Husband wife team just bought our first truck

What about Admiral Merchants Motor Freight; was reading their website the other day and they're almost as strict as Landstar, but maybe not quite as strict. Years ago I hauled some of their military loads from Ft. Louis,WA to Wilmington,NC. They're 100% owner-operators.

 

Not familiar with admiral, I am with ls.

My point is that they have a great opertunity and they can move on it quickly. Ls does provide some tools to learn how to run the business but I don't see it at other companies.

 

What kind of freight were you hauling before? I would look for a company maybe doing the same no saying to try something different. However, just starting out I would try to stay with something I understand.

 

I get the drift that maximizing revenue is your top goal. And offering service as a team operation is a way to reach it. Since you have been together in the truck for a while now you understand the stresses of running team( sleeping in a moving truck, submerging all other comforts to keep a schedule etc).
That being said, there are many companies that will lease you and your truck and provide you with team freight. I wouldn't consider anything else( i.e. getting your own authority and trying to find customers and freight on the fly) Find one that allows you to pick runs that are both scheduled for team or single, taking the pressure off when you want to or have to.
There is another component. Companies that pay high dollar for team freight runs frequently demand new or nearly new equipment. There is absolutely no point in putting time sensitive freight on a truck that might break down, customers pay big bucks for real fast movements, they don't want to hear about schedule screwups because the truck is on the side of the road and they have to lose precious time repowering it.
Finding a company for your preferred operational parameters is just like anything else. Identify 6 or more candidates Talk to other teams, figure out where you like to run, and hauling what type of freight, percentage or mileage contract, all the usual owner-operator concerns.
Good luck

 

I've been with Landstar a little over a year. Call 1-855-578-7226 or email recruiter@landstar.com. The recruiter will walk you through the process. Basically they will approve you as a driver 1st, meaning they will check your Mvr and dac report. If you and your wife are clean drivers, you're pretty much golden. Once you're recruiter passes your info to a processor, you are basically hired. As long as your medical card and physical is current, you can just send them a copy. You don't have to go to a doctor for a new one. Landstar will tell you where to go take your drug test. Just go where they tell you, piss in a cup, and the clinic will email the results to Landstar. Next, fill out a bunch of paperwork (they will email them as pdf's. Download a PDF editor and fill them out digitally and email them back. Saves a ton of times vrs faxing them) and once they verify all your info and get previous employment verification, your processor will officially welcome you to Landstar and give you an orientation date. They will tell you which center is closest to you. They will overnight your plates, permits, insurance card, decals, etc so that you can drive your truck to orientation. At orientation, they will install your Qualcomm in the truck. They will also explain some of the basics on the business side of being an owner operator. They will help you figure out your break even amount. They pretty much help you with everything. Don't want to deal with the hassle of keeping track of your fuel and miles for IFTA? No problem. Just pay $1 a week and they do it for you. Picked up a hazmat load and you're not 100% positive the paperwork is DOT compliant? No problem, just take a picture of the bills and email it to the hazmat dept. Wait 5 mins and then call them. If changes are needed, they will tell you exactly what you need to do. They break the cost of your base plates up over a period of about 11 weeks or so, so you don't have to worry about that $ up front. I could go on with ways they help, but I think you get the picture.

It's a process (I applied on Feb 4th, and my official hire date was March 30th) but it was worth it. Sometimes agents will piss you off by trying to offer a lower rate than what is posted, but it is rare, and you learn to remember the agents that like to bs. So, I just don't call them when I receive an alert from them. If you are lucky, and know how to work the load board, you can possibly find an agent that will give you dedicated loads. It takes time though to establish these relationships. At the end of the day, I have way more freedom than I ever had as a company driver. My truck basically lived in the repair shop during my 1st yr, but I still managed to make enough money to cover the repairs, pay all my other household bills, take multiple vacations, and spend my honeymoon in Vegas.

Just my 2 (or 78) cents about the big blue star to help you make your decision. Hope it works out for you and your wife.