New Fleet Owner

[dadacro]

TO ALL THAT HAVE ANSWERED POSITIVELY - Regardless of the content of your replies, I thank you for taking the time to share your views and information. That was the type of help I had hoped to receive over the next few days or even weeks.

I do appreciate the good advice, and general information that many of you have provided. Some have mentioned talking to drivers and fleet owners directly - thank you. Sadly, I had not thought of that as a way to get the information I was looking into getting. Sometimes, the obvious is the hardest to see... Others mentioned a better way to do searches. Again, I will try (and have now tried some of) these methods and see if they return better results. (Yes, the addition of "quotes" around my search terms DID help eliminate some of the "what?" responses to the searches.)

I welcome any additional comments, ideas and information that might help me to direct my search or learn what questions to actually ask to help learn what I might need to know. Thank you, in advance, for your help!

 

[xiggi]

A few perfect examples of what the hell is wrong with this place sometimes!

Sent from my Fisher Price ABC-123.

 

[EASYTRADER]

Xiggi,
No kidding but its a plague on all forums.

But seriously if you want to know how to end up with a million dollars expediting, I can tell you. . .Start with 10 million

 

[21cExp]

You'll do fine here, man...I like your thoughtful reply. Hope you find the info you're after.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

We don't have a lot of true fleet owners that actually post info here.....just a couple.....

 

[guido4475]

In all fairness Cheri, I LMAO every time I read a post from a senior member that tells a new member to read back two to three years on here before asking what seem like simple questions to those that have been around the block more than once. In just the past 6 months to a year, how many changes have happened in this industry that would make answers OLD and inaccurate that would be found in the archives. How many members have come and gone in just the past couple of years that have been able to provide new and updated info, but before they could they either got fed up with snarky comments or run off by the bullies that don't want any more people on their playground.

Dadacro: Your best bet is to search out people in expedite, owners and drivers alike. The best place to find them is at the truck stops ie. Petro/ TA, Pilot/Flying J. Talking to both drivers and finding some owners that drive one of there own trucks will give you a view from both sides of the coin. You will be able to get likes and dislikes from the drivers about differences in contracts and tailor yours accordingly, from the owners you will be able to glean the specifics about their contracts with a specific carrier and make comparisons with what you will hear from recruiters you will be talking to.

One bit of advice when approaching someone in hopes of picking their brain. Ask if they are busy and would they mind answering a few questions for you. Be aware of how the conversation goes from there and cut it short if they seem to be tiring from the barrage of questions. Most drivers will be willing to talk a little longer if there is an offer of coffee or dessert offered.

Best of luck in your research, Pauls' advice is sound in my opinion, being with one of the larger carriers will likely be your best bet starting out, they will have more resources for you to use to your advantage while learning the ropes of fleet ownership.

The first paragraph sums up E.O. to a "T". So many have been on here, lurking, but never becoming a member, because of all of the B.S. on here. Kinda resembles he Government.It needs to be cleaned out, and started all over again, fresh and new. Too many people in control on a power trip.So sad but true for such a great website.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Opinions are well like you know....everyone has one....

 

[guido4475]

Opinions are well like you know....everyone has one....

That's exactly 100% correct.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Dave....Read this again.....
“I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.”
Thomas Jefferson

Thank you....

 

[BobWolf]

Wahhhhhhhhhhhhh, wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!.

Bob Wolf

 

[BobWolf]

Now with that said and done, Any business venture requires allot of research and work. I would personaly contact fleetowners by phone or dirrectly PM and ask them questions.

In any case, I would recomend the O.P. not whine, argue and complain if the answer is what he dosnt want th hear.

Bob Wolf.

 

[Turtle]

The first paragraph sums up E.O. to a "T". So many have been on here, lurking, but never becoming a member, because of all of the B.S. on here. Kinda resembles he Government.It needs to be cleaned out, and started all over again, fresh and new. Too many people in control on a power trip.So sad but true for such a great website.

Actually, this post sums up what is all too often wrong with EO. Instead of replying on-topic with answers or advice, you criticize the membership at large with some meaningless big picture comment that doesn't help the OP or the site. If you want to clean out and start fresh, then stay on topic and answer the OP's concerns.

As to the OP, there is no one right answer to any of your questions. You'll get as many answers to those questions as there are carriers, fleet owners and drivers.

The best answer to all of your questions is, "You need enough experience in this business so that you don't have to ask any of those questions, because you will already know the answers. Otherwise you are putting the cart before the horse."

