CRST Malone (The Whole Truth and Nothing But The Truth)

What is the $1000 deduction for? is this a combined lease/maintenance/insurance deduction or? How often does this get deducted?

 

Yes, the lease payment on the tractor and trailer, permits, insurance, maintenance escrow, etc. Its a lot of money, but if you hussle and manage your fuel costs and treat it like a business, you can carve out a living.

 

Very well said.So do you spose some of these drivers who are failing depnds on their dispatchers for loads rather then find their own loads?

 

Too many new owner operators continue with the company driver mentality. Like someone should be calling them or that great paying load should just drop out of the sky. As an owner op, your the CEO, sales force, and worker for your business. I find if for example you make it clear with your dispatcher that you won't run for less than a certain price per mile, you by proxy train them to look for the good stuff. You give them the idea your willing to pull anything, then all the junk will come your way. Part of the problem is the lease concept itself. If your chasing a truck payment and go the owner operator route without a dime in your pocket, your setting yourself up for a hard road. If you can't wait for a good paying load and have to roll because your broke, your going to have tough time of it. I'm not saying its impossible, but if at all possible bring a truck there and avoid leasing. As far as loads, you have to always be looking ahead to the area your going into. The $2.50 load into an area with no freight for 300 miles is no great deal. Take an active role in your business. Your freight should be picked because it advances your bottom line. Even pennies matter. Save 1 cent per mile, and over the course of a year that penny will return over a thousand dollars. The learning curve is steep and at times it can be frustrating, but I wouldn't do it any other way.

 

Are you currently a l/p or o/o with them. I currently DFO but am thinking about going to the next level. Just looking for other opinions or advice

 

I'm an owner operator. I saved my money as a company driver and bought a cheap first truck and upgraded over the years. If the company owns the truck and things don't work out you can't leave with it. They hold all the cards then. There are lot of advantages to being leased to a carrier vs having your own authority, but you'll be much happier in the long run when it "really" is your truck.

 

For many companies being a L/O is nothing more then a company driver making their trk payments.They find loads,they neuter(govern) your truck.Think maybe the only good thing is no forced dispatch or is there?Companies have to be making a nice little profit off each driver just for leasing their trks.There is a big difference between a L/O and a 100% O/O.

 

Yes its no forced dispatch. If that wasn't the case I couldn't justify the risks associated with owning a truck. It's my business. My choice.

 

You mean LP/O(lease purchase operator) right. Cause I OWN my truck. not making anyones trk payment. No where near being a company driver. Truck isn't neutered. I don't think the LP/O's trucks are nuetered either. Been passed by several running 70. As a O/O leased to CRST Malone (L/O) you get treated alittle different than the LP/O's. I've talked to several LP/O's who feel they have no say or control over their trucks, as far as upgrades or additional maintenance. As an O/O I have no problems with maintnence, dispatch or agents. You get alot of benifits being leased to them such as fuel discounts. Just payed $3.29 per gallon vs the $3.62 cash price, because a larger co. gets additional discounts thru comdata at couple of the big 5 Travel stops. You cant get that on your own authority( LP/O's get that discount also).