OK, I dont want this to sound sarcastic or that I am not listening, because I am taking all this information in, but if a man has his own truck and is an O/O and has his wife schedule loads, you are telling me that he drives 3000 miles a week and she scours the load boards or makes calls 6-8 hours per day, 30-40 hours per week? Just to find loads? I know there are other paperwork items, AP, AR, taxes, permits, payroll (if more than one employee), but those can be done in just a few hours per week. Other than the driving, what takes the most time? And how is it possible for a man and his wife to both work full time (or more) keeping one truck busy billing out 3000 miles a week at $1.75-$2.00 per mile?

Originally Posted by theboss

I just thought (and I could be wrong, that is why I am researching) that with a paid for truck and a dependable driver there is some money to be made by having my wife work a few hours a week finding loads and doing the paperwork that needs to be done. I know at first there would be a steep learning curve and hours and time to understand the basics of the industry.

The flaw with your logic is that it is work that is impossible to schedule around. This isn't like your day job where you just put it on the calendar and set up work times.

First off, hustling loads can take anywhere from 5 minutes to days. Then you got to know what time to look, who always has fake or cheap loads, and how long you want to shop before moving on MT. And that varies from one market to another. Of course making sure while you connect the dots that the loads you preplan are even feasible and will work within HOS constraints. You also have to plan PM visits and get your driver home once in a while unless they happen to be a monk or something. And even though they like to run non-stop (= payday) they do need to get through a decent truck stop every day or two for cooked food and a bath. Sometimes they just get tired after some weird hours or bad sleep and you need to park them for some rest. They won't tell you that all the time, you just have to know what to listen for.

While all that is happening (or not) you have to manage and support your driver. He or she doesn't work business hours and will call when something is needed, a decision made, or crisis is erupting, or just to check in and talk. 24x7 and you better answer and be ready to handle it. Right now. Everything from "I want my mommy" to "are you sitting down." You'll have to become an expert at Google maps, service directories, and paying for stuff while not standing there.

Then you have your customers and their customers. After the sale, they want to know where your truck is and will it be on time. For the pickup and the delivery. Then they'll have a shift change and someone else will call with the same questions an hour later. They'll be second guessing everything you say and then some. The fun ones are usually after your driver check called them at 0300 at the end of his shift then cussed someone out when they called at 0700 to do a morning check call. Of course the unload that has you detained at the dock could care less that you have two more loads preplanned that are falling more apart every minute that ticks by. You'll also figure out when it's time to put on your daddy pants and tell the customer what is going to happen and when, and to "make it work."

With that out of the way, or at least on the back burner, you get a little time to do invoices and payroll. They kind of go hand in hand. Obviously putting either of them off is a bad idea and leads to bigger problems.

In your free time you do your taxes and compliance stuff. That usually comes in waves. Quarter end can be a bit of a booger. Month ends aren't quite as bad. Logbooks, DQ reviews, various payroll taxes, fuel card reconcile, and so on. Since you didn't wait till the last minute that usually works out ok.

So there's a glimpse into my daily routine. It's not always non-stop. After doing this a while you learn when you can sneak in a break. Steep learning curve is the understatement of the decade. More like vertical and expensive. Everyone in this industry has their hand in your wallet and you better be ready. I don't recall you mentioning any mechanical aptitude, having a CDL, or industry knowledge beyond the stories Grandpa told you. You're three for three and ought to think a lot harder before stepping up and doing this.

PS: If you or your wife really don't have a CDL, at least one of you better get one. You never know when your driver is going to have a health problem or family crisis and you need to get your equipment moved. Or for that matter, just moving the equipment for service when your driver takes time off. Being dependent on a driver like that can be a nightmare. It also gives the wrong kind of driver leverage against you.

Since one of you will be going out with the driver a couple weeks, at least long enough to confirm that they drive as good as they say they can and won't destroy your equipment or kill anyone around them, you will have already had a taste of what happens out on the road. It can be a great bit of knowledge in your favor when you sit down at your desk and start booking loads.

