Newbie Team Driver Wannabees - Can We Do This?

123456 · Sep 17, 2013

Your way of thinking has changed,

in the last year ?

http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SMS/Data/carrier.aspx?enc=pBiAm40rmQiC71ya8HeD+A==

flyboynme said: ↑

THE BUSINESS OF LEASING

What I learned about the business of leasing ... so far. I'm still learning, but this was a good lesson to remember.

It's a business and needs to be treated as such. Most anyone can drive, but just because you passed your truck driving training, it doesn't mean you can run a business. Most people who are not successful with leasing, failed because they didn't treat it as a business.

In order to run your business of leasing a truck, you need to be willing to do what it takes to gain knowledge of the business of trucking and get training and education in the following things .... and MASTER them. If we master the following list in our business, then we will INCREASE revenue and DECREASE costs. (And have fun working.)

1. Customer Service - treat others as you would like to be treated. With respect. You get back what you give out. Your appearance counts so look good all the time.

2. Goal Setting - how can you get anywhere if you don't have someplace in mind to go? Set goals so you have something to celebrate at the end of the day/week/month/quarter/year/3 yrs/5 years.

3. Accounting - know the numbers, how are we going to handle this aspect of the business?

4. Profit and Loss - need to understand this and know each day if you have made a profit or a loss or if you're working toward accomplishing your weekly profit goal. You must have a profit plan! Plan for profit, not a paycheck! Understand the business ... how many miles to break even ... then after you hit your break-even mark, you can relax and take a day off or ... if you have not timed out yet, get another load and make MORE $$ at the end of the week.

5. Fuel Mileage and Maintenance Costs - learn how to control these. We can control these costs by paying attention to them and knowing how everything works. Simple. Learn the many ways to DECREASE costs, write them down and follow them.

6. Rates and Lanes - understand getting loads and where to live so you can get loads going OUT to make money. Some of the bad cities to live for OUT-going loads are Denver, Seattle, Miami (not all-inclusive, by any means). Subscribe to one or two load boards and study the rates so you are familiar with how it all works and how much cost is involved.

7. Freight Trends - Know which weeks of the month are slowest and which are busiest. Know which days of the week are slower and which are busiest. (ask the fleet mgr)

You must have a profit plan! Plan for profit, not a paycheck! Understand the business.

Choose a carrier with a high CSA score to lease with. A poor score will result in lost revenue.

OK. Got it... sort of.
Click to expand...

Log in or Sign up

Forums

Find Trucking Jobs

Newbie Team Driver Wannabees - Can We Do This?

123456 Road Train Member

Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

Wait, employers can't reach you!

Log in or Sign up

Useful Searches

Find Trucking Jobs

Newbie Team Driver Wannabees - Can We Do This?

123456 Road Train Member

Wait, employers can't reach you!