Techs who went independent or started mobile what tripped you up?

I think with a lot of people, no matter what other industry they come from, they dont know the trucking industry.

Most people think all you have to do is just get a load and deliver it, go get another load and deliver it. They think loads will just fall out of the sky and land in thier lap.

Most people think there is an over abundance of loads out here.

Most people think that because they know 5 people who "say" they are doing good, belive it.

Most people belive that since Jim Bob is getting $6 - $8 per mile, they think they can come straight into the industry on day one and start making that.

Most people believe they can have $50,000 saved in the bank, that'll cover them until that money starts rolling in in two weeks.

Most people think they can have a truck, pick up & deliver loads and nothing will go wrong. They wont get stuck at a shipper/receiver, they wont get stuck in traffic for 3 or 4 hours, they'll have no flats/blowouts etc. They think its just you call, we haul and there's a check in the bank.
That thier load will always be ready and waiting for them and surely will never be pushed out to the next day... or more.

You said you're a mechanic. Ok so I can just build a shop and the next morning theres gonna be 5 trucks sitting there waiting for me to open, right? I mean, business is just gonna fall out of the sky in my lap. I'll be so far behind by the end of the week that I'll need to hire 3 more mechnaics. Im just gonna let the money roll in?

Now you and I both know better than that. Its more to it than a shop, some tools and knowing how to turn the key and watch the black smoke roll.
You gotta know the industry and you need to have some sort of background in the industry as a whole to get into this industry.

The trucking industry is complicated. Its highly regulated and requires knowedge and a lot of money.

People don't understand how regulated this industry is untill they're forced out and broke. As a mechic shop, you probably dont get an OSHA or state inspector ect in you shop every 5 - 10 years. We roll by our regulators 10 - 20 times a day, then in & out of scale houses a few times a day.
There's 100 + years of rules for rules, rules that cover those rules and then the rules change in the next city or state.

Most of these guys making big bucks that you dream of, have been in the business for years and got into it when it wasn't so bad. Some grew up with thier dad and learned the industry like your dad knew it. Most of these guys didnt pop up one day and decide to get into trucking. 30 - 40 years ago, it wasnt too bad getting your foot in the door. Today, not so much. You've either been in the industry for 20+ years already or its not likely to happen these days.