Is it really just a crap shoot ?

I show him where the fire extinguisher is.

I show him where the triangles are.

Um, yeah!

 

as long as you pay on percentage, and allow him/her full responsibility of what he/she does, and put together an independent contractor agreement, you sure can....I have Done that, and Did that, (Was bookkeeper, and IRS approved).

 

I'm going to give a bit of advice about this subject, I've done this a few times and had other businesses where I hired people.

the first problem is that you have to learn to trust people and read them. It is easy to find someone to drive but to trust that's another issue altogether. It takes time to learn it but it also takes time to put your own feelings aside to be objective. You do not want to be a baby sitter, I know own owner of expedite trucks that is all he does. Answers the phone at 3am to be asked if they can buy oil on the comdata card.

The second thing to know is what do you expect, someone to just drive or someone to make you money. I learned this the hard way and shifted from looking for a driver to looking for someone who wanted the control to make money. I have all three of my drivers making decisions to run the trucks as they feel fit to do, they schedule their off time and vacations - and they make money, the more for them and me. They get a percentage of everything except the Fsc which goes into the tank by agreement and they are 1099.

the contract I have with them spells out their obligations as it does for me, we all have a clear understanding what we both have to do and why. It makes it clear what has to be done to make sure we all make money.

i went through a few drivers, not because of any disagreements but most of all they moved on to get their own trucks and are happy. I had a couple who were just bad drivers, which caused me to road test everyone of them at my expense - it usually was with a load over a few hundred miles.

I mentioned this in another thread, I would never expect anyone to work for me for less than 35% of the gross of the truck! more to the tune if 40% seems to be fairer amount when you depend on them to make money for you.

 

Hi LMC, you hit the nail on the head. If you aren't confident about it, best hold off. Listen to Ridgeline and Hurst. There are very good driver's out there, but like Ridgeline sez, "they will probably drive for you for a while and move on", and then the search start's all over.Just put off buying that new Mustang,( I know it's tempting) and keep doing what you're doing for a while. While you are doing your thing, keep an eye out for a good driver, and if you find one that's willing to help you, THEN get the truck, and get what the driver wants, I can't stress that enough, it makes a HUGE difference if a driver is driving something they like. Best of luck.

 

I wish I knew a honest owner op that would help me become a local owner op doing work in the area I'm in. I'm in central Ohio and would love driving my own daycab delivering a transporting around central Ohio, Northern OH, KY, WV, and eastern IN... One day...

 

Hi FG, it's going to be hard to find an O/O that will take you under their wing, as O/O's are failing left and right, but it can be done. May I suggest Intermodal work. It doesn't pay the best, but it's a good way to get your foot in the door, and remain somewhat local. Get a truck with a sleeper, even if you don't use it right away. It opens up your chances to do other things, if the local stuff doesn't work out. Good luck.

 

Thanks! I drive Linehaul for an LTL company now and its pretty awesome, but I'd love to one day have a day cab doing local transport type work for a manufacture or business in the area.