This is a basic thing, just something I need to say. Recently we had a newbie-- who is probably still around and may read this-- who wanted a job as an expedited driver and wanted to know who was hiring. Setting her straight that this is NOT a regular job is a work in progress as it appears, and now she's faced with the hard fact of not having enough money to get started. Frankly, even if she didn't have the problem of what to do with an RV and a dog, I wonder how she was gonna make it to the first settlement check and still be able to eat.
With that thought in mind, for all of you newbies out there: Expedited driving is not like a regular job. You get your first settlement check--- note that I didn't say "paycheck"-- in about two to three weeks after you start driving, in most outfits. In that two to three weeks, you will very quickly have to come to terms with the fact that the truck needs fuel and maintenance, tolls have to be paid, you have to eat and so on--- and all of these expenses come up in front. You may not get paid for two more weeks--- but your truck's fuel tank is empty and the fuel station expects to be paid RIGHT NOW. Get a flat tire-- lucky you. That gets paid for right now too. So it is for most other expenses.
So, that means that before you get started in this business you need to sit down and figure out what it's going to cost you to operate for several weeks with no money coming in. Then a few weeks beyond that because--- you're new, dispatch is feeling you out to see if you're any good, and you're likely to not get the cream jobs you want for-- oh, maybe a couple of months. Figure up to half a year you may be living out-of-pocket before things start getting good, if the economy doesn't sour and the creek doesn't rise.
I'm not saying it can't be done--- I'm saying this isn't a 9-to-5 job with regular paychecks. This is Independent Contractor, 1099, you get paid for the work you do--- and like all of us you may hit fallow weeks when there isn't much work so you won't get paid much. You have to prep yourself for this--- don't come in with $50.00 to your name and expect miracles in expedited, it ain't gonna happen.
With that thought in mind, for all of you newbies out there: Expedited driving is not like a regular job. You get your first settlement check--- note that I didn't say "paycheck"-- in about two to three weeks after you start driving, in most outfits. In that two to three weeks, you will very quickly have to come to terms with the fact that the truck needs fuel and maintenance, tolls have to be paid, you have to eat and so on--- and all of these expenses come up in front. You may not get paid for two more weeks--- but your truck's fuel tank is empty and the fuel station expects to be paid RIGHT NOW. Get a flat tire-- lucky you. That gets paid for right now too. So it is for most other expenses.
So, that means that before you get started in this business you need to sit down and figure out what it's going to cost you to operate for several weeks with no money coming in. Then a few weeks beyond that because--- you're new, dispatch is feeling you out to see if you're any good, and you're likely to not get the cream jobs you want for-- oh, maybe a couple of months. Figure up to half a year you may be living out-of-pocket before things start getting good, if the economy doesn't sour and the creek doesn't rise.
I'm not saying it can't be done--- I'm saying this isn't a 9-to-5 job with regular paychecks. This is Independent Contractor, 1099, you get paid for the work you do--- and like all of us you may hit fallow weeks when there isn't much work so you won't get paid much. You have to prep yourself for this--- don't come in with $50.00 to your name and expect miracles in expedited, it ain't gonna happen.
