Best Place For A Flatbed?

My friend who is still leased to Besl still seems to be going well with them. He ran his authority and owned about 16 trucks at one time. He got tired of dealing with drivers, sold all of his trucks but two, leased to Besl and hasn't looked back since. It still seems to be working for him. I don't think that he is interested in running all that hard any more. I agree about giving up 25% is a lot of revenue, but some people may be better off not having to deal with the paperwork. My friend kept his authority, but he prefers to just drive. I don't think that one size fits all. Some people can run their authority and do well. Others would be better off leasing their truck to a carrier.

 

Depending on the type of work and what is provided, 75% is at the bottom. But you are comparing these rates to being independent. The reason someone gives up this money to the carrier is that they can't float the money they need to run the business, don't have the skills or desire to run the business, have tried it but failed for a long list of many reasons, etc.

Base plates and taxes are a small part of what a carrier is taking on. The biggest is risk. They are paying weekly and will likely have $20-$30k being floated for each truck. They need people working the phones. But I forgot, as a truck driver you believe that you are the only one that should be allowed to make money.

As I grow my business, I have talked to a lot of mom and pop operations. Common number is $20K a year from a truck or you are loosing money. So if you are generating $100-$120K a year then 75% is close.

 

Sounds like you are doing the right thing. I'm not a fan of the larger carriers. Mom and pop (probably because that is what I am) seem to have the biggest satisfaction with drivers. But these take time to find. I'm on the other side. I am looking for van and flatbed drivers but finding the right fit is a challenge. Plenty of calls but few that I feel comfortable with. And because I am an owner operator myself I want to get as much to the driver as possible.

I would stick looking at flats. Seems to be a better class of companies and pay over all. Plus, componies can give you a higher percentage because total revenue is higher. I can give a flatbed driver 87% while I'm looking at 80-85% on a van. And when gross revenue is 50% more to the flat, that is a big difference.

Goodluck and hope what ever you find works out for you.

 

Like this? Keep in mind I priced a new one and it was $84,000. Better plan on hauling a lot of coils.

The quote to fix that was was almost $8k

 

You would need to haul a lot of coils to justify the cost of that trailer.

 

Well my experience has been that there has always been people who make money no matter who they work for. Some like big carriers some don't. My opinion is it has more to do with how you operate and if you do work for the larger carriers, what agents you work for. I tend to favor agents who have their own live accounts and stay away from the agents that work off the broker boards. Also i avoid agents who believe in the big SKIM. Doesn't work for me. My belief is you wanna be a Gangsta,i'll be more than happy to introduce you to the fine grained texture of the parking lot. I worked for a Wise Guy in the 60's he told me once don't take no crap from anybody they can only kill you one time.

 

Realy? There loosing money with a nothing invested Owner Operator that has his own truck and trailer? I get paid 95% have the passwords to all there user accounts and load boards. I keep up with my fuel taxes and at the end of the quarters turn them in and they pay what I owe and so far this year they have paid $350.00. As of today they have made $4500.00 off of me. They do go to Frankfort and pick up my base plate for me that I pay for. My full coverage truck and trailer insurance is thur there insurance carrier and its cheaper for me to go with theirs than to get it on my own so as long as I pay that every month they dont give a flip if I set at home all year.
They have 6 or 7 company trucks that make there money from and 5 O/O's. We also have a fuel discount program that cuts 20 to 30 cents off the pump cash price. I can buy tires at there cost and they charge nothing to mount them.
The office personal is ran by the father, 2 sons and one of there daughters.
Like I said giving any carrier 25% is just plan stupid.

#####!! 8K? Is that for a new hood and paint?