Catch 22

[greg334]

Have to agree on a few points by others. The cheaper companies do operate on the premise that drivers don't know what it costs to operate.

This is not just cheaper companies, one of the larger ones seem to be secretive about their internal things and treat the contractor has no knowledge on what it takes to operate a company it’s size.

Secondly, it is more advantages to run as a debt free operation. We have done it for a long time and it does entertain certain advantages.

No doubt but my contention is simply that in order for one to run debt free, either they have to have the money in the first place to make the purchase up front and forget about that money or run things as thin as possible on the personal end of business to pay everything off. In conjunction, by not buying an RV/apartment on wheels but used, the money that can be saved will help fatten up that personal end of the business.

With that said, it doesn't mean it is a easy business or you will make millions as some like to portray. They are basing that on results over the last several years. This year has been different for many. Look at all the trucks for sale, including many late model ones.

Make millions, that’s a joke!

In order for one to make millions with little experience they have to have some special help right from the start and continue to be favored. I don’t think anyone here fits that mold but I may be wrong. I think that this year should be shaking out a lot of people but there are a lot hanging on for some reason.

I could easily say one could be a millionaire in 10 years with a local 30k a year job and invested appropriately. That has little value for the folks that are currently struggling. I recall only a year ago that I heard "this is a easy business that anyone can do and make millions"

I heard that this is an easy business to learn but people who fail, fail to learn the business. I can’t figure it out, can you? I mean I am sitting here with the same situation as Aristotle, thinking I am too much in that rut and can’t see anything but getting out of this business or I have to take anything that comes along to wait it out. I am at the mercy of the agents who get me the work, last year this time I was at the mercy of a company that didn't seem to care what I can do for them.

$30k and 10 years? It amazes me that there are people who worked for a lot less giving schools millions that they accumulated in the 20 or 30 years that they worked. Maybe it was that frugal life style?

A handful were critical when myself and others questioned this philosophy and now we are where we warned folks to be frugal and really understand what they are getting into.
The more self reliant and not carrier reliant, the better off you will be.

Exactly, some people only get to see things from one company/one position view and think that everyone can do it, but the real knowledge and inspiration seems to be coming from the people who are struggling and surviving by adapting (isn’t that a Marine thing?). I want to see people succeed but I can when we worry about speaking the truth.

I think if many would shed this idea that the company is our partner in this, they may do better.

 

[CharlesD]

When you think of yourself and your carrier, how would you describe your relationship?

I have a pretty close relationship with my carrier...darn close.

Sometimes I can't stand the guy, but 99% of the time we're on the same page. We have each other's best interests at heart. I'd say it's a mutually beneficial relationship.