WOW -- my postings are becoming much less frequent over the past four months; since September. Coincidence that I have a late August posting about "no time" since adding on a new driver.
I put a lot of thought into these words and will re-write things until they say what I mean. How often have we 'spoken' words that you can't take back but they don't really sound the same out-loud as they did in your head. At least with the written word I can adjust before putting it out there.
My dad is in the hospital. I try to be respectful - to a point - with anybody I mention here in an identifiable way. Family in particular provides me an immense wealth of writing material -- which you will never see here.
One of the more significant impacts of dad in the hospital is that I have been in Savannah, GA for most of the last 2+ weeks. I will share with you that my dad has had a wonderful 89 years and has few regrets. He is not in any pain. He has slowed down alot in the past year or so.
I am leaving here Monday or Tuesday to get to IL. I have some (good) driver-business to deal with before the New Year. And I am looking again to add on another owner operator.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
How do They Know THAT?????
I am always fine-tuning my business as we grow. As I add on more owner/operators there are new issues to deal with -- like how to pay them after we have been paid for the trip. Especially if I'm in FL and they are in SD!
Cash flow is always a problem for a driver; especially when they first get started. Many of our trips don't get paid for 30-45 days. In the meantime, the driver is paying fuel, maintenance on his truck, insurance, yada-yada-yada. He has alot of out-go with-out much income for the first couple of months. They want their money ASAP!
So Friday I tried PayPal, an internet based payment processing center that anyone cruising Ebay knows all about. I had already 'verified' my account with them and had my checking account linked. All I needed to do was log in and then 'pay' someone by entering their email or cell phone number. A code was sent to them telling them how to 'claim' the payment, theoretically by depositing into their checking account. Simple enough.
After I clicked the button to 'submit' the payment, the next screen was another verification process -- am I REALLY who I claim to be, the person with the RIGHT to move money out of this account. There were three questions. Each had three possible answers and a fourth "none of the above" option. The first question identified a piece of property I use to own and asked what month and year did I buy this -- 25 years ago! Another question identified one of my brothers by complete name and asked what city and state he lived in!
How do they know this? I guess when I verified my account, they looked up my credit report and pulled info from there. But my brother? By full name? How'd they do that? Can't help but remember George Orwell and Big Brother. Is that still mandatory reading? Should be.
Today I looked into another company that is specific to the transportation industry. You see their signs in ALL the truck stops -- ComData. I think I can get a 'credit card' to give each driver. I then electronically deposit funds into their account which they can access like a debit card - to make purchases (food or fuel) or take cash. It remains to be seen what kind of fees are involved.
Last week was the first time I had two, full-time, over-the-road drivers out at the same time. It was an extremely good week for everybody. I worked my butt off the first three days of the week. It is a mental thing. I actively monitor three load boards and my email (alot of my direct shippers sent out a blast message advertising loads). Plus there are a lot of ways to look for loads.
I always start with a radius-search from the zip code where the driver is looking to load. This gives me a list of out-bound loads based on weight and type-trailer parameters that I setup with-in a 50 or 100 mile radius. If I don't find something good, I will do a 'destination' search with the same parameters. This will give me a list of freight going INTO wherever it is I'm trying to get the driver (usually home).
Then I literally put something together. Sometimes it's one item going somewhere close to add another piece going where we are trying to get. When you send a driver off with a load someplace, getting him OUT of there must always be a consideration BEFORE he goes. It's no good having a nice paying job to Minot, ND if he has to dead-head 300 miles someplace after to find more work. Unless it was a REALLY nice paying load in. And speaking of Minot -- the weather is always a consideration also.
Then there is all the back-office stuff that I have to do to maintain compliance with the Feds. Let's not forget billing and accounts receivable -- you know, chasing those dead-beat brokers I have previously mentioned. Speaking of which, I had a driver in an area and Bowers Trucking had freight there they were trying to move. DELETE. I'm not dealing with those yahoos anymore.
Office Boy. I'm not sure how much longer that is going to be acceptable. It's new enough now and constantly evolving so I'm dealing with it. I like challenges. But this is going to get old eventually. So I need to grow just a little bit more so I can afford some office help. I'm thinking one or maybe two more drivers and I'm there. So that's the New Year Plan; add a couple more owner operators in January and then bring on a P/T office manager (to start).
Right now it's time for a little therapy (motorcycle ride; it is mid-60s already outside. And then it's football. Thank you STL for making this a late game today. I can go play until 4ish (east coast) before it's kick-off. Rams are hungry and looking for their second road victory in Arizona this afternoon. The Cardinals beat them almost 3 months ago but they are two teams going in the opposite direction. The Rams had their best game of the year last week and the Cards are in disarray.
GO RAMS!
Cash flow is always a problem for a driver; especially when they first get started. Many of our trips don't get paid for 30-45 days. In the meantime, the driver is paying fuel, maintenance on his truck, insurance, yada-yada-yada. He has alot of out-go with-out much income for the first couple of months. They want their money ASAP!
So Friday I tried PayPal, an internet based payment processing center that anyone cruising Ebay knows all about. I had already 'verified' my account with them and had my checking account linked. All I needed to do was log in and then 'pay' someone by entering their email or cell phone number. A code was sent to them telling them how to 'claim' the payment, theoretically by depositing into their checking account. Simple enough.
After I clicked the button to 'submit' the payment, the next screen was another verification process -- am I REALLY who I claim to be, the person with the RIGHT to move money out of this account. There were three questions. Each had three possible answers and a fourth "none of the above" option. The first question identified a piece of property I use to own and asked what month and year did I buy this -- 25 years ago! Another question identified one of my brothers by complete name and asked what city and state he lived in!
How do they know this? I guess when I verified my account, they looked up my credit report and pulled info from there. But my brother? By full name? How'd they do that? Can't help but remember George Orwell and Big Brother. Is that still mandatory reading? Should be.
Today I looked into another company that is specific to the transportation industry. You see their signs in ALL the truck stops -- ComData. I think I can get a 'credit card' to give each driver. I then electronically deposit funds into their account which they can access like a debit card - to make purchases (food or fuel) or take cash. It remains to be seen what kind of fees are involved.
Last week was the first time I had two, full-time, over-the-road drivers out at the same time. It was an extremely good week for everybody. I worked my butt off the first three days of the week. It is a mental thing. I actively monitor three load boards and my email (alot of my direct shippers sent out a blast message advertising loads). Plus there are a lot of ways to look for loads.
I always start with a radius-search from the zip code where the driver is looking to load. This gives me a list of out-bound loads based on weight and type-trailer parameters that I setup with-in a 50 or 100 mile radius. If I don't find something good, I will do a 'destination' search with the same parameters. This will give me a list of freight going INTO wherever it is I'm trying to get the driver (usually home).
Then I literally put something together. Sometimes it's one item going somewhere close to add another piece going where we are trying to get. When you send a driver off with a load someplace, getting him OUT of there must always be a consideration BEFORE he goes. It's no good having a nice paying job to Minot, ND if he has to dead-head 300 miles someplace after to find more work. Unless it was a REALLY nice paying load in. And speaking of Minot -- the weather is always a consideration also.
Then there is all the back-office stuff that I have to do to maintain compliance with the Feds. Let's not forget billing and accounts receivable -- you know, chasing those dead-beat brokers I have previously mentioned. Speaking of which, I had a driver in an area and Bowers Trucking had freight there they were trying to move. DELETE. I'm not dealing with those yahoos anymore.
Office Boy. I'm not sure how much longer that is going to be acceptable. It's new enough now and constantly evolving so I'm dealing with it. I like challenges. But this is going to get old eventually. So I need to grow just a little bit more so I can afford some office help. I'm thinking one or maybe two more drivers and I'm there. So that's the New Year Plan; add a couple more owner operators in January and then bring on a P/T office manager (to start).
Right now it's time for a little therapy (motorcycle ride; it is mid-60s already outside. And then it's football. Thank you STL for making this a late game today. I can go play until 4ish (east coast) before it's kick-off. Rams are hungry and looking for their second road victory in Arizona this afternoon. The Cardinals beat them almost 3 months ago but they are two teams going in the opposite direction. The Rams had their best game of the year last week and the Cards are in disarray.
GO RAMS!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Back in FL
I am sitting at my kitchen table looking out over the Gulf. It's quite chilly here today, only low 60s for the high and down into the 40s the next few nights; and very windy but the skies are beginning to clear from the rain overnite. The water is very choppy with white caps from the 20+ wind. But it beats the heck out of being up north.
I made it to my parents for Thanksgiving last week. I have only missed one, maybe two, in my life. It's a BIG day for my mother. She spends 3 or 4 days cooking and relishes in the family gathering. This year, all three sons showed up and five of the seven grandkids so she was extremely pleased with the house as stuffed as the 20# turkey.
My two boys were there which gave me immense pleasure. I love Thanksgiving; Food, Family and Football -- what's better?
I was able to load a car in Nashville going to Savannah, so I 'worked' my way there. Then I reloaded another car - 2 miles away - going to Sarasota, FL, about 40 miles south of Paradise. It is REALLY good to be home. I am so blessed to be able to live the life I have. I try to be thankful every day.
Before I left Belleville I was able to get another driver up and running. George is pulling my old (small) trailer for the moment. I have my new (to me) trailer down in FL for now. George is working on upgrading his CDL to an 'A' so he can pull the larger trailer.
It is difficult finding work for the little trailer, even though it supported me okay for almost 2 years before I 'grew up'. The biggest difference is having ramps to load wheeled-vehicles. As I mentioned before, there are hundreds - if not thousands - of cars moving everyday. So when I end up in a place that doesn't have much general freight - say the middle of South Dakota - invariably there will be a car you can take that at least pays the fuel to get you to a better place.
Cars don't pay real well individually. You need a trailer that can hold at least 2 or 3 to make a living at it. But if you are trying to get into, or out of, a particular place, moving a car will usually cover the fuel cost. Sometimes I can add a car to a load we already have that increases the revenue with-out much increase in miles (cost). The ability to move cars has been a HUGE difference for our bottom line.
My last post here -- more than 2 weeks ago -- I got off on a diatribe against brokers. In a moment of sanity, I at least added the disclaimer that I didn't hate all brokers and that there are actually some good ones out there. Regardless, I have had some feedback.
Most of my business is conducted via email and telephone. I do not have a fax here. When an exchange of paperwork is required, I scan and email back and forth. My email has a 'signature' which includes a link to my blog. Apparently, some of the brokers I am in contact with use the link. Not everyone agrees with my opinion.
But I still feel the same (surprise!) I think I'll just leave it at that. Nuff said.
I had mentioned before, that as I add on more Owner/Operators, my time is increasingly spent on keeping them moving (loaded) and then pushing paper in their support - billing, tracking, compliance, etc. The result is - as I was worried it would be - there are are times when I don't have time to drive also. My one freind has taken to calling me 'Office Boy' now.
Take yesterday. I spent about 7 hours straight monitoring load boards on the internet and making phone calls trying to keep my trucks moving. I ended up with very excellent trips for both guys.
My barometer is $/mile. And I calculate differently than everyone else because I INCLUDE deadhead miles. Brokers and shippers don't care about that part. They look at 'loaded' miles. But as a carrier, I am still buying fuel and adding miles to my brakes, tires and engine to GET to the load. It ain't free!
My bottom line is $1/mi from the time they leave the house until they get back. It isn't easy when the national average for an 18-wheeler flatbed is $1.87/loaded mile and our trucks are 1/3 the size. That's where the ability to add a car makes ALL the difference. That and actively monitoring the load boards so when a good paying load does pop-up, you get on it right away. I have alarms set to notify me when a new load is posted. But it is difficult driving down the road doing this.
So for the moment I am stuck in FL - looking out over the choppy waters of the Gulf, trying to stay warm in these 60 degree temps, waiting for my alarm to sound. Oh well.
I made it to my parents for Thanksgiving last week. I have only missed one, maybe two, in my life. It's a BIG day for my mother. She spends 3 or 4 days cooking and relishes in the family gathering. This year, all three sons showed up and five of the seven grandkids so she was extremely pleased with the house as stuffed as the 20# turkey.
My two boys were there which gave me immense pleasure. I love Thanksgiving; Food, Family and Football -- what's better?
I was able to load a car in Nashville going to Savannah, so I 'worked' my way there. Then I reloaded another car - 2 miles away - going to Sarasota, FL, about 40 miles south of Paradise. It is REALLY good to be home. I am so blessed to be able to live the life I have. I try to be thankful every day.
Before I left Belleville I was able to get another driver up and running. George is pulling my old (small) trailer for the moment. I have my new (to me) trailer down in FL for now. George is working on upgrading his CDL to an 'A' so he can pull the larger trailer.
It is difficult finding work for the little trailer, even though it supported me okay for almost 2 years before I 'grew up'. The biggest difference is having ramps to load wheeled-vehicles. As I mentioned before, there are hundreds - if not thousands - of cars moving everyday. So when I end up in a place that doesn't have much general freight - say the middle of South Dakota - invariably there will be a car you can take that at least pays the fuel to get you to a better place.
Cars don't pay real well individually. You need a trailer that can hold at least 2 or 3 to make a living at it. But if you are trying to get into, or out of, a particular place, moving a car will usually cover the fuel cost. Sometimes I can add a car to a load we already have that increases the revenue with-out much increase in miles (cost). The ability to move cars has been a HUGE difference for our bottom line.
