Why does it work for some?

ebsprintin

Veteran Expediter
And since we're looking for common denominators. And my intention not to get into peoples' personal finances but to look at reality. The vast majority of people who are making it have some sort of second income whether it be working spouse, family business, pension... and/or the homefront is extremely limited if there is one at all.

eb
 

chefdennis

Veteran Expediter
I agree, i don't see how a person could run a van, pay the bills that goes with that and also pay for a complete set of household bills without a 2nd income of some type. Now that being said, i can't speak for those driving a ST or TT, but we all know that with those bigger units comes bigger incomes, but also bigger expenses...but i do think it would be a bit easier...maybe???
 

x06col

Veteran Expediter
Charter Member
Retired Expediter
US Army
Yeah, we see it all the time, where people have that employee mentality. That's what I meant by devaluing yourself. On the other hand, some inflate their importance too far in the other direction, and forget that they are in a cooperative partnership with their carrier, and while you are your own boss and have the final say, and you must act in your own self interests, the carrier's input is important and should be weighted accordingly. If you can't strike the proper balance in the cooperative partnership, then you will fail utterly, or you'll have your own authority and do just fine.

I have NEVER observed a failure as a contractor, a success as a Carrier. NEVER! A Leopard jes can't change their spots. I have however, observed successful contractors, be very successful Carriers. The attributes you all have mentioned have to be up and running ALL the time.......not jes some of em some of the time. imho
 

Turtle

Administrator
Staff member
Retired Expediter
That last part reads somewhat badly, as it was supposed to be somewhat humorous. I didn't mean that if you fail as a contractor that you could become a carrier and succeed. I meant that if you can't strike the proper balance as a contractor, then you will fail, utterly. But I didn't want to leave it like that, because there are those who would rather not strike that balance, because they no longer feel it's in proper balance and are no longer willing to allow the carrier to have the amount of control over them, and instead have their own authority.
 

aileron

Expert Expediter
One common denominator all [that were listed] have in common is a sense of humor ;)
Maybe it's an attitude of deciding to want what you have, rather than vice versa....:confused:
You are correct.

I learned a saying while I was in Haiti. "If you don't have what you like, then you like what you have."
 

chefdennis

Veteran Expediter
I understand what Turtle is saying, as i also understand what the Col is saying...its kinda like when i was starting out i was told i should drive for someone 1st....to that i had to say, it just wouldn't work out. my personality would never let me drive another owners truck and succeed, but owning my own truck would allow be to do what is needed and to be a success doing it....kind of the same thing, some couldn't do this while leased to a carrier, but could having their own authority....
 

BillChaffey

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
US Navy
For Steady Eddie:
I was a MM3 in the Navy & a Fireman, water tender, Oiler in the Merchant Marine. It's far better to stay and fight the fire then to jump over the side.:D
 

x06col

Veteran Expediter
Charter Member
Retired Expediter
US Army
I understand what Turtle is saying, as i also understand what the Col is saying...its kinda like when i was starting out i was told i should drive for someone 1st....to that i had to say, it just wouldn't work out. my personality would never let me drive another owners truck and succeed, but owning my own truck would allow be to do what is needed and to be a success doing it....kind of the same thing, some couldn't do this while leased to a carrier, but could having their own authority....

Nope! The same bad habits WILL carry over to their own thing. being "dictated" to by a customer for what they want (as an example), is/would be the same as the "company" in their view. And many other things come into play. Funny thing, it is.
 

Bruno

Veteran Expediter
Fleet Owner
US Marines
Nope! The same bad habits WILL carry over to their own thing. being "dictated" to by a customer for what they want (as an example), is/would be the same as the "company" in their view. And many other things come into play. Funny thing, it is.

I would have to agree with Col on this one. You would still have customers telling you what they want, when they want things done, or how they want things done. Then you have to collect on your freight bills.
 

fastman_1

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
I agree, i don't see how a person could run a van, pay the bills that goes with that and also pay for a complete set of household bills without a 2nd income of some type. Now that being said, i can't speak for those driving a ST or TT, but we all know that with those bigger units comes bigger incomes, but also bigger expenses...but i do think it would be a bit easier...maybe???

