Small fleet owners

[kenworthw900l]

To all the small fleet owners what was the hardest part of getting your company started and waht helped you a lot other than having lots of money stored for the process?

[GMAN]

Finding the better paying freight and decent drivers.

[Heavy Duty]

#1- good drivers, they are scarce. What can you offer that the big fleets can't? Retirement, health insurance, vacation, a shiney truck?

[GMAN]

Whether the company has one truck or ten thousand, the greatest challenge all trucking companies face is finding quality drivers.

[merrick4]

Drivers are less harder to find now http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...-surplus_N.htm

of course quality drivers is something else.

But to answer the original question, there is so much more to just getting a truck and then searching (or having the freight).

I only have 2 trucks and 2 drivers (though I am running a friends fleet so total of 18 ) but the amount of paperwork is never ending.

Seems like all this compliance stuff is never ending. Keeping up with annual inspections, drivers medical cards and seems like 1,000 other things. We are currently setting up a trucking dispatch software which we hope will help us keep track of things better.

Anyway that's my 2 cents for starting out; managing the paperwork. Cause with the phones blasting away all day it's hard to stay on top of things which if neglected can cost you big in the end.

[kenworthw900l]

So would hiring someone to help with all of that add fuel to the fire or could it possibly ease the situation?

[merrick4]

Yes. Call Carrier Service at 305-652-9990. They handle all of it mostly for a reasonable price.

[BigDiesel]

One needs to have the right mindset to be a small fleet owner..... I am know a small fleet owner since I just added a third truck and trailer and hired another driver.

It's 3x the expense, 3x the headaches.....

[rank]

To all the small fleet owners what was the hardest part of getting your company started and waht helped you a lot other than having lots of money stored for the process?

I don't know if anyone "starts" as a small fleet owner. We started with one truck, then two, then three, then four...

I guess what helped (besides cash reserves) what the availability of outbound freight.

-Find a client in your local area with regular shipments
-Figure how many trucks, trailers and drivers you need in order for you to be the only carrier they use.
-Figure what areas their shipments go to and whether or not your equipment will be able to reload in that area (i.e. flats delivering in FL might be tough).

That local shipper will like the idea that they have trucks located so close to them. Kinda like having their own fleet without the headaches. If you can supply them with trucks whenever they want....you might have something.

Ideally you're looking to deliver and get home in the same day so you can minimize the equipment you need to buy and drivers you need to find. Is there a shipper close to you that delivers ~5 loads a week within a 250 mile radius? Theoretically you could do that with one truck and one driver operating at ~100% capacity.

[PrattTrucking]

I hear you there. I drove under my own authority for 15 years and have been running the small fleet game for about a year and a half now. We've figured how to make these guys a damn good living but we are starving for drivers. Good drivers are the golden goose to us. Without them we fall. Ive tried ads in magazines, websites, made our own website, and at this point I'm even trying to advertise on forums without stepping on toes to get guys interested.

[henboy1]

I hear you there. I drove under my own authority for 15 years and have been running the small fleet game for about a year and a half now. We've figured how to make these guys a damn good living but we are starving for drivers. Good drivers are the golden goose to us. Without them we fall. Ive tried ads in magazines, websites, made our own website, and at this point I'm even trying to advertise on forums without stepping on toes to get guys interested.

Its is rough getting the cream of the crop and especially when you pay peanuts.I have let 2 drivers back to back and I wouldn't care to take a greyhound or flight to go retrieve my equipment.I did that with 1 driver 5 months ago and luckily it was a 200 mile drive.I have one very good driver who has stuck with me since day one, and one female who just started 2 weeks ago.I think this new one is also a keeper.In talking to potential drivers, on a 1099, they all wanna make at least $1000/week without the benefits and so if you are not paying that and them some more, you can forget getting the quality drivers.1 more position to fill and then I am done.Craigslists are the rejects from the bigger carriers.Go to truckpaper and truckers report.

[PrattTrucking]

Its is rough getting the cream of the crop and especially when you pay peanuts.I have let 2 drivers back to back and I wouldn't care to take a greyhound or flight to go retrieve my equipment.I did that with 1 driver 5 months ago and luckily it was a 200 mile drive.I have one very good driver who has stuck with me since day one, and one female who just started 2 weeks ago.I think this new one is also a keeper.In talking to potential drivers, on a 1099, they all wanna make at least $1000/week without the benefits and so if you are not paying that and them some more, you can forget getting the quality drivers.1 more position to fill and then I am done.Craigslists are the rejects from the bigger carriers.Go to truckpaper and truckers report.

