The journey begins - purchased a truck.

I had heard Millis did it for a while. I started with D&D Sexton. There were others before me that went to Rising Phenix too. Rising Phenix sent a recruiter to NZ and Aussie at some stage. My H2B visa was organised by an Australian woman and she liased with the comppanies over here, the labor dept, and immigration.

The H2B visa was only barely legit for the trucking industry - it was meant for seasonal agriculture. there was a loophole that existed for extensions, that said the visa was still valid so long as the extension had not been processed. Immigration, the way it is, almost never caught up on the extensions, so we could exist in a loophole for about 2 years.

I bailed on that once I foound that the Aussie womans expertise ran out about the end of the loophole period. Work based sponsorship takes 5-10 years for approval to green card status, a buddy just got his after 8 years. I applied for it, but then shortly after got married. Family based apps go to the top of the list - 4 months for approval to green card status. Then to a 10 year green card, then to naturalisation. One expensive long ride. About 5 years and maybe $8,000 in filing fees and lawyer costs.

I don't approve illegals here, but I know it's a long diligent process to do it right, even for somebody who's primary language is English.

 

Yes, from what I saw on the load board demos, I don't have any doubts aboout the flat over van argument, nor the revenue, even after LS's cut. I still apprecciate all input though.

Do you have any info to share on the Plates and insurance conundrum?

 

Well - to start off with, let's not have a "your company, my company" argument.

I emailed Mercer, they took a few days to respond - Raymond Hall, I think. I called him for a day or two but he was out of the office. So I moved on to LS. No big deal - but I wanted to talk to them about it.

I talked to 2 Mercer drivers on the road. 1 had been signed on with LS years ago, and had been with Mercer for years. He talked down on LS a lot. He was quite proud of his seniority there, and knowing companny higher-ups. He explained the board system and the seniority. He'd added another number to his truck number - to make it appear as if he had signed on later than he did. Then there was the stories about multi axles, secret government loads . . . The sun went down and we had to go. I thanked him for his time. He was a nice enough chap.

The one thing I didn't like is the seniority factor. We've been at ODFL for 7 years now, and there's a seniority system here. I hate it. I always have. It swayed our decision early on not to switch terminals to one slightly closer, and became a golden carrot to me for a while. An aspiration. Foolish. Numbers on a wall.

It's a personal thing - maybe a psychological one. I'm happy being a faceless number. I don't want to be 'treated like family'. I don't want a driver award, or a t-shirt or jacket. I don't really want to speak with anybody in the company once I know what I'm doing. I don't sit at the lunch counter. I hate hearing lies and boasting and untruths - and this is an industry and world full of it. Just give me the deal - make it plain, and leave me alone. That's why I liked the LS system.

BUT - if I decide by the numbers that I don't like it - then I'll switch. Either Mercer or LS - I coulldn't find another system that allowed me to do what I want in the industry. Or maybe just skip to my own numbers. I don't know yet.

But - as you've read, I can endure loads of form-filling, hoop jumping, mis direction and hold music. I've dealt with the government - I can deal with LS. For now.

 

Checklist -

EIN

Nice and easy - irs.gov site that asks you a bunch of questions that 2 months ago I couldn't have answered, and in a few clicks you get assigned the number. I can now take that to the bank, pun intended, and set up business accounts. I've decided on 2 checking, 1 savings and a credit card - all in the business name, separate from the personal.

OOIDA

$45 later, still waiting for an email, but it was later on Friday night, so I expect to see that on Monday. I'll call them and shop for physical damage as suggested, I tried the online approach, but it doesn't recognise my address. 21 BFE street, SW MO.

EQUIPMENT

Nailed down a price of $2100 for the 3 door Merritt headache rack, (2) 20 by 26 steel tarps, 4 good 7/16 25' chains and ratchet binders, and some loose miscellaneous equipment. Need to rob a bank and head on a little road trip for that. Wife is arguing the new vs. old equipment argument, I priced it out and came to a significant savings - and the 3 door enclosure will be nice.

WORK

Back to work. Still have to pay the billls. ODFL hasn't mentioned anything about the shift - they had to release my records so obviously know my intentions.