I agree I always made enough to pay all the bills, but my wifes income paid for the extras we wanted, and it helps alot when you live a very frugal life.
 

Steady Eddie

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
For Steady Eddie:
I was a MM3 in the Navy & a Fireman, water tender, Oiler in the Merchant Marine. It's far better to stay and fight the fire then to jump over the side.:D

All hope is lost- pumps are down, no way to fight the fire....you are doomed....What now? Pee on the fire? Or change your location?? lol
 

Dynamite 1

Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
i guess the whole sum is what all would consider working or not. some of the posts have mentioned successful and making it. there is a difference between the two. second incomes at home cannot be considered when deciding how your business is doing, however they can help you make it. success is also in the eyes of the beholder and open for opinion.

if we want to try to define success or making it in a business sense, i would first look to money. that seems to define it in most peoples eyes. money in a business = success. making it in business is something else. if you are making it, under the same money definition, then you have cash flow but no real profit. there is money in your bank account but it is not growing. your average balance on your statement always seems to hover at the same level as where if you are successful your bank account would grow every month.

although this is the way some look at it, others see it much differently. my wife and i are some who look at it differently. making it., as far as money in my bank account growing every month is not as important to us. we make enough to pay ourselves a decent
salary each week and that takes care of our personal bills and puts away for retirement. as long as that is done and are also able to pay the business bills and have all aspects of the business funded properly we consider ourselves successful cause we have done what we set as a plan. we are able to work or not work at our sole discretion. if there is a major expense we can take care of it and rebuild the fund and then go back to our current lifestyle.

ofcourse we are able to do this with the business because our personal lives are virtually debt free. we do however own a house have a car have utilities, taxes, insurance and other expenses associated with a household. we just have no extra expenses for toys. the ones we do have are paid for in cash or they are not bought. you only finance big ticket items not toys.

most people on the forum would call me a liar if i told you what salary our corp. pays us weekly and we have not given ourselves a raise in almost 10 yrs. the one we got then was a 100.00 per week raise over what we did make b4 we got into expediting.

now, b4 i disclose the amt. keep in mind that we have 3 children,
1 which i paid child support for and the twins which lived with us = everything x 2 for all important and necessary activities. twins graduated in 02 my son in 07 we bought a new car in 97 and daughters car and 1st trk in 2000. put 5k cash down on trk. to date we have paid off the car put 30k cash into a remodel of house { some of this was done b4 trucking } got all the kids out of hs. and into college. pay some of the daughters college expenses her twin brother has a learning dis. so is not in college but that did require private school for 5yrs prior to hs. and we pay for my sons tuition. and all expenses for running a house with kids in it then on 600.00 a week.

my point is success is what you make it and what is important to you. there really is no way in real life of defining it only in websters. cause a homeless person on the street that finds a place to live considers that a success. so i ask all of you. are you successfull or are you making it ? WE, ARE SUCCESSFULLY MAKING IT. sorry for going on and on.
 
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RLENT

Veteran Expediter
A carriage return, a carriage return ... my kingdom for a carriage return .... well, that .... and a capital letter occasionally ......
 

greg334

Veteran Expediter
What's a carriage return? Is that something the Amish use?:p

A carriage return is a typing term, when you come to the end of a line and need to return the carriage (what holds the paper) on a typewriter.

You can see what a typewriter is by;

visiting a museum Like the Henry Ford Museum

seeing one that someone has collected

or watching some episodes of NCIS

Sorry Dynamite, I didn't know you edited it.
 
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Dynamite 1

Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
hey, im learning. not perfect by any means. not real computer savy when it comes to text. as far as capitals, come on be happy i use a period. i promise to get better, but dont get down on people for how they type. puntuation or not, we are all intelligent adults who with patience, can figure it out. i for one with my new found skills, will put them to use.

THANKS, MOOT
 
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