Opening up a trucking company. Limited experience. What could go wrong?

"OK cool"? Do you say that through gritted teeth and fistful of hair you pulled out after a half dozen rejections for rediculous reasons none of which business/profitability related? Doesnt sound very efficient. I would like to know your secrets for how you manage to hire such affable, easy going drivers especially at such low cost. The industry probably would also.

 

The DMs at the company that I work for have pretty much the same attitude as the OP. They have enough choice of loads to keep the drivers happy and doing what they want. Sometimes though it boils down to a choice of X or Y for a back haul, or you get to sit where you are and sleep in the truck for your 34.

edit: My guess is that he can operate this way because he doesn't have any fuel expenses. Between his deep fuel discounts and the FSC that he gets on the loads, he's probably making money on fuel.

 

Maybe it's not the truck....

Maybe it's the driver's heavy foot, if they happen to know of your deep fuel saving deal.

I would track the avg speed of the truck, and incentivize the drivers for max fuel econ, and see if it's lead to even bigger savings in fuel cost.

 

I dunno. I keep my foot on the floor, and the worst MPG I've seen is 5.5mpg.

Idle time, however. THAT can kill some MPG. Maybe he needs a bunk heater and / or APU?

 

I was knocked off the deck of a truck by a guy who didn't follow instructions. So a bunch of hurt, broken things and time off until April now.

 

You do know if they aren't an independent contractor you can't legally pay on a 1099. The irs will burn you a new one.

 

He already said that his legal and accounting teams signed off on it. So if the IRS comes after him, he can sue his attorney and accountant for malpractice. Guy's got his bases covered.

 

Receivers frequently ask me if they can help get my equipment set up (I deliver to stores via skateboard rollers), and I always decline. Whenever someone helps me, then someone usually gets hurt. And that someone is usually ME.

Safety rule number 3: Never put yourself in a position where someone else has the ability to hurt you.

 

I think he needs new legal and accounting teams then. But to each his own.