Can i go out on my own authority fresh out of drivers school?

PHP:

Your own authority is your own business. You can do whatever you want.

 

Uh its gonna be difficult and you're numbers a real slightly off. 20k for operating capitol up front isn't bad if you're equipment is spot on and isnt going to break down all the time. If it does cut that 20 grand in half for a major repair. Yes I have PERSONALLY witnessed an $8000 repair bill at one time. It was on my truck none the less. I would not want to do things over again with my business without at least 50k/truck in the bank. So I'd need 100k to start out with. Brokers lay in 30 days you are definitely cutting it very close with 20k in the bank. You don't want to be living load to load and burn through all your capitol and then have something go wrong while you're waiting on checks to come in.

We all have cash flow issues but knowing your cost is a big part of it too. Every bill needs to be factored into running that truck. Usually its going to cost you about .10/mile for insurance yours will be high. About .10/mile for maintainance and about .05/mile for PM. That's what we withhold for the most part. Does it work eh I like to think it does seems like every day something else breaks though. Hazards of used trucks and around 700k things start breaking. I've got double trouble I've got one truck with 700k and one with double that on it so they're both at the point where things break. And I got about 200k before one is either sold or overhauled probably sell the #### thing and let the dealer screw with overhauling it.

The other issue is some brokers won't let you haul to 6 months to a year. That puts a hurt on you at times, and you need to know how to secure cargo if you're going to run a flat. Its mostly commons sense but if you don't know what you're doing with cargo securement and don't follow the laws you can. End up with some pretty good sized fines. Factoring bills can help with cash flow but I wouldn't recommend it with everything they charge you for avoid it at all costs and get a line of credit at the bank or something if you can.

If you have good credit I would recommend getting a parts account and a service account as well as a tire account around your home base. When you're on net 30 from the broker you want to be on net 30 at the parts and service shops. It makes things a lot easier. I would also recommend getting families with trucks and how to worm on them after a shop screws you a few times you'll start working on them yourself. I don't trust many people to touch my truck shore and I'm usually the guy who ends up working on it when something breaks keeps costs down and at least I know what job has been done.

But you may also want to listen to your friend who is in logistics. He may be telling you the truth. It may not be the best decision right now its tough to make a living driving a truck. Fuel is $4.00/gallon again and isn't going down. Rates still aren't the greatest and all the brokers and shippers can say is we spend too much of our money. No it ain't cheap to maintain a truck, trailer, keep up on insurance, authority, drug testing, etc etc.

If you want more information there is a thread on this from a while back. You're welcome to PM me about getting your own authority as well I have my own authority. I'll do what I can to help. Might not like what I have to say but hey least you'll hear the good, bad and the ugly.

 

You are employable...even with the past three years off. Don't know where you are , asyou haven't put that info on your profile..it would help though. There are plenty of companies that will hire you , just do some research , make some phone calls and , the best option IMHO is ..go and talk to the trucking outfits close to you..spend some time and shoe leather looking at people and talking to them about your idea. they will be happy to advis e you. Once you've located a company , find a school locally.... A community college preferably , that offers CDL training...you will get better training , on better equipment , more one on one instruction , plus you may be able to get student loans/grants through the school and that means you won't have to put a mortgage back on your home...that should be a last resort....As far as striking out on your own...you do what you want....but look at it this way.....would you want to try and become a Dr. without 1st going to med school.....some parameters apply...LEARN all you can about trucking while someone else is paying you...then if you think you still want to go independent..talk to a few O/O's.....

 

Yeah you can do it if you have enough cash. The hardest part will be getting insurance. Progressive will most likely be your only choice, and they will charge you like it.

 

Hi tommy and welcome to the forum.So do you feel after reading the forum,training you'll be going thru and your buddy in logistics,do you feel all that is all you to know about trucking?Companies won't hire you to haul their freight until you get some exp.I don't even know if insurance companies will take you.You better drive a good yr as a company driver first.Then look for the o/o company that's right for you.

 

This is another example of you posting about things you don't know about. When a broker hires a carrier there is never any inquiry as to how much experience the driver has.

 

Pattyj is giving the OP good solid advice....It would be really hard for the OP as a rookie to get work , with no experience...mainly because companies have insurance companies guarding the doors at almost every turn , they will ask the OP when he applies for cargo/vehicle insurance how much experience he has....insurance company is just another of saying "risk management" company...a rookie driver is high risk at best...one of the bigger problems drivers have today...a necessary evil though.

 

Patty doesn't know anything about having your own authority, and getting work and getting insurance are two separate items. Nobody cares if you have ten years experience or no experience when it comes to booking freight. Book the load, haul it, get paid(hopefully).

 

A GOOD reputible broker inquires about a trucking operations EXPERIENCE ( thats the ones with the GOOD $ LOADS ) the load board guys care less and it shows 99% of the time.