Don't be too quick to brush off the "make a million" part. It can be done. I know that because Diane and I are in the process of doing it. See this.
101 Ways To Double Your Income
- Thread starter dhalltoyo
- Start date
Don't be too quick to brush off the "make a million" part. It can be done. I know that because Diane and I are in the process of doing it. See this.
Already done that 20 year thing...managed 1.045 million....20 years? no no do it in less than 10! Only use expediting to pay off you debts....never think that you can make money at this. <har a snort>.
While I could write a book on transportation... I'm not about to just yet. Why? because I'm intending to someday be an Owner Operator myself. I don't want to write a book until I've done that. I've driven for many people, and driven literally thousands of people- and continue to drive commercially in trucks and tour busses. And I also dabble in the Limo business now as well- which I wasn't so sure I'd enjoy- but I like it- but would not own a Limo. I like the driving end of it, besides, Limo Owners don't get tips, the drivers do!!!
I appreciate the compliment Ateam, as I was also complimenting you and a a few others on here, like DaveKC, Leo, TeamC., and a few others, that know their stuff. I'm not thinking about a book strictly on expediting, I'm thinking more along the lines of a book on trucking in general, and transportation in general.... which I think it's safe to say after 700,000+ miles I'm knowledgable in. I didn't say I was an expert, but I know certain aspects of certain area's in transportation, enough to be dangerous as some would say.
I believe if some members on here collaborated together at a round table, that multiple great chapters could be put together to form a great educational and business tool for those in transportation and entering into the field. Like I mentioned, big and small co.'s might even be interested in such a book to offer to their leased owner operators- or perhaps a version that is geared towards owner operators.
I like the position I'm in right now for the most part, I've got my hands in a few different cookie jars, but the lids not trying to close on any of them- so for me it's working. I'm trucking, bussing, Limo-ing, and on EO reading and learning. I'm not attending MATS this year, but next year I intend to. Not sure in what yet. Last year I went on short notice and slept in the car- won't do that again! I've gone a few times in trucks, but am considering a camper next year if I don't go up in a truck.
Unless a miracle bus run brings me up there- it'll be a big truck or RV of some kind.
I appreciate the compliment Ateam, as I was also complimenting you and a a few others on here, like DaveKC, Leo, TeamC., and a few others, that know their stuff. I'm not thinking about a book strictly on expediting, I'm thinking more along the lines of a book on trucking in general, and transportation in general.... which I think it's safe to say after 700,000+ miles I'm knowledgable in. I didn't say I was an expert, but I know certain aspects of certain area's in transportation, enough to be dangerous as some would say.
I believe if some members on here collaborated together at a round table, that multiple great chapters could be put together to form a great educational and business tool for those in transportation and entering into the field. Like I mentioned, big and small co.'s might even be interested in such a book to offer to their leased owner operators- or perhaps a version that is geared towards owner operators.
I like the position I'm in right now for the most part, I've got my hands in a few different cookie jars, but the lids not trying to close on any of them- so for me it's working. I'm trucking, bussing, Limo-ing, and on EO reading and learning. I'm not attending MATS this year, but next year I intend to. Not sure in what yet. Last year I went on short notice and slept in the car- won't do that again! I've gone a few times in trucks, but am considering a camper next year if I don't go up in a truck.
Unless a miracle bus run brings me up there- it'll be a big truck or RV of some kind.
nightcreacher
Veteran Expediter
dbl your income,stop paying for the fuel,dont pay your co driver.this will save you more than 100 k a year
Im working on my second million,I gave up on my first.
You know to be a milionare you only have to be a milliond dollars in debt
Im working on my second million,I gave up on my first.
You know to be a milionare you only have to be a milliond dollars in debt
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greg334
Veteran Expediter
Well I hope David reads this, see I think you may all have missed his point in the title of the thread.
If you read his comments carefully, it isn't about money but income on a personal level - the income of peace of mind on the road of life.
One thing that I strive for and it makes me a real success is the idea that money is not the end goal, but rather it is what I achieve as an individual and what positive impact I make for others (you will read about that in the newbie section maybe today). I think David is on this same road, he may have found out the same secrets I found, money is the vehicle and should never be the goal at the same time the truck/van is the tool and shouldn't be a vanity item.
Once a long time ago I had a interesting conversation with a religious scholar who said "money isn't there to make for you to have stuff but rather for you to make so you can take more time out to be closer to God". I think that is where David has achieved his goals, by 'retiring' and doing some good for others.
If David writes a book, then I can see where it wouldn't be the one that you wouldn't want to read. It may hold the true secrets of expediting and life in general.
If you read his comments carefully, it isn't about money but income on a personal level - the income of peace of mind on the road of life.
One thing that I strive for and it makes me a real success is the idea that money is not the end goal, but rather it is what I achieve as an individual and what positive impact I make for others (you will read about that in the newbie section maybe today). I think David is on this same road, he may have found out the same secrets I found, money is the vehicle and should never be the goal at the same time the truck/van is the tool and shouldn't be a vanity item.
