Hard finding loads

I can appreciate feeling uneasy all the time. It will go away when you are comfortable with negotiating and driving it will be sooner than you think. The 10 years as a owner you have seen things good and not so good and maybe not be able to recognize the difference now gives for concern. Keep reading and you will see some guys writing on here that makes sense. One thing I do not understand about your post is " no Mercer loads out of Youngstown area " I am thinking they have a lot there.

 

Boyd Bros. Transportation
Owner-operators and lease/purchase drivers are eligible for a $10,000 sign-on bonus

 

I'm right there with you, and I'm also feeling uneasy. It's new area, but I've had 2yrs of outside looking in, asking 21 (thousand) questions and questioning a lot of the "it's just trucking" mentality.

That said, I also try to watch/learn/question/learn/execute/learn and improve. It has served me well in my small business. I'm trying to diversify, albeit, at a carefully & calibrated rate. I'm hoping DEC 18th will shake up the industry to allow new, entrants some breathing room, and potential increased rates -- we shall see.

This industry tends to lean towards pushing new players into "drive for 2 yrs" before going O/O. I dont subscribe to that because if that was true, I would have been an apprentice in a mechanic shop for 2 yrs before opening my shop. So far, 6 yrs later, Im still there, getting mine, 5 days a week - enough to buy a truck outright.

If it's meant to be, so shall it be. That's the motto I live push on with....and I hope & project that unto you.

 

You'll be ok, at least you've got the major part out the way, which is the expense of the truck, which a lot of guys still are up against. It's not like your accumulating truck note expenses . All you have to do is developed relationships with brokers, it takes time, but the more you network, the better it'll get, it's a numbers game , the more you search the greater your chances of finding a good broker, good loads, etc

 

There is always tension when learning something.

The main thing is you're learning something. I encourage that for everyone. To learn something useful every day is something I enjoy doing. However what I don't be useful or make sense now and then babbling about something I know nothing about is not a good thing.

Enjoy your evening. And I look forward to your reading of conquests in Business.

 

Afraid to deadhead a few miles?
At least you do not deadhead 500 miles for a 1200 mile full load where all miles are paid @$1.