"A CHANGE" is blowing in the wind

Judging from the deluge of emails and phone calls I have received (well, actually 2 emails and 1 call), there seems to be a tiny bit of interest in 'whatsup' with me and the change.

I own and operate my own truck and trailer. I have a lease agreement with a trucking company that allows me to haul freight interstate using their 'authority' or permission from the feds. The trucking industry is one of the most regulated industries in our country. There are a ton of rules and regulations - and compliance issues - required to operate. That is the main reason I lease on with someone. They maintain the compliance with the feds and I put their name on the side of my truck.

A typical lease arrangement includes not only the back-office stuff but the company usually has a customer base and you haul THEIR freight. So the company has the benefit of trucks and drivers with-out the overhead of 'employees' and equipment. The O/O has freight to haul and the compliance issues addressed. The driver is paid either a percentage of the gross for each trip or a set rate per mile depending on his agreement.

My lease was a bit unique because I did not haul my companies freight. I found all of my own loads. They also did not do any billing for me. I did it. In fact, the company I am with does very little beyond the initial paperwork to set-up a new broker I am moving freight for and then receiving the payment for freight I have moved. They forward on to me - electronically - money as it comes in to them for my business - minus a small 'fee'.

It seems to me they have a very good situation with me. There is virtually no expense to them - they are already doing the compliance thing for their trucks; they do not have to find work for me - I get all of my own; there is a small amount of office work they have to do for me - maybe a couple of hours a week, at most.

I am also very happy. I control my own destiny. I pick the loads I want to do, negotiate my own rates and go in a direction I choose. My only expectation from them was they maintain compliance with the feds (and states) and forward my money on to me in a timely fashion. Our original agreement established the transfer of funds within 24 hours of them receiving it.

But it seems as if all good things must come to an end. My lease with this company will terminate on September 30. I will not go into detail about the reasons but common sense should tell you my expectations were not fullfilled of late. Life gos on. Fortunately for me there are a whole bunch of trucking companies out there. And from the looks of our highways, a whole lot of drivers also.

I have a new situation starting October 1 and there is a new wrinkle here also. They have a significant customer whose freight I will move. In fact, I will probably use their customer to 'get out of town' and then use my own resources to get back. The bad news (to me) is that I'm not sure how much "Traveling the USA" I am going to be able to do.

It will be necessary for me to be available when THEY have freight to move. the majority of their stuff ships within 300 miles of St. Louis. I will not have the freedom to travel around as I have been. On the plus side, I will make more money with less driving. That means less wear and tear on my body as well as my truck.

So, other than spending more time in the STL area, I am really looking forward to this opportunity. Not that I don't like STL. In fact, some of my best friends live there. But the weather there sucks.

So, that's the big change. Most people do not like change very much. Oh, they may pay it lipservice and say it's okay. But the reality is most folks like the status-quo. They drive the same road to work everyday. They eat the same things at the same restaurants. Shop at the same WalMart. They watch the same shows on TV each night. They go to the same (bar, church, bowling alley, etc) each time. There is a lot of comfort living inside 'the box.'

I think you have to have change to get better. To grow. Step out-side the box once in a while. One of my favorite quotes, "If your not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space."