Question for a broker from a new owner operator

While this does not address your question it is something you need to consider. Getting your own authority does not always equate to more income. Especially if you are dealing exclusively with brokers. You will get whatever you can negotiate based on the market you are in, the broker is not gonna work for free so expect him to keep as much of the pie as he can. Compare this with leased to a carrier with good paying consistent direct freight, no broker involved so you get x percentage of the entire pie. Unfortunately, with your limited experience, no good carrier is going to touch you and must good brokers will only use you as a last resort until your mc#gets some time on it.

 

I'd suggest leasing on somewhere. Hopefully you bought a truck in your spare time and your still a company driver somewhere, and can finish up your first year.

 

Right now is definitely not the time to be buying a truck and trying to make it off brokers. Some would say it never is I disagree on that one. For certain though brokered/load board freight has dried up and died off across a lot of segments all over the country. It was good while it lasted now it's time to ride out some bad and weed out the weak.

 

If what you have posted here is 100% true,

You deserve Way Better than any Broker could ever offer you. And that my Friend comes from my heart!

Shippers,Buyers and suppliers would KILL for an independent carrier of your caliber! No need to even think about talking to a 'broker' because honestly my friend...Whether your resume is as tight as yours is..Or a Bottom feeding Dirty driver with no plan in life..The Broker is out for himself,ALWAYS, And will virtually use anyone they can

You will have absolutely No problems securing your own customers..And GOOD customers too (Fortune 500 and Better)

 

99% Of brokers only concern is how much you will haul the load for,,some brokers will look at your safety record,,some want $1-2million liability insurance and some want $100K or more cargo insurance,,I have never had a broker ask how long I have been in business or how much experience I have,,

 

They don't need to ask. When you give them your mc number they know how long you've been in business. many brokers want to see six months out a year in business before they load your truck.

I suppose it's possible they no longer do since I first had my own authority, after all that was ten years ago. One way to find out, call up a few agents for the larger brokerage firms and ask.

 

As long as you have $1 Million in auto-liability and $100,000 in cargo insurance then I would at least give you a chance. Some of my most tustworthy and hard-working drivers are new to the game, and I actually like it better that way - no habits that I have to worry about and they typically try harder to perform well than my other drivers who run for big companies. Long story short, you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a broker to use you as long as you meet their insurance requirements, and make sure you arrive on time for pickup and delivery. If you can haul my loads without issue then I could care less how long you've been in business, I just need a quality driver for a fair price. Keep both parties happy and there should be little to worry about.

 

The term fair price is relative. In my world, unless it's a black hole market, ie south Florida, the Rockies, anything under 2.75/mile is not a fair price.