Damn! I'm 85 lb short!

No need to be a dick, I was just asking a question. I don't have direct shippers, I run leased to a company and make plenty of money. I'm not the one on here whinning about not making any cash. I too had thought about going out with my own authority, but as I see it, i make just as much as the rest of them, if not more, without any of the headaches. I clear over $12k to the truck each month, and don't have to worry about repairs ot the trailer, or all the insurance issues. I know where my load is and where it goes and it's always there...... I wasn't trying to quote anything I read, i was just trying to figure out your game plan since it seems you have none and rely on load boards and brokers. I just figured there had to be an easier way. Soon it won't matter because if all the big companies have it their way, you guys will be out of a job due to speed limited trucks and EOBR. you won't be able to compete with their rates, fuel discounts and cheap driver pay. It's a damn shame but it's been a long time coming. All the IND drivers want $4+ per mile to run loads that the large companies will do for $2 per mile.

As I read your blog, I don't see how you can keep skinny with all the damn coffee shops you sit at all the time LOL!!!

Coffee doesn't kill people; doughnuts do ;)

You MIGHT be qualified to pull a flat or step ;)

I think there will still be room for the little guy. Get some specialized equipment and get some kind of an edge over the competition. Large companies have a ton of overhead, a single independent can actually afford to haul something cheaper. Plus as a one-man company you're much more flexible and easier to deal with (less redtape etc.).

Did that for almost 18 years, back to our motherland.....

Roger that, Major. Понял Вас, товарищ майор :)

The small operator does have more flexibility. The larger the company the more layers of bureaucracy you have and the more difficult it becomes for them to respond quickly to rapidly changing market conditions. The small company doesn't have to worry about getting the board or a committee together to make a decision or do a study before making a decision or taking action. Larger companies do find it easier to fund their business than a small company. On the other hand, the small operator learns to do more with less while keeping debt low. There are advantages to both types of operations.

I understand that, but here is what I'm saying..... lets say Swift, CRE, SNI, Werner and the rest of them get their way in the govt laws:

All trucks will be goverened to 67mph so now you won't be able to make better time than the other companies

EOBR will track you and your hours so now you can't "make more time" to get a load somewhere earlier than the other companies

You will still be paying say $3.50 per gallon for fuel, while the large compaines get it for $2.00 a gallon or less

You need to make set amount of $ to stay in business, pay your bills and maintain your truck, while the larger companies can pay drivers .35cpm, maintian their trucks and pay their bills due to the LARGE amount of loads they pull at a meager rate which would put the smaller guys out of business.....

I'm not saying it will happen anytime soon, but in 30yrs I doubt there will be many of the independants left. Hell, look at 30yrs ago most of the trucking industry was Independant drivers, say 70%, and now it's down to more like 30%

I don't want it to happen, but unfortunatley we are out numbered and we don't have the funds to lobby in DC and grease the palms that need to be