yeah, that would work...provided I'm in the chi town region. how long have u been driving...what kind of truck? how bout the driving under someone else's authority rates

 

you are getting a fsc right?

 

keep in mind, I'm a lil brand new - I've been driving only 3 months. I do have my own truck though and , @ some point want to get paid for the use of my authority. Briefly explain fsc please...it's a new term to me Is that in ref to the fuel surcharge? I still have 2 learn all the trucker jargon, acronyms, etc

 

See........This is mind-boggling.........to the extreme.

You have 3 months of driving experience....presumably all of it in this "bobtail" box truck you own.

Is it an old Uhaul/Penske type truck?? Is it something larger??

How much can you carry? What is your GVW for this truck registered at??

Did you do any investigative work at all before you spent your money on this truck? Or...did you just say....."I'm gonna start me a trucking company and life will be easy!"...and off you went??

You need to know what your "break even" is. If you know that...you know what it is going to take to make a profit. You need to know a boat load more than that....but your break even is really important. Being PROFITABLE is how you get paid for having your own authority. Just because you have that authority does not mean you deserve to be paid for it. You jumped blindly into the most cut-throat business on the planet. You think the stories about the Mafia and the likes of Al Capone are something?? Just get deeper into this industry.

Just from where I sit,you should be able to turn a decent living if you work between Saint Louis (which seems to be where you live....THAT area anyway) and Chicago...or Saint Louis and Indianapolis...or Saint Louis and Kansas City. You don't want to make your living off the load boards. You want to make your living off a customer base. But...you have to work hard to build that base.

And...you need a solid base of customers...before you start considering hiring O/O's. Easiest way in the world to kill a good name, is to have a broke O/O working for you and pi$$ed about being broke.

 

26 ft box truck GVW= 31,000, penske type(dock high), researched w/the company I contract with and they expressed the need for box truck drivers. It's just that 1) they have only given me 1 backhaul, in the 3 mths and 2) they have problems when I pass on the local runs - that are 1-2 skids, thus not paying much (25-40 per load)

 

See.........You didn't talk to enough "folks"...before jumping into this. One company expressing a "need" does not research make. You have yet to identify that piker outfit...and piker outfit they are.

If you have your own authority, you should spend a few days driving around the Saint Louis area passing out an information packet, to companies that can use your services. Be prepared to answer their questions...especially when they ask for "rates". That is why you need to know your "break even". If you can come up with a rate a customer can livie with to have you doing work for them....that is how you get your foot in the door. You increase that initial rate.....by providing a quality product...which for you....Is SERVICE. Ontime, at the quoted rate, damage free. The same goes for getting work out of Chicago. And....when you consider what you are doing...do not be afraid to talk with the LTL carriers themselves. If they have your info...you can very well get a call from one of them to deliver anything from an envelope to a couple skids....and they all pay a decent rate!
Go out to the airport and talk with the airlines and their baggage service. ALL of the airlines have companies that deliver luggage for them. They have to know you exist and approve your insurance before they will use you....but you have to take that step for them to know about you. Do not ask a "Sky Cap" either. Talk directly with each airline's Baggage Service manager. Talk with each airline's air cargo manager as well.

 

I don't think you understand the factoring biz, it's not a broker service it's a payday loan company! The 80% that there willing to "give" you is 80% of the 70 YOUR MAKING NOW! Like some one else said best to stay away from them.

 

Big Guy, you may want to go and read this recent post:

http://www.classadrivers.com/forum/o...ting-cost.html

This poster did a lot of preparation.

You need to adapt that process to your situation and see what it will take for you to still be in business.

Otherwise, you don't know if you are being ripped off, or properly paid.

Best of luck!

 

Would it be mean if I said this is the kind of chit they should make reality TV shows about?

 

So what's happening here? Haveing any better luck Big Guy?