please help need advice

[burchett4]

2 yrs ago i moved from IN to AZ to start my own trucking company with me as owner operater. I started doing flat bed work and had to work very hard to even make truck payment ect. Over a yr ago i started hauling cars with a 7 car trailer. I have no OTR hauling exp. All the cars that i transport are local in az. It has taken over a year to even get enough clients to make a profit. I also use broker help which has not worked out because broker is holding over 8000 of pay and is 6 weeks behind in pay. So that being said here is where i need advice help anything. I had to send my wife and 2 kids back to IN because cost of living in AZ is to exp. I have been away from them for over 6 months now and only see them a couple days every 6 weeks. Needless to say between time away from family and broker holding pay not paying i am going to have to make a move and i am thinking of taking my truck back to IN and giving it a try there but starting over is a horrible thought. but only 2 ways to go is start over there or file bankruptsy because of business loans reg driving job would not do it.I guess i am asking does anyone know of a broker car hauling in or around IN or have any suggestions websites ect. any advice help would be great thanks for reading

[madpuppy]

Wow, contact OOIDA, I think there web site is www.landlinemag.com or www.ooida.com . See if some one there can help. I wish I could help you more hand, but that kind of stuff is the reason I stay a company driver. Good Luck !

[burchett4]

Thanks for your help i bookmarked the websites and will read them asap. I know it is a mess. Was going good for a while and then seemed if everything that could go wrong has first had to rebuild moter not to mention all the tires and other repairs that add up. Now all the money i have worked very long days for is in someone elses hands and he has paid a little here and there but i wont work for him anymore because there is no trust and you have to have that. This person holds your paycheck and not only do you have to have bill money and reg everyday living costs but fuel insurance and repairs if needed cant do that with nothing in the bank and not knowing when you get paid. sorry just needed to vent another bad day. Thanks again!

[BigWheels]

Contacting a lawyer to retrieve money owed you is a good next step. As long as your records are in good shape you should get most of what is owed you ('course that may take awhile). See what OOIDA says as well.

Hopin' for the best!...

[BigWheels]

Oops...double post...slow Internet...trigger fingers....my bad. :?

[burchett4]

Hi big wheeler thanks for the advice!

[golfhobo]

Burchett, I know NOTHING about being an O/O. But, let me take a stab in the dark.

You own a truck, right? Can't you find ANY company in AZ to whom you can lease to for awhile? Pull THEIR dry vans, reefers or dump buckets for awhile. Get PAID!!

I'm sure it must not be that simple, or you'd have thought of it. I just don't understand why you are "tied" to this broker, and limiting your options on WHAT you will haul.

I wish you the BEST, man! I drive the roads in AZ weekly, and see lots of signs saying "Drivers needed." I'm sure SOME of them have a plan for a guy who shows up with his OWN truck, don't they?

If I'm WAY off base, I apologize!

[Sizzle]

I've heard from every driver I've spoken to that Lonestar is an excellent O/O Company. Try to give them a call and see what pans out. Never heard a bad word about that company. Best of luck to you!!! 8)

[century451]

Give Dart a try

[Sizzle]

I negelected to mention that Lonestar doesn't haul cars that I'm aware of. I just thought it would be a good company for you as far as miles go and O/Os only, along with being OTR, of course. 8)

[DD60]

Burchett, I know NOTHING about being an O/O. But, let me take a stab in the dark.

You own a truck, right? Can't you find ANY company in AZ to whom you can lease to for awhile? Pull THEIR dry vans, reefers or dump buckets for awhile. Get PAID!!

I'm sure it must not be that simple, or you'd have thought of it. I just don't understand why you are "tied" to this broker, and limiting your options on WHAT you will haul.

I wish you the BEST, man! I drive the roads in AZ weekly, and see lots of signs saying "Drivers needed." I'm sure SOME of them have a plan for a guy who shows up with his OWN truck, don't they?

If I'm WAY off base, I apologize!

Good post from someone who knows nothing about being an O/O. You have potential. I agree. WHY limit yourself to this broker? One mistake you made was starting a trucking business with NO OTR experience which is the main reason you are in this situation. Now I see what is limiting your options. Lack of exp. Keep looking around for local runs or better yet sell the truck and invest the money in another type of business. Other than that your option is to start out fresh with a training company OTR to get at least one year in. Good luck. All your options are very limited without OTR experience. You may be able to find a good local run with your truck OR THEIR truck,but it will be very difficult.

[golfhobo]

Burchett, I know NOTHING about being an O/O. But, let me take a stab in the dark.

You own a truck, right? Can't you find ANY company in AZ to whom you can lease to for awhile? Pull THEIR dry vans, reefers or dump buckets for awhile. Get PAID!!

I'm sure it must not be that simple, or you'd have thought of it. I just don't understand why you are "tied" to this broker, and limiting your options on WHAT you will haul.

I wish you the BEST, man! I drive the roads in AZ weekly, and see lots of signs saying "Drivers needed." I'm sure SOME of them have a plan for a guy who shows up with his OWN truck, don't they?

If I'm WAY off base, I apologize!

Good post from someone who knows nothing about being an O/O. You have potential. I agree. WHY limit yourself to this broker? One mistake you made was starting a trucking business with NO OTR experience which is the main reason you are in this situation. Now I see what is limiting your options. Lack of exp. Keep looking around for local runs or better yet sell the truck and invest the money in another type of business. Other than that your option is to start out fresh with a training company OTR to get at least one year in. Good luck. All your options are very limited without OTR experience. You may be able to find a good local run with your truck OR THEIR truck,but it will be very difficult.

Thanks, DD60! I've thought about owning someday, but I haven't even BEGUN to do the research necessary! I've got time. Anyway, I think I may have missed his statement that a "regular driving job won't do it." But, I still don't understand how a guy with a truck can't find work.

I was a bit surprised at YOUR advice though, especially selling out and getting into another line of work. But, on the other hand, selling the truck to pay the bills, then COLLECTING the $8k owed at some point and buying ANOTHER truck might work!

Burchett, you say you've hauled cars locally? Have you contacted PTMG or whatever they're called? I know you don't have the OTR experience, but once you get the cars loaded, the road miles are not the hard part, I wouldn't think. They just MAY take a look at you because of all your experience in the loading/unloading end of the business.

I don't want to sound harsh, but man.... you've got a TRUCK!! Get out there and find a LOAD! If I had a truck payment to meet, I'd haul produce in from the fields if it would pay the "nut."

This sounds really slly, but I've SEEN it done out there, post a big sign in your window, or on the side of your truck, saying, "this truck IS for hire! Call XXXXXXXX!!

To be an O/O, you gotta think outside the box!

Best of luck!

[burchett4]

you both make great points I guess i need to be a little more clear (this is the wife in this post) He takes any work he can get it all comes down to we used to both have jobs but because of health problems i was forced to quit and his family talked him into this idea and at that point it was better then giving up and ruining credit. It all sounded like the great idea like most things someone tells you how easy and how much you make and forgets to tell you all the great stuff like repairs insurance ect there are times that the money is good but the bad times seem to out weigh them. We regret doing it now because we were not prepared at all and now because of that i have returned to home state with our kids to cut living costs and let him make enought to bring truck back here and try or get a job with company.I am not saying that being a O/O is a bad idea but sure does take time planning and extra cash flow.In az local car business is enough to keep you busy but most with brokers involed and the one we had paid really well for the first 6 months and just all of a sudden thing. But I think husband gave to many chances by letting him get that far behind. He has started to pay some back now and is about 4 weeks behind but we are no longer hauling cars for him and have found some work on side not enough to keep going but it is just at the point where living away from us and still having trouble is just to much but you are right now OTR is bad he just didnt need it there but sounds like might be a problem in IN. At this point just at a loss of what to do but wanted to try and make it a little more clear i dont know if it helped but i feel a little better now that i vented lol. Sorry i really dont know much about trucking just thought i would reply Thanks again Wendy

[BigWheels]

You are in a tough position...for now. Do your best to keep thinking positive thoughts--very important!

I'm sure you (Wendy) are doing research in IN for jobs/loads, etc for your husband and he is doing the same in AZ as well. Pursue the OIDAA website as well (http://www.ooida.com/). For some of the material there, you need to be a member (I think $45/year).

I'm not an O/O--so I can't offer you much in that department. I trust some O/O's will chime in here and help steer your thinking....

Feel free to "vent" some more as well as post additional questions!

Best to you and do hope your family can see each other soon!

[GMAN]

I think you have a couple of options. You can file suit against the broker, file on his bond or possibly factor the bills. Since they are so old, a factor may not want to take them. OOIDA may be able to help in the collection process if you are a member. I think if I were you I would start hauling POV's. There are a lot of cars moving from Phoenix to Las Vegas, Reno or Salt Lake. If you are trying to stay intrastate, that may be part of the problem. There are also a number of car hauler carriers who lease on owner operators who have experience. You may give that some thought. There are a couple of load boards which specialize in cars. Have you checked with them?

[GMAN]

By the way, Central Dispatch is probably the best load board for cars.