If you have to ask all those questions, then you are not ready to be a fleet owner, and having those questions answered for you in any manner other than experience won't make you ready, either. It's typical for people to get into this business and within a few months decide they want to be a fleet owner, and then a year or two into the business they realize how foolish a notion that was. You're asking people how to play the notes, without knowing how to play the music, or worse, thinking that the notes and the music are the same thing and that if you know how to play the notes then you can play the music.

 

[cheri1122]

I couldn't have said it better myself - and I didn't, but it is pretty much what I tried to say. Only I thought the OP would come to the same conclusion on his own, after doing the work involved to reach that conclusion.
The first question, "What carrier would you recommend?" is a dead giveaway that the asker knows little to nothing already, and sure, I could have answered his questions in exhaustive detail, but why should I [or any of us] make that kind of effort for someone who won't make it for himself?
I'm sorry if that offends some people, but it's what I think.

 

[purgoose10]

The (#32) last paragraph in Turtles post is right on. Being a small fleet owner myself I recommend 5 years driving your own before doing anything crazy. This industry changes every year and the way the freaks in the White house are going no telling what's next. I also suggest some experience in the operations end as well. There's more going on with this business than wheeling on down the road.

How do you find out what's going on in operations? After your with a company for a year or so and get along with them ask if you can come in and observe their operation for a few weeks. A good company will be glad to help.

 

[BobWolf]

Coppy what purplegoose10 says.
Anytime I entertain the thought of fleet ownership I decide no because then you have to hope and pray the drivers dont destroy or ditch your vehicles and freight.
Ive had guys ask me about running for me but the only way I would consider it is they have thier own truck and insurances.
I guess thats why Im still a one man outfit.

Bob Wolf

 

[Humble2drive]

The (#32) last paragraph in Turtles post is right on. Being a small fleet owner myself I recommend 5 years driving your own before doing anything crazy.
.

That is probably a reasonable time frame in general but of course each individual is different. For us two years was sufficient due to our business history.
I just want to mention our "secret to success" as many have asked why our business runs so smoothly.

DRIVERS

From day 1 we met and conversed with every driving team we could. We enjoyed meeting and learning from the good ones but we had a bigger purpose in mind.
We kept a list of the most impressive teams and stayed in touch. Smart, committed, hard working, positive attitudes,excellent decision making skills, independent, revenue generators, etc. etc.
When we decided to become Fleet Owners we recruited from this list and that (I believe) has made all of the difference.
This is just not the type of business were I am comfortable with placing an ad and interviewing strangers to be responsible for my living. Having an intimate knowledge of someone's past successes, commitment and morals gives me the confidence to offer them the best pay structure.

 

[paullud]

Opinions are well like you know....everyone has one....

Sometimes people are one.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using EO Forums mobile app

 

[davekc]

Lots of good advice. The reality is that anyone can be a fleet owner. Being a successful one over a sustained period of time is quite another. Even more so in what many may consider a challenging and constantly changing industry. Navigating those waters are challeging even for the most seasoned veterans. Like other businesses, there are more failures than successes. With expediting, it is usually tied to two areas. Inexperience, and being undercapitalized. Trucking in any form is not the hobby for a small wallet.

 

[Ragman]

Opinions are well like you know....everyone has one....

Some even have two.

 

[davekc]

That is probably a reasonable time frame in general but of course each individual is different. For us two years was sufficient due to our business history.
I just want to mention our "secret to success" as many have asked why our business runs so smoothly.

DRIVERS

From day 1 we met and conversed with every driving team we could. We enjoyed meeting and learning from the good ones but we had a bigger purpose in mind.
We kept a list of the most impressive teams and stayed in touch. Smart, committed, hard working, positive attitudes,excellent decision making skills, independent, revenue generators, etc. etc.
When we decided to become Fleet Owners we recruited from this list and that (I believe) has made all of the difference.
This is just not the type of business were I am comfortable with placing an add and interviewing strangers to be responsible for my living. Having an intimate knowledge of someone's past successes, commitment and morals gives me the confidence to offer them the best pay structure.

I would agree. That is kinda how we started. Some of those folks that started with us early on, are now current fleet owners. It is great because we talk to them on a regular basis. But as mentioned, don't be mistaken as this is a expensive business to operate with smaller margins per truck.
That is the toughest part as truck and operating costs climb, it becomes tougher for a team or solo to operate their own truck and then buy others and carry the costs. For us old farts, it is different because we grew these fleets when the operating costs were much less so our margins are much different. We still primarily operate on word of mouth and rely on our reputation to expand, but as one expands, people that are new, do enter the picture. How many people can you know? So the bigger you get, yes the more risk you take on.
I guess that is why I enjoy expediting. Kinda like standing in front of a giant roulette wheel.