My last post here -- more than 2 weeks ago -- I got off on a diatribe against brokers. In a moment of sanity, I at least added the disclaimer that I didn't hate all brokers and that there are actually some good ones out there. Regardless, I have had some feedback.
Most of my business is conducted via email and telephone. I do not have a fax here. When an exchange of paperwork is required, I scan and email back and forth. My email has a 'signature' which includes a link to my blog. Apparently, some of the brokers I am in contact with use the link. Not everyone agrees with my opinion.
But I still feel the same (surprise!) I think I'll just leave it at that. Nuff said.
I had mentioned before, that as I add on more Owner/Operators, my time is increasingly spent on keeping them moving (loaded) and then pushing paper in their support - billing, tracking, compliance, etc. The result is - as I was worried it would be - there are are times when I don't have time to drive also. My one freind has taken to calling me 'Office Boy' now.
Take yesterday. I spent about 7 hours straight monitoring load boards on the internet and making phone calls trying to keep my trucks moving. I ended up with very excellent trips for both guys.
My barometer is $/mile. And I calculate differently than everyone else because I INCLUDE deadhead miles. Brokers and shippers don't care about that part. They look at 'loaded' miles. But as a carrier, I am still buying fuel and adding miles to my brakes, tires and engine to GET to the load. It ain't free!
My bottom line is $1/mi from the time they leave the house until they get back. It isn't easy when the national average for an 18-wheeler flatbed is $1.87/loaded mile and our trucks are 1/3 the size. That's where the ability to add a car makes ALL the difference. That and actively monitoring the load boards so when a good paying load does pop-up, you get on it right away. I have alarms set to notify me when a new load is posted. But it is difficult driving down the road doing this.
So for the moment I am stuck in FL - looking out over the choppy waters of the Gulf, trying to stay warm in these 60 degree temps, waiting for my alarm to sound. Oh well.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
And Then There Was One! (plus me) (for the moment)
My first new driver, Mike, is the only one left, besides me. I added two more after Mike and both have now failed to find success. I have said it before, truck drivers -- in general -- are not the sharpest pencil in the box. And I don't mean to belittle professional truck drivers. I am proud to be one myself. But you go hang around the fuel pumps at any truck stop and you'll see what I'm talking about.
On the good side though, I have another potential Leessor meeting Monday. This guy has also shown some initiative by researching what is required to upgrade his CDL from a "B" to an "A" and has that scheduled for next week.
He has experience delivering campers country-wide. That is the perfect type experience, in my mind. There are many common areas between 'Big Truck' drivers and Hot Shots like us. But there are some big differences too. Delivering campers over-the-road teaches one alot about professional driving but from a different prospective than a big truck. And he is a referral -- a friend of a friend type thing. I am very optimistic.
The bad news, I am likely going to be with-out a trailer next week. My new guy doesn't bring one with him. But no worries. I will get my new one fixed up -- still got brake issues -- and then let him lease it from me. It will likely get more work with someone else (highly motivated) pulling it that sitting with me in FL for $5/day storage.
My trip to SC Wed turned out well. I had a nice paying load out, delivered Thu after lunch, found a truck going to Greenville, SC and then two cars from there coming back -- one right into Belleville! I was home Fri nite late and made my delivery this morning after a nite in MY bed. My log book will catch up with me around noon today. I had a VERY long drive day yesterday.
DEAD BEAT BROKER UPDATE -- I finally got money from Bower's Trucking -- 44 days after they received the invoice and Proof of Delivery. One SHIPPER conceded to me that anything less than 45-days was no big beal. But I can't complain from the shipper. They typically are paying a very good rate for your haul. Waiting a bit longer for your money is factored in because you feel pretty good the money is good.
Brokers are a different story. DISCLAIMER FIRST: I don't hate ALL brokers. But there sure seem to be a bunch of un-professional, greedy, internet-savy parasites that have gone into business putting buyers and sellers together -- in this case shippers and carriers. Paying their bills late is only the tip of the iceberg to what some of these money-grubbers will do.
One of the more extreme of which just happened earlier this week. Many shippers send out an email announcing their shipping needs. I'm on this email list for many places around STL. So 30 minutes after the email is sent, I see all these brokers posting the freight on one or more load boards -- that I also subscribe too. It is interesting to see the variance in pay each broker is offering, compared to what the shipper is paying. This past week I saw a $1500 load being offered from $1400 to $900! For the same load! $900! THAT broker is on my "Do Not Call" list. There are a few brokers out there that actually EARN a REASONABLE finders fee for their service. But very few.
So, I am around STL for the next week or 10 days. Then I will head to see my parents for Thanksgiving - probably my MOST favorite of ALL the holidays. From there I will go on down to FL for some much needed R&R.
On the good side though, I have another potential Leessor meeting Monday. This guy has also shown some initiative by researching what is required to upgrade his CDL from a "B" to an "A" and has that scheduled for next week.
He has experience delivering campers country-wide. That is the perfect type experience, in my mind. There are many common areas between 'Big Truck' drivers and Hot Shots like us. But there are some big differences too. Delivering campers over-the-road teaches one alot about professional driving but from a different prospective than a big truck. And he is a referral -- a friend of a friend type thing. I am very optimistic.
The bad news, I am likely going to be with-out a trailer next week. My new guy doesn't bring one with him. But no worries. I will get my new one fixed up -- still got brake issues -- and then let him lease it from me. It will likely get more work with someone else (highly motivated) pulling it that sitting with me in FL for $5/day storage.
My trip to SC Wed turned out well. I had a nice paying load out, delivered Thu after lunch, found a truck going to Greenville, SC and then two cars from there coming back -- one right into Belleville! I was home Fri nite late and made my delivery this morning after a nite in MY bed. My log book will catch up with me around noon today. I had a VERY long drive day yesterday.
DEAD BEAT BROKER UPDATE -- I finally got money from Bower's Trucking -- 44 days after they received the invoice and Proof of Delivery. One SHIPPER conceded to me that anything less than 45-days was no big beal. But I can't complain from the shipper. They typically are paying a very good rate for your haul. Waiting a bit longer for your money is factored in because you feel pretty good the money is good.
Brokers are a different story. DISCLAIMER FIRST: I don't hate ALL brokers. But there sure seem to be a bunch of un-professional, greedy, internet-savy parasites that have gone into business putting buyers and sellers together -- in this case shippers and carriers. Paying their bills late is only the tip of the iceberg to what some of these money-grubbers will do.
One of the more extreme of which just happened earlier this week. Many shippers send out an email announcing their shipping needs. I'm on this email list for many places around STL. So 30 minutes after the email is sent, I see all these brokers posting the freight on one or more load boards -- that I also subscribe too. It is interesting to see the variance in pay each broker is offering, compared to what the shipper is paying. This past week I saw a $1500 load being offered from $1400 to $900! For the same load! $900! THAT broker is on my "Do Not Call" list. There are a few brokers out there that actually EARN a REASONABLE finders fee for their service. But very few.
So, I am around STL for the next week or 10 days. Then I will head to see my parents for Thanksgiving - probably my MOST favorite of ALL the holidays. From there I will go on down to FL for some much needed R&R.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Everything in Life comes down to BALANCE
I lie here early Sunday morning, reaping the benefits of the time change, and was watching a movie contemplating life in general. My random thoughts reviewed where I am today -- this minute -- and then back thru time and how I got here; is this the direction I want to be going. Kind of a philosophical, home-alone moment.
I don't live in the past but rather try to learn from the past. I try to consider how my "TODAY" is formed by decisions I have made in the past ... choices I have made that led to this point rather than another. Almost with-out exception -- and the only reason I hesitate to make this an ALL INCLUSIVE statement is because there may be 1 exception even though I can't think of it -- most of my decisions involved a choice of action on my part that would have implications on many other people directly and indirectly.
Because I believe in Karma -- if you do good things then good things will happen to you, I try very hard to make good choices -- do the the RIGHT thing -- as often as I can. Because I believe good things will come back to me. Truth be told, I'm being very self-centered, looking out for myself! But I think the way to get there is to be good to others and it comes back to you multiplied.
But then there's that 'balance' thing. Because I also believe very much in balance -- ANYTHING to the extreme is most likely gonna be bad. It's kind of like my head and my heart are at odds sometimes. And there too is balance. For you to feel good about yourself, your head and your heart must be happy.
And everyone wants to feel good. I feel pretty good about my life. Certainly not perfect -- NOTHING IS! So it's about maintaining balance. But that doesn't mean 'stuck in the middle' either. Everyone knows the teeter-totter was way more fun when it was bouncing up AND down. You just have to remember, the further you go one way, the harder and faster you will come back thru the middle.
I'm not sure what I'm doing today since the mornings not even half done. I have been working my new trailer. The ramps are now done -- better than before -- thank you Lance Cabinets in Freeburg, IL. They should be stronger than the last set and are lighter. I am loading some 42' lengths of pipe on my 32' trailer tomorrow going to Omaha, NE. Come back for those pictures!
I may go out to Breeze again and visit my oldest son. He knows a place with good food, NFL Ticket and $2 beers -- gimme a recliner and I'll be in heaven.
But for the moment, it's back to movie time. BTW, it's Grown-ups with Adam Sandler -- 2 thumbs up.
Oh, and in case anyone is keeping score, in an ipdate to my "DEADBEAT BROKER" series, United Intercoastal paid their bill. Two week late but paid in full. Still waiting for Bowers Trucking. And I have three more coming due this next week, so stay tuned!
I don't live in the past but rather try to learn from the past. I try to consider how my "TODAY" is formed by decisions I have made in the past ... choices I have made that led to this point rather than another. Almost with-out exception -- and the only reason I hesitate to make this an ALL INCLUSIVE statement is because there may be 1 exception even though I can't think of it -- most of my decisions involved a choice of action on my part that would have implications on many other people directly and indirectly.
Because I believe in Karma -- if you do good things then good things will happen to you, I try very hard to make good choices -- do the the RIGHT thing -- as often as I can. Because I believe good things will come back to me. Truth be told, I'm being very self-centered, looking out for myself! But I think the way to get there is to be good to others and it comes back to you multiplied.
But then there's that 'balance' thing. Because I also believe very much in balance -- ANYTHING to the extreme is most likely gonna be bad. It's kind of like my head and my heart are at odds sometimes. And there too is balance. For you to feel good about yourself, your head and your heart must be happy.
And everyone wants to feel good. I feel pretty good about my life. Certainly not perfect -- NOTHING IS! So it's about maintaining balance. But that doesn't mean 'stuck in the middle' either. Everyone knows the teeter-totter was way more fun when it was bouncing up AND down. You just have to remember, the further you go one way, the harder and faster you will come back thru the middle.
I'm not sure what I'm doing today since the mornings not even half done. I have been working my new trailer. The ramps are now done -- better than before -- thank you Lance Cabinets in Freeburg, IL. They should be stronger than the last set and are lighter. I am loading some 42' lengths of pipe on my 32' trailer tomorrow going to Omaha, NE. Come back for those pictures!
I may go out to Breeze again and visit my oldest son. He knows a place with good food, NFL Ticket and $2 beers -- gimme a recliner and I'll be in heaven.
But for the moment, it's back to movie time. BTW, it's Grown-ups with Adam Sandler -- 2 thumbs up.
Oh, and in case anyone is keeping score, in an ipdate to my "DEADBEAT BROKER" series, United Intercoastal paid their bill. Two week late but paid in full. Still waiting for Bowers Trucking. And I have three more coming due this next week, so stay tuned!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Good Fortune comes at a Price
I was doing a friend a personal favor. He is building a very large fence for his wife's horses and had ordered a bunch of boards and posts and wire. It was more than a tractor trailer load so I went and picked up the left-overs - which was still almost 20,000# - slightly more than my legal limit (but we won't talk about that part).
I was pulling my new (to me) trailer but was cautious to make sure it had been properly serviced. If I'm going to max this thing out on it's first trip (with me pulling) I wanted to be sure it was capable. I had replaced several of the 8 tires but soon discovered that two of them, although 'looking' okay, were going to be a problem. I made it about half way back on my 370 mile trip and two tires failed.
I hadn't been stopped on the shoulder of the interstate for five minutes when a 'good Samaritan' pulled up behind me to offer assistance (I assumed). Turns out he works for a nearby tire shop. I think I used up a ton of my Good Karma on that deal.
It took about an hour but he had a service truck to my rescue with one new tire (I had a spare) and I was back on the road. It came at a price of course but that is the nature of roadside breakdowns. I don't mean to imply that I was taken advantage of -- NO! I understand the service guy was working O/T and had to drive to my aid and this all happened about 6:00 in the evening. But I will say that I could have saved about $100 had I gone to the store during regular business hours and got the same thing done.
I was debating whether to make my lead to this post my "Good Fortune" story or my DEADBEAT BROKER UPDATE. As you see I chose the good news.
I have two more DEADBEAT BROKERS to gripe about today. Armstrong Transport - a North Carolina company agreed to pay us within 30-days. According to their A/P person, their checking account was hacked and they had to open a new account, and by our good fortune, the new checks came in today. Their freight was delivered on Sep 22 and the Invoice and Proof of Delivery emailed to them on the same day. As of this writing, they are almost 2 weeks late.
DEADBEAT BROKER #2 for the day is United Intermodal of The Colony, TX. Their excuse was they received only the invoice and not the Proof of Delivery. Ahhh, the 'missing paperwork' excuse. Not very original. And unless I take the expense to mail stuff for delivery confirmation, I have no way to challenge their tale.
