Well thanks. This is one of the most helpful conversations I’ve seen for someone like me looking into this business.
Much is said about the freedom that comes with Expediting. This helps me confirm what I thought was true of it. Like life, freedom means personal responsibility. No entitlements.
Also like life, to be happy being free means the existence of a fair and level playing field and rules (contracts) that can be trusted not to change without being mutually beneficial (fair).
I’m beginning to wonder if the “freedom” of owning a business and Expediting is all that much different from being a company driver right now.
The company that I drove for did not let me refuse a load (except NYC) unless I could not get it there safely and legally. They were compelled to get me loads. It is there business. The compensation didn’t vary much but I didn’t have a choice. In your business, are you not compelled to take loads to succeed? Doesn’t your carrier have the same motivation?
My company provided me a truck but I had the responsibility to make sure it was in shape. It was not directly an expense to me to service or repair it but it did cost me to sit while it was in the shop. My company does have to pay for and insure it and the freight though.
Taking time off is time not getting paid. That is the where a ‘job’ as a company driver doesn’t seem so much like a job. Still, as an OO this will test your integrity and seriously restricts your freedom.
It seems that the current climate of too many trucks, not enough freight and the trend of some carriers that you all lease to, attaching too many strings, is really testing your faith. I’m not convinced that your business isn’t as free and rewarding as advertised but as many have warned me, right now might not be the time. I’ll keep studying.
I have great respect to all who are keeping a good attitude and fighting your way through this. It tells me what character is required to succeed and shows me that it must be rewarding or people like you wouldn’t keep doing it.
Thanks,
Bob
