Fuel for Thought

Start At The Beginning

If you are just starting out in this industry, or any other for that matter, there will always be hurdles on your path. For those who are considering joining the ranks in the trucking industry, do your research and be as prepared as possible. Entering into a new career can be challenging but enter with open eyes and more importantly, an open mind. You will encounter people at every success level. Keep in mind, those who you find to be very successful in their careers did not get there overnight, and you should expect to work just as hard or even harder than they did to reach that same level of success. If you believe luck has anything to do with it, so be it, but hard work and perseverance beats luck every time. There are a few who seem to “fall” into success. However, the majority worked long and hard to get where they are today.

Before jumping in, research the vehicles that interest you and narrow down the options. Get the right vehicle for needs. Obtain the proper licensing and any needed endorsements. Research the carriers that interest you, and some that do not. If you don’t explore your options, you may miss a great opportunity that fits your business plan. Yes, your business plan. You have a business plan, right? If you are considering starting your own business as an owner-operator, write down some goals.

Did you shop for insurance? In most cases, you cannot drive your vehicle off the lot without insurance. Once you put that vehicle in service commercially, you will find there are more insurance policies needed than just the simple auto policy on your car.

How about a maintenance plan? Trucks break, be prepared.

Don’t forget about taxes. All of that check you will get will not be yours.

If you have a home and family, you need to budget for those expense as well.

This is just a brief list of items owner-operators juggle daily. There are many more issues to address as a business owner.

Know what you are getting into before you get in over your head. And when just starting out, expect some bumps in the road. You may fail or you may succeed. The better you prepare and the more you continue to learn about the industry you are about to enter, the better your odds are for success, however you measure it. Look to those who are successful and rather that discredit their hard work by calling it luck, try to learn from them.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Asking questions does not make you dumb, but not asking questions can.

There is a wealth of information to be found at www.expeditersonline.com/forums

The forums are filled with many helpful people, but they cannot help you if you do not ask.

Don’t expect overnight success.  It takes a lot of hard work to be a successful small business owner, be prepared to put in the work. Do your job the best that you know how and keep learning better ways to do it. If you put in the work, success will usually follow.

See you down the road,

Greg

It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.

- Leonardo da Vinci