SMART MOVES:Ask those who know-I want to employ O/O's and don't know doodly *h*e*l*p*

Sounds like its easier just to have your own trucks and not hire o/o (From the company side of things)


And thats just my still uneducated opinion mind you.

 

Heavy Duty Trucking Magazine - Sept 2010 "How Independent?" by Jim Park. Its a must read.

 

Trashy - I just read your questions and their replies since 1st post, and two quick comments: #1 I am truly sorry for your experience that any truck company owner would treat anyone so poorly. Sadly, it's not uncommon.

#2 - I applaud you for having a good work ethic to improve the company and would encourage you to keep/use that in your next endeavor. Overall, that is what will make you stand out from all the other "scum bags" as I beleive you referred to them in earlier post. It's also very rare to find someone who goes from being a driver to being a good driver mgr/dispatcher because it's difficult adjusting to the "other side" of business! The majority either become too "bossy/controling" forgetting that they need to treat drivers with respect, or the opposite - too easy, letting drivers walk all over them. You found perfect middle ground, which is to be commended. Too bad the owner of company didn't recognize what an asset he had.

I had a similar experience 3 yrs ago, but in the end, it put me in a better position which I enjoy even more. Bottom line is - I wish you the best in find your next endeavor, and I hope you keep that same sense of professionalism - it is admirable and rare! We need more people like that in our business so trucking doesn't get such a negative rap all the time.

 

Hi guys. First let me say a big "Thank you" to all of you folks that take time out of your schedule to answer questions for us folks out here that need info. You guys and gals are to be commended.

My husband started his driving career in the army in 1976. He started civilian driving in 1983. When we met 6 years ago I had never dispatched in the transportation industry. I had dispatched in heating and air though. Same principle. Different industry. I rode with my husband for awhile so I know what it is like for the drivers. I ended up dispatching for the guy he worked for and the guys loved me because I didn't ride them. I didn't force dispatch. I understood detention and always fought for my guys. If we had a bad experience with a company that didn't treat my guys right, we didn't haul for them anymore. That guy ended up selling all the trucks and just started running for himself. He was by far the fairest man my husband ever worked for. My husband decided to go back to dump trucking as we had two foster kids and he wanted to be home every night with us.

In the spring we found a great deal on a Pete and we paid cash for it with our taxes. My husband wanted his own authority as he was tired of the lies and the games. (Sorry for being so long winded!) While we are not ready yet, we want to grow this company. I just need to formulate a plan and then work towards that goal. Need info first. I would really appreciate any help I can get.

We cannot afford to buy another another truck right now so we have been thinking about leasing O/O's when ready. Our thing is we DO want them to be employee's so that we can provide medical insurance and workman's comp and other benefits. The question then becomes what would be fair to pay them? We want to offer real insurance and we will pay the highest percentage of that. It will not be mandatory as I am sure some drivers are covered through their spouses. But we can't give 95% and be able to afford to offer those things.

We want to have a company where our drivers never want to leave. One where we get to know their families. Everything we have is paid for. No car payments, truck payments, rent or mortgage. I have not been in a mall in 20 years. I hate shopping. We have everything we want so we are not looking to get rich.

We want to know when we die that we have done something good for people. That we have made a difference in peoples lives. In a good way. I need to be able to know what I am looking at money wise to hire someone on as an employee. How do I do a contract so that they are not contractors? I know that I have a lot to learn before we hire. That is why it will be awhile before it happens. My husband is even willing to help with repairs to their trucks so that they don't have to pay someone labor to fix their trucks. Just parts.

We don't want a big company because that is when employee's become numbers instead of people. Not always that way. Just most of the time from what I have seen.

So sorry for the long post and thank you in advance for any and all help, insight, knowledge and information.

Pain