is it still worth getting your own authority these days in the dying industry ?

I was being a smart ###

 

Ok


The idea of getting an authority seems to be the common thread throughout the industry, sold as some means to make the big bucks but with a failure rate of both leased and independent owners averaging 80 to 85%, it isn't a question of when but how to shore yourself up to prevent you from being in that 85%.

Rates are low but not at an all time low, for that matter, I've seen only a slight dip in rates between last year and this year as have other fleets. What matters is capacity, we have too much and it isn't going down fast enough because of the new entries for both cdl holders and owners who want to cash in on a task and easy buck.

There is no dying in this industry, i wish drivers would get a clue, with the promotion of more drivers and truck sales still strong enough to counter that claim, what is the problem is the ease of getting a cdl, the ease of getting an authority and a lack of means testing for new and one/two year old carriers.

Robots are a long way off and this will only deal with the segment that has to do with big box stores, not general freight,

 

. We both made the same, $5000, my Ins costs, also the same.

 

The one big issue also, is Liability, Putting your name on everything. That alone is a dealbreaker, for most sane People. Considering that, it’s hardly worth it. Especially if you’ve already got a pretty good % deal.

 

Too many people starting on an upswing is what has gotten us here. Everyone saying the world is ending, rates are at an all time low, etc. Rates are similar to what they were back in 15-16 or so, and fuel is about $1 per gallon less now. People were making it back then.

 

It's all good. Just a little chopping here, a big shot there and a few scripts until next time. My body is within the last 6 weeks have developed certain issues related to the full hip replacement I wont go into detail here, but my morale was not as good as it is now thinking on how fast a body can rot in a manner of speaking.

I have good doctors. And I just keep my big yap shut and let them get out the big butcher cleaver and tools. I have learned how much pain I can take and take joy in it. I have had trauma that hurt bad in the trucking years, but did not know the pain that I learned this past year. I wish that on no one. But the doctor will fix it and kick me out.

That's one thing I have been trying to do. Stay the hell out of the doctors office (hypochondriac?) until something is broken or rotting and need fixing one way or another. Those doctors have a hard enough time dealing with waiting rooms full of people who just need someone to hold their hand a few minutes. Im not one of those.

Thats the other side of it. Medical technology has gotten seriously good in the last 20 years and I wonder if it is allowed to take on this as a challenge to literally fix it as you would rebuild a car in a shop and be non disabled and back on the road again. That's part of the promise offered by the situation as it's evolving.

 

Say it ain't so.

 

No its not. Between insurance, factoring, DOT compliance,accounting etc its I just dont see how small fleets survive. I have a fleet of 15 O/O and company and last year we made the decision to go join a company and become an agent. I wish i would have made the move 5 years ago I would have saved myself a lot blood sweat and tears. Not to mention I would have grown the business 10X. Alot of these "90%" companies are also starting to charge more %. Dirty little secret most of these 90% carriers never actually add the truck to the insurance policy. Find a good carrier and lease on. Most carriers allow to book your own freight...

 

Don't add truck or add it and let it fall off. People did that up in jersey.