Starting trucking company @ a bad time

This is not the best time of year to get started. But, there is freight to haul. It will be slow until about the end of February or the weather begins to warm. It can be slow up into March. Having OOIDA insurance will limit your freight options, somewhat. There are some brokers who will not load you with their insurance. Their insurance department should be able to give you a list. Without contacts, you can start knocking on doors of shippers or subscribe to a couple of loadboards. As a member of OOIDA, you can receive a discount on your subscription to their loadboard, www.mymembersedge.com. You may also want to subscribe to www.internettruckstop.com or www.getloaded.com. There are other loadboards that you could subscribe. Most of the time there is an overlap of the available loads. Some of the larger brokers also have their own loadboards that you can access once you are set up with them. Any broker that doesn't accept OOIDA's insurance will usually tell you before sending you a rate confirmation. You can also ask them about your insurance when you first call about a load. There is no point wasting time on a load if you can't haul it.

 

I didn't know Ch would accept OOIDA'S insurance

 

I don't know whether they accept OOIDA insurance or not. I believe at one time they would not accept their insurance. You will need to check with them or OOIDA. I used to have some of my insurance with OOIDA. I liked dealing with them. I had my collision insurance with them. But, I cannot afford to have insurance that some won't accept. They also usually quote me higher rates than I can usually find cheaper rats with other insurance companies and not hav the problem of acceptance.

 

whats the difference between mymembersedge and truckersedge??

 

I'm right there with you. My authority is active and most things are in place. A few items to address next week and I'm planning to roll out on the sixteenth. I'm doing power only right now. We make consider buying a trailer (stepdeck?) in a few months. I'm going to see what I can do with it between now and then.

Best of luck to you.

 

Both are owned by DAT. Mymembersedge is OOIDA's loadboard. Members can receive a discount from the regular rate. DAT has several loadboaads under different names. All of them are supposed to have the same loads. DAT is the loadboard that most truck stops use.

 

How much is the discount?

 

I wish you much success.............

The best advice I can give you is to Line up your customers NOW......

You may choose to haul some broker freight.but DO NOT,I repeat DO NOT insist on hauling for them exclusively..You Will FAIL.

Why? Brokers dont care about you,And Never Will.. They Keep as much as 50% of the Linehaul including FSC.

Standard Brokers are keeping anywhere from 10-25% of freight revenue.

If you truly want to succeed.........Get your own customers for your outbound lanes..Then you can use the Brokers to get you back.

Also..Make sure you have a minimum of 25-30k in your bank for start-up capital.........DO NOT FACTOR your freight Bills.Another big mistake,And You'll never recover.It will be like an addiction

Takr care of your equipment(Washes,Oil changes,Inspections,etc)..DO NOT lax on maintenance..Grease it up once a week

Im older School..I do things a bit more old fashioned..But I have Succeeded in trucking

other than that..Be Courteous and Polite to Customers (they are the ones keeping your Bloodline Alive ) ..But Be Confident And Proud while you are on the street.do not let Anyone take away your civil rights and liberties


Again,I wish you much success.....And Be Safe.

Mick