Originally Posted by RedForeman

The flaw with your logic is that it is work that is impossible to schedule around. This isn't like your day job where you just put it on the calendar and set up work times.

First off, hustling loads can take anywhere from 5 minutes to days. Then you got to know what time to look, who always has fake or cheap loads, and how long you want to shop before moving on MT. And that varies from one market to another. Of course making sure while you connect the dots that the loads you preplan are even feasible and will work within HOS constraints. You also have to plan PM visits and get your driver home once in a while unless they happen to be a monk or something. And even though they like to run non-stop (= payday) they do need to get through a decent truck stop every day or two for cooked food and a bath. Sometimes they just get tired after some weird hours or bad sleep and you need to park them for some rest. They won't tell you that all the time, you just have to know what to listen for.

While all that is happening (or not) you have to manage and support your driver. He or she doesn't work business hours and will call when something is needed, a decision made, or crisis is erupting, or just to check in and talk. 24x7 and you better answer and be ready to handle it. Right now. Everything from "I want my mommy" to "are you sitting down." You'll have to become an expert at Google maps, service directories, and paying for stuff while not standing there.

Then you have your customers and their customers. After the sale, they want to know where your truck is and will it be on time. For the pickup and the delivery. Then they'll have a shift change and someone else will call with the same questions an hour later. They'll be second guessing everything you say and then some. The fun ones are usually after your driver check called them at 0300 at the end of his shift then cussed someone out when they called at 0700 to do a morning check call. Of course the unload that has you detained at the dock could care less that you have two more loads preplanned that are falling more apart every minute that ticks by. You'll also figure out when it's time to put on your daddy pants and tell the customer what is going to happen and when, and to "make it work."

With that out of the way, or at least on the back burner, you get a little time to do invoices and payroll. They kind of go hand in hand. Obviously putting either of them off is a bad idea and leads to bigger problems.

In your free time you do your taxes and compliance stuff. That usually comes in waves. Quarter end can be a bit of a booger. Month ends aren't quite as bad. Logbooks, DQ reviews, various payroll taxes, fuel card reconcile, and so on. Since you didn't wait till the last minute that usually works out ok.

So there's a glimpse into my daily routine. It's not always non-stop. After doing this a while you learn when you can sneak in a break. Steep learning curve is the understatement of the decade. More like vertical and expensive. Everyone in this industry has their hand in your wallet and you better be ready. I don't recall you mentioning any mechanical aptitude, having a CDL, or industry knowledge beyond the stories Grandpa told you. You're three for three and ought to think a lot harder before stepping up and doing this.

PS: If you or your wife really don't have a CDL, at least one of you better get one. You never know when your driver is going to have a health problem or family crisis and you need to get your equipment moved. Or for that matter, just moving the equipment for service when your driver takes time off. Being dependent on a driver like that can be a nightmare. It also gives the wrong kind of driver leverage against you.

Since one of you will be going out with the driver a couple weeks, at least long enough to confirm that they drive as good as they say they can and won't destroy your equipment or kill anyone around them, you will have already had a taste of what happens out on the road. It can be a great bit of knowledge in your favor when you sit down at your desk and start booking loads.

BAM! Nailed it.

theboss, if you have 50,000 cash saved keep it in your pocket.

if you have zero experience, and try to buy a truck, hire a driver , and learn the business at the same time is a huge undertaking.

red foreman had a son who had a cdl and they started a family business.

it is very very difficult to find someone to drive that will care for the truck. with zero exp. it will be hard to spot fuel thefts, etc.

no one here is trying to be mean toward you , just giving you the truth. keep that money and put her in another business that she may be familiar with.

i hope you will heed the excellent advice given, if you any experience at all other than a granndfather that drove i might advise differently.

why not open a dental clinic, with no experience you just as easily do that. see the analogy?