Now, I have to admit, the person I am dealing with there seems to be helpful rather than arrogant (like Armstrong Yuck-a-deenies). When I re-sent my original email showing when and to whom it went, they agreed to next-day-air our check. And they were apologetic. We shall see.
Interestingly, the load board that I got the United Intercoastal load off of has a rating system. I promptly went online and gave them a 'negative' rating for non-payment. I don't doubt that is some incentive for them to 'do the right thing' and get our money to us. They don't have such a pretty rating even with-out my negative mark. In the past 6 months 16 other companies have rated them negative or neutral (the only other option is positive).
I was pulling my new (to me) trailer but was cautious to make sure it had been properly serviced. If I'm going to max this thing out on it's first trip (with me pulling) I wanted to be sure it was capable. I had replaced several of the 8 tires but soon discovered that two of them, although 'looking' okay, were going to be a problem. I made it about half way back on my 370 mile trip and two tires failed.
I hadn't been stopped on the shoulder of the interstate for five minutes when a 'good Samaritan' pulled up behind me to offer assistance (I assumed). Turns out he works for a nearby tire shop. I think I used up a ton of my Good Karma on that deal.
It took about an hour but he had a service truck to my rescue with one new tire (I had a spare) and I was back on the road. It came at a price of course but that is the nature of roadside breakdowns. I don't mean to imply that I was taken advantage of -- NO! I understand the service guy was working O/T and had to drive to my aid and this all happened about 6:00 in the evening. But I will say that I could have saved about $100 had I gone to the store during regular business hours and got the same thing done.
I was debating whether to make my lead to this post my "Good Fortune" story or my DEADBEAT BROKER UPDATE. As you see I chose the good news.
I have two more DEADBEAT BROKERS to gripe about today. Armstrong Transport - a North Carolina company agreed to pay us within 30-days. According to their A/P person, their checking account was hacked and they had to open a new account, and by our good fortune, the new checks came in today. Their freight was delivered on Sep 22 and the Invoice and Proof of Delivery emailed to them on the same day. As of this writing, they are almost 2 weeks late.
DEADBEAT BROKER #2 for the day is United Intermodal of The Colony, TX. Their excuse was they received only the invoice and not the Proof of Delivery. Ahhh, the 'missing paperwork' excuse. Not very original. And unless I take the expense to mail stuff for delivery confirmation, I have no way to challenge their tale.
Now, I have to admit, the person I am dealing with there seems to be helpful rather than arrogant (like Armstrong Yuck-a-deenies). When I re-sent my original email showing when and to whom it went, they agreed to next-day-air our check. And they were apologetic. We shall see.
Interestingly, the load board that I got the United Intercoastal load off of has a rating system. I promptly went online and gave them a 'negative' rating for non-payment. I don't doubt that is some incentive for them to 'do the right thing' and get our money to us. They don't have such a pretty rating even with-out my negative mark. In the past 6 months 16 other companies have rated them negative or neutral (the only other option is positive).
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Happy Halloween!
I guess technically speaking Halloween is tomorrow but nowadays it's like a weekend thing, and this IS Saturday night. I am lying in bed watching Game 3 of the World Series - kind of a must win for the Rangers. I am a National League fan but pretty much despise the Giants because Barry Bonds played there. Guess I don't really care who wins.
I am in Belleville with my new trailer and I am EXTREMELY happy with it. It has required more repairs than I was expecting. I put three new tires on it in San Antonio before I left and then a fourth one today (it has eight). I planned on two. I replaced the plug for the wiring harness as expected but found numerous lights either missing or not working. The biggest problem though was the trailer brakes. I had none.
Because I could not get an inspection with these problems I decided to just bring it back here with-out getting a load. Combined with no license plates, it was just too risky to get stopped, not to mention the safety aspect with no trailer brakes. My pals at Lombardo Trailer here in Belleville got me all hooked up today. All I need is to get the inspection and then tags and I will be good to go. That should happen Monday.
This is a better quality trailer than my old one. And yet I think it is lighter because it sure seems to tow easier. It has to do with the torsion-tube design. It is also lower than my old one. I definitely like that. But it is exactly the same length and width - 27'+5 X 102". I like it alot and am excited to put a load on.
Also on Monday I have another driver to interview. This is a friend-of-a-friend thing so I'm hopeful. I figure if somebody is willing to refer someone else then that is a good sign of reliability. My optimism about the economy continues. There still seems to be alot of freight moving but you really have to be aggressive booking the good paying ones. He who hesitates looses. Which means it is going to be difficult for me to continue driving if I am going to also dispatch my drivers.
I'm not sure if this guy I'm meeting Monday has a trailer. I know he has a Ford F350. Last month I only drove about 3,000 miles because I didn't have a trailer to pull. Now I have a trailer but possibly adding another driver who may not have his own wagon.
I once read that there are only two ways to make money (legally). You can work for your money - get a job where someone pays you to do something - or you can make your money work for you - invest in something that pays a dividend. So I buy a trailer and let someone drag it around. Sounds good to me.
But I also like to travel. Especially with my bike. And I haven't done much of that since getting my own authority; in fact NONE. But as winter approaches this is not the best time to be traveling (I'm not a cold-weather person). So I guess I'll suck it up for the next four months or so and continue growing my business.
Besides, I saw another trailer on Ebay that I really like. But I need to replenish my cash before that happens.
DEAD-BEAT BROKER update: Bowers Trucking was the latest addendum to my slow-pay list. I spoke with them on Friday, week before last and was told the check had been mailed the prior Wednesday. Last Wednesday - a week since it had been 'mailed' - I still didn't have the check, called them again and they admitted it had NOT been mailed because nobody was around to sign it. The good news is, not only did they find someone to sign it but they also next-day aired the check to me. Oh well, better late than never.
I am in Belleville with my new trailer and I am EXTREMELY happy with it. It has required more repairs than I was expecting. I put three new tires on it in San Antonio before I left and then a fourth one today (it has eight). I planned on two. I replaced the plug for the wiring harness as expected but found numerous lights either missing or not working. The biggest problem though was the trailer brakes. I had none.
Because I could not get an inspection with these problems I decided to just bring it back here with-out getting a load. Combined with no license plates, it was just too risky to get stopped, not to mention the safety aspect with no trailer brakes. My pals at Lombardo Trailer here in Belleville got me all hooked up today. All I need is to get the inspection and then tags and I will be good to go. That should happen Monday.
This is a better quality trailer than my old one. And yet I think it is lighter because it sure seems to tow easier. It has to do with the torsion-tube design. It is also lower than my old one. I definitely like that. But it is exactly the same length and width - 27'+5 X 102". I like it alot and am excited to put a load on.
Also on Monday I have another driver to interview. This is a friend-of-a-friend thing so I'm hopeful. I figure if somebody is willing to refer someone else then that is a good sign of reliability. My optimism about the economy continues. There still seems to be alot of freight moving but you really have to be aggressive booking the good paying ones. He who hesitates looses. Which means it is going to be difficult for me to continue driving if I am going to also dispatch my drivers.
I'm not sure if this guy I'm meeting Monday has a trailer. I know he has a Ford F350. Last month I only drove about 3,000 miles because I didn't have a trailer to pull. Now I have a trailer but possibly adding another driver who may not have his own wagon.
I once read that there are only two ways to make money (legally). You can work for your money - get a job where someone pays you to do something - or you can make your money work for you - invest in something that pays a dividend. So I buy a trailer and let someone drag it around. Sounds good to me.
But I also like to travel. Especially with my bike. And I haven't done much of that since getting my own authority; in fact NONE. But as winter approaches this is not the best time to be traveling (I'm not a cold-weather person). So I guess I'll suck it up for the next four months or so and continue growing my business.
Besides, I saw another trailer on Ebay that I really like. But I need to replenish my cash before that happens.
DEAD-BEAT BROKER update: Bowers Trucking was the latest addendum to my slow-pay list. I spoke with them on Friday, week before last and was told the check had been mailed the prior Wednesday. Last Wednesday - a week since it had been 'mailed' - I still didn't have the check, called them again and they admitted it had NOT been mailed because nobody was around to sign it. The good news is, not only did they find someone to sign it but they also next-day aired the check to me. Oh well, better late than never.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Ebay Auction -- WON!
I am still in Paradise (Suncoast of FL) with-out a trailer which I have leased to one of my drivers. It just makes more sense to let him use it, thus keeping it moving and generating income. Otherwise, it would be sitting in a storage lot down here costing me fees.
I have been watching Ebay and Craigslist for more than two weeks trying to find another one for me. I missed one last week when the auction closed before I made my final bid. Ebay uses west coast time zone - PDT. I messed up calculating the east coast equivalent. My oldest son taught me a bidding strategy that he uses, an apparently works. But you have to be monitoring the last few minutes of the auction and make a decision with about 30 seconds left.
The trailer I really wanted - the one I missed - apparently did not sell. After the auction closed it showed that the reserve price had not been met. I sent two emails to the seller over a three day period but never got a reply.
The trailer that I did win is almost exactly like the one I have now - a 27'+5' dual-tandem with flip ramps. It is two years old and has a couple of tires that need replacing. The wiring harness plug has also been pulled loose and two boards on the deck appear to be loose. But I got it at a price that will allow me to make those repairs and still be good -- assuming there are no other issues. You take your chances with internet auctions. Better factor that into the price.
I have delivered cars that people bought off the internet; a few of them from auctions like Ebay. I remember one in particular, a Jeep Wrangler that from a distance (and probably in it's pictures) looked pretty sharp. It had been detailed and all shined up. But up-close and personal it looked like a tired old Jeep that had been detailed all shined up. I have know idea what the new owner paid but I'm glad it wasn't mine.
And my Ebay trailer story gets better! This all happened late Friday morning. While I'm moving money around and paying my deposit via PayPal, I get an email from another shipper moving freight. I get 6-8 of these A DAY with at least 2 or 3 things we could do -- if I had more drivers, which I'm working on. It is rare that I find a load that requires my truck only. But it happened yesterday afternoon!
The trailer is in San Antonio, TX. I am in FL. This load is moving from Kentucky to south of Dallas. Kentucky is not EXACTLY on my way to TX but it isn't so far out of the way that I can't go get it -- which is what I'll do next week.
I had planned on staying here in FL thru next weekend. My neighbor is having a party that Sat and the city of Treasure Island (where I live) also has an event that weekend. I don't have to be back in Belleville until Nov 2 for a doctors appointment (regular check-up). But this trailer I bought, and now the ensuing load getting me to TX, has changed that.
FOLLOW-UP TO DEAD-BEAT BROKERS
My last post I mentioned Anchor Freight in Oklahoma City and how they promised to pay us in 30-days but did not. I finally got a check from them yesterday -- 42 days from the time they received the invoice and Proof of delivery (the 'trigger' for them to pay us). Oh well, better late than never.
And now I have another one -- DEAD BEAT BROKER. Please welcome Bowers Trucking in Oroville, CA to my list. Their 30-days was up on Oct 14th. Supposedly, "the checks in the mail." Hmmm, never heard that one before.
I have been watching Ebay and Craigslist for more than two weeks trying to find another one for me. I missed one last week when the auction closed before I made my final bid. Ebay uses west coast time zone - PDT. I messed up calculating the east coast equivalent. My oldest son taught me a bidding strategy that he uses, an apparently works. But you have to be monitoring the last few minutes of the auction and make a decision with about 30 seconds left.
The trailer I really wanted - the one I missed - apparently did not sell. After the auction closed it showed that the reserve price had not been met. I sent two emails to the seller over a three day period but never got a reply.
The trailer that I did win is almost exactly like the one I have now - a 27'+5' dual-tandem with flip ramps. It is two years old and has a couple of tires that need replacing. The wiring harness plug has also been pulled loose and two boards on the deck appear to be loose. But I got it at a price that will allow me to make those repairs and still be good -- assuming there are no other issues. You take your chances with internet auctions. Better factor that into the price.
I have delivered cars that people bought off the internet; a few of them from auctions like Ebay. I remember one in particular, a Jeep Wrangler that from a distance (and probably in it's pictures) looked pretty sharp. It had been detailed and all shined up. But up-close and personal it looked like a tired old Jeep that had been detailed all shined up. I have know idea what the new owner paid but I'm glad it wasn't mine.
And my Ebay trailer story gets better! This all happened late Friday morning. While I'm moving money around and paying my deposit via PayPal, I get an email from another shipper moving freight. I get 6-8 of these A DAY with at least 2 or 3 things we could do -- if I had more drivers, which I'm working on. It is rare that I find a load that requires my truck only. But it happened yesterday afternoon!
The trailer is in San Antonio, TX. I am in FL. This load is moving from Kentucky to south of Dallas. Kentucky is not EXACTLY on my way to TX but it isn't so far out of the way that I can't go get it -- which is what I'll do next week.
I had planned on staying here in FL thru next weekend. My neighbor is having a party that Sat and the city of Treasure Island (where I live) also has an event that weekend. I don't have to be back in Belleville until Nov 2 for a doctors appointment (regular check-up). But this trailer I bought, and now the ensuing load getting me to TX, has changed that.
