Owner Operator Break Down

And we lose the revenue from the load if it's re powered, we lose demurrage if we're late...... co. policy.

Been a few break down 3/4 the way through the r/t. Load is already delivered but still lose all the revenue. Sheety policy, breeds dishonesty.

 

Haveing money in the bank is only going to help pay for the repair and parts, it will not get the repair shop to fix your truck any faster. Yes you can rent a truck but if not allready set up by the time you do paperwork and credit check you will still be late. From the way some of you guys talk you have never broken down and bin late because of it. If so your very lucky.

 

Yes having $ in the bank will likely get your truck fixed faster than the guy that has not paid for his last major repair or is on the phone trying to find $.

Also you get yourself SETUP for truck / trailer rental long before you BREAK DOWN , its called setting up your business .

 

Actually Rollin is correct, most loads I haul are job site loads. The crane is booked a few months in advance so there is no calling and having it switched to a different day. If you breakdown, you pay. And a few hours late works the same way. These places can't send 70 union construction workers home because I broke down. I have to find other means to get the load there such as renting a truck or paying someone to make the delivery.

With that risk tho comes the reward of better rates.

 

seems the responses have narrowed the central issue, speaking of which I spoke with some one holding an M.B.A. from top 100 school who actually found work at major airline carrier central office,....it is factually known that the number of "first business" that do not make it is vastly lower than what common sense would speak, then the number one business destroyer - in my opinion - after that is some company that has the $ to float dimwilly ......

to constrain the risk one has to know how it is done, we do not walk in to an area of operations with under 5-10 years of work with any idea what has to be done

 

How much unloading time is built into the rate? I know you have to be on time but what about them?

 

Maybe haveing money in the bank will get you fixed faster but you will still be late.. Last time i checked when i break down on the road i am rarely near my local dealer or shops i have accounts with and since i am the new guy inn town i rarely get the drop everything and get right to me attitude. More like get to you when we can. Thats why i fix most things on the road myself if i can. Sure the money will help you pay the bill but not get better service.


Setting up rental, yes that works great untill your in the middle of no where and you break down and theres no truck rental place around or the only truck they have is a single axel tractor and the nearset tandem one is 4 hours away. I do not care how well you plan things out stuff happens and the best laid plan will not control the problem. I am not saying just the heck with the load but if people are waiting and you break down most likely you will be late.

 

Most loads i haul i have a 2 hour window to load and unload. After 2 hours i charge my hourly rate. I rarely do job site delevery for this main rreason. Your allways tied up and you have to fight to get the detention time and if its a union job its 10 times worse. Yes the money can be better but if you sit all day and lose a load and a day it takes your great load and turns it into a not so good one. Last time i did a crane unload on a site i was there for 4 hours and did not get detention. The rate was great but figure in the extra time and not being able to pick and del my return load in the same day i would have bin better of takeing my normal loads.

 

I'm not trying to beat my chest or have a whizzing match. Just pointing out perfect world scenarios like calling the customer and them being ok with the load arriving several days late might be unlikely In that case a person might have to lose a big pile of money by renting a truck to deliver the load or whatever.

 

I'll agree. But not everyone is doing what your doing. I have a "Crane Appointment" Monday at 10:30. I called them today and they are using a Lull to take it off. If I wasn't able to make it on time I'm willing to bet no money will be lost or anyone sent home on my behalf. Not that I plan on being late.