What problems do Owner Operators regularly run into?

My biggest problem is my boss is a capitalist pig who only cares about the bottom line.

 

I carry tools, but don't carry parts. For parts, I try to either make it to a Mack dealer where I can buy specific parts, or to a NAPA, Auto Zone, O'Reilly's, Bumper to Bumper, Federated, Advanced, or any other auto parts store that would have generic parts (i.e. hoses, clamps, etc...) that I might need. I've blown radiator hoses and called parts stores and they delivered the hose, water, and anything else I needed right out to me on the side of the road. Getting the number for that parts store usually involved calling somebody who lived in the area to look the number up in a phone book for me, or calling people I thought might be near a computer to look online to try to find a parts store near me. Of course just having a smart phone would allow me to do that same search, but if somebody were to develop an app that could take your GPS coordinates and automatically search for auto parts, truck parts, truck dealers, service shops, etc. in your immediate area, that would cut down on time & effort needed to find the parts needed to get the truck up & running again.

 

Google Maps does it.

My only problem is things go so well for me all the time I have a hard time finding things to complain about. Make me an app for that !

 

GREAT IDEA! Seems these dealers never have your part til next TUESDAY, or you can pay $450 overnite charge,bc they have to pay inventory tax on all stocked inventory..ugh

 

Here ya go....
http://www.truckstopsandservices.com/

 

That's a good start, but nowhere near a complete list. Nothing in my area or the region I run is even listed.

 

How exactly would a smartphone application fix the detention problem? Is it going to pay the drivers for sitting? Is it going to fix whatever problem the shipper is having with production in order to get your load ready on time? Is it going to light a fire under the receiver's butt to get you into the dock and unloaded on time?

A smart phone isn't some magical device that will make all of your problems go away. They might be great for keeping information you might need at the tip of your fingers....but as far as altering the outside world where it pertains to the behavior of OTHER PEOPLE, I'm doubtful that it would have any effect.

 

The problem is, shippers and receivers don't care about the truck sitting around waiting....ESPECIALLY if they aren't being billed for the time the truck is sitting there. The carriers don't care about the driver's wasted time sitting around waiting, either, and would rather keep the customer happy by not billing detention rather than attempt to collect detention and lose the customer. If the carrier doesn't collect detention, they aren't likely going to pay the driver for that time either.

Many contracts DO include detention time...some of them only pay if the truck arrives on time. In those circumstances, I couldn't care less how long I have to wait because I'm on the clock. You don't need a smart phone app to calculate the detention time, either....your arrival time is when you check in at the scale, guard shack, etc....and your departure time is when all of the paperwork is signed and they are ready for you to leave. They subtract whatever time they are allowed to keep the truck without paying detention (typically an hour or two) and anything beyond that gets paid. A driver can claim he sat somewhere all day long...but if he never checked in, he won't get paid for that time no matter what his gadgets say.

...and in a lot of cases, there is a time stamp on the BOL or scale ticket which would show exactly when the load was released to the driver. In cases where a delay at the shipper led to questions about my punctuality at the receiving end, all I've had to do was point out when the load was actually put on my truck and I was turned loose to make my way over to the consignee and that's been the end of the conversation. They know full well that if the load wasn't ready until 3 hours before the receiver needed it....and it has to go 200 miles to get there....that load was late before it even left the shipper's dock.