Becoming an owner operator...

Securing freight is not something you can learn over night, balancing freight on the trailer will depend on trailer, tandems, sprees axle, lots of loads can be set at center point of load, with equal weight, for example, picking up 30' flat steel that weighs 35000 lbs, center the steel with trailer, maybe try working for a company for a while, for some experience, then go on your own

 

You need to try landstar or farm2fleet.. no offense but I've worked for farmers that started out with own authority they struggle not money wise but in knowledge of the industry. Farmers should stay farmers. But most around here run dumps or local stuff. With farm2fleet or landstar. You'd get a better idea and can make the change slowly. You can pick loads and actually may be cheaper on you to get your feet wet. if you have to ask all those questions you need to do research and truck it up leased for a year or so. I wish you luck in what you decide.

 

These at the very least: Greatwide, Farm2Fleet, Landstar, CH Robinson. I've never researced this question, but I'm sure there are many more.

 

His biggest obstacle with leasing on is it appears that he has no experience, no company worth a hoot is going to even think about it.

 

Strutz, that financial experience is going to be a big resource to have going in. Also, you probably already have a business structure with your farm, another major shortcut. Securement training is available thru companies that run flatbed loads, but I'm sure there's something in the private sector for you, a school probably. You'll have a learning curve, but you sound like you have enough resources to get profitable before the liquid funds run out and you have to start using debt, a really important consideration. Apparently most failures are because something nasty hit the fan before the money came in. I think also, a lot of drivers spend and don't think a whole lot about future planning, something I'm sure you're well aware of. About getting paid, lots of small truck firms use a factoring service. I have been asking about O/O business, and a lot of drivers use a factoring service. You can get paid overnight, or one day, for 1.5 - 3% of linehaul. If you lease on to a flatbed company, at-will lease you own your truck and are only leasing services, the company will get you loads and provide securement training, a way to get started and minimize your risk. Best to you. I'll be tracking when I can, because my own interests are similar. One thing about any lease board company: while they all give with the right and take with the left, so the bottom line is cloudy, especially at the start, all companies need profit like we need blood. So, no matter how sweet a recruiter will smile and promise the moon, you're still cutting the pie with them. Sure, dispatch, factoring, training, so on have value. You may use them for a while and step out on your own in a few months, but the only way to cut the pie in your own way is to be independent. It's harder, sure, but after all, who cares about that?

My last contribution, there are good resources available for this information. In this site OOIDA is a visible source, but there are many, many more. I think you might look at these: www.nastc.com. www.aitaonline.com. www.fleetdirectory.com/Associations.htm. J

 

this is really good advice....

 

Your farming 2000 acres in Iowa and need a side job......Really.....troll......

 

No not a troll but farming 2k in Iowa you'd be drag in' a wagon. Try Iowamotortruck.com if you want to ru the big road.