We are currently leased to one of the better expediting companies,but are considering getting our own authority.We own a 22ft straight truck with a lift gate. Does anyone know any owner-operater doing their own thing,Are they staying busy,and Making ends meet? I know there are Shippers and Brokers out there who need lift gate trucks but I don't know how to find them. Any suggestions.
getting own authority
- Thread starter kymoocow
- Start date
I have my own authority and it is possible to be profitable, but it is work.
You become not only a driver worrying about making profitable runs. You are now the Sales staff, credit and collection dept.,Human Resource Dept., Safety Dept., just to name a few.
You will need to find your own Liability and Cargo Insurance,Health Insurance,Workers Compensation if you are to have employees [rules vary from state to state check your home state].
I recomend that you join OOIDA to have your filings done. They are very helpfull.
They also can help with questions on other things.
Good Luck.
You become not only a driver worrying about making profitable runs. You are now the Sales staff, credit and collection dept.,Human Resource Dept., Safety Dept., just to name a few.
You will need to find your own Liability and Cargo Insurance,Health Insurance,Workers Compensation if you are to have employees [rules vary from state to state check your home state].
I recomend that you join OOIDA to have your filings done. They are very helpfull.
They also can help with questions on other things.
Good Luck.
I can say that if you think leasing a truck to a carrier is difficult - you haven't seen anything yet when you do business with a broker.
You are pretty much guaranteed payment when you haul a load for a carrier - with a broker you may wait 30,60 or 90 days and beyond to get paid.
It is very difficult to run a straight truck with brokers.
Lawrence,
Expediters Online.com
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You are pretty much guaranteed payment when you haul a load for a carrier - with a broker you may wait 30,60 or 90 days and beyond to get paid.
It is very difficult to run a straight truck with brokers.
Lawrence,
Expediters Online.com
-----------------------------------------
Thanks For Visiting EO!
http://www.expeditersonline.com/hotnews/sterling_eo_forum.jpg
Please Help Us Get The Word
Out About Expediters Online.com!
-----------------------------------------
Ace & Lawrence have pegged it. If you believe you can still do it, I can attest that it can be done. I hot-shot (24' flatbed FL60) with my own authority. If it weren't for my wife taking up the slack in the billing/collections dept, I'd make less money, 'cause I'd be looking for loads, plus all the office work. (She also does local loads in our small truck)
Before you even consider jumping out on your own, you must have a local base of potential customers. Before I committed, I visited most all of the businesses, in my area, that I thought could possibly use my services. Stressed honesty & timely delivery. It was still three weeks after I started, that I got my first local customer's load. They are still using me. You can find loads thru brokers, by using a load board. I subscribe to DAT & getloaded.com. It is very hard to make *good* money using broker services. They must get their customer a good deal, or they're out of business. I use them for back hauls/partials only. They do have their usefullness.
Know what you want. I thought I wanted to have many trucks. At one time, I was running 6, two were T/Trailers. But, I came to the realization, that I like to drive, not sell services for a larger company. So, as I lost drivers, I sold the truck. Set up two of the drivers with their own O/Op business. 2003 was the first downsized year, and my net was within 10% of what it was when I had all the trucks.
Many things to think about. You must explore & make up your own mind. I have never regretted my decision.
Dennis
Before you even consider jumping out on your own, you must have a local base of potential customers. Before I committed, I visited most all of the businesses, in my area, that I thought could possibly use my services. Stressed honesty & timely delivery. It was still three weeks after I started, that I got my first local customer's load. They are still using me. You can find loads thru brokers, by using a load board. I subscribe to DAT & getloaded.com. It is very hard to make *good* money using broker services. They must get their customer a good deal, or they're out of business. I use them for back hauls/partials only. They do have their usefullness.
Know what you want. I thought I wanted to have many trucks. At one time, I was running 6, two were T/Trailers. But, I came to the realization, that I like to drive, not sell services for a larger company. So, as I lost drivers, I sold the truck. Set up two of the drivers with their own O/Op business. 2003 was the first downsized year, and my net was within 10% of what it was when I had all the trucks.
Many things to think about. You must explore & make up your own mind. I have never regretted my decision.
Dennis