Once a long time ago I had a interesting conversation with a religious scholar who said "money isn't there to make for you to have stuff but rather for you to make so you can take more time out to be closer to God". I think that is where David has achieved his goals, by 'retiring' and doing some good for others.
If David writes a book, then I can see where it wouldn't be the one that you wouldn't want to read. It may hold the true secrets of expediting and life in general.
Most want the riches but not the inbetween that goes from start to finish. $70 grand in a cargo van sounds great up front, but after expenses it could be a lot less. If I play my cards right, I can usually save a third of that $70 grand. It boils down to keeping what you earn verses spending it all. In this country, we are taught to spend, spend, spend.
Now, if I was working in Japan, it is normal to save 30%. Even if you make $20 an hour, you could end up richer in an given year than the guy making $50 an hour because he blew it all and doesn't know how to save. Earnings are relative. I hear of drivers who don't have a dime to their name yet they turn down work since it doesn't fit their idea what this kind of work is all about. It doesn't make sense to me.
Now, if I was working in Japan, it is normal to save 30%. Even if you make $20 an hour, you could end up richer in an given year than the guy making $50 an hour because he blew it all and doesn't know how to save. Earnings are relative. I hear of drivers who don't have a dime to their name yet they turn down work since it doesn't fit their idea what this kind of work is all about. It doesn't make sense to me.
LOL... WOW!!
The secrets of life? I'm havin' trouble wrappin' my tiny little brain around that one.
A fascinating fact for any would-be truck book author to consider is the utter lack of truck books on the market now. Sure, there are a few scattered here and there available from various sources, but if you go to a big bookstore and look in the transportation section, you will find maybe one book about trucking if that. At any one time, there are dozens of books on the shelves about boats, trains, planes and automobiles, but nary a one about trucks.
Millions of people have driven trucks in the U.S. and Canada over the years and hundreds of millions of people benefit every day from what trucks and truck drivers do, yet in a mainstream bookstore, there no ink is given to this vital segment of the transportation industry. I am at a loss to explain why.
It's the same reason there isn't a lot about plumbers or electricians, other than "how to" kinds of stuff. We benefit every day and take for granted that stuff being there.
If you go to online bookstore Amazon.com and do a search for trucking books, several come up. One challenge you would face, BigBusBob, is coming up with either something that has not been done before or something that is better than what has been done before.
Ateam, if you go back and read my posts in this thread over again you will see that I've given people reading this a different approach. Why go to Amazon? or Ebay? or to a book store???? Truck drivers are there, but not in huge numbers... How many booths will you see at a truck booth with people pushing a new product or new website? a bunch. and they're all marketing specifically to truck drivers.... for most likely what they think is a product that truck drivers are going to like. I didn't mention pushing a truck at a truck stop too much, because it's probably not a real good market. Sure there are many drivers that pass thru, but that's what most of them are doing... passing thru. They grab a movie, some food and drinks, scale tickets, fuel and go. They're not there to browse and see what's there and see whats on the market... if they're browsing it's cause they are bored more than likely. Drivers and people that attend truck shows are there looking to make purchases, or at the very least researching ways to make their jobs easier. I'm not making a huge argument on this, just simply stating that truck driver products should be sold where there are many truck drivers. Volvo isn't pushing it's trucks at truck shows because they think it's a potential market there... they're pushing them there because they know that's where the most drivers are going to be at once.
Even though I'm not an "official" owner operator, I can say I have basically been one. I've managed and continue to do so... my fuel, my freight lanes, my traffic lanes, my MPG's, my customers satisfaction, my timelines, my fuel taxes, my weight onboard. I say my, because even though some of that is not "mine", I treat it as such... and in my experience, I'm more conscious of my decisions because I'm being careful and protective. that's where the saying of Wheels that don't turn, don't earn comes from. I've managed it on trucks, and on many many tour busses in the passenger and private bus sectors. I've taught some fleet owners new tricks on fuel purchases, taxes, load and traffic lanes, and truck and custom private bus layouts as well. I've taken experiences learned in busses and applied them to trucking, and vise versa. I've also learned from EO and on the job what works good and what does not. I'm not super savvy when it comes to numbers, but I've been all over the country and half of Canada (both somewhat extensively) for going on 15 years, and can honestly say I've hauled some of the cheapest, and dirtiest, to some of the most valuable and profitable, best and cleanest loads. You learn some things in that time, if your serious about your trade and want to go forward. Just because somebody does not own a truck does not mean they are not able to. It also does not mean they are incapable of running a business either. Some people just don't know where to start, they hear all these horror stories of lease purchase programs and truck financing nightmares and I think it scares some drivers... and they stay in a company seat when they don't really need to be.
From that standpoint, I'm saying some think there's no market for a book on successful trucking, I disagree to a certain extent.
