How many loads can I do off the load board?

Just curious as to why you wouldn't arrange (or even pay) a sales team in order of aligning some direct shipping freight contracts? I've worked for a couple companies only running off of a load board and it was absolute chaos. Even a guarantee of one direct contract imo is better than just the load boards alone especially in these time of a freight shortage. Remember, JB Hunt has moved for loads on rail oppose truck since November. https://www.ccjdigital.com/business...f-removing-millions-of-loads-from-the-highway A Direct Customer base leads towards longevity in Trucking.

 

Sounds like everyone should be asking you how it works. Just get the equipment, nows a good time. Hit the auctions. Buy everything possible. The rest will automatically fall into place. Sales? No need. They’ll call you. Name your price. It’s very easy. Get the equipment first. Get Authority and Insurance plates and permits. Then worry about getting Drivers and Freight. What’s the hold up? Go for it.

 

I’ve got three drivers…good…? meh.
Calls all hours of nights just to talk, ask stupid questions, “this a good road?”
“You said 24/7, google says 8-4.”
that don’t believe that’s office hours, not mill hours.”
but let’s call at 0200.

“I’ll load this load going up there Friday this time that pays me $850, but never again! Next time is NO!!”
And that’s after you asked if he wanted load, he said”Yes” then wants you to cover it, and your on one that loads 2 hours before at 0500, he’s at 0700.

 

I don't understand what you are trying to do. Are u trying to get 50 trucks? first u mention flatbed now talking about jb hunt.

What is this $3500-$5000 a month? If you want to make $5000/month just work for a company? Why buy 50 trucks just to make $5000

 

I’m surprised that anyone would bother to reply to such an obvious troll post. Sounds like something a 10 year old would ask.

Anyone who’s been in this game for more than a week wouldn’t ask a question like this.

On the other hand, no one who has actually been successful enough to have made enough money to be able to buy 50 trucks would ask such an asinine question. A successful person such as that would know how to do his own due diligence. Having done so, he would know that what he asked is absolutely ridiculous.

 

Why don't you just start looking for a small company that's close to selling out packing it in going bankrupt. You'll have the work force right there and take your ideas and turn that company around. I'm sure they'll have some existing contracts and you can add the load board work to right the ship. Companies are going under every day

 

Yes, ignore all these nay sayers, it's actually very easy. Just sign up with TQL, C. H. Robinson, and Landstar, you will be all set. They will keep your trucks loaded and rolling. There's really nothing to it, in fact, it is so easy a monkey could do it, as is evidenced by the people who are doing it now.

 

I love it.

 

Random thoughts for randoms quotes.

ONE!

Just ONE.

You asking this means you are not a driver nor understand the economics of the industry.

No you can't, just the financing of the trucks surpasses your ability to understand how it works.

NO you can't. 5 trucks with five POS drivers (which you will end up with because of you don't know even how to hire a good driver, this will all cost you a lot of time and money and put you in that upper end of the 95% of failures very fast.

I did, others have. If you want to have a real conversation about this, then we are all willing to help you out but you already have some scheme to make the big bucks without a clue. Many of us have been doing this for years, some 20, others 40 years and yet you think it is easy and everyone can make big bucks.

Nearly IMPOSSIBLE for a new fleet.

This is where many who enter this as armchair fleet owners JUST DON'T GET.

When I approach a customer for a possible contract with them, I have three things going for me, that you won't have. number one is a reputation of having ON TIME freight record, the second is customers who can back me up with the first point, and finally, I have a selection process that weeds out crap drivers coupled with the financial stability to get the job done even if I have to lose money to make sure the customer is taken care of.

What plans?

You failed to even tell us who you are, what experience you have and how many years you have on the road.

I agree!

Excellent advice, but one more caveat is this little fact, one accident can put him out of business.

Really? You can't even come close to competing unless you run a 60% loss for the first five years. With 50 trucks, you will lose a possible $7m to $11m in the first 3.

So let's see them?
Fleet owners do not think in terms of miles or profit per month by the way.

You are joking? A sales team?

Sorry how you paying them?

Commission?

I have three people, including myself who are my sales team, plus drivers. The drivers get bonuses based on the amount of work we get from a customer, the others are all salaried. We all wear different hats working for the drivers.

Nope it isn't realisitic unless you want to be a cheap POS fleet owner.

Bet you will go the 1099 route, most ignorant owners do this and they screw the drivers.

Dispatchers should be experienced in how trucking works, not just some moron who is hired off the street, which is what caused drivers to leave. Just read all the threads about bad dispatchers here. Unless you were on the road for a bunch of years, you won't even know what to look for.

Nope, see my above statement about contracts.

Very! I have to deal with competion that can undercut me in a second but doesn't have the main features that many are looking for to move freight.

When you have POS owners who will run the trucks at a near loss, and not pay their drivers either on time or at all, then you will be put into a position that will put you into a downward spin that you will not get out of.

It comes out in the questions you are asking.