How do you go about finding experienced drivers and a new leasing company in another state? We have been in business for over 15 years and have gradually grown from one truck to five. Unfortunately, we have never looked into any other lease companies. Currently we run regional, out and back within 24 hours and we'd like to continue but slowly start moving the trucks from Illinois to Tennessee. any suggestions would be appreciated. thanks
Check with Comtrak in Tennessee. Greatwide has a terminal in metro-Nashville and maybe a couple of more in the state.
What kind of company are you looking for? Van, Flat, Refrigerated, Container, Tank. If containers is your thing don't look at Evan's Delivery Service it's a huge company with 7-8 sister companies under their DOT #. I'm leased to them now and looking to move my truck.
You start by finding companies on the web, calling them to find out what their requirements are, talk to them about what they pay, what they do "if" and so on. Talk about insurance, talk about settlements and management of fleets and so on. Then whittle down the list to ones you like, go visit them and then plan on moving to one or two you select. I don't get how you can be in business for 15 years and not know this stuff. It doesn't matter if the truck is in TN or in MI, what matters is how you handle the business. As for drivers, it takes time and you should know that with five trucks.
Thanks so much Ridgeline. The reason why we don't know this "stuff" is we have leased ALL of our trucks to the same company and have never ventured beyond them. It is different in other states and as an OO you should know that. Each state has a different set of rules and regulations. I didn't think it was a stupid question. To me, it's like checking the temp of the bath water before you jump in. As a business owner, it's best to NOT jump in with both feet until you know who to avoid and who may be able to give you good info.
We've only ever pulled van and refrigerated so we will probably stick with that. thanks for the info on Evan's!
The basics, how you run the business and your lease agreements should tell you what to look for. It is simple for you to figure out what you need to have out of a lease. I can't tell you because I don't know what your rates are, accessorial fees you charge and so on. What's different in each state? I operate my with different companies, not one of them with the same as another plus I lease out one truck to a driver who is leased to a company in the south. Nothing complicated in any of that. I myself was leased to a company out of Florida and never went there for any reason I can think of, came close one day but never been there. It really doesn't matter, you have your business in one state, the companies you lease to in others and the trucks are interstate, so the feds rules oversee all of it as it should. There isn't anything different other than intrastate trucks have a little advantage over interstate trucks as far as plating and sometimes insurance.
