No experience but getting Authority

Shoot. I wish I were my son. Being a grownup sucks.

G/MAN: Thanks. Also on your replies to the OP.

Trade up: I hadn't thought about straight truck, but otherwise that's the plan.

ratherb: I've been lurking and reading this board and everything else I can get my hands on for months - especially that thread and a few similar ones. At this point we're through the easy/cheap stuff of getting quotes, business plan, setting up the company and whatnot. We did join ooida and will be taking full advantage of that as well. Son is getting his DOT medical refreshed this week (happens to be due) and I'm seeing the FAA doc on Friday and getting the DOT card half price with that. I don't plan to drive, but will be getting a CDL so I'm not entirely dependent on others for anything.

Next up is buying a truck/trailer, filing the insurance, and as soon as the MC number goes active find some paying work and put his butt on the road.

Feels a little like Indiana Jones about to step off the cliff. I've gotten a lot of good information and my experience to date tracks right along with the many others posting here step by step. I've been here (at the edge of the cliff LOL) before and have stepped off and stepped back at various times in the past. Things are falling into place with little trouble and that's been the sign before that we're doing it right.

If it doesn't, I promise to hang around long enough on this board to serve as a warning to others. I'm not ashamed to say I gave it a go and share with others what went sideways.

 

Where did the O/P go???I wanted to sell him my truck and offer to drive it.Heck,I`ll even work for .50cpm and tote the note on the truck if he will let me drive it.Also willing to do mechanic work on it for a reasonable hourly fee.Let me know...lol

 

One thing that I would suggest is to check around with several insurance companies. Rates can really vary from one insurance company to another.

 

RED;
"New entrant" authority has quite a few strings attached.
If you can get 'old numbers' from a retiree or someone who has hung it up, you'll be much better off IMO.

OOIDA is a great resource.
They offer a driver file that has everything you need to be in compliance. It's 10 or 12 bucks if I recall.

Lots of good resources on their forum too IF you have a thick skin.


You don't happen to live near Augusta, do you?
I have a good friend near there who is sharper than a razor.
He's DQ after losing an eye to cancer.

 

OOIDA is a good resource. You can get a Driver Qualification File at most truck stops. You are required to have a 10 year driver history on each driver. OOIDA has a drug consortium you can join and also has an occupational accident policy you can purchase in lieu of workers comp for about $140/month. You should familiarize yourself with all of the compliance requirements. New entrants are supposed to go through an audit during the first 18 months of operation.

 

rjones and others: Looks like the OP moved on. And you guys were pretty gentle with him, considering the approach. Maybe he discovered the search feature and found what he was looking for. Maybe I'll just continue hijacking the thread with my bumps and bruises since the topic is an eye catcher

G/MAN: Probably not surprisingly, insurance was the go/no-go on this deal and the first thing that was checked out before wasting time on anything else. Besides the obvious that you can't run without it, the cost in my situation is just as important a factor in the business model as the fuel and equipment.

My day job that keeps the lights on is project management. I've downloaded checklists and other articles from OOIDA, here, and other places. And you're right on - I'm constantly finding more details. Or at least things that require more attention than you'd think on first glance. I really appreciate your following this thread and pointing some of them out.

Here's a good one I didn't expect: someone at FMCSA took it upon themselves to change my legal business name from what was entered on the online application. Most of you know that will play havoc with BOC-3 and insurance forms that come next. Apparently with all the cool kids incorporating or forming LLC's, they decided to put "INC" on the end of my business name. I know the upsides to those, but have chosen to do a partnership to keep it simple for now. So I've been corresponding with someone in DC trying to get that sorted out. I'm doing my best to keep it professional and be patient, but it's terribly frustrating knowing some government admin sitting in a cube farm up there has me by the throat over a freaking typo that his agency is responsible for. I have the printed proof that I filled out the form correctly. I could have just paid the $14 and filed the name change, but they probably would have just done it again. Either way, I've had to spend some hours sorting this and it's a tip that only appeared on one information source as "make sure your legal business name matches on all filed documents." I expected an insurance or process clerk could fumble finger the filing, and never imagined this scenario after being extra careful completing the online form. Our tax dollars at work I tell ya.

