provided by JASKO at no separate charge.
• Trailer assistance and equipment arrangements.
• Weekly settlements with itemized deductions, once required load documentation is received.
• Operational and freight documentation support.

Some programs involve charges, while others provide purchasing discounts or operational assistance. Applicable costs are disclosed before enrollment.

Can You Show Me What Your Current Contractors Are Grossing?

Yes. And we prefer to show current information rather than advertise outdated numbers.

Freight rates change. Seasons change. Markets change.

We can prepare a fresh report showing recent freight performance and examples from our contractor operations — recent loads, and what our reefer tractors have been grossing.

But we also want you to understand the circumstances behind the results.

A contractor running Florida to Chicago and the Northeast, handling multiple stops, and staying on the road for weeks may not be a useful comparison for someone who runs only selected states and wants to be home every weekend.

Our contractor group is relatively small, so a simple fleetwide average would not necessarily provide a representative picture.

That’s why we believe the better approach is to discuss your equipment, location, preferred lanes, home time, and operating limitations before reviewing relevant numbers.

We’ll distinguish total freight revenue from the contractor’s percentage share and from actual net earnings.

We can show you how our freight is performing. We cannot promise your results will be identical to someone else’s.

Is Percentage Compensation Right for Me?

Percentage compensation may be a good fit if you:

• Want greater involvement in freight and operating decisions.
• Understand that freight rates and markets fluctuate.
• Are willing to consider different freight opportunities.
• Understand the relationship between revenue, utilization, and expenses.
• Prefer a business arrangement in which your compensation reflects a defined share of freight revenue.

Mileage compensation may appeal more to contractors who prefer evaluating their work primarily through a known rate per paid mile and anticipated weekly mileage.

Neither model automatically guarantees better earnings or profitability.

Let’s Discuss Your Operation

Before we discuss potential revenue, tell us where you’re based, what equipment you own, where you’re willing to run, how much you want to work, and how often you need to be home.

Then we can review current freight opportunities, explain JASKO’s compensation structure, and provide relevant recent performance examples.

At JASKO, we don’t believe in selling you a number without explaining what it takes to produce it.

Freight opportunities, rates, discounts, and operating conditions are subject to change. Historical examples are not guarantees of future revenue or profit. Final compensation and responsibilities are governed by the executed contractor agreement.

Frequently Asked Questions

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