Need information and input from all

No problem. Good luck with you endeavors.

 

In addition to the honesty and correct pay statements above, I'd say the most important thing to me right now would be a solid, good-paying customer base. I guess this almost goes without saying, but it's a rare commodity these days. Getting a high percentage of $1/mi broker freight wouldn't cut it. Good luck, hope it works well for you.

 

Me and my wife started out company with 2 of our own trucks...since 07 we now have 5 of our own units and 8 owner operators leased on to us with their own trucks and trailers....what we found makes us a strong company is our pay system..we do not pay our drivers per mile rates we pay % of the load that way theres no secrets..they know what we book the loads for and they know their % and it makes everybody happy..we constantly being asked to hire more people and expand but we like where we at right now and every single driver/ or owner operator knows us personally and is like a family to us. We charge 5% of the gross for owner ops using our services, and majority of our own drivers make 25% off the gross so if they turn about 10k in 12 days on average they make about 5k a month...maybe that is why our drivers treat our trucks like its their own. Best of luck to ya.

 

Okay, you did say you wanted input from all and I do fit into that broad category LOL.
I do know that I am a newbie rookie, but I feel that I am a different breed than the average newbie rookie, although, to be fair, everyone thinks that about themselves. LOL
For me, I wish there were companies that offered new drivers like myself an opportunity to learn and gain experience in an apprenticeship.
I know there are companies that claim that is what they offer, but mean good old fashion apprenticeship. A lot of newbie rookies want to just be tained and on their own as soon as possible. I would rather be well trained. I know not a lot of newbies would be willing to go this route, being a second seat driver helper, not getting their own truck but slip seating with experienced drivers doing the grunt work in exchange for moderate pay, learning and gaining experience. But, there are a few, like myself who are looking for that.
I think it would be of value to the company and experienced drivers, because an experienced driver may not be interested in having a co-driver and running team, but there maybe sometimes and some runs that they would want and benefit from an apprentice with them. If an experienced driver had an apprentice who is on the clock doing grunt work, it gives the exerienced driver more hours. Having help tarping and securing loads, shoveling snow, and all could be a benefit to experience drivers at times, and they also have a driver to drive some extra miles also.
As a newbie although earning less for awhile, I would have the opportunity to be better trained and gain more experience over a longer period of time. I would rather earn less for a year of training than be on my own after only a few hunded hours over a couple month period. Also, I could get a chance to have more diversity in my learning, getting to train on reefers, van and flatbeds. I would love that.
Let me know if there is a company like that so I can apply.

 

A solid customer base can't be guaranteed . I know several O/O's that have had freight drop considerably with their base customers . The best experienced ones are struggling . Not really a time to try to get into it .

 

Hey Southern That is Awesome.
Actually flatbedding is what I had in mind when I decided to become a trucker. I like the work and involvement with the load.
However, when I was in school they steered us away from flatbedding because the economy and they believed reefer was the best way to go, mostly drop n hook.
For me, I like working, I enjoyed learning to strap and tarp, climbing up on the loads. I know I had a stronger feeling of accomplishment straping and tarping a load than just droping and hooking a trailer.
The school also said it would be difficult if not next to impossible for me as an inexperienced woman to get a flatbedding job at this time in the industry with so many other male drivers.
However, that is what calls me. So I won't give up...