Sure there's been talk about putting something online- but I'm rollin down the road, why can't I listen to it on CD or cassette. Or watch a DVD during my down time? The talk of putting something online isn't a totally bad idea, however a good idea would be a seminar series that you could log onto at any time. Why should a person have to wait until a certain day and a certain time to watch something that's educational? Especially with today's technology. One should be able to log on at anytime day or nite, year round and be able to view what they'r paying for. or maybe it's free. My point is, trucking and transportation are a 24 hour business/industry, there should be 24 hour access to all related material.
We all know there are fleets out there that don't want newbies to gain certain information on how to succeed... but there are some fleets that actually want certain information known to make their fleet as a whole even more profitable. That's why I believe I suggested even a book or some kind of material handed out at orientation.
Or, upon the 1st month of service they get the book- so they can learn some on their own 1st... then get the book and say "oh, that's why".
Because we know it is possible to make the same mistake more than one way.
Perhaps it's a terrible idea, and who ever tries it will regret it, but... Ateam- Nothing ventured Nothing gained. 5 years ago you wanted to venture further... why? because you wanted to gain. and you did. Some do, some don't. But those who don't gain but did venture and attempt to gain... they don't have regrets.
Do you regret venturing out?
Do you regret not venturing out sooner?
Think of those two questions....
There's where the need is to educate other drivers.
That's all I got for now. BBB
Even though I'm not an "official" owner operator, I can say I have basically been one. I've managed and continue to do so... my fuel, my freight lanes, my traffic lanes, my MPG's, my customers satisfaction, my timelines, my fuel taxes, my weight onboard. I say my, because even though some of that is not "mine", I treat it as such... and in my experience, I'm more conscious of my decisions because I'm being careful and protective. that's where the saying of Wheels that don't turn, don't earn comes from. I've managed it on trucks, and on many many tour busses in the passenger and private bus sectors. I've taught some fleet owners new tricks on fuel purchases, taxes, load and traffic lanes, and truck and custom private bus layouts as well. I've taken experiences learned in busses and applied them to trucking, and vise versa. I've also learned from EO and on the job what works good and what does not. I'm not super savvy when it comes to numbers, but I've been all over the country and half of Canada (both somewhat extensively) for going on 15 years, and can honestly say I've hauled some of the cheapest, and dirtiest, to some of the most valuable and profitable, best and cleanest loads. You learn some things in that time, if your serious about your trade and want to go forward. Just because somebody does not own a truck does not mean they are not able to. It also does not mean they are incapable of running a business either. Some people just don't know where to start, they hear all these horror stories of lease purchase programs and truck financing nightmares and I think it scares some drivers... and they stay in a company seat when they don't really need to be.
From that standpoint, I'm saying some think there's no market for a book on successful trucking, I disagree to a certain extent.
Sure there's been talk about putting something online- but I'm rollin down the road, why can't I listen to it on CD or cassette. Or watch a DVD during my down time? The talk of putting something online isn't a totally bad idea, however a good idea would be a seminar series that you could log onto at any time. Why should a person have to wait until a certain day and a certain time to watch something that's educational? Especially with today's technology. One should be able to log on at anytime day or nite, year round and be able to view what they'r paying for. or maybe it's free. My point is, trucking and transportation are a 24 hour business/industry, there should be 24 hour access to all related material.
We all know there are fleets out there that don't want newbies to gain certain information on how to succeed... but there are some fleets that actually want certain information known to make their fleet as a whole even more profitable. That's why I believe I suggested even a book or some kind of material handed out at orientation.
Or, upon the 1st month of service they get the book- so they can learn some on their own 1st... then get the book and say "oh, that's why".
Because we know it is possible to make the same mistake more than one way.
Perhaps it's a terrible idea, and who ever tries it will regret it, but... Ateam- Nothing ventured Nothing gained. 5 years ago you wanted to venture further... why? because you wanted to gain. and you did. Some do, some don't. But those who don't gain but did venture and attempt to gain... they don't have regrets.
Do you regret venturing out?
Do you regret not venturing out sooner?
Think of those two questions....
There's where the need is to educate other drivers.
That's all I got for now. BBB
You don't have to be an owner-operator to write a book about trucking any more than you need to lose your virginity to write a book about sex. All that is required to write a good book on any topic is the ability to gather good information and present it in a reader-valued way. You don't need to be a good trucker to write a book on trucking. You need to be a good writer.
Indeed, there are many grizzled veterans who know far less about trucking than they themselves think they know. They may have been driving truck for 20 years or more but when it comes to telling the trucking story, they fall short because they mistake their story for that of the industry. They generalize too much from their own experience and thereby blind themselves to everything else that is going on out there.
Most people who write for trucking magazines have no CDL but that does not stop them from gaining in depth knowledge of the industry and the life and writing well about it.
Indeed, there are many grizzled veterans who know far less about trucking than they themselves think they know. They may have been driving truck for 20 years or more but when it comes to telling the trucking story, they fall short because they mistake their story for that of the industry. They generalize too much from their own experience and thereby blind themselves to everything else that is going on out there.
Most people who write for trucking magazines have no CDL but that does not stop them from gaining in depth knowledge of the industry and the life and writing well about it.