The Road Less Traveled

Take a number. Get in line. File all complaints in the bucket beside the desk. Thank you.

 

I received that same letter from them regarding my insurance. I think it pushed it back a week or so more than what I was anticipating until the time I got the actual certificate.

 

You'll find holidays can go either way. Thanksgiving is sort of unique in that it always falls on a Thursday and many shippers, although closed on the holiday, will be open Friday, possibly Saturday. Also shippers will be loading end of week for Monday deliveries. It's also the starting gun for holiday consumers. If the product you haul is any kind of retail item, you'll be busy from now till the end of January.

More often than not, you will find last minute orders that will pay premium $$$$ to move. Although, it's nothing to count on. For now, just make sure you post your truck on whatever loadboard you're using. As you get farther along and develop some relationships, you'll simply put the word out and they will call. Being that guy who will go out and start the truck any day when available and needed can be profitable at times. Of course, like any other day, you have to ask for it.

 

Yep, you're thinking in the right direction. As soon as Thanksgiving is in the rear view mirror people are thinking about Christmas. All the money is directed towards Christmas. The freight is all about Christmas. Add the normal winter time slowdown in construction and it gets pretty scarce.
Back in the day when I was flat bedding, I usually figured on being slow from Thanksgiving until sometime after the first of the year. Sometimes that would be at least the middle of January and maybe longer. I used that time to catch up on maintenance stuff, hunting and just generally taking time off. In your case all that stuff is already done and you need to be moving but, unfortunately, flat bedding depends on construction of some sort and it's always slower in the winter months.
As you now know, it's a long tedious process getting all this stuff in place. And you haven't even got to the good part yet. Without steady freight that's actually profitable, all the rest is worthless. That's how you get the phd in trucking. And guess what, the government doesn't care if you're making money or not, the paperwork still must be done.

Good luck to you. I've been following the thread from the beginning and having been there and done that I can see the challenges ahead. Your recent education is the reason that I usually discourage people with little trucking experience from jumping in with both feet. For most, it's better to lease to someone for a while because they don't have a clue about these things and it can be overwhelming.

 

Well congrats may your road be smooth and paved from here on out just watch for a few potholes here and there

 

Please do keep us updated when you can. Thanks for a great informative thread and best of luck to you.

 

Good luck in your new adventures. Here's wishing you the best!!
Looking forward to hearing how things are going for you in the future.

 

I've kept up with this, seeing as how we are both going about this at the same time. I knew all along I would not get on the road until this week due to loan funding. My insurance went active along with my authority a week and a half ago. I swear, I thought I was going to get on the road before you. Congratulations and best wishes in your endeavor.