FOLLOW-UP TO DEAD-BEAT BROKERS
My last post I mentioned Anchor Freight in Oklahoma City and how they promised to pay us in 30-days but did not. I finally got a check from them yesterday -- 42 days from the time they received the invoice and Proof of delivery (the 'trigger' for them to pay us). Oh well, better late than never.
And now I have another one -- DEAD BEAT BROKER. Please welcome Bowers Trucking in Oroville, CA to my list. Their 30-days was up on Oct 14th. Supposedly, "the checks in the mail." Hmmm, never heard that one before.
Monday, October 18, 2010
When does 30 mean 45?
Perhaps the most aggravating part of my job is chasing dead-beat brokers that don't pay their bills in the time frame that THEY have agreed to. In fact, not only have they agreed to it but they WRITE the Broker Agreement and make you sign it before even dispatching the load. Who do you think that legal document favors?
Nine times out of ten the agreement calls for payment to be made with-in 30-days of receiving an invoice and proof of delivery. Many brokers add the word 'original' in there so that actually gives them another 3-5 days for the mailman.
My angst today is caused by Anchor Freight in Oklahoma City, OK. We moved their freight roughly 600 miles overnight paying for fuel on the spot as we went. They agreed to pay us "...within 30 days upon receipt of signed delivery receipt." They were emailed a scanned image of the signed Bill of Lading along with an invoice on Sep 13. The originals were sent regular mail the same day. They were 'in receipt of the signed delivery' on Sep 13 and yet here it is Oct 18 and the check isn't even written yet, much less in our hands.
What happens if you make your house payment late to the bank by one day? What do you see on your next utility bill if they don't have your payment on the due date? And yet in the trucking industry 30-days really means 45-days, if your lucky. Not all brokers are this abusive. But many of them are.
I have had to file claims against the bonding insurance company on a few occasions to get our money. That is a path I generally don't take until it's past 45-days. Perhaps I need to be more aggressive.
I think I will start mentioning BY NAME those brokers that can't abide by their own agreement - like Anchor Freight. Is that asking too much, to do what YOU say? I think it just comes down to respect. Or lack of.
Nine times out of ten the agreement calls for payment to be made with-in 30-days of receiving an invoice and proof of delivery. Many brokers add the word 'original' in there so that actually gives them another 3-5 days for the mailman.
My angst today is caused by Anchor Freight in Oklahoma City, OK. We moved their freight roughly 600 miles overnight paying for fuel on the spot as we went. They agreed to pay us "...within 30 days upon receipt of signed delivery receipt." They were emailed a scanned image of the signed Bill of Lading along with an invoice on Sep 13. The originals were sent regular mail the same day. They were 'in receipt of the signed delivery' on Sep 13 and yet here it is Oct 18 and the check isn't even written yet, much less in our hands.
What happens if you make your house payment late to the bank by one day? What do you see on your next utility bill if they don't have your payment on the due date? And yet in the trucking industry 30-days really means 45-days, if your lucky. Not all brokers are this abusive. But many of them are.
I have had to file claims against the bonding insurance company on a few occasions to get our money. That is a path I generally don't take until it's past 45-days. Perhaps I need to be more aggressive.
I think I will start mentioning BY NAME those brokers that can't abide by their own agreement - like Anchor Freight. Is that asking too much, to do what YOU say? I think it just comes down to respect. Or lack of.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Add Three...Subtract one
If there has been one recurring theme in my posts the last couple of months .... I have been crazy busy. But not so busy I can't get back to Paradise, which is where I am today. Running my new biz from the Gulf beach of Florida. I guess Life ain't so terrible after all.
I have actually been here almost a week now. When I left here last my #1 priority - besides my upcoming DOT Safety Audit (see below) - was to hire on another driver or two. I have done that -- actually completed paperwork on three new owner/operators. Of those three, one is working part-time; one is finishing up another obligation before going full-time with me (he says) and one has been terminated already.
The bottom line - as of today - I have one driver that runs regionally (my original guy, Mike, who is doing AWESOME); one guy who is local (he takes care of my very irregular construction company in STL) and one guy who says he wants to run regionally (we shall see). Plus me.
But I don't have a trailer anymore! I'm leasing my new one to Mike. My old one sits in Belleville for my local guy when needed (like this morning. And yesterday). Fortunately my other 'future' regional guy has his own wagon.
I spent several hours on the Internet looking for a trailer. I have found several that I like and have actually bid on a couple on Ebay. We'll see where that goes. In the meantime I am sitting in Treasure Island loving life and keeping two drivers moving.
Driving a truck does not require a college degree. Common sense, a sense of urgency, attention to detail and a good work-ethic are good starting points. I thought this one guy had the right stuff. But there were warning signs and I chose to look past them thinking ..... I don't know WHAT I was thinking, in retrospect!
The company this guy was already leased on with, when he and I first met, had a ton of work posted on the load board. Why wasn't he getting it, I wandered. One of the references he gave me from 3 years ago told me he was a bum (off the record). Supposedly he had borrowed money and never repaid. But greedy me thought he looked like a nice guy (he ALWAYS called me Sir) so what the heck. It lasted four days!
Fortunately for him (and probably me), I was in FL when his true colors began showing. I have him booked on a trip and he starts telling ME what he's going to do and not going to do. WRONG! Read the lease agreement, stupid. You may OWN the equipment and you may be DRIVING the truck but it belongs to ME for dispatch! He managed to get loaded for his first trip but never got out of town with it. I was two seconds from flying back to IL and doing something I likely would have later regretted. As it turned out, he had enough sense to take his trailer - with MY load on it - to a place where I had it moved onto another driver.
This other driver went on to make the delivery - a day later than originally promised - and then continued the dispatch I planned. The result was 2800 miles driven in less than 5 days generating almost $3200 in revenue, a VERY excellent week!
That all happened last Sunday and Monday. Monday night, I couldn't help but reminisce why I had got out of the restaurant business - EMPLOYEES! Now, in case the IRS is reading this, I do NOT have ANY employees. These owner/operators are independent contractors that lease on to my company. I did not invent this set-up. There are thousands and thousands of these O/Os on the road today. That being said, I am ultimately responsible for the things these guys do when it's MY name on the side of their truck. It's MY federal authority that they operate under. When I commit to being somewhere at a certain time, THEY need to do it.
But I'm all better now. Money will do that to you. Money may not buy you love but it sure helps your blood pressure when it's hitting your checking account.
I am still turning down at least 2 or 3 jobs -- A DAY! So I am still looking for another regional driver. Someone based in the STL area (that's where my shippers are) willing to be 'out' for 3 or 4 days at a time and owns their own diesel pick-up truck and flatbed trailer. I guess I'll try CraigsList again. It worked well the first time.
Meanwhile, I am in FL for another week or so. Then back to STL to add on another one. Or two.
I have actually been here almost a week now. When I left here last my #1 priority - besides my upcoming DOT Safety Audit (see below) - was to hire on another driver or two. I have done that -- actually completed paperwork on three new owner/operators. Of those three, one is working part-time; one is finishing up another obligation before going full-time with me (he says) and one has been terminated already.
The bottom line - as of today - I have one driver that runs regionally (my original guy, Mike, who is doing AWESOME); one guy who is local (he takes care of my very irregular construction company in STL) and one guy who says he wants to run regionally (we shall see). Plus me.
But I don't have a trailer anymore! I'm leasing my new one to Mike. My old one sits in Belleville for my local guy when needed (like this morning. And yesterday). Fortunately my other 'future' regional guy has his own wagon.
I spent several hours on the Internet looking for a trailer. I have found several that I like and have actually bid on a couple on Ebay. We'll see where that goes. In the meantime I am sitting in Treasure Island loving life and keeping two drivers moving.
Driving a truck does not require a college degree. Common sense, a sense of urgency, attention to detail and a good work-ethic are good starting points. I thought this one guy had the right stuff. But there were warning signs and I chose to look past them thinking ..... I don't know WHAT I was thinking, in retrospect!
The company this guy was already leased on with, when he and I first met, had a ton of work posted on the load board. Why wasn't he getting it, I wandered. One of the references he gave me from 3 years ago told me he was a bum (off the record). Supposedly he had borrowed money and never repaid. But greedy me thought he looked like a nice guy (he ALWAYS called me Sir) so what the heck. It lasted four days!
Fortunately for him (and probably me), I was in FL when his true colors began showing. I have him booked on a trip and he starts telling ME what he's going to do and not going to do. WRONG! Read the lease agreement, stupid. You may OWN the equipment and you may be DRIVING the truck but it belongs to ME for dispatch! He managed to get loaded for his first trip but never got out of town with it. I was two seconds from flying back to IL and doing something I likely would have later regretted. As it turned out, he had enough sense to take his trailer - with MY load on it - to a place where I had it moved onto another driver.
This other driver went on to make the delivery - a day later than originally promised - and then continued the dispatch I planned. The result was 2800 miles driven in less than 5 days generating almost $3200 in revenue, a VERY excellent week!
That all happened last Sunday and Monday. Monday night, I couldn't help but reminisce why I had got out of the restaurant business - EMPLOYEES! Now, in case the IRS is reading this, I do NOT have ANY employees. These owner/operators are independent contractors that lease on to my company. I did not invent this set-up. There are thousands and thousands of these O/Os on the road today. That being said, I am ultimately responsible for the things these guys do when it's MY name on the side of their truck. It's MY federal authority that they operate under. When I commit to being somewhere at a certain time, THEY need to do it.
But I'm all better now. Money will do that to you. Money may not buy you love but it sure helps your blood pressure when it's hitting your checking account.
I am still turning down at least 2 or 3 jobs -- A DAY! So I am still looking for another regional driver. Someone based in the STL area (that's where my shippers are) willing to be 'out' for 3 or 4 days at a time and owns their own diesel pick-up truck and flatbed trailer. I guess I'll try CraigsList again. It worked well the first time.
Meanwhile, I am in FL for another week or so. Then back to STL to add on another one. Or two.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Federal DOT Safety Audit -- PASSED!!!!
They tell you when you get your Federal Motor Carrier Authority (permission to conduct interstate commerce) that you will have a safety audit within the first 18 months. When I got a phone call THREE WEEKS after my authority was granted, I wasn't sure it was for real. I get 3-4 calls a week from all sorts of people trying to sell me something. But it was.
I had mixed emotions about the audit. On one hand I was anxious to get it out of the way. I felt; the sooner the better. I knew there would be things I needed to fix and I thought by finding out ASAP they would be more forgiving and I would have less to fix. But DOT officials are not known for their kind, generous attitudes. A great many of them are humorless, authority-wielding power-trippers more interested in sticking it to you than anything else.
Fortunately, Chuck was not one of those. He showed up at the house fifteen minutes early and spent the next two and a half hours going thru my stuff -- in great detail. Chuck was sincerely interested in HELPING me make sure I was in compliance, as opposed to stringing me up and looking for a way to fail me. I did have some things wrong but none of them were enough to prevent a positive end to his visit.
When he was ready to leave, I asked when he'd be back. I was expecting a follow-up visit. He said the next time he came back it would probably be a very bad thing because I was in trouble - accidents, multiple safety violations from drivers on the road, fatality (GOD forbid!). Basically, I was done. WOO-HOO! As long as my safety score remained low (that's a good thing. It goes UP as you have violations) he would be leaving me alone.
That all happen last Tuesday. I had run an ad on CraigsList the day before for Owner/Operators to lease on with me. Within a few hours, I had more than 8 people respond. I narrowed that down to three and met with two of them on Wednesday. I offered a deal to both. I am being EXTREMELY picky who I sign on. I am only interested in the best. I do not intend to be the largest trucking company and I have a lot of good paying work. So I can afford to take on the guys I think are going to be safe and have a brain that they use for more than just figuring out where the next truck stop is.
Of the two drivers I met with Wednesday, one of them has a 3-car, wedge-style trailer. I need flatbeds but do have a source of vehicles needing to move that I have been using for back-hauls - a way to get home. I told him I felt I could keep him busy with cars and trucks both ways but he said he would trade his car-hauler in on a flatbed gooseneck trailer. He called me over the weekend and not only did he find a trailer, but the guy he's getting it from is also interested in talking to me about work. SWEET!
The other driver I met with Wednesday is getting back with me this week. It's conceivable that I could have FOUR drivers going in the next couple of days! Mind boggling. In fact my head spins when I consider the near-term future. I don't know that I have ever been this excited about the path my life was on. And to think, it only took me 58 years to figure out what I want to do when I grow up (if I grow up).
My first 'other' driver - Mike - has been using my old trailer for the past 6 weeks and it really is marginal. I put it back into the shop early last week for major repairs. Mike is now pulling my newest trailer. I may be so busy dispatching 4 drivers that I don't have time to drive. Then, last Friday, I get a call from one of my steel pipe vendors he has a load requiring 10' of deck and weighing 2800 lbs that HAS to load Saturday morning for delivery Monday morning in New Orleans. And that is where I am this morning. Since Mike took another load up near Omaha and has a reload coming back to STL later today, I ended up throwing this steel into my truck and coming down here Sunday.
Now I am headed back to STL and get my newest guy set-up so he can go to work. With the possibility of two more after him later this week. spin-spin-spin-spin-spin
I had mixed emotions about the audit. On one hand I was anxious to get it out of the way. I felt; the sooner the better. I knew there would be things I needed to fix and I thought by finding out ASAP they would be more forgiving and I would have less to fix. But DOT officials are not known for their kind, generous attitudes. A great many of them are humorless, authority-wielding power-trippers more interested in sticking it to you than anything else.