Blood: I'm near Atlanta. I didn't really consider buying someone else's business, although that's an excellent option that could work for others - especially if you know the seller really well and can cut a deal that's attractive to all parties.

The ladies in the business support office at OOIDA will be getting to know my wife and I LOL. I'm planning to sign up for their drug test program, and will be calling on them for help with other stuff as needed. They're the ones that got me on the hunt with my new BFF in our nation's capitol.

I'll check out their forum at some point. I've got thick skin and there's no shortage of keyboard flexing at any internet discussion board. Thing is, most people invite trouble by asking stupid questions that clearly indicate they haven't taken the time to do any homework before wasting other people's time.

On a positive note, my driver just got his medical refreshed for another 2 year run and I passed my own. Next time, I will bring my glasses instead of contact lenses that are 1 day away from being changed out. I came --><-- this close to failing the near vision test or having a 20 mile round trip home to get my glasses. I don't wear bifocals (yet) but old contacts don't correct near vision as well as new ones or glasses. Sometime in the next 2 years I will also need to do more cardio exercise and cut back on the biscuits and bacon or I'll have an issue with the blood pressure test too.

 

I am not sure how the fmcsa could have changed your name, but now is the time to get it straightened out. They are usually helpful, providing you can get someone on the phone. Since you have already applied for insurance I assume you have found insurance? How about a truck and trailer?

 

I had the issue with the name caused by a stupid missed space in the name. They did take care of it right away but that was the difference in the federal government (mainly IRS) defining the difference in a partnership and a corporation. I am sure that inc typo caused an avalanche of coding errors. Hope they can get it changed soon.

Been through that initial new entrant audit and don't think for a second that they are kidding around. I passed but I was gigged for the most hard to find mistake you can imagine. One was the requirement to have a separate folder for a maintenance schedule for each vehicle. I had the record... I had 2 copies of it. One in the folder for the truck/trailer and one copy of all of themin a folder labeled monthly maintenance reports. What I didn't have was a separate folder for each truck and trailer with the maintenance report for each in them AND the year, make, model, VIN and tire size written on the OUTSIDE of the folder. Now there's a safety issue if I ever saw one. They couldn't let me go without finding something so be prepared to get a gig if they don't like your filing system. But they can mess up a name and it's no bobbie. Can we gig them back

 

G/MAN: Apparently when you fill out the online form, someone still does some manual data entry. Whoever did that is the one to add the "INC" appendage to my company name. I have no idea why someone would do that, other than trying to be helpful without thinking it through. As I do in my day job, I am keeping my eye on the prize of getting things squared away and not on why the mistake happened or how stupid it is.

We got quotes from about a half dozen agencies to confirm that we could get insured and how much it would cost. When I get ready to actually cut the check, I'll be getting more quotes and making doubly sure we're getting a good price. Right now I'm working with a dealer I like to see if I can get some financing. If I haven't scared the crap out of them by telling them the deal I want and can get (I hate dealership games and do business my way or hit the highway), I have other options. I'll see what they can do and pay a little more for one of their trucks if the service on the sale is there. The dealership isn't named "Goodwill" so I expect them to make some money, just not all their money on one deal. I believe in having a good relationship with vendors that benefits us both. If they miss it, their loss. I won't waste a lot of time with them.

There are also a couple of decent looking 04-05 trucks in the area for sale by o/o's and plenty of trailers around. If my new dealer friend doesn't come through, I'll buy a truck via private sale and find a wagon to hitch it to.

Moving: Thanks for the heads up. I know it's no joke, but will now be extra diligent with the checklist. Seems you got nailed with the oldest audit tactic in the book. Most of the time as long as you've made an effort and everything's there, you get the gold star. You found someone that was looking to show their value by nitpicking yours. Somehow I always attract that sort of thing myself so I'll be sure the t's are all crossed and the i's dotted.

 

2004 was the first year for new emissions regs (EGR).
It hasn't gotten any better since IMO.
Some guys are getting decent service, some have been nearly out out of business. EGR is basically re-running hot, dirty exhaust through the engine. CAT didn't do the EGR and they are even worse.

Personally, I have no intention of running anything newer than '03 for the foreseeable future.

If you buy '04 or newer be SURE to get an ECM dump on the engine & service records.

If you can get an '03 or older with a recent overhaul or low miles it would be a good thing.