Help for a Brand New O/O!!

Hey guys, I was hoping to get a little info on some processes here. Let me give you a quick run down on what my situation is.

My dad bought a truck, got his authority, and started his own trucking business. He is the only driver (though he has a friend that may start driving with him in a few weeks). Right now he is getting loads from a guy acting as a broker's agent, this guy seems clueless and does not have my dad's best interest at heart (sent him to Albuquerque NM with the wrong address and took almost 2 days to find the right place) My dad has asked me to get loads for him, which i am TOTALLY on board for. Here is what I have so far.

I have a computer (obviously)
I am very computer/internet/tech savvy
I have a printer/scanner/copier/fax
I have highspeed internet
I have access to 4 loadboards.

what else do I need? From everything I have read, this is all I need to start getting loads for him. However, before I call one of these brokers and setup the load for him, is there anything i need to know? What is the process? How will my dad get paid for this load? I dont want to call the broker and sound like a total schmuck because I dont know, or cant provide them with simple information.

I know that their credit score and worthiness is important, and those loadboards do a good job of keeping that info accurate. Could someone just walk me through the process after I find a load for him? From contacting to getting paid. I would very much appreciate any advice and help!!! Thanks guys


Mike

 

awesome, great advice I didnt even know was a possibility How would I go about doing that? Is there a place I can go to find customers? Or by customers are we refereeing to say.. homedepot, and calling their corporate office and asking for loads.

 

right now he has a guy getting him loads who is a retired driver, on medical disability etc.. he does it out of his living room. I just want to do this for my dad instead of this other guy.

As far as contacting customers directly... I have no problem doing that. I am a store manager for a big box retailer. Sales is my life. I really do not want to see my dad fail, as this is a last ditch effort for him to make money. (long story, but involves being laid off, failed real estate investments due to economy, and a house that is now worth 3/4 of what it was 2 years ago)

I know I have what it takes to make this happen for him, but I just don't have enough information yet to really make a difference. I am beginning to realize that load boards alone are not going to pay his bills. He just started driving last week after spending about 3 months getting his truck, his authority, and all the permits required to run OTR. Now its all about making money. He is averaging about a buck a mile right now, and I need to get him up to 2 bucks or more.

Is there any information out there about searching for customers? Do I just look in the phone book and start calling businesses? Is there anyone out there who has actually done this?

 

haha nice I was actually thinking about getting my own brokers authority. But from everything I have read, I would have to float his salary myself until the shipper pays.

I would like to talk more about that later. Right now I think I will just take your advice on calling the brokers early. On that same note, do you know what the broker will need from me before they allow him to take the load? And also, how long does it usually take them to pay out? I am sure I could just ask them when i call about the load, but I would rather not shake their confidence in me with my ignorance

**edit**

just wanted to add, that for a while, I don't plan on taking an percentage of earnings for myself as of yet. I am more focused on getting him up and running and turning a profit than making a buck myself

 

ahh okay, that makes sense. and that would be how it goes if i get my own broker authority.

as I am now, I have nothing legal. I am just my dads son, and i have a computer with internet access, and the login info to 4 loadboards. Do i need anything else, legally, to call the contact numbers on these loads? IS it as simple as "hi, I would like to take your load from A to B you have listed on the loadboard" fax some info back and forth, and hes good to go pick it up right?