people have ask how have you made it in trucking

[geo]

you have to have other intrest
1 i have always sold something on the side
when i was with fedexcc i sold new and used truck's on side
truck genset, laptops, pc, mary kay , mason shoe, heated mirror's
truck consult business on side still have that, not as big , have two customers
still sale ace's II and custom blend of motor oil
now sprinter van's
teach twice a month at ft eustis class on expediter trucking
help troop's out show them what out here after they get out of military

others have wrote book's
wrote songs for country music
drew cartoon for newpaper and others
one did ad's for people
just have to find what will work for you
something to past time while you wait for next load
also help's to learn system how your company work

 

[Rocketman]

I have other "interests". They tend to get expensive though....never found one with a good roi !

 

[ATeam]

You make it in trucking like you make it in any other business. Treat the business like a business such that you know your costs, generate revenue sufficient to exceed those costs and manage your money well. Also maintain capital reserves sufficient to react to unexpected events that might wipe you out if you are otherwise unprepared.

This is easier said than done. It takes ongoing homework to keep your books and understand the truth your numbers tell.

It's one thing to tell others that you are a trucker who is busy with freight and has been at it for 20 years. It's something entirely different to keep a good set of books, control your spending (you know, like everyone says the government should also do), have an effective revenue strategy, bank profits each year and manage that money well.

This is the part where people like to step in and say that if you are doing what you love, you are a success. At one level, that is absolutely correct. But in my mind at least, a true business person believes he or she is actually running a business and acts accordingly.

Not every trucker has business skills when he or she gets behind the wheel for the first time. But they can be developed over time such that you can have a nice pot of money to show for your efforts after you have been at it a while.

If you have or develop a way to have outside earnings while you are passing time on the road, that is a plus. One that is not mentioned in the original post is a pension from a previous career. Military retirees are especially blessed in that regard. They can retire at a relatively young age and enjoy a pension and health care benefits while working full or part time as expediters.

Managing an investment portfolio can be done while you are out on the road if you have the assets and skills. Some folks have tried their hands at day trading. Some have made extra money on eBay while out on the road.

Still, I think, expediting is a business. Even if you are in it for the camping trip, you must know your true numbers so you know that you are at least breaking even. Otherwise expediting will drain your assets and leave you worse off than when you started.

On the positive side, expediting can be a profitable business. By developing business skills (keeping a balance sheet and a profit and loss statement) and a plan to increase your net worth each year, it can be done.