That's awful. Funny you say that, we have a driver that has been here since the doors opened that I absolutely trust. Hell hes making $4,300 gross to the truck after our cut (before fuel) a week religiously. I just cant imagine that not drawing drivers in. That's a good living in my opinion, even after maintenance on the equipment I firmly believe recruiting is the real challenge in this business. When we opened the doors I pounded the phones gathering shippers, I think I should have been pounding the phones after drivers. Too much work for not enough drivers. Good luck on the last position I completely understand the frustration.

[Bigmon]

Even Microsoft has trouble recruiting good people. People today are too used the easy money when real estate and stocks were going up. Now they have to work for it.

[td5952]

Well I am fortunate to be a car crusher so half of loads are crushed cars. On that behalf I get paid immediately (no quickpay fees) with bankwire or comcheck on crushed cars which on legal loads is usually $2-$2.20/mile. With that it covers fuel, driver and insurance (on whole round trip, so load back is maintenance and profit) while I am waiting on monies from brokers/other clients. I have had own authority since April 8, 2011, and so far I have had to borrow no money and have had some good expenses come up. I am cutting close now but everything is paid. That was essentially running 1 truck only. I have 2 but one doesn't run often. I am putting #3 on road tomorrow.

As far as paperwork I don't think it is hard as long as you stay on top of it and don't let get behind. I already had my safety audit and passed with flying colors.

[td5952]

That's awful. Funny you say that, we have a driver that has been here since the doors opened that I absolutely trust. Hell hes making $4,300 gross to the truck after our cut (before fuel) a week religiously. I just cant imagine that not drawing drivers in. That's a good living in my opinion, even after maintenance on the equipment I firmly believe recruiting is the real challenge in this business. When we opened the doors I pounded the phones gathering shippers, I think I should have been pounding the phones after drivers. Too much work for not enough drivers. Good luck on the last position I completely understand the frustration.

I find it funny (not your post) that I offered 20% of TRUE GROSS and couldn't get drivers. Now I pay $0.33 cpm for all miles drove and have good drivers. Week before my driver went 3160 miles (usually run 2500 ish) and made $1,042.80 before taxes. I grossed $6,581 that week, would have have been $1,316.20 if he would have chosen the percentage method. Oh well, more money for truck.

[jfarms]

I find it funny (not your post) that I offered 20% of TRUE GROSS and couldn't get drivers. Now I pay $0.33 cpm for all miles drove and have good drivers. Week before my driver went 3160 miles (usually run 2500 ish) and made $1,042.80 before taxes. I grossed $6,581 that week, would have have been $1,316.20 if he would have chosen the percentage method. Oh well, more money for truck.




Ok so I am looking for drivers and I agree it is hard to find someone. We are offering 30% of what the truck brings in. We are running small loads round the midwest while you are driving our truck pulling our Reefer. We are taken care of the fuel, insurance, and whatever else may come. So basically you show up and drive our truck. We had a driver and something happened family wise so we need a new one. The problem is there is no one out there. While reading this above do you think we should go with .33 cpm or something along that? Ahhh I would think people would want the money??? I also found a website you can take a look at and thats Hotcdljobs.com Thanks for everyones expertise

[td5952]

I think problem with percentage is too many companies are not honest with true gross incomes and drivers get shaft, with mileage you know exactly what you drive. At least it sounds logical. I tried for long time on percentage and failed getting drivers, now on $0.33 cpm I have them so not complaining. I will continue this pay method til otherwise proves me wrong. My drivers are same as yours. My trucks, my trailers, my fuel cards, my insurance. We pull skateboards though, not reefers.

[PrattTrucking]

Hidden fees, dishonesty and rude ignorant dispatchers have destroyed a lot of the opportunity. I myself am a carrier, I have no trucks. I lease on O/Os under my authority. No hidden fees just straight 80% of true gross. That sales pitch sounds good but the issue is getting O/Os to believe you. All you can do is stick to your word and fight it out.

[rank]

This business sucks.

Where else can you have your entire career yanked out from under you by the insurance companies after one accident or a couple of traffic tickets in your PERSONAL vehicle? The days of the 30 year professional are gone. And then, after several years experience you are left unemployable with skills that are non transferrable and certainly not respected by any other employer.

There is no future in trucking period. It is a suckers bet. Get out now.

[RostyC]

This business sucks.

Where else can you have your entire career yanked out from under you by the insurance companies after one accident or a couple of traffic tickets in your PERSONAL vehicle? The days of the 30 year professional are gone. And then, after several years experience you are left unemployable with skills that are non transferrable and certainly not respected by any other employer.

There is no future in trucking period. It is a suckers bet. Get out now.

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