[mndriver]

May want to ask what level of charge you are pleading guilty to. $3500 is gross misdemeanor or possible felony


There is a LOT more to consider too

[merrick4]

It was an overweight citation. I don't have the statute off hand. It was originally about $14,000, I truly don't have time to consider too much more. Cost of doing business at this point. I litterly have so much on my plate right now, I don't have the time to be flying up for a trial. I did that once and that was good enough.

By the way, it was not in my name, it was in the company's name. Chris1 can explain this better than I can as it's his state.

[mndriver]

At least ask for an Alford plea

[merrick4]

Ok the court cashed the check. The attorney was Shannon M. Trevithick

Britton & Associates, S.C.

1035 W. Glen Oaks Lane, Ste. 100

Mequon, WI 53092

(414) 273-2900

(414) 273-2905 (Fax)

[email protected]

Welcome to Britton & Associates

This attorney Shannon was by far the best lawyer I have ever had in my life. I never saw a lawyer communicate and keep me posted so much. He treated me like a client with a lot of respect which is NOT common in that profession. The other company I mentioned they were representing that day was MBM which is now owned by Mclane which if I'm not mistaken is owned by Berskhire Hathaway (Warren Buffet).

Anyway they are out of Wisconsin so if anyone needs a lawyer up there, they are the ones to call. Every other one I called basically was useless. Actually, my attorney (Shannon) is also allowed to practice in Illinois as well.

[merrick4]

Signed for 4 more trucks today which brings me over the 40 mark (42 to be exact). The office is much more organized, more and more we have procedures. We have orientation, we road test people (Yes I admit I didn't do that before, I didn't do a lot before). I now have 3 dispatchers, a full time bookkeeper who does the invoicing, paying bills, keeping track of QuickBooks etc, I have the driver manager who does all the hiring and firing and handles maintenance too. I have a girl that dispatches the loads to the drivers and calls the shippers and receivers to verify times (you know the old "the will be waiting for you" trick) and making appointments with direct customers. And one part-time girl who is a floater.

I keep busy doing a lot of the back office stuff. Dealing with the insurance companies, vendors etc. (by the way, they found the trailer that was stolen [empty] but the insurance company already paid me so for instance stuff like that comes up. I had to go to the bank and give the insurance a notarized Power of Attorney so they could get the trailer. Stuff like that eats up my day. But knock on wood it's not so bad. I just made the appointment to have my other hip operated on in a couple of months so at least I can do that and the business still runs.

I'm having trouble getting intermodal off the ground as the insurance company cancelled me and I just got another one. But as soon as the authority becomes active I will be jumping full into that. I am meeting with someone tomorrow who has been importing produce for like 20 years for different companies. I might hire her. She has a lot of connections here. Also I know someone who just moved here from South America (cousin by marriage) who in his country was in charge of sales and logistics for a floral company.

Thus the thread continues. I still feel I am at the beginning of my journey, to where I don't know but one way or another it's moving.

Oh one final thing, I've reached the point where people think I'm loaded. I have family I haven't spoken to in years coming now asking me for money. I take a paycheck like everyone else and the rest goes back into the company. This by the way, a lot of bankers I've spoken with has said is the key to staying in business. Too many use their business as an ATM.

[mndriver]

Congrats.

[merrick4]

Thank you mndriver, but, well it's hard to put. I'm very grateful I can afford to take care of my daughter, and I'm not struggling to pay bills (which really doesn't mean I'm making a fortune, just spend less then you earn.) But I still am not into this trucking thing. I wasn't brought up around trucks, I don't even like big cars, but I am looking forward to the intermodal and airfreight and see where that takes me. I like to learn more than anything else; I'm very far from materialistic. I like a simple life.

[mndriver]

I am contemplating still if I want to build a fleet or stay single.

The method to grow is eluding me.

[merrick4]

Well they both have their pros and cons. It's all about what you want in life. I'm curious about what you mean about "method to grow"?

[mndriver]

You have a process in which you decide when to add trucks, hire office staff etc.

That "method to grow".