I'm breakin' in!

On the contrary, chief, there is use in talking to me, I listen, and as a youngun' I need the counsel of those more experienced... just don't tell me something I want is unattainable (with, perhaps, compromises).

Also, chief, self insurance is maybe not what you think it is... a bond is issued (usually) by an insurance company to cover an obligee on behalf of the principal holder (the insurance company is called the surety, or one who acts on behalf of the obligee. For instance, you pay an insurance company a principal, or premium, which they then pool and invest until they need to pay it out to a claim to which they are obligated). A bond could be issued by a bank instead of an insurance company, much like a surety bond issued to a construction company (through a bank). This is kind of like a loan; you have principal payment you make ever so often (as determined by the bank), which they hold onto and invest, and keeping some for themselves. If ever a claim is made the bank pays the person you owe and you remain indebted to the bank until you pay off the rest of the principal. You don't need to have the entire value of the term of the policy up-front if you self insure...

well... that's my understanding of it... of course I haven't had to issue any bonds so don't take my word for it and do your own research if you're interested.

....edit... Keep the posts coming; I need input... and facts- if I've got my facts mixed up, well, you could really pull my you-know-what out of the fire... *just don't opine things* like, "I bet that won't work" or "I don't believe in you." If you send me a link to the Bureau of Labor Statistics with a rock solid argument against what I'm doing, with undeniable logic- I would sing your name in praise. However, with my current information and the intrepid reporting of NPR's Market Place you'd be hard pressed for facts to dissuade me. I know work is seasonal, I know it'll drop off after Christmas, I know its a risk (that is calculated, undergoing more calculations...) But hit me with your best arguments. I would truly appreciate that.

As my debate coach once said, "Recourse THROUGH discourse; we'll never come to an agreement until we've had our disagreements."

 

That's a really good idea, Bubba. I'd enjoy hauling medical equipment (as a niche), I always fantasized about being a doctor, and those worthless years working on a Bachelor's in Science in Biochemistry might be a selling point... Did you act as your own broker/agent? Or did you work through a company to get into your niche? My dad told me stories about working as a dedicated trucker for Woodward Governor (no intermediate, direct customer contracts, no broker, no dispatch... just a simple dedicated weekly run, with a year lease, direct to the cosigner)