Possibly going 100% Independent....

I pull the same and they pay consistantly,I also do good with CHR
as well as 20 other some odd brokers to keep moving.

 

So I looked on the OOIDA website and now see the "one-stop shopping" mention. I don't recall them offering that back in Feb., nor any permit services. At that time it was just a business support team you could call into and ask questions.

Now that I'm thinking about it, I would advise you check with an o/o on this site from your home state. To be honest, the authority app was the easy part. Knowing the local IRP ins and outs was the real learning experience and most legwork in getting started. Another gem was a post by G/MAN I think that was about intra-state authorities you may or may not need according to your business plan. I think it got added to one of the stickies.

 

I have been researching since early/mid March getting my authority. Right now my plan is to use OOIDA for the authority and what it comes with.

I am thinking about using these folks for my IRP/IFTA They charge $150 for the getting the plate and $45 for the IFTA. The reason being, in Indiana you can't do it online the first year. I would have to drive 3 hours to Indy, one way, probably have to go down the night before and pay for a hotel insuring (hopefully) that I can get it done in one day and should I screw up and forget something, well.....more time involved now. Either way a 6 hour round trip drive in my pick up, plus hotel, plus a day shot is worth $200 to me and when it comes to intrastate and any other state related items. I am sure they can answer my questions and help me where needed. I hope!!

 

Makes sense. I mentioned the state specific advice because each state has it's own voodoo to deal with. In Georgia the IFTA is done online in about 5 minutes and costs about $3 for the stickers, which come in the mail. IRP requires trips to the county tag office for ad-valorem taxes and trailer taxes and plates, then to the state office near the ATL airport for the IRP. Unless your IRP is pro-rated for one month or just a base fee, you better check that cost. A 48-state cab card runs well over $1,000 most places. Mine was prorated for two months when I got it in March for just under $300. The other weird thing is most Georgia counties collect ad-valorem tax on a monthly cycle based on the first letter of your business name. Ours comes due May 31. Which is followed two months later with the 2290. Which is a pre-requisite for the IRP. Which is earlier. I'm sure it makes sense to someone LOL.

Go ahead and laugh Redd.. you know I have to do my part to keep the trains running and Grady open LOL (Fulton county).

 

Amen brother.

This will be the best money you spend. OOIDA is great for somethings and avoid them for others, like insurance. Plus they will tell you like it is. With me living in IL and the IRP being a bit challenging, the recommended I go local. I paid $175 for the service. And if you are starting this process while driving then you can make more than this driving compared to the time you would need to be doing the simple but detailed work.

Yes, some do. It will range from 1-month to 6-months. Many of the 6-month people are larger carriers that broker loads they can't cover. Fed-ex is one of the better ones. CHR will take you right away. Landstar may be a month but don't think so and TQL I believe is 1-month. But plenty of others that you can work with.

Do not ever take a cheap load from CHR. Once they get you in the system taking cheap rates you will have a tough time breaking out of it.

I have never had an age question on my trailer or tractor. Beyond how long you have been in business, refferences, safety rating, etc.; the only equipment questions have been about condition. Some dry food that I haul are picky about it being swept before you can load. Other loads have issue with snaging and sides need to be in good condition. On a dry can having E-tracks is a good idea. Maybe once a month a get a load that requires it.

I do a lot with Landstar. Would say they get me the most consistant solid rates of any other broker. I use their system to scan documents and have fund loaded onto a LS Comdata card that allows me to get LS fuel rates. Only way to fund it is with loads from them. They pay in 2-days at 1.5%. But I save more than that with fuel discounts.

With the exception of one load, I have not done a single load for them under $2/mile (and not talking 150 mile loads). And have done a couple at $3/mile in the past couple weeks. Plus you can get alerts that show you the rate.

I am not a fan of factoring with these type of companies. I see the need and if it is the difference between staying with Mercer or one of these companies, I would say factor away. And if you do this, make sure you understand the contract inside and out. You can only use one and sales people will hound you. Don't just send in an application to "see if you are approved". Many have been stung on that and it almost got me.

 

just a note if you get insurance thru ooida you will not be able to do landstar loads as they hate ooida because of a previous lawsuit.....and will not accept anybody with their insurance

 

anything OOIDA is to be avoided,just takes folks abit longer then others to "LEARN"

 

Well now you tell us, I wished you would have told me this back in 2007 when I bought my new Pete and since I was a OOIDA member I got a $1500 cash rebate from Peterbilt. Since I am still a member I just haven't learned yet.

 

Insurance will run him $5k to $6k a year.

$100 a year for a drug consortium or if he gets his authority threw OOIDA they will include one year free.

He may get a lot better rates on his own then what Mercer is paying.

I say he will be giving himself a raise, the cost of doing business is going to be a lot less then the $57,000 he paid Mercer last year.

Don't you still have to look for loads at Mercer?

Paying someone 25% of your revenue to take the pressure off is not like having your own authority.