Husband and I are Just Getting Own Authority After Leasing for 2 Yrs and Need Mentors

Don't forget to use common sense. If people are cold calling you to offer their services be sure to do your own research before jumping on-board. They wouldn't be calling you if it didn't benefit them in someway. I'm not saying every call or email you get is a ploy, but more times then not they are trying to squeeze you for cash.

 

In my opinion, if you have to rely on factoring for cashflow, you probably don't have enough cash to be making this jump. My first rule of thumb for anyone that asks me the first step to getting their own truck going is to have enough cash on hand for a down pament on equipment and enough to cover 30 days expenses. For 1 truck, 20 grand plus down payment money. IF you have to use quick pay for some loads to get started, thats not the end of the world, but try to wean yourself off as quickly as possible. As far as a load board, I used to do Getloaded.com and truckstop.com, but now I just use one of them as I found them quite redundant. I also us CH Robinson's load board in a pinch. I definately would Google NASTC and become a member and take advantage of their fuel program at the very least. My average discount on fuel last year was $.30/gallon, and it is substantially more than that right now - beter than $.70/gal many places. They can set you up in their drug testing consortium also. Good guys to have in your corner.

 

Some of the big brokers have their own fuel cards where you can save on fuel purchases. Landstar, Mercer and others will pay you on their fuel card and you can use the funds to make fuel purchases. Landstar doesn't offer as high a rebate as Mercer, but you can save with them. They are not the only ones who offer a fuel card and you don't have to sign up or pay a high annual fee to get it.

 

Get in touch with Lady K

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/members/53788-lady-k/

She ran team with husband, they are O/O with own authority.