Getting it all done

I am trying to understand how you guys (and gals) run your business from your truck without having someone in an office help you, especially when you are first starting.

I know that you can set alerts for loadboards, but you can't monitor them constantly, like someone in an office can, not to mention if they actually have any connections. I would think that someone that had the time to pay attention to the loadboards would be able to find the best freight.

You drive all day, look for loads, send carrier packets, check brokers' credit scores, make call after call to negotiate, do the billing... and in my case, work on the truck when you are done for the day or week.

Having been involved in other businesses, I have learned that sometimes it is better to define what your job exactly is, and pay someone to do the other stuff. It is too easy for someone that wants to do everything to be sucked into a 24/7 work schedule. Paying other people to do certain aspects of your business, I think, makes longevity easier.

Also, it seems like this business is really a question of who are you going to give your money to. It's going to go to someone. Do you give 25 % and pull somene's trailer and have them dispatch you? Do you give it to the insurance co. in getting your authority? To a dispatching/ bookkeeping/ billing service? 10% to use someone else's authority?

I don't see how you do all this without having at least a spouse to help, although (no offense to the ladies), but 10% is probably much cheaper than a wife, lol.

I would imagine that as time goes on, more brokers call you for freight, and less packets have to be sent. But even so, I would think that you would have to spend considerable time on the phone, at the very least.

How do you guys go about getting it all done?

 

Thanks for the replies. I can see now that you guys just make it part of your day's work.

I also am beginning to see now what you guys mean when you talk about being a businessman that drives a truck. The patience that you have in choosing loads, knowing the pricing for your lanes, being professional when dealing with brokers/shippers/ receivers, keeping your truck as well as yourself looking neat and clean...
I can see how that all fits together as a business that people want.to do business with.

I can imagine at times it is hectic, but technology allows us now to have a mobile office, and that saves money. I guess the actual doing of it is being prepared and getting the hang of it.

Any other advice or opinions are welcome.

 

I'm glad that it all worked out for you, wore out.

And I think what you are saying, the message of it, is so important. It seems to me that MANAGEMENT of one's business is the real indicator of success, however you do that. Most business owners are not skilled in every single aspect of their business. With that being said, it's not an excuse to not KNOW what has to be done, but knowing the areas that you are weak or just plain don't like doing, I think makes a business run that much smoother and makes it that much more enjoyable.

I can see how much work is involved in having your own authority (and money, and paperwork, and people skills, and...), and I can see why so many people who rush into this crash and burn. Having experienced people such as yourselves as a means of continued education is a blessing, and thank you for your responses. I have been around trucks and equipment my entire life, and I have to admit, the complete running of this business is a little intimidating.

One person can only do so much, and that was the main purpose of starting this thread. I think that it's easy to throw yourself into a situation where it becomes 24/7, and you not only physically work yourself into poor health, but mentally also. I like the idea that if you can get most or all of your paperwork and calls done during the workday, that when you shut her down, your work (at least the administrative part) is done. My goal is to be able to run my business, not have it run me.

Any additional input as to how you guys (and gals) manage your business is welcome, even for repairs and maintenance and bookkeeping also.