Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

How to handle leaving a company and starting my own?

Discussion in 'Freight Broker Forum' started by speedstickman, Aug 14, 2015.

  1. Aug 14, 2015 #1
    speedstickman

    speedstickman Bobtail Member

    46
    16
    Jul 10, 2012
    0
    So I've been working for a carrier for the past 4 years (soon to be 5), and I think I am ready to jump ship and start my own business.

    I've worked as a dispatcher for 1 year, and been in charge of booking loads for the past 3.
    I've built some contacts (brokers, drivers), gotten experience, and to be completely honest, a bit jaded I'm making all this money for the company and not getting any commission in return (I'm working on straight salary)

    I'm looking into starting my own freight brokerage, as it seems like this would be the way to go due to low start up costs and overall low overhead (home office anybody?) but I'm not sure how to handle leaving this job, as I would like to do business with this company as a carrier partner.

    I have some contacts that provide me with loads every week, and I'm thinking that at least some of them would come along with me.
    I could then just get the same loads, and broker them to this carrier for a profit, to get things rolling... (and grow from then on)

    What would be the best way to handle this situation? I feel like if I quit and tell my boss I've been starting my own thing on the side, he would feel betrayed and not wanna do business with me.

    Is this a terrible idea? Am I way over my head ? Anybody been in a similar situation?

    Also...if possible, I am looking to partner up with somebody that has some good contacts (shippers and carriers).
    I specialize in freight coming in/out of Southern California (dry and reefer loads)

    Any feedback would be welcome.

    Thank you!
     
    speedstickman, Aug 14, 2015
    speedstickman, Aug 14, 2015
    #1
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Aug 14, 2015 #2
    baha

    baha Road Train Member

    4,137
    2,834
    Jul 25, 2013
    ga
    0
    CK. back to when you started working for them if you sign any papers with their co. name on them you may have signed a non comp. so you cant take co. customers with you when you leave?
     
    baha, Aug 14, 2015
    baha, Aug 14, 2015
    #2
  4. Aug 14, 2015 #3
    Canned Spam

    Canned Spam Road Train Member

    1,504
    2,906
    Mar 8, 2010
    STL
    0
    Dirty
     
    Canned Spam, Aug 14, 2015
    Canned Spam, Aug 14, 2015
    #3
    lots of character and str8t10 Thank this.
  5. Aug 14, 2015 #4
    speedstickman

    speedstickman Bobtail Member

    46
    16
    Jul 10, 2012
    0
    The only thing I remember signing is an employment application...I am not quite sure if it had a non comp clause. I don't recall signing any type of employee packet, but it's been so long I might be wrong. Is there any way to find out without raising suspicions? lol
     
    speedstickman, Aug 14, 2015
    speedstickman, Aug 14, 2015
    #4
  7. Aug 14, 2015 #5
    DUNE-T

    DUNE-T Road Train Member

    6,385
    15,009
    May 10, 2015
    Detroit, MI
    0
    Thats what every business owner is afraid off, hire somebody, teach them everything, then they leave and take customers with them. When I'll be hiring office staff, I'll try to hire nice older ladies, them being young enough to deal with everyday things, but too old to leave and start their own business:D
    But cant blame you, young man. Wish you luck
     
    DUNE-T, Aug 14, 2015
    DUNE-T, Aug 14, 2015
    #5
  8. Aug 14, 2015 #6
    speedstickman

    speedstickman Bobtail Member

    46
    16
    Jul 10, 2012
    0
    I don't wanna screw anybody up. The company has been good to me, and like I said, I'd like to keep the relationship going. But yeah, I don't wanna work under somebody else and keep making them money for the rest of my life. I'm in serious need of good advice.
     
    speedstickman, Aug 14, 2015
    speedstickman, Aug 14, 2015
    #6
  9. Aug 14, 2015 #7
    str8t10

    str8t10 Medium Load Member

    323
    415
    Apr 25, 2015
    Rochester,ny
    0
    So basically you are going to steal his freight and try and sell the loads back to him. I'm sure that'll go over really well. I were you and you say you're doing such a stellar job. Spread a few rumors someone else wants to hire you on salary and a percentage of brokered loads. Or straight up ask or tell them you that you want a piece of the action or.... fill in the blank
     
    str8t10, Aug 14, 2015
    str8t10, Aug 14, 2015
    #7
    Canned Spam, Lite bug and jbatmick Thank this.
  10. Aug 18, 2015 #8
    lots of character

    lots of character Road Train Member

    1,031
    1,813
    Aug 12, 2015
    0
    But oh sooooo good.
     
    lots of character, Aug 18, 2015
    lots of character, Aug 18, 2015
    #8
  11. Aug 25, 2015 #9
    machinegunner_240

    machinegunner_240 Bobtail Member

    21
    9
    Aug 25, 2015
    0
    That was going to be my response. You beat me to it! I know Landstar has those agreements. Try to take their business and they can sue you.
     
    machinegunner_240, Aug 25, 2015
    machinegunner_240, Aug 25, 2015
    #9
  12. Aug 25, 2015 #10
    chalupa

    chalupa Road Train Member

    3,757
    1,640
    Jul 22, 2010
    Houston,Texas
    0
    Catch 22 hand and it won't end well with the boss. You're getting good answers. You may get a "good luck" and a handshake heading out but if you approach his customers he will know and be pissed. What he does about it is another story.

    Leave if you want, startup if you want but don't approach his customers. The must come to you on their own. These are his contacts and customers and ethically off limits to you. Forget any relationship you might have with him too. It's over if you take a customer, any customer and they find out....and they will find out.

    Being said, trucking is a nasty business. Very little honor. Dispatchers and drivers are put out with the trash everyday. What you're proposing happens more often then you think, hence the CNC agreements. Shame on him for not having you sign one.

    IMO its a spongy foundation to build a business on, good luck.

    JMO
     
    chalupa, Aug 25, 2015
    chalupa, Aug 25, 2015
    #10
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.