Fortunately, Chuck was not one of those. He showed up at the house fifteen minutes early and spent the next two and a half hours going thru my stuff -- in great detail. Chuck was sincerely interested in HELPING me make sure I was in compliance, as opposed to stringing me up and looking for a way to fail me. I did have some things wrong but none of them were enough to prevent a positive end to his visit.
When he was ready to leave, I asked when he'd be back. I was expecting a follow-up visit. He said the next time he came back it would probably be a very bad thing because I was in trouble - accidents, multiple safety violations from drivers on the road, fatality (GOD forbid!). Basically, I was done. WOO-HOO! As long as my safety score remained low (that's a good thing. It goes UP as you have violations) he would be leaving me alone.
That all happen last Tuesday. I had run an ad on CraigsList the day before for Owner/Operators to lease on with me. Within a few hours, I had more than 8 people respond. I narrowed that down to three and met with two of them on Wednesday. I offered a deal to both. I am being EXTREMELY picky who I sign on. I am only interested in the best. I do not intend to be the largest trucking company and I have a lot of good paying work. So I can afford to take on the guys I think are going to be safe and have a brain that they use for more than just figuring out where the next truck stop is.
Of the two drivers I met with Wednesday, one of them has a 3-car, wedge-style trailer. I need flatbeds but do have a source of vehicles needing to move that I have been using for back-hauls - a way to get home. I told him I felt I could keep him busy with cars and trucks both ways but he said he would trade his car-hauler in on a flatbed gooseneck trailer. He called me over the weekend and not only did he find a trailer, but the guy he's getting it from is also interested in talking to me about work. SWEET!
The other driver I met with Wednesday is getting back with me this week. It's conceivable that I could have FOUR drivers going in the next couple of days! Mind boggling. In fact my head spins when I consider the near-term future. I don't know that I have ever been this excited about the path my life was on. And to think, it only took me 58 years to figure out what I want to do when I grow up (if I grow up).
My first 'other' driver - Mike - has been using my old trailer for the past 6 weeks and it really is marginal. I put it back into the shop early last week for major repairs. Mike is now pulling my newest trailer. I may be so busy dispatching 4 drivers that I don't have time to drive. Then, last Friday, I get a call from one of my steel pipe vendors he has a load requiring 10' of deck and weighing 2800 lbs that HAS to load Saturday morning for delivery Monday morning in New Orleans. And that is where I am this morning. Since Mike took another load up near Omaha and has a reload coming back to STL later today, I ended up throwing this steel into my truck and coming down here Sunday.
Now I am headed back to STL and get my newest guy set-up so he can go to work. With the possibility of two more after him later this week. spin-spin-spin-spin-spin
Sunday, September 26, 2010
I Need another Driver
Things are going fairly well. I have more work than I can handle. I keep hearing about our economy and it's weakness. Sorry, but I don't see it. I have five shippers here in STL with work EVERYDAY. I go to the load boards and there are 20 or 30 different loads moving within 100 mile radius of STL. I need another driver!
But I am VERY particular about the kind of driver I want. They need to have a diesel pick-up truck or flatbed and hold a CDL-A, or willing to get one. They need to have a clean MVR - no accidents in the last 5 years and no more than one ticket in the last three. They need to be a self-starter and have some common sense. Experience is NOT required but good attitude is essential.
I am also looking for a Big Truck owner-operator - an 18-wheeler. I have specialized in doing Hot Shots - loads under 35' and 15,000 lbs - for the last five years and have found that niche to be much more profitable. The cost of operating is less resulting in higher profits. But there is work out there for big trucks too.
And speaking of trucks, I need a new truck. This Dodge is getting tired. It's 10 years old and has more than 350,000 miles - a great workhorse. But I have spent more than $2,000 in repairs in the last month. But it IS paid for. I don't miss NOT having a $600/mo truck payment. If I can get another driver - or two - it would be easier to handle a truck payment tho.
But I am VERY particular about the kind of driver I want. They need to have a diesel pick-up truck or flatbed and hold a CDL-A, or willing to get one. They need to have a clean MVR - no accidents in the last 5 years and no more than one ticket in the last three. They need to be a self-starter and have some common sense. Experience is NOT required but good attitude is essential.
I am also looking for a Big Truck owner-operator - an 18-wheeler. I have specialized in doing Hot Shots - loads under 35' and 15,000 lbs - for the last five years and have found that niche to be much more profitable. The cost of operating is less resulting in higher profits. But there is work out there for big trucks too.
And speaking of trucks, I need a new truck. This Dodge is getting tired. It's 10 years old and has more than 350,000 miles - a great workhorse. But I have spent more than $2,000 in repairs in the last month. But it IS paid for. I don't miss NOT having a $600/mo truck payment. If I can get another driver - or two - it would be easier to handle a truck payment tho.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Egads! Busier than a 1-Armed Paperhanger
I have been fairly religious about updating my blog twice a week or so --- until now. Despite my best intentions, I have been negiligent. But I have been quite busy, as I will now share.
Ha ha ha -- just reading my last couple of posts to see where I left off. Both attest to my being busy. And I have also used the '1-Armed Paperhange' line. Guess I need to get a new 'Book of One Liners.'
I was bragging on my new driver - Mike last month. He continues to do awesome. You may - or may not - remember, he has no over-the-road driving experience but has pulled flatbed trailers with heavy stuff on them. So he knows about securing loads and driving with 30' of something hanging off the back of a truck. He is now familiar with the various state DOT inspections and what power-trips some of them can be on. Mike has been a OTR Truck Driver for about a month now and understands why most drivers dread the 'right-lane' when pulling into a weigh station.
Mike has done so well for me that I have modified our agreement where he makes an additional bonus every month he exceeds a certain gross dollar amount. He hit the bonus round for the month of September by mid-month! He reminds me so much of me going down the road. The other day he was near Seattle, WA and was describing the beauty of Mt. Rainer as he passed by. I laughed as I thought, 'Been there, done that.' I reminded him he was getting paid on top of getting to see these phenominal sights. Life is good for both of us.
I was very successful while in St. Louis last month setting up direct contact with shippers. I now get emails everyday from 4 or 5 companies moving freight. That's on top of the construction company we have been servicing for almost 20 years. I need another driver. In fact I'm headed back to STL to do just that. I wonder what the odds are of finding someone like Mike?
I am currently in Paradise (Treasure Island, FL). I got down here Labor Day weekend. I booked a load from one of my new shippers down to Biloxi, MS and then worked my way accross I-10 into FL and down to Orlando. Then hustled to St. Pete on Friday afternoon in time to drop the trailer, unload my truck at the house, shower, shave and haul butt on two-wheels back to Tampa for the Toby Keith concert.
Anybody that knows me also knows I am NOT about the country western. I have heard of Toby Keith but couldn't tell you what he looks like much less the name of a song he sings. I went because of the group of people that invited me. They are fun and most any concert I have ever been to, it's the people that make the party.
I am still not much into cowboy. But this show was far and away Top-5 in my book of concerts. Trace Atkins opened the show. OMG! What a great start! By the time Toby came out there were probably 40,000 fired up Americans singing and dancing in the aisles. What a red-white-and-blue show this was. Other than his Ford truck (I'm a Dodge man, thank you) this was as inspiring a performance of nationalism as I have ever seen. Anywhere. Anytime. It makes you proud to be an American, not that I had any trouble before. David Allen Coe made a guest appearance - at age 71 he can still sing a song. Willie Nelson had a video appearance. Definetly Top 5. And I have seen some shows: Aerosmith (twice), Doobie Bros., Lynard Skynard (several times), ZZ Top and more.
Two of my best friends also came down from Belleville that weekend. Jim is my cabinet maker bud. He built a new kitchen for one of the rental units and he and his wife came down for a week to install (one day) and hang-out at the beach. Pam was also off for several days (holiday weekend) so we had a blast. They brought their bikes so riding was a big part. One day we 2-wheeled up to Caladesi Island and then rented kayaks. I have NEVER seen a REAL pink flamingo -- until that day!
The next day, we took Pams convertible down to Sarasota and went shopping at St. Armand Circle, where the rich and famous spend their money. That afternoon we drove up to the beach at Anna Maria. I live on one of the barrier islands north of the entrance into Tampa Bay from the Gulf. Anna Maria is the northernmost beach on the south side of the entrance to Tampa Bay. Parking is near impossible there as it is 99% residential. That didn't stop us. We 'borrowed' a vacant rental-properties alcove to change into swimming suits, hiding behind big beach towels. Then it was a half block walk between residences to get to the water.
To be honest, I like my beach better. There was nice sand there (like mine) but no shells. And the sand bars went out into the Gulf for several hundred yards before plunging into deep water. Very deep water. I know for a fact they shark fish in the channel less than a mile away. I reminded everyone we were just shark bait. But now I can say that I have been there. Good memories. But probably not worth the trip to go back again.
We had dinner at some beach restaurant and watched the sunset. And then road home with the top down star-gazing and marveling at how the flashes of lightening off in the distance were such a contrast to the rest of the sky. Until it started raining on us. And I'm talking a torrential downpour. The stereotypical gully washer Florida is famous for. Jim was driving so he was not familiar with the controls for putting the roof up. He knew we had to stop. But it was a few seconds before he figured out the car also has to be in neutral. To say were were soaked would be an understatement.
Eventually we got the top up. But the windows were still down and the wind is blowing the rain sideways - IN on MY side! And he can't get the windows up! What the hell? The girls in back are laughing hysterically as I try to hold a beach blanket over the opening - pretty much unsuccessfully. It felt like 10 minutes but was probably only one before he realized the child-lock was on preventing the windows from being raised. More memories.
Pam celebrated a birthday that week. The four of us and four others went to a fine dining establishment in Tampa - Seasons 52. Everyone was dressed to the nines. The bill was close to $400. Pam and Lori did a little swing dance at the bar with the piano INSIDE. More memories.
The Tuesday after Labor Day I worked - like a dog. We installed the kitchen cabinets. Jim goes 150 mph. I struggle to keep up ... and keep out of his way. But it sure does look good. I kidded the tenant that his rent was going up $100/mo.
There was some bad news. On my trip down here I got stuck in stop-and-go traffic for more than an hour pulling a 10,000 LB load. It pretty much destroyed my clutch. I guess after 350,000 miles it was due replacing. So I put my truck in the shop Wednesday with the expectation it would be done Saturday, which it was. But I only made it 10 miles and had complications. It went back in the shop Monday and I just got it back this morning. Hopefully it is good to go because I load in the morning headed back to STL to find another driver.
So now I'm caught up - again. I will try to get back in the habit of updating. But right now, it's dinnertime.
Ha ha ha -- just reading my last couple of posts to see where I left off. Both attest to my being busy. And I have also used the '1-Armed Paperhange' line. Guess I need to get a new 'Book of One Liners.'
I was bragging on my new driver - Mike last month. He continues to do awesome. You may - or may not - remember, he has no over-the-road driving experience but has pulled flatbed trailers with heavy stuff on them. So he knows about securing loads and driving with 30' of something hanging off the back of a truck. He is now familiar with the various state DOT inspections and what power-trips some of them can be on. Mike has been a OTR Truck Driver for about a month now and understands why most drivers dread the 'right-lane' when pulling into a weigh station.
Mike has done so well for me that I have modified our agreement where he makes an additional bonus every month he exceeds a certain gross dollar amount. He hit the bonus round for the month of September by mid-month! He reminds me so much of me going down the road. The other day he was near Seattle, WA and was describing the beauty of Mt. Rainer as he passed by. I laughed as I thought, 'Been there, done that.' I reminded him he was getting paid on top of getting to see these phenominal sights. Life is good for both of us.
I was very successful while in St. Louis last month setting up direct contact with shippers. I now get emails everyday from 4 or 5 companies moving freight. That's on top of the construction company we have been servicing for almost 20 years. I need another driver. In fact I'm headed back to STL to do just that. I wonder what the odds are of finding someone like Mike?
I am currently in Paradise (Treasure Island, FL). I got down here Labor Day weekend. I booked a load from one of my new shippers down to Biloxi, MS and then worked my way accross I-10 into FL and down to Orlando. Then hustled to St. Pete on Friday afternoon in time to drop the trailer, unload my truck at the house, shower, shave and haul butt on two-wheels back to Tampa for the Toby Keith concert.
Anybody that knows me also knows I am NOT about the country western. I have heard of Toby Keith but couldn't tell you what he looks like much less the name of a song he sings. I went because of the group of people that invited me. They are fun and most any concert I have ever been to, it's the people that make the party.
I am still not much into cowboy. But this show was far and away Top-5 in my book of concerts. Trace Atkins opened the show. OMG! What a great start! By the time Toby came out there were probably 40,000 fired up Americans singing and dancing in the aisles. What a red-white-and-blue show this was. Other than his Ford truck (I'm a Dodge man, thank you) this was as inspiring a performance of nationalism as I have ever seen. Anywhere. Anytime. It makes you proud to be an American, not that I had any trouble before. David Allen Coe made a guest appearance - at age 71 he can still sing a song. Willie Nelson had a video appearance. Definetly Top 5. And I have seen some shows: Aerosmith (twice), Doobie Bros., Lynard Skynard (several times), ZZ Top and more.
