Question for a broker from a new owner operator

My first load was not even close to 2.50. Is that your bottom number that you negotiate for?

Palm trees coming out of Florida and bringing the truck home to NC. I can scale 48250 weight but when I left the nursery it scaled 82350. The broker has billed it as 44k lbs but turned out to be over 50k. Luckily the shipper was able to quickly remove 3 trees and I was off and running.

Fuel cost was appr 525.00 due to the poor aerodynamics and heavy weight.

Still, even though it was a low rate, it was great to get first one under the belt without a hitch.

 

Be careful with this trees. When I pulled them, those guys didn't care if the root ball stuck over the side an inch or four. The dot does.

 

I am a driver, and fleet manager. I am looking to become a broker. Do you all have any tips for me, besides don't screw us?

 

These guys did a pretty good job of arranging the trees. A few more loads hauled... a well pump, pvc pipe and one of crushed cars. Things continue to go well thus far.

 

Those crushed cars go to Baldwin or is fosters shipping them back up to Alabama?

 

Be prepared to pay everyone with a Comcheck on delivery. You won't have a credit rating for a year and nobody will haul a load for you.

 

Thank you very much Skate-Board. I have been planning on working like that. I was lucky enough to make a lot of money and have some $200k set aside. I used to be a real estate investor and misuse of credit cost me everything about 10 years ago. So I am not looking to borrow too much if I can. Personally I wouldn't mind getting my own truck and going back on the road, but the wife and 3 kids are not too excited to have dad gone that much.

I also have been considering working for Armstrong Transportation Group as an agent, they are willing to take me on as an agent without a book. Most other brokers only want agents who already have a book of business. They say they have excellent credit.

Any thoughts?

 

I looked Armstrong up and they have a good credit rating. I would deal with them.