So you want to hot-shot? (Will be updated/edited frequently)

What are the military loads paying now? I see quite a few on the board going to Edwards AFB.

Thanks for the insightful posts.

 

It just depends on what they're moving, no how far it's going. Rates are all over the place.

Here's a for instance, Today. I was looking for something for one of our Owner Operators emptying out tomorrow. Military shipment posted going roughly 1,250 miles paying $1,400.00. 25' only 650 lbs. I think it was helicopter blades. Not a horrible piece but I didn't want to commit the truck to it without having something else paying decent to put on the trailer with it. Kept seeing it changing Brokers price was inching up. All of the sudden it went to $1,700.00.

Here's how military loads work. Multiple companies bid on them and the lowest bidder wins. However, if the lowest bidder fails to get it moved it gets handed off by the military to the next Broker inline that put in a higher bid. That can keep happening until it finally reaches a Broker that bid it high enough to move it. Here's the funny part. That first Broker that bid it to low, he's on the hook for the amount of money it took to move it over his original bid. So let's just say that first Broker trying to move it for $1,400 bid it at $1,800 and the Broker that ended up moving it that posted it for $1,700 , bid it at $2,200.00. The extra $400.00 that it took to move it, that money gets pulled from the original Broker with lowest bid's bond. At least that's the way it use to work. Things may have changed? Hard to keep up with all the changes going on out there.

 

Like Midwest1 said, you'll have to be plugged in to the ecm. And it will effect every motor carrier out there the same regardless of the type of truck you're running.

 

I suppose getting into it after the mandate it won't matter much, since that's all I'd know anyhow at that point.
So, to continue my line of questioning, here is another one.
It's been repeated over and over that it is very difficult to make it just running the load boards.
Very difficult and impossible are two different things however. And it seems that besides cold calling various companies, meeting brokers and shippers through the load boards is about the best way to build a reputation to be able to find better priced loads anyhow.
So, my question is, are load board a difficult, yet possible way to scratch by until a rep is built? Or should I focus more on just trying to find a company like flatbedcarrier's who are looking for o/o hotshots?
I am trying to gather as much knowledge from you experienced folks as I can before taking the plunge. I've already learned quite a bit and discovered some pitfalls to avoid that I didn't even know existed from this thread alone.

 

Having someone with his experience is invaluable. However unless you want to be on the west coast. Yes you do build relationships with brokers on the load board. Your home state is producing a excess of out bound freight. By being aware of its destination and not choosing to carry into dead areas will improve your rate per mile. There are guys who find freight and brokers for you for a percentage. I believe flatbedcarrier charges a flat fee which is best way to go IMO. I paid a guy for about 3years worked out good for both of us. He was starting a dispatch service and I was building my business. It dos make it easer starting out but at some point I needed to know how to do it buy myself.

 

What state are you based out of?

 

Southeast Alabama, outside Fort Rucker. The plan is to do as much OTR as is profitable though. It won't hurt my feelings to see more of Alabama in the rear view then not. Besides the low cost of living anyway.

 

What's your plan? Do you have a truck and trailer yet? Are you financing or paying cash? Operating authority? Are you leaving a decent job to pursue this?

 

Right now, the plan is a lot more research. I am still at least six months to a year out from taking the leap. I will probably end up financing the truck and trailer. From what I've been reading so far, I think I'd rather go that route and keep a fair amount of a cash reserve available, and finance a newer truck, then buy an older model outright and not have much operating capital.
The plan is to go full out, Class A CDL, operating authority, the whole bit. I just want to make sure I have everything straight and legal. No interest in cutting corners, too many years in Army Aviation for that kind of thing. I'm not sure if I want to lease out to either an RV hauler or a flatbed company for a year or two just to get the feel of everything before striking out on my own, or just run the load boards yet. I will have very little personal debt going into this, so besides the operating costs of the company, I dont have much I will need to be covering.
I have a good job, but it is soul destroying.

 

Here is a idea. Do you know or find people working in logistics on Base? If so they could hook you up with whoever is brokering the stuff and most likely the other installations near by.