QuestionMy Fiance is a truck driver. He in the making of starting his own buisness. He has already accomplished some of the beginning stages such as obtaining a buisness licence, getting his own authority and so forth. My question is where do we start? What will we need to start managing the business successfully ie...software, management. etc? Also, what do you thing will be the best way to find loads for my company.
AnswerHi Antenette.
Companies like www.truckershelper.com can help you with software. There are numerous companies that can help you with software, so look around. You'll need a program so you can keep track of everything.
I fully endorse www.ooida.com, too. This is a great organization for owner-operators. If you havn't joined, do it now. They can save you money on everything and have a lot of great information available.
As far as getting loads, I go to sites like www.getloaded.com. After a while you get to know brokers and then you can pick out the ones who give you the best rates. One trick is that you may see four loads going, from say, Indianapolis to Dallas. What it could be is one load listed with four brokers, so you have to call all four to see who gives you the best rate (AND who has the best credit rating).
Nothing beats knocking on doors, though. Find companies in your area and drop off a brochure or a business card. Talk to whoever is in charge of shipping, maybe you can do business. I haul a lot of Orange Juice out of Bradenton, Florida. I have a usual run with one of my trucks to LA. I stopped in a company 2 miles from me and they recieve a lot of shipments in from LA! Now they don't have to mess with a broker, and my guy always has a load waiting in LA when he empties out and it delivers 2 miles from our yard in Florida. Very low deadhead! I always take care of these customers, too. Point is, I may have never got that run if I didn't hustle. So go out and hit up local businesses, you never know!
Good luck!
Bob Stephens