Two of my best friends also came down from Belleville that weekend. Jim is my cabinet maker bud. He built a new kitchen for one of the rental units and he and his wife came down for a week to install (one day) and hang-out at the beach. Pam was also off for several days (holiday weekend) so we had a blast. They brought their bikes so riding was a big part. One day we 2-wheeled up to Caladesi Island and then rented kayaks. I have NEVER seen a REAL pink flamingo -- until that day!
The next day, we took Pams convertible down to Sarasota and went shopping at St. Armand Circle, where the rich and famous spend their money. That afternoon we drove up to the beach at Anna Maria. I live on one of the barrier islands north of the entrance into Tampa Bay from the Gulf. Anna Maria is the northernmost beach on the south side of the entrance to Tampa Bay. Parking is near impossible there as it is 99% residential. That didn't stop us. We 'borrowed' a vacant rental-properties alcove to change into swimming suits, hiding behind big beach towels. Then it was a half block walk between residences to get to the water.
To be honest, I like my beach better. There was nice sand there (like mine) but no shells. And the sand bars went out into the Gulf for several hundred yards before plunging into deep water. Very deep water. I know for a fact they shark fish in the channel less than a mile away. I reminded everyone we were just shark bait. But now I can say that I have been there. Good memories. But probably not worth the trip to go back again.
We had dinner at some beach restaurant and watched the sunset. And then road home with the top down star-gazing and marveling at how the flashes of lightening off in the distance were such a contrast to the rest of the sky. Until it started raining on us. And I'm talking a torrential downpour. The stereotypical gully washer Florida is famous for. Jim was driving so he was not familiar with the controls for putting the roof up. He knew we had to stop. But it was a few seconds before he figured out the car also has to be in neutral. To say were were soaked would be an understatement.
Eventually we got the top up. But the windows were still down and the wind is blowing the rain sideways - IN on MY side! And he can't get the windows up! What the hell? The girls in back are laughing hysterically as I try to hold a beach blanket over the opening - pretty much unsuccessfully. It felt like 10 minutes but was probably only one before he realized the child-lock was on preventing the windows from being raised. More memories.
Pam celebrated a birthday that week. The four of us and four others went to a fine dining establishment in Tampa - Seasons 52. Everyone was dressed to the nines. The bill was close to $400. Pam and Lori did a little swing dance at the bar with the piano INSIDE. More memories.
The Tuesday after Labor Day I worked - like a dog. We installed the kitchen cabinets. Jim goes 150 mph. I struggle to keep up ... and keep out of his way. But it sure does look good. I kidded the tenant that his rent was going up $100/mo.
There was some bad news. On my trip down here I got stuck in stop-and-go traffic for more than an hour pulling a 10,000 LB load. It pretty much destroyed my clutch. I guess after 350,000 miles it was due replacing. So I put my truck in the shop Wednesday with the expectation it would be done Saturday, which it was. But I only made it 10 miles and had complications. It went back in the shop Monday and I just got it back this morning. Hopefully it is good to go because I load in the morning headed back to STL to find another driver.
So now I'm caught up - again. I will try to get back in the habit of updating. But right now, it's dinnertime.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Can't Forget Saturday Night
See how busy I have been? I forgot one of the highlights this past week - Saturday Night at the races. Freeburg held it's annual Homecoming last weekend. On Friday nights they have the tractor pulls and then Saturday it's the trucks. LOTS of trucks. All makes and models, gas and diesel, old and new.
If you haven't been to a truck pull, imagine a 20' long trailer that sits very low to the ground and has wheels at the very back end - called a sled. They hook the sled to you with a big chain, give you the green light and you take off and pull it as far as you can. Oh, and there is this VERY heavy weight on the tail end - over the wheels to start - that moves forward on the trailer - towards your truck - as you are going down the track. The front of the sled eventually begins digging into the dirt.
Only the good ones get more than 150'. The best get 225' or so. The very best that night was a Dodge Ram Diesel, for the second year in a row, I might add. Some break things on their truck in the attempt - like U-joints. Thats the thing that connects the drive shaft to the rear-end.
Some of the guys are REALLY serious about their trucks. They have the monster, all-terrain tires; propane-cooled, chipped-up monster diesels; huge ladder-bar style arms holding the rear suspension in place. Big bucks. And the crowd was all into it, including us. We had a blast.
I took one of our flatbed straight trucks up to the race track about 7 AM Saturday morning and backed it up to the fence near the finish line. At race time we packed about 12 people on our 'stage' with lawn chairs and had a blast. I do have pictures but in the intrest of protecting the innocent, they will remain in my private collection. Sorry.
If you haven't been to a truck pull, imagine a 20' long trailer that sits very low to the ground and has wheels at the very back end - called a sled. They hook the sled to you with a big chain, give you the green light and you take off and pull it as far as you can. Oh, and there is this VERY heavy weight on the tail end - over the wheels to start - that moves forward on the trailer - towards your truck - as you are going down the track. The front of the sled eventually begins digging into the dirt.
Only the good ones get more than 150'. The best get 225' or so. The very best that night was a Dodge Ram Diesel, for the second year in a row, I might add. Some break things on their truck in the attempt - like U-joints. Thats the thing that connects the drive shaft to the rear-end.
Some of the guys are REALLY serious about their trucks. They have the monster, all-terrain tires; propane-cooled, chipped-up monster diesels; huge ladder-bar style arms holding the rear suspension in place. Big bucks. And the crowd was all into it, including us. We had a blast.
I took one of our flatbed straight trucks up to the race track about 7 AM Saturday morning and backed it up to the fence near the finish line. At race time we packed about 12 people on our 'stage' with lawn chairs and had a blast. I do have pictures but in the intrest of protecting the innocent, they will remain in my private collection. Sorry.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Double the Business -- But only Half as Much Time!
I know it's going to get better, but I feel like a one-armed paperhanger. It is a relief to get in the truck and just go drive somewhere - like Montgomery, AL where I am tonite preparing to deliver some pipe to a sign company.
It took a bit longer last week to get everything in order for my new driver. There were some minor complications with his truck and repairs were needed to get the DOT inspection. That happened Friday. He is pulling my old trailer and that also had some issues that took until Friday to fix. That and about $400! And that doesn't include the new tires it needs. But it is in service for the moment and making money.
We got Mike a load Thursday evening going up to Minnesota. WAY up in Minnesota. He was about 90 miles south of Canada. And his first load required tarps. I gave him mine. In fact I went with him to load and showed him some things.
Mike has no Over-The-Road driving experience but he was in the construction biz for 20+ years and has lots of experience towing gooseneck trailers with equiptment. But best of all, he has the right attitude. And that's worth a ton. So we spent alot of time going over log books and DOT scales and expectations and an assortment of other stuff. He is on information overload at this point but I am a phone call away so, no worries. I added him to my "A-List" so we now talk for free.
He finally got on the road Sunday and made the delivery Monday morning. I hooked him up with a Jeep that moved him back south to Madison, WI and then three skids out of the Chicago area brought him thru STL tonight. He will deliver those skids in the morning and then we need to address those tires.
I had a local trip Monday and then loaded this pipe this morning. I will deliver this first thing tomorrow and then go 90 miles back north to Birmingham where I load more pipe with a stops in Indianapolis and St. Louis.
I was also busy last week soliciting new shippers. I had contact with five different companies and have actually done business ALREADY with two of them. I am VERY excited about this part of our growth. I hope to get enough activity directly with shippers (no brokers) to keep 4-5 drivers working getting OUT of STL and then use the load boards to get them back home.
But right now it's beddy-by time. I have another early day and 600 miles to go tomorrow!
It took a bit longer last week to get everything in order for my new driver. There were some minor complications with his truck and repairs were needed to get the DOT inspection. That happened Friday. He is pulling my old trailer and that also had some issues that took until Friday to fix. That and about $400! And that doesn't include the new tires it needs. But it is in service for the moment and making money.
We got Mike a load Thursday evening going up to Minnesota. WAY up in Minnesota. He was about 90 miles south of Canada. And his first load required tarps. I gave him mine. In fact I went with him to load and showed him some things.
Mike has no Over-The-Road driving experience but he was in the construction biz for 20+ years and has lots of experience towing gooseneck trailers with equiptment. But best of all, he has the right attitude. And that's worth a ton. So we spent alot of time going over log books and DOT scales and expectations and an assortment of other stuff. He is on information overload at this point but I am a phone call away so, no worries. I added him to my "A-List" so we now talk for free.
He finally got on the road Sunday and made the delivery Monday morning. I hooked him up with a Jeep that moved him back south to Madison, WI and then three skids out of the Chicago area brought him thru STL tonight. He will deliver those skids in the morning and then we need to address those tires.
I had a local trip Monday and then loaded this pipe this morning. I will deliver this first thing tomorrow and then go 90 miles back north to Birmingham where I load more pipe with a stops in Indianapolis and St. Louis.
I was also busy last week soliciting new shippers. I had contact with five different companies and have actually done business ALREADY with two of them. I am VERY excited about this part of our growth. I hope to get enough activity directly with shippers (no brokers) to keep 4-5 drivers working getting OUT of STL and then use the load boards to get them back home.
But right now it's beddy-by time. I have another early day and 600 miles to go tomorrow!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Another Landmark Day in My New Biz
A very significant day for my trucking company as I double in size from one driver (me) to two! Welcome Mike! I'm not sure who's more excited - him or me.
I am back in Belleville for a week or so to get things in place with him. He has made some significant commitments to this career change - for him - and I am anxious to make sure he is successful. I am incredibly lucky to have found someone willing to make the effort he has and I feel an obligation to do everything possible to make this work, for both of our sakes. I talk to a lot of people who think what I do is 'kool' and are 'interested' but it is most often just talk. Mike has invested time, effort and money over the past couple of weeks to set himself up for this. Starting today it's MY turn to take this to the next level.
I was looking at the load boards this morning to see what was available. Searching with-in 100 mile radius of St. Louis, I found 23 loads on one board that we can do and more than 100 vehicles on another board that need to be moved! I heard on the news last night how there is concern that our economic recovery maybe faltering and unemployment is almost 10%. Just my opinion, but I'd say 90% of those 10% unemployed don't really WANT to work. There is stuff out there if you want to make the effort.
Being successful at ANYTHING (job, relationships, life, whatever) comes down to three basic things: Skill, Knowledge and Attitude. Skill and knowledge can be taught or learned over time. Attitude comes from with-in. A persons success - or failure - can be traced back to one of these three factors and more often than not, attitude is THE ONE.
Ok, enough of the soapbox. What have I been doing that I'm too busy to post for two weeks? My last post was from Florida where I had just arrived with my youngest son. The first half of our time together was great. But the vacation was cut short of what I planned when I over-reacted to what should have been a relatively insignificant event. My relationship with my youngest son has not been as good as it should be. In retrospect, it has been mostly my fault.
I did not go to any "parenting school." I learned, like most everyone else, 'on-the-job.' And I have made alot of mistakes. I am hopeful that in time my youngest will see that my heart is good even when my actions are not, and that will count for something. I use to think my father was the dumbest guy around. It amazed me how much he had learned by the time I was 40! Hopefully my son will see this a little sooner than I did.
Leaving FL, I found an auction car going from Tampa to about 50 miles from here. I added a forklift, also from Tampa, that delivered in Memphis, which was sorta on the way. In Memphis I picked up a second car that I delivered the same day in St. Louis. So the ride back here to Southern IL was good financially.
I will spend probably a week here with Mike and then head back out Sunday or Monday. I have to be back in FL by Sep 3 or 4. There is a kitchen remodel scheduled for one of the rental units there and I'm the plumber as well as the gofer (you know, go-fer-this and go-fer-that). Hopefully there will be some work here with the construction company that is our #1 local client to keep us busy.
Right now, I have stuff to do getting ready for orientation! A significant day for me!
I am back in Belleville for a week or so to get things in place with him. He has made some significant commitments to this career change - for him - and I am anxious to make sure he is successful. I am incredibly lucky to have found someone willing to make the effort he has and I feel an obligation to do everything possible to make this work, for both of our sakes. I talk to a lot of people who think what I do is 'kool' and are 'interested' but it is most often just talk. Mike has invested time, effort and money over the past couple of weeks to set himself up for this. Starting today it's MY turn to take this to the next level.
I was looking at the load boards this morning to see what was available. Searching with-in 100 mile radius of St. Louis, I found 23 loads on one board that we can do and more than 100 vehicles on another board that need to be moved! I heard on the news last night how there is concern that our economic recovery maybe faltering and unemployment is almost 10%. Just my opinion, but I'd say 90% of those 10% unemployed don't really WANT to work. There is stuff out there if you want to make the effort.
Being successful at ANYTHING (job, relationships, life, whatever) comes down to three basic things: Skill, Knowledge and Attitude. Skill and knowledge can be taught or learned over time. Attitude comes from with-in. A persons success - or failure - can be traced back to one of these three factors and more often than not, attitude is THE ONE.
Ok, enough of the soapbox. What have I been doing that I'm too busy to post for two weeks? My last post was from Florida where I had just arrived with my youngest son. The first half of our time together was great. But the vacation was cut short of what I planned when I over-reacted to what should have been a relatively insignificant event. My relationship with my youngest son has not been as good as it should be. In retrospect, it has been mostly my fault.
I did not go to any "parenting school." I learned, like most everyone else, 'on-the-job.' And I have made alot of mistakes. I am hopeful that in time my youngest will see that my heart is good even when my actions are not, and that will count for something. I use to think my father was the dumbest guy around. It amazed me how much he had learned by the time I was 40! Hopefully my son will see this a little sooner than I did.
