Help me PLEASE!! Turning around a trucking business

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Tiffy, Apr 8, 2012.

  1. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    Wow!

    That's all I can think of this poorly made satire of a wannabe trucking company.

    It's like a bad cartoon.
     
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  3. xFreeWord420x

    xFreeWord420x Light Load Member

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    If people didn't go outside their comfort zone all of the time, we wouldn't have half of the companies we do today. That is just dumb thinking. Whether she is doing a good job or not, she is giving someone a job. That is one more job than there was the day before she started this company. 99% of the companies we work for, started on someones dream of buying ONE truck.. going outside their comfort zone.
     
  4. Tiffy

    Tiffy Bobtail Member

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    Apr 8, 2012
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    Thank you..this is all helping me so much. Truckers are all so knowledgable, know so many secret codes, etc. Its hard being on the outside looking in. I hope you know how much this is helping me.
    More advice needed:
    1) Right now we have 17 trucks. Of the 17, only about 10 are making a profit (because of the 10 drivers that are so good). It has been a struggle finding good drivers. Should I wait awhile longer to see if we can find good drivers, or should we just sell the 7 trucks and trailers and have less headaches and more cash flow?

    2) We have a brand-new Mauer trailer that was only 2 weeks old when the suspension completely cracked alsmost killing our driver and could have killed many others. Mauer is not helping us AT ALL!! They took it back, welded it, and returned it to us thinking that was ok!! It basically lost all of its value, may or may not be safe, and to top it off, we lost about 70 days in lost productivity while it was being "fixed". What would you do? They are not cooperating at all...

    3) I hate that we have so few good drivers, that they feel like they can't even call in sick if they really are sick. Should I hire some "spot drivers" that could fill in when need be? Where would I find some? For that matter, what would be the best place to find good drivers..they don't have to have the best driving record nor have years of experience..just guys that don't pop millions of pills, steal, show up drunk, miss very load time, etc..Besides the 10 great drivers we have, that has been our experience (hiring through word-of-mouth).
     
  5. aiwiron

    aiwiron Road Train Member

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    Aug 24, 2011
    Sunny Tampa Florida
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    Question,

    How many and what type of power units with flat bed or drop decks do you have available?

    Are you willing to run traffic lanes that are not local but pay well?

    If so I did private message you my name and phone number, I know where you can put them to work.

    Added this in edit: Must have 48' flatbed, $1,000,000 liability insurance, $100.000 cargo plus Tarps
     
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2012
    Tiffy Thanks this.
  6. 123456

    123456 Road Train Member

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    I'd have posted this question

    in the owner operator section perhaps........
     
  7. bullhaulerswife

    bullhaulerswife Forum Leader/Admin Staff Member Administrator

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    Good catch, I moved it and left a redirect that will expire in about a week. :biggrin_25514:
     
    123456 Thanks this.
  8. big red money pit

    big red money pit Bobtail Member

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    Feb 20, 2011
    nashville, tn
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    find a small trucking company and partner up. hire someone to put them in line, manag your intrest because with all do respect your putting feelings before business
     
  9. EHB

    EHB Medium Load Member

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    Apr 26, 2011
    Newfoundland
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    1) Find good drivers is the best or you can sell the 7 trucks and trailers or lease them out to a company where there is more work.


    2) Brand-new Mauer trailer that was only 2 weeks old when the suspension completely cracked. Mauer is not helping, took it back, welded it, and returned it to us thinking that was ok! It basically lost all of its value, may or may not be safe. They are not cooperating at all...:biggrin_25513:

    Well, the DOT would love that. Get the trailer inspected by a good trailer company or a really good trailer mechanic at last point, inspected by DOT to get it approved.
    If Mauer selling trailers that are not up to DOT standers and are junk, they will have DOT all over them.

    The news stations would love that breaking news on a air on a USA company with a faulty product. The media would have a field day.

    3) Kijiji is one spot to look good drivers, and it is free. Do references checks and phone calls to their old employers. There are many place to find good drivers, news paper, internet, chat rooms. And it is DOT rule to do drug testing and medical before hiring. And log book need to be keeped in case DOT pulls them in for some reason.

    No drinking for 72 hours or your fired policy.:biggrin_25514:
     
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2012
    dog-c and Tiffy Thank this.
  10. Tiffy

    Tiffy Bobtail Member

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    Apr 8, 2012
    Appleton WI
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    Honestly, I can't express my gratitude enough. We are down, but not out..and thanks to you guys..I think we can do this.

    aiwiron:
    I tried to message you back but for some reason my computer won't let me. I'll try again,
    but YES, of course we are willing to travel outside of our lanes!! The good drivers we do have are EXCELLENT. We have a reefer run from Chicago to LA that our driver loves and it works out good.

    We have the insurance you asked about.

    We have 7 Lonestar Internationals, 3 Kenworth daycabs, 5 Peterbilts. Mostly we have hopper bottoms, but we do have 2 flatbed trailers as well, and 2 reefer trailers.

    Thank you again to everyone for this invaluable advice I have been given. You are truly angels and it won't be forgotten.
     
  11. aiwiron

    aiwiron Road Train Member

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    Aug 24, 2011
    Sunny Tampa Florida
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    I resent my outside contact information to you and not sure about how the board operates here, please let me know if you receive it.
     
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