what are the benefits to going with a small fleet?

You sir are doing what I aspire to do, and in a manner I will do. You are creating the ultimate job for a driver that is a "good and faithful servant" per the parable of the talents.

Great jobs require great employees, and in turn employers that recognize the value of great employees and reward them well receive much in return.

 

Does a small fleet that's leased to a carrier need a business license when it employs drivers from various states?

 

If you work for a company, big or small, and you are encouraged to play with the log book if it's needed, do they pay the fines or serve the jail time if you get caught?

Why is that ever worth the risk?

 

My understanding is that ANY business owner needs to have a business license. A fleet owner is in business and must have a license, whether employing from one or several states.

 

I'd say if you get caught then it's on you and the company will never had had the conversation.

I've overheard many a small company driver in truck stops (especially in the Chicago area) grumbling about having to run 16+ hour days. Larger companies on e-logs can't really get away with that. Any log violations are immediately known by the driver and by the safety department and a phone call happens pretty quickly in my experience (the one time I ran over my 14 after a roadside tire repair).

 

I think that was my point. It's all well and good to work for a smaller company that treats you like a name and gets you home when you want but if they're encouraging you to break the law then they don't really care about you.

 

to label all elog companies as legal and ethical
and all paper log companies outlaws as not
is not fair or right to either
like truck drivers they all come in many shape and sizes

 

I worked for both small and big companies.

Benefits are better on big companies.

Pay is about the same, you'll get more miles with a small company, but they will pay you less per mile.

Routing, I heard some big companies force you to take a certain route, but the ones I've worked for don't, they only care of me being on time. My small company makes me do thier route, for example mexico border-somewhere NE they make me take I30-40 Texarkana route, insyead of my prefered I10-Birmingham route with no construction.

With a small company as said, they expect you to deliver on time, even if that means driving 15 hrs a day, with a big company you do your eta.

Small companies at least the one I worked for, pay only the miles, occasionally you might get some extra cash for driver stops etc. Big companies got everything set, so there's no, well this load didn't pay good so I ain't paying for the driver stops or that detention.

Pay check is always in your bank account at midnight on Friday. Small companies sometimes do late deposits. And the 1099 I hate those, I rather have a w2.

With small companies you might get a consistent route, say Mexico border-Baltimore and back.

I'm sure I can find more staff to write but I'm going to bed.

 

Smaller doesn't always mean better. In some cases, the grass is greener on the other side because of the BS used for fertilizer.

 

i found the smaller company took more pride in their shop when it came to preventive maintenance and actual sergery, i can walk in and talk with the shop if i notice this or that and get actual answers. alot of the time they know its a sign of this or that sencor is going 3 days notice to them of when im comming in and the truck is booked for service.

also found that when it came to dispatch they know be by name and they dont mess around when dispatching. this is really important to me when im at home, dont leave me hanging untill 7pm till you tell me no load or this load! i got a case of beer with my name on it, if no load we drinking tonight!
and none of this come in and sit at the terminal just incase a load comes up.

also new truck, better runs, about the same per mile but more miles with more home time! funny how that can work when there is only 6 people in the office not 50.