Can a one man operation really compete with the bigs

I think it's just a matter of the nature of the job, you need to dress to be comfortable when you're making long trips. You don't need to dress in a suit and tie, but you shouldn't be wearing cutoffs or tank tops and looking like you haven't showered in a week, either. Sometimes I wear sweatpants, other times I wear blue jeans, and I always wear a plain white t-shirt, and if its stained, I throw it away. That's all I wear, is plain white t-shirts. Every day. Pretty boring, I know. But over Christmas break, I bought myself a camouflage Snuggie

I think when I get my own truck and have my own business, I'd start wearing a polo shirt with my company name and logo on it. I'd want my customers to know that when their brokers don't come through for them, I'm the one they should call first

MN Driver - it's easier to do that when you have your own truck, but try doing that as a company driver, and you know as well as I do that the driver would be the one punished. I guess it's a good thing, to learn to deal with crap like that and keeping your mouth shut and take it. I had to laugh at your post, imagining the guy begging at your coat tails to not leave. hahahahahahahahahahahaha still laughing.

 

You have more power as a company driver than you think.

So you can't cancel the load. In that instance, it's highly likely I wasn't the first driver to walk out on him and cancel a load like that.

As a company driver, you just have to go about it in a different matter.

Excuse yourself, call the dispatcher (you have to have a good working relationship with them to do this) and have them call and get things straightened out. If your company won't back you up, then I'd say you have to re-evaluate your importance to them.

when I was a company driver last year, we had such a consignee. My dispatcher was hesitant "because he's union, what can I do?" Uh, back up your driver. It wasn't until a 5th driver had a similar issue with the SAME clerk that something was finally done. THEN the company realized it really was the clerk. And by then, the owner of the trucks got involved.

 

Yeah I guess if you're working for a smaller company, that can happen, but when you work for a mega carrier, things are different, and I worked for PAM back in 2005-2006.

The dispatchers have 40-50 drivers they oversee and have to babysit half of them, they don't have time for complaints. Their CSRs that book the freight don't care, they're way too busy also.

And why should they care, as far as statistics are concerned, as far as turnover rates, you're likely to quit after a year anyways, so what's the difference if they back you up or not?

 

My first week with this company a guy started bumping his gums at me and cussing. I walked to my truck called my dispatcher and she told me to leave they could figure it out. Made my day. And i didnt get a load today bc of breakdown and she has emailed me a cpl times this evening letting me know she was looking still.

 

Well showers do help no doubt. if you go into it acting like a complete bafoon then how do you think you will be treated? When one of those idiots started yelling at me, i don't say nothing. i polietly get back in MY truck and just leave. Theres plenty of loads out theer. I don't make a habit of it but if and when I am truly pushed to a point then screw it. I'll bounce. I have had maybe one place over the last year get like taht with me. I polietly told the broker well, i don't know what to tell you but you need to find someone else for this load. All was good and I still do business with that broker today. As far as being a company guy. Well your threshhold has to be a bit higher for BS. Your dispatcher is NOT gonna wanna hear you whine about some guy yelling at you. UNLESS it directly affects the load. It is what it is fellas. being an O/O you bought your respect because you own it. WHen your company it's just a different field all together. Don't get me wrong I take my fair share of guff at times. Probably a lot more than a company guy. You just learn as you become an O/O to "deal with it".

 

WOW, it's deep in here!

 

You saying youve never left a shipper?

 

Absolutely you can compete. What is 67% of $2? Now, after you stepped in this and are trying to scrape it off your shoe so you don't drag it in to the house, people will come by with all different kinds of perfume to cover the stench (fuel discounts, base plats, insurance, no collections, ect).

But, you may decide you just don't have the skills to be independent (not a slame, some have different skills). Be honest with yourself on what you are good at and suck at. And figure out what is right for you.

And turn off the noise. You will find plenty of people that failed with their own authority who will try and tell you how much better it is. No, it is better for them. What is better for you is a personal decision.

And don't just think mega. Big range between independent and mega.

 

I think some of the early responses in this thread captured it best. With your own authority, find the niche that will work best for you. When we first got our authority, we tried competing with megas as we had to keep the trucks moving to keep the drivers making money. We lost our shorts because we were competing for chump change. Once you start to build relationships and get to where your customers or brokers are calling you, you can do much better.

There is a lot more responsibility with your own authority. If you have the ability and financial strength to manage it, it can be the right path. If you don't, then leasing on might be your better choice. Only you can decide that. Since your question is whether or not you can compete in a highly commoditized market with mega carriers that have a significantly different cost structure than you, I'd say you're not ready to make the leap. This industry has a very expensive learning curve and if you can avoid it being at your cost, it will help you in the long run.

 

EDIT:I shouldn't make it sound too easy. It takes time to build the business and get your name on speed dial. I started the MC part of the trucking business back in '06.