Terminology and other things

[disabled]

could someone please point me in the right direction in understanding this from the guide:

While some expediters develop their own customer base and book their own freight (a regulatory arrangement known as having your own authority)

I am trying to read up more on this term in red. Is this the relationship between the person who wants to ship and a company directly? Does there need to be any government registration or licenses to be able to do this or is it just contract/agreement terms?

If you know where I could read more about this I would appreciate it.

thanx

 

[Moot]

While some expediters develop their own customer base and book their own freight (a regulatory arrangement known as having your own authority)

Here is a link that should keep you busy for months:Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Having your own authority is not something I would recommend to someone who is just starting out. Continue to research the entry level basics.

 

[ATeam]

This Trucker's News article provides a brief introduction to own-authority paperwork. To learn more about own-authority, do a Google search on "Truck Operating Authority."

A number of EO Open Forum members operate under their own authority. Perhaps some of them can explain the costs and benefits of doing so.

 

[Moot]

For someone who is looking into expediting, has no prior trucking experience and isn't familiar with the term "truck operating authority" should probably stick to the basics.

A student thinking about entering a pre-med program does not need to bone up on brain surgery at this point. Learn the basics of expediting, choose a carrier or owner, get some experience and then explore the possibilities of getting your own authority.

 

[greg334]

It is not all that simple.

Having an authority is having permission by the federal government to run interstate. They are allowed to regulate interstate commerce by the constitution and this is really the only thing they are allowed to do. So you need permission to run interstate.

The cost is not a big deal, but the insurance is. You have to maintain a specific level of insurance and the key word is Maintain. If you don't, you lost that permission.

The paper work is another thing. Vans have a better time at this because they fall under that Under 10K rule. Trucks are a bit different, logs and inspections have to follow some rules on how to keep things right.

And there are Audits by the Feds, they will audit you and you can't do a thing about it.

SO I recommend that you look into running for a company, many recommend running for an owner but depends on your level of confidence and willingness to compromise.

By the way you can have best of both, there are a couple companies out there who allow you to find your own loads.

 

[cruzer]

I need some help from some of you long time expediters, former proof readers, former ad agency schmucks and anyone who has used corporate speak in a former life to explain the following excerpts from an ad copy/quasi article to me. My IRT decoder ring went into meltdown mode on this one!

The expansion of services will allow **** ******* to accommodate a full range of transportation requirements for their customers with mode-specific diversity, geographical coverage and freight management capabilities which will bring increased value propositions to the customers' supply chain distribution needs.

As a result of this expansion of business units and in order to support the new infrastructure required to service the variety of transportation services, **** ******* just recently completed an addition to their headquarters which has more tha doubled the size of their facility. The expansion includes a new state-of-the-art operations center designed to optimize the mode selection, dispatch process and shipment management efficiencies. **** ******* and it (sic) Enterprise of Transportation Services is now positioned as a multi-functional Transportation Solutions Provider to a diverse business segment and geographically located customer base.

Wow "mode-specific diversity, geographical coverage and geographically located customer base." What a mind blowing concept! Sure wish my carrier offered all this super cool stuff.

Well it doesn't take a genius to figure out who wrote that and I know who wrote it was not your point but the old saying goes "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance,baffle them with bullchit!! and it doesn't hurt to under bid loads and offer them back to other members of the so called alliance after taking your cut as a broker and then being able to claim your the fastest growing expedite company in the last few years all at the expense of contractors and the alliance.