Leaving FL, I found an auction car going from Tampa to about 50 miles from here. I added a forklift, also from Tampa, that delivered in Memphis, which was sorta on the way. In Memphis I picked up a second car that I delivered the same day in St. Louis. So the ride back here to Southern IL was good financially.
I will spend probably a week here with Mike and then head back out Sunday or Monday. I have to be back in FL by Sep 3 or 4. There is a kitchen remodel scheduled for one of the rental units there and I'm the plumber as well as the gofer (you know, go-fer-this and go-fer-that). Hopefully there will be some work here with the construction company that is our #1 local client to keep us busy.
Right now, I have stuff to do getting ready for orientation! A significant day for me!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Lots of "Paradise" in My Near Future
Made it into St. Petersburg late Sunday afternoon. It rained much of the last two hours thru Florida but it's okay. The tarp-covered motorcycle seems to be doing well. A bonus is the very shiny, high-dollar Porsche 911 sitting behind the bike is also getting protection from the road spray.
I rent a parking space for my trailer when I'm in town here. It's about five miles from the house but the best part is that it is fenced and the gate is locked. Plus, my parking space is right next to the owners house so he has a clear view out his back door. I don't worry about my $20K motorcycle (which is unloaded but sitting on the ground - Jared can't drive my truck) or the $125K Porsche waiting for delivery.
We made it onto the beach for sunset - one of my MOST favorite things to do EVERY day! While the storm clouds did not allow us to see the sun 'kiss' the water, they did provide a colorful sky to welcome us home. As the sun settles below the horizon, there is a bright orange-changing-to-pink afterglow illuminating the clouds set against a darkening sky. Add in the silvery shimmering Gulf waters and the salt air and it is why I love it so much here. (Except for those not-so-nice things the salt air does to my shiny motorcycle over time!)
Monday morning, while my sleepy-head son slept, I delivered the Porsche. What a difference in dealerships! St. Pete Porsche is a class act compared to those clowns in Arlington. I asked directions to my Point of Contact from a young man power washing the driveway. He stopped what he was doing and with a smile, was about to take me by-the-hand where I needed to go. Maybe he was just trying to get out of work - hahaha. No, he was just very nice and obviously considered personal service to be important. (Are you guys in Arlington listening?)
Next was groceries and then the library (need some reading material for my lazy days on the beach) after dropping my trailer again.
Where I stay here is actually three apartments in two buildings about 200' from the beach. I stay in the 2-bdrm unit on the second floor with laundry and garage underneath. The other building, with a beautiful courtyard between us, has a very large one-bdrm downstairs and an efficiency upstairs. Both of those are rented. The efficiency has a new tenant moving in next week. She gets it furnished so I spent the afternoon putting the final touches on that. And of course sunset on the beach.
Today is a pool day. Jared and I will go to a close friends condo downtown and hang out at the pool. She has family in town visiting also. Then tonite we will walk across the street from her place and watch the Tampa Rays play. It's cheap seat nite there - $10 each.
Ahhhhh .... such a tough life!
I rent a parking space for my trailer when I'm in town here. It's about five miles from the house but the best part is that it is fenced and the gate is locked. Plus, my parking space is right next to the owners house so he has a clear view out his back door. I don't worry about my $20K motorcycle (which is unloaded but sitting on the ground - Jared can't drive my truck) or the $125K Porsche waiting for delivery.
We made it onto the beach for sunset - one of my MOST favorite things to do EVERY day! While the storm clouds did not allow us to see the sun 'kiss' the water, they did provide a colorful sky to welcome us home. As the sun settles below the horizon, there is a bright orange-changing-to-pink afterglow illuminating the clouds set against a darkening sky. Add in the silvery shimmering Gulf waters and the salt air and it is why I love it so much here. (Except for those not-so-nice things the salt air does to my shiny motorcycle over time!)
Monday morning, while my sleepy-head son slept, I delivered the Porsche. What a difference in dealerships! St. Pete Porsche is a class act compared to those clowns in Arlington. I asked directions to my Point of Contact from a young man power washing the driveway. He stopped what he was doing and with a smile, was about to take me by-the-hand where I needed to go. Maybe he was just trying to get out of work - hahaha. No, he was just very nice and obviously considered personal service to be important. (Are you guys in Arlington listening?)
Next was groceries and then the library (need some reading material for my lazy days on the beach) after dropping my trailer again.
Where I stay here is actually three apartments in two buildings about 200' from the beach. I stay in the 2-bdrm unit on the second floor with laundry and garage underneath. The other building, with a beautiful courtyard between us, has a very large one-bdrm downstairs and an efficiency upstairs. Both of those are rented. The efficiency has a new tenant moving in next week. She gets it furnished so I spent the afternoon putting the final touches on that. And of course sunset on the beach.
Today is a pool day. Jared and I will go to a close friends condo downtown and hang out at the pool. She has family in town visiting also. Then tonite we will walk across the street from her place and watch the Tampa Rays play. It's cheap seat nite there - $10 each.
Ahhhhh .... such a tough life!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
We Can't Get There From Here
I delivered my pipe in Fort Worth last Monday morning and then loaded three ATVs going east just a few miles away in Dallas. I was on my way to pick-up my youngest son Jared in Arkansas when the sidewall of one of my rear tires gave out.
I had a very aggressive plan to grab him and then get down to my first stop in LA by Monday evening. It is only about 550 miles of driving but much of it was two-lane thru AR and LA where I had to get Jared. The flat made that impossible.
I replaced the non-repairable tire I had with a used one. My current tires have about 40% tread and I really didn't want to put a brand new one in the mix. A used one should work until I'm ready to change all six again. In fact, this used one may have a bit more tread left and might become my spare when I do change tires. Plus, it cost $35 mounted and balanced, way cheaper than the $150 a new one costs.
I spent the night at Jared's house and then out the door very early Tuesday to go the 120 miles to stop #1. From there we rode straight across I-20, thru Atlanta and made our second delivery outside Athens, GA just as it got dark. Then it was more two-lane as we went south 'thru-the-woods' to our final drop.
It was a very excellent day with Jared. We had good conversation and just a nice time. He has ridden with me before although not for a long time. He spent one summer with me travelling around the country in a 'Big Truck' about 12 years ago when he was 8.
We made our final delivery first thing Wednesday morning and then drove the last 50 miles to my parents house to spend a few days. I planned to find something to load on Friday that would get us to the sun coast of FL outside St. Petersburg. But it never happened. At least not how I planned.
Thursday we all went to Tybee Beach, about 15 miles from Savannah. I had been searching the load boards in vain trying to go south when I finally booked a trip going 500 miles north to Richmond, VA. From there I found a 2010 Porsche 911 Cabriolet going to St. Petersburg.
I left Jared at Grandmas, picked up a road grader 10 miles up the street and ran north up the I-95 corridor. I actually made my delivery Friday night and was able to continue to Arlington Porsche where respect is nothing but a sign on the wall. What a bunch of stereo-typical 'car salesman.'
I called my Point of Contact three times Friday afternoon to let them know I would be there first thing Saturday. Call #1 - no answer, left a voice mail. Call #2 = no answer, just hung up. Call #3 I asked for anybody and got salesman "T" who blew me off shortly after realizing I was picking up a car (rather than looking to buy one) by suggesting I call back in the morning because he "was with a client." Why did you answer the phone then stupid?
When I showed up at the dealership, my car was still sitting inside the showroom and the guys were in a meeting. After about a half hour wait, they finally got the car out and into my possession. No respect. Oh, and my POCs response when I said I left him a message yesterday telling him I was coming in first thing? He glances at his phone and says, "Oh, my light is blinking."
I was sitting a few feet away while their sales meeting was going on. Their topic today was "Getting Back to Basics." It was all I could do to keep from laughing out loud. How about "Practice What You Preach" or "Return Your Phone Calls" or "Show Some Courtesy". If the owner wants to improve business he could start by cleaning house because this GMs got nothing but lip-service.
But I got my high-dollar car loaded up and made it back to Grandmas by late last night. Today we will head down to Paradise. I'm looking forward to the beach!
And by-the-way, my tarp covered motorcycle is doing AWESOME! I rained again most of last night all the way through South Carolina. My bike is sitting high and dry! I love it!
I had a very aggressive plan to grab him and then get down to my first stop in LA by Monday evening. It is only about 550 miles of driving but much of it was two-lane thru AR and LA where I had to get Jared. The flat made that impossible.
I replaced the non-repairable tire I had with a used one. My current tires have about 40% tread and I really didn't want to put a brand new one in the mix. A used one should work until I'm ready to change all six again. In fact, this used one may have a bit more tread left and might become my spare when I do change tires. Plus, it cost $35 mounted and balanced, way cheaper than the $150 a new one costs.
I spent the night at Jared's house and then out the door very early Tuesday to go the 120 miles to stop #1. From there we rode straight across I-20, thru Atlanta and made our second delivery outside Athens, GA just as it got dark. Then it was more two-lane as we went south 'thru-the-woods' to our final drop.
It was a very excellent day with Jared. We had good conversation and just a nice time. He has ridden with me before although not for a long time. He spent one summer with me travelling around the country in a 'Big Truck' about 12 years ago when he was 8.
We made our final delivery first thing Wednesday morning and then drove the last 50 miles to my parents house to spend a few days. I planned to find something to load on Friday that would get us to the sun coast of FL outside St. Petersburg. But it never happened. At least not how I planned.
Thursday we all went to Tybee Beach, about 15 miles from Savannah. I had been searching the load boards in vain trying to go south when I finally booked a trip going 500 miles north to Richmond, VA. From there I found a 2010 Porsche 911 Cabriolet going to St. Petersburg.
I left Jared at Grandmas, picked up a road grader 10 miles up the street and ran north up the I-95 corridor. I actually made my delivery Friday night and was able to continue to Arlington Porsche where respect is nothing but a sign on the wall. What a bunch of stereo-typical 'car salesman.'
I called my Point of Contact three times Friday afternoon to let them know I would be there first thing Saturday. Call #1 - no answer, left a voice mail. Call #2 = no answer, just hung up. Call #3 I asked for anybody and got salesman "T" who blew me off shortly after realizing I was picking up a car (rather than looking to buy one) by suggesting I call back in the morning because he "was with a client." Why did you answer the phone then stupid?
When I showed up at the dealership, my car was still sitting inside the showroom and the guys were in a meeting. After about a half hour wait, they finally got the car out and into my possession. No respect. Oh, and my POCs response when I said I left him a message yesterday telling him I was coming in first thing? He glances at his phone and says, "Oh, my light is blinking."
I was sitting a few feet away while their sales meeting was going on. Their topic today was "Getting Back to Basics." It was all I could do to keep from laughing out loud. How about "Practice What You Preach" or "Return Your Phone Calls" or "Show Some Courtesy". If the owner wants to improve business he could start by cleaning house because this GMs got nothing but lip-service.
But I got my high-dollar car loaded up and made it back to Grandmas by late last night. Today we will head down to Paradise. I'm looking forward to the beach!
And by-the-way, my tarp covered motorcycle is doing AWESOME! I rained again most of last night all the way through South Carolina. My bike is sitting high and dry! I love it!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Laziness - The Mother of Invention
It was after 9:30 this morning before I finally got on the road. I have been working locally in the STL area for almost two months and had unloaded almost everything from my truck including my motorcycle. So it took a little while to get everything situated as I headed out for Fort Worth, TX with my 3 pieces of 30" by 20' steel pipe.
My motorcycle is a 2003 Harley Davidson Road King. Because it is a 100th Anniversary special edition I intend to keep it forever. Being black and chrome it is beautiful when clean, which I try to maintain as best as I can. But riding sideways on the front of my flatbed trailer, just behind the gooseneck, makes it very difficult sometimes. Especially when it rains. The road spray coming from my truck tends to turn everything a mucky shade of brown which takes hours - literally - to remove. The washing part is only half the battle. It's the polishing and shining that doubles the effort.
It has always bothered me that my pride and joy is exposed to the elements. One of the worst was just this past April when I was headed for Salt Lake City and ran into a Spring blizzard going thru the Rockies. Pictures and details are HERE. (Right click and 'open in a new tab' or you will be re-directed away from this page)
I do have a motorcycle cover and I use it when parking the bike outside. But I was afraid to leave it on while going down the road. I think the wind would cause the cover to flap and the paint would get chafed. The cover might even totally blow off even thou it does have one strap in the middle.
This afternoon as I'm going thru OK the skies begin to darken and sure enough I see lightening straight ahead of me. The remnants of Tropical Storm Bonnie made landfall this morning in LA and I suspect this is some of the out-flow. CRAP! I really hate cleaning my bike. There has to be a way. I got an idea!
I pull off the exit and put the cover over the bike. Next, I take one of my tarps, which is WAY HUGE (12' x 24') and use a section of it to go over the top. After using bungees to tighten three of the four sides, I roll up the excess tarp and lay it behind the bike, out of the wind, and use a strap to secure it to the deck of the trailer.
VOILA' -- worked like a champ! In 20 minutes my bike is protected and I'm cruising down the road into the rain -- smiling! Next time I get to Belleville, I'm going to see Steve, my tarp guy, and ask him about making a fitted tarp.
My motorcycle is a 2003 Harley Davidson Road King. Because it is a 100th Anniversary special edition I intend to keep it forever. Being black and chrome it is beautiful when clean, which I try to maintain as best as I can. But riding sideways on the front of my flatbed trailer, just behind the gooseneck, makes it very difficult sometimes. Especially when it rains. The road spray coming from my truck tends to turn everything a mucky shade of brown which takes hours - literally - to remove. The washing part is only half the battle. It's the polishing and shining that doubles the effort.
It has always bothered me that my pride and joy is exposed to the elements. One of the worst was just this past April when I was headed for Salt Lake City and ran into a Spring blizzard going thru the Rockies. Pictures and details are HERE. (Right click and 'open in a new tab' or you will be re-directed away from this page)
I do have a motorcycle cover and I use it when parking the bike outside. But I was afraid to leave it on while going down the road. I think the wind would cause the cover to flap and the paint would get chafed. The cover might even totally blow off even thou it does have one strap in the middle.
This afternoon as I'm going thru OK the skies begin to darken and sure enough I see lightening straight ahead of me. The remnants of Tropical Storm Bonnie made landfall this morning in LA and I suspect this is some of the out-flow. CRAP! I really hate cleaning my bike. There has to be a way. I got an idea!
I pull off the exit and put the cover over the bike. Next, I take one of my tarps, which is WAY HUGE (12' x 24') and use a section of it to go over the top. After using bungees to tighten three of the four sides, I roll up the excess tarp and lay it behind the bike, out of the wind, and use a strap to secure it to the deck of the trailer.
VOILA' -- worked like a champ! In 20 minutes my bike is protected and I'm cruising down the road into the rain -- smiling! Next time I get to Belleville, I'm going to see Steve, my tarp guy, and ask him about making a fitted tarp.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Back on the Road Again (almost)
I have spent much of the last 10 months 'based' here in the St. Louis area where I called 'HOME' for much of my life. For those that know me even a little bit know that I prefer to be in Paradise - a sand bar along the Gulf Coast outside St. Petersburg, FL. I have been here establishing a new business that will continue servicing a construction company in St. Louis that my best friend has been delivering equipment for over the last 20 years. He is retiring this year.
Things are now almost 100% in place so that I may get back to doing what I love best - Traveling the USA and then ending up in Paradise for some R&R every so often. My Federal Motor Carrier Authority was granted the beginning of this month and my search for at least one, and potentially several, Owner/Operators has had success. My first Lessee should be on board in a couple of weeks. You will get to meet him - if he allows it - when it becomes official.
And I have had conversation with a friend who drives a BIG truck and he maybe interested in joining my fledgling company. But my focus next is to add some more shippers. It does no good to have trucks and drivers if I'm getting all my loads off the load boards. It seems to me that our economy continues to improve resulting in more freight moving and better rates. Nothing personal Mr. Broker, but I prefer to deal direct with the shipper and get ALL the money.
Let me give you an example of a TRUE STORY. I am going to make this vague because I really don't want to offend anyone.
I subscribe to a website that has a few shippers but is primarily broker-posted loads. I was trying to get to a particular part of the country, so I narrowed my search to loads under 15,000 lb and requiring less than 35' of deck going from St. Louis to this area. It is not uncommon to see the same load posted by multiple brokers, which is what happened in this case.
I called three different brokers listing the same load and was quoted three different rates! The part that REALLY aggravated me was broker #1 wanted to pay me MORE THAN 30% LESS than brokers #2 and #3. I know for a fact that the shipper was PAYING the same thing so who do you think was getting the difference? And for what?
Before I piss off to many of the brokers I do business with -- NOT ALL OF YOU ARE CROOKS! I'll go so far as to say, "MOST of you are honest and perform a legitimate and fair service." But unfortunately there are many that are only interested in making a buck and it's usually at the drivers expense. Like the load I was paid $900 for and found out that the broker was paid $1400. When I picked the load up, there was a note from the broker to the shipper that I wasn't suppose to see but got included in my paperwork.
So the moral of the story is, cut-out the middle-man.
Tomorrow - Sunday - I head to Fort Worth, TX with a load of steel pipe which I will deliver Monday morning. Then I pick-up three ATVs an hour away in Dallas which will eventually get me to within 50 miles of my parents house near Savannah, GA. Along the way, I will grab my youngest son and we will visit G'ma and G'pa for a few days before going down to Paradise for a week.
I'm really looking forward to going back to FL. I haven't been there since the end of May. I'm hopeful Tropical Depression Bonnie did not destroy my beach to much when it past a couple of hundred miles to the west yesterday. I'll let you know.
Things are now almost 100% in place so that I may get back to doing what I love best - Traveling the USA and then ending up in Paradise for some R&R every so often. My Federal Motor Carrier Authority was granted the beginning of this month and my search for at least one, and potentially several, Owner/Operators has had success. My first Lessee should be on board in a couple of weeks. You will get to meet him - if he allows it - when it becomes official.
And I have had conversation with a friend who drives a BIG truck and he maybe interested in joining my fledgling company. But my focus next is to add some more shippers. It does no good to have trucks and drivers if I'm getting all my loads off the load boards. It seems to me that our economy continues to improve resulting in more freight moving and better rates. Nothing personal Mr. Broker, but I prefer to deal direct with the shipper and get ALL the money.
Let me give you an example of a TRUE STORY. I am going to make this vague because I really don't want to offend anyone.
I subscribe to a website that has a few shippers but is primarily broker-posted loads. I was trying to get to a particular part of the country, so I narrowed my search to loads under 15,000 lb and requiring less than 35' of deck going from St. Louis to this area. It is not uncommon to see the same load posted by multiple brokers, which is what happened in this case.
I called three different brokers listing the same load and was quoted three different rates! The part that REALLY aggravated me was broker #1 wanted to pay me MORE THAN 30% LESS than brokers #2 and #3. I know for a fact that the shipper was PAYING the same thing so who do you think was getting the difference? And for what?
Before I piss off to many of the brokers I do business with -- NOT ALL OF YOU ARE CROOKS! I'll go so far as to say, "MOST of you are honest and perform a legitimate and fair service." But unfortunately there are many that are only interested in making a buck and it's usually at the drivers expense. Like the load I was paid $900 for and found out that the broker was paid $1400. When I picked the load up, there was a note from the broker to the shipper that I wasn't suppose to see but got included in my paperwork.
So the moral of the story is, cut-out the middle-man.
Tomorrow - Sunday - I head to Fort Worth, TX with a load of steel pipe which I will deliver Monday morning. Then I pick-up three ATVs an hour away in Dallas which will eventually get me to within 50 miles of my parents house near Savannah, GA. Along the way, I will grab my youngest son and we will visit G'ma and G'pa for a few days before going down to Paradise for a week.
I'm really looking forward to going back to FL. I haven't been there since the end of May. I'm hopeful Tropical Depression Bonnie did not destroy my beach to much when it past a couple of hundred miles to the west yesterday. I'll let you know.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Therapy that PAYS
I have always known that riding my motorcycle was the best therapy for me when I get in a funk. I have discovered that going down the road in my truck - making money - works also.
I feel guilty admitting that sometimes I get - for lack of a better word - depressed. I have such a blessed and wonderful life that it seems very inappropriate to not be thankful 24/7. It aggravates me when people are not appreciative of the good in their lives and choose to gripe about the negatives. And yet I am guilty of that very attitude sometimes. Fortunately it isn't often and usually short-lived. Nonetheless, it happens in spite of my being aware of it and trying to 'get-over-it'.
My funk lately stems from being stuck in a situation (place) that just doesn't make me happy. I am fully aware that many times in life we have to do things that we don't particularly want to but it is necessary in the "Big Picture" to suck-it-up.
I have been trying to get out of Belleville for much of the last 6 or 7 years. I thought I had succeeded three years ago when I moved my bed (literally) to FL - my Paradise. But I have spent way more of the last 12 months back in Belleville doing one of those things we don't particularly like but must. That mission is almost done now and hopefully I can get on with what I like best - Traveling the USA and hanging out in Paradise when I'm not!
The last month or so has been extra stressful with the expense of getting my own Motor Carrier Authority and not working as much as I like. I was spending alot of money with-out alot of income and then 'stuck' in Belleville to boot when I'd rather be 1000 miles south. But if life was ALWAYS great, how could you possibly know? You need some rain in your life to appreciate the sun.
This past week, actually most of this month (YIKES! It's the 16th already?) has been pretty decent. And it's primarily because I have been driving alot (making money). Monday I did a little bit of local work but was done before noon. Tuesday started slowly but then I ran 500+ miles to northwest Iowa and loaded some small utility trailers coming back here to a dealer that I delivered late Wednesday.
Yesterday I took 10,000 lbs of concrete forms and bridge over-hang brackets to a job site in the western edge of MO. On my way back, I picked up a 26' stakebed truck going to Scott AFB - about 7 miles from my house. SWEET! This morning I will run some more construction equipment about 100 miles out and then bring back stuff they have on the job but are done with. After lunch I'll deliver this truck and then ... IT'S THE WEEKEND.
The sun is about to make it's appearance; it's time to go. MAKE your day a great one!
I feel guilty admitting that sometimes I get - for lack of a better word - depressed. I have such a blessed and wonderful life that it seems very inappropriate to not be thankful 24/7. It aggravates me when people are not appreciative of the good in their lives and choose to gripe about the negatives. And yet I am guilty of that very attitude sometimes. Fortunately it isn't often and usually short-lived. Nonetheless, it happens in spite of my being aware of it and trying to 'get-over-it'.
My funk lately stems from being stuck in a situation (place) that just doesn't make me happy. I am fully aware that many times in life we have to do things that we don't particularly want to but it is necessary in the "Big Picture" to suck-it-up.
I have been trying to get out of Belleville for much of the last 6 or 7 years. I thought I had succeeded three years ago when I moved my bed (literally) to FL - my Paradise. But I have spent way more of the last 12 months back in Belleville doing one of those things we don't particularly like but must. That mission is almost done now and hopefully I can get on with what I like best - Traveling the USA and hanging out in Paradise when I'm not!
The last month or so has been extra stressful with the expense of getting my own Motor Carrier Authority and not working as much as I like. I was spending alot of money with-out alot of income and then 'stuck' in Belleville to boot when I'd rather be 1000 miles south. But if life was ALWAYS great, how could you possibly know? You need some rain in your life to appreciate the sun.
This past week, actually most of this month (YIKES! It's the 16th already?) has been pretty decent. And it's primarily because I have been driving alot (making money). Monday I did a little bit of local work but was done before noon. Tuesday started slowly but then I ran 500+ miles to northwest Iowa and loaded some small utility trailers coming back here to a dealer that I delivered late Wednesday.
Yesterday I took 10,000 lbs of concrete forms and bridge over-hang brackets to a job site in the western edge of MO. On my way back, I picked up a 26' stakebed truck going to Scott AFB - about 7 miles from my house. SWEET! This morning I will run some more construction equipment about 100 miles out and then bring back stuff they have on the job but are done with. After lunch I'll deliver this truck and then ... IT'S THE WEEKEND.
The sun is about to make it's appearance; it's time to go. MAKE your day a great one!
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Motor Carrier Certificate Is Now In-Hand
I now have everything I need to get on with business. The omnipotent Certificate of Authority came in the mail this weekend. So everything is now in order, at least for me, to book any load I want.
My next step is to find another owner or operator or two; someone who owns their own truck and holds a Commercial Drivers License with an "A" endorsement. This could be a pick-up truck IF it has a diesel motor and has a tow package installed, including either a 5th wheel or goose neck hitch. The perfect truck would be a flatbed - either 12 or 14' long - and setup with a pocket goose neck.
Is there anybody out there?
I am waiting to hear back from my insurance agent exactly how I add drivers on to my company. Hopefully this gets done early next week so I can get on with what I need to do and grow my business.
I don't usually believe in coincidence, but I have no other explanation. Just before the 4th of July weekend, I had the best single day financially I have ever had as a driver. I came within $30 of matching that last Friday! And try as I might, neither one was related to my getting my own Authority. I'd like to think our economy is indeed improving.
Friday started with delivering some construction equipment here locally and my week looked to be done by noon. About mid-afternoon I got a phone call asking if we could take 1 pallet weighing 360 lbs from a truck line terminal downtown STL up to a job site near Hannible, MO 180 miles away. They wanted it delivered Monday morning. I already have another job set for Monday morning so I did it that afternoon. Delivered by 7:00 pm.
The rest of my weekend has been uneventful. I did get up to the Maryville Fireman's Picnic Saturday night, always a fun time. But I was home in bed before 11. Such a good boy!
Unfortunately my trip back to CA is not going to happen this month as hoped. I just have to much unfinished business here to address. And, as I mentioned before, my main reason to go was to visit a sister I haven't seen in a very long time. But seeing her in Boston, where she lives, would be 500 miles closer than going to LA where she will be staying. There are just a lot of little things that point to this not being the time to go back to CA.
Instead I will be going to FL with my youngest son. I will swing down to AR and pick him up and then go visit my parents near Savannah, GA before going down to Paradise for 10 days or so. But first I need to find another truck or two to add to my fleet.
My next step is to find another owner or operator or two; someone who owns their own truck and holds a Commercial Drivers License with an "A" endorsement. This could be a pick-up truck IF it has a diesel motor and has a tow package installed, including either a 5th wheel or goose neck hitch. The perfect truck would be a flatbