here is my reply from last night to another expediter wannaBe.
in your case ,you will also have to answer : why lease rather then buy ,once you and your wife get the needed expedite experience .
:
first you will have to set up you goals .why are you doing this ,and what it is that you try to accomplish .
then you will have to get yourself familiar with the Expedite nitch of transportation .we normally advised experience truckers ,or previously small business owners to read this forums and archives at least a year back .(this dose not meant to say that you need to read every post ,but to spend a lot of time researching words of interests ) .then DRIVE FOR AN OWNER FIRST ! sorry no way around it ,(if you can't drive it yourself ,get someone you trusts to do it for you).
then you will have to understand how expedite works .get familiar with basic terms ,like freight lines ,DH% ,cost averaging a load ,relocation ,flowered shorts ,none directional industry ,and so many more .
lastly ,the 1st items on every driver mind is where to go to get freight to be placed on the truck .or in other words ,hoe is YOUR costumer .and what will be the best tool to serve his everyday needs.
remember ,expedite is NOT trucking ,it is a business first .
many of us ,my self included ,can shoot you a ready to sign contract ...but we won't ,at least not the responsible ones .it will be like setting you up to fail...sorry.
the good news is that you came across the best place to ask questions ,this is the Expedite information Interstate ,and it is rush hours year round .
good luck to you in your new venture ,and please don't be a stranger .