frustrated wife of owner operator

I find it interesting....... YOU ARE A BUSINESS PERSON FIRST!!!!!!! A TRUCK DRIVER SECOND!!!!!! If one wants to be a steering wheelholder, one has NO BUSINESS being a O/O with their own authority. Sorry about your situation.... but....................

[GMAN]

I am sorry for your situation. I think you can still pull out of the situation. I would expand my broker list. You didn't mention the type of trailer you are pulling. You need two things when you are running under your authority....a good rate and miles. I would look into running other areas. There is a lot of freight running from Chicago to the Southeast or farther into the Midwest. From your post I am guessing that he only wants to run from Ohio to Chicago or Wisconsin. In this business you need to run where the freight is best. If you will let me know the type of freight you are hauling, I will try to suggest some brokers. There is decent paying freight but things have been a little soft for a couple of months. It is very difficult to find the better paying loads when you are driving the truck and doing everything else necessary to make the business work. Good luck.

Wouldn't you think it would be a good job for someone to take on a handful of truckers like myself and handle making arraignments for there loads? They could take care of faxing all the documents required, finding the loads and that's pretty much it. I would gladly pay someone for each load they setup for me.

Do these people exist? I'm not talking about brokers but someone who actually takes care of a few people?

[RostyC]

Sort of a freelance dispatcher. 8)

Sort of a freelance dispatcher. 8)

Yes, exactly!

[sharbear36]

Thanks for all the information. I know what you mean about the faxing and everything because that is what I used to do. I would work my full-time job, come home sign the confirmations for 2 drivers, fax them back, enter them into my spreadsheet, file, enter the past paperwork, fuel, bills, etc. It doesn't sound like alot but to keep accurate records really was time consuming. Especially when one of the brokers needed invoices and extra paperwork. I didn't complain, I tried to support. From what I'm gathering, he did alot wrong and the timing now doesn't allow for him to make it right. I have 10 days to pay 3 months on my mortgage and I don't see that happening at all. I wish I would have come to this board a month ago or before he started this to begin with. He was determined, I was against it 100% because I knew he was jumping in too quickly. What can you do but look forward and try to fix it.

Sharbear

[yoopr]

GB is only 100 miles north of you and they have a LOT of diversified types of Freight heading both East and West.

[GMAN]

There are a few out there who could probably provide that service. I have even had a few who have approached me about it, so I know that there is a need. I know someone now who is very good at that sort of thing but she got out of trucking and doesn't want to deal with all the dispatching, etc., It takes time to do all the paperwork. Most brokers will not allow you to pick up a load without them first having a signed confirmation faxed back to them.

[Sonny Pruitt]

Steve there are a few people on getloaded message board that arrange loads fax etc

[GMAN]

You may check the OOIDA forum. There is a guy who's daughter was offering that service. I don't recall the name, but you could probably do a search. I believe she lived in Texas.

[RostyC]

Holy cow Steve our idea took off like a rocket :shock: I think we screwed up by posting on the internet, man I hate pirating!

[brian]

my wife does this, heck I even do it some times when i`m bored.

[RostyC]

What does a service like this usually cost neighbor?.....ughhh I mean brian.

[stevedb28]

I have a question for you. Im not trying to pry and Im sorry for your situation that you are in. But are you working? I dont like to admit it because of the hit to my ego, but my wife has saved us from disaster more times than I can count. She didnt know much about the line of work she is in when she started some 5 yrs ago, but she started out at around 9.00 an hour and is now making over 13.00. The main reason Im asking is because I know that o/os dont usually make a steady income and some weeks you may make 2k and others 200 after repairs and fuel. And, if you are having problems with late house payments, I am thinking that the lack of steady income may be a problem. I am not saying you (the wife) are to blame or anything. But if you arent working, I would rethink my thinking about what he needs to do to get you all out of trouble. I know my own wife has lifted a huge burden off my shoulders the day she started working. Even if its just 14k a yr, its 14k more a year than you would have had. But I really hope everything works out for you guys.

[Collard Greens]

Try Schneider Brokerage, The Allen Lund Company, and CRST Logistics. I get my better loads from allen Lund and CRST Logistics. I make good money with Schneider on Short Loads usually 200 miles or less.

[brian]

What does a service like this usually cost neighbor?.....ughhh I mean brian.

75$ flat rate, if its something special and she`d have to pull permits of course it`d be more.

I'm really surprised there arn't people like this all over the place. I would think it would be a great stay at home job. Not just handling new people but experienced vets also. I've heard first hand from seasoned drivers that they sat for many hours looking for a load because they forgot to repost there truck for the next load. Then they spent lots of time on the laptop looking for another load then waiting for faxes to come in, sign them then faxing back out. Calling the insurance company so they can fax your insurance documents to the broker or shipper so you can be qualified if your not already. It's a lot of time and effort that anyone could do. I do know of one person that has a guy that handles him and I think he pays something like $25 or $50 per load. I would think someone handling 10 drivers could pull in a decent pay per week doing this.

[csramsey640]

Hi all,

I know that I wasn't very specific so let me go into a little detail. My husband has been driving truck since he was 18 and is now 41. For the last 6-7 years he has been driving leased onto a company as an owner operator making very good money but he wanted to do it under his own authority. YOUR RIGHT, he did it all wrong, they didn't have a nest egg to start with and that's where the problems started. Especially when they started when the fuel rates were ridiculous. . Yes, we The reason we can't go to a company is because our finances were that of when he was an operator leased on. We became very comfortable with that income, not really beyond our means but then you have to add in back taxeshave done things the wrong way and we were finally getting those taxes taken care of until the own authority came about. I believe that he does have some good brokers that he can call but he always seems to have trouble on the backhauls. No matter where he seems to go, there isn't something coming back to where he needs to be to pick up the next load. He is going from west chicago to bedfordheights, OH and getting $775 but then he might take a load from CH Robinson back for $450. Seems ok? However, there have been repairs and then you add in the fuel and I'm not sure those are the loads to be taking. I have searched the internet high and low yesterday and tried to build new relationships with brokers to have more than 5 or 6 options because we have to save the house. I'm just not sure what we are doing wrong, I know there is money to be made this way.

Thank you for reading and giving any advice you may have, I do appreciate it

Im sorry, but I think you have to put your priorities back in check. Everyone has had it rough here and there, but if it means loosing your home just to "stay comfortable" with your current income, then I believe thats your problem. But since money was decent then, why not lease back on with someone? Im not trying act better than you or not, trust me, I-we have had it rough. However if you cant afford-you cant afford. You cant spend more than you bring in, no matter how comfortable it makes you. Getting authority is going into business for yourself. It takes a special breed, it takes long hours, etc

[LOAD IT]

Sharbear, I feel for your situation and my wife has expressed to me your same feelings. Enough of the pity party. You need to see what you guys are doing right. You said that you help with the two drivers, so I ass-u-me that you have two trucks on the road. Is that correct? Either way, your company has to stretch out the runs, run Wisconsin to Texas, Wisconsin to Florida, Wisconsin to Pensylvania. Try to get some direct shippers. Wisconsin is a GREAT freight state. You are sitting on a gold mine. Chicago to Cleveland for $775 aint too shabby depending on what trailer youre pulling and what route you take. $775 + $450 over two days for 700 mile round trip is $1.75 /mile. You cant expect this everyday and in your dire situation you need to consider longer loads and running a little hot. Chicago to Dallas for $1500-1800 in 1.5 days and take a cheap load back to get another Chicago to Dallas $1500-1800 youve now made a minimum $3500 in a week. Also you have to prebook loads for your husband before he gets empty.

Also, you may need to refinance your home ASAP to prevent foreclosure. I hope that you guys can rebound from this. You are in it now and there is no reason to fail. We will keep you in our prayers and you do the same. You can get out of this with hardwork and a positive attitude. If not, what do you want for the trucks?

[yoopr]

The Truck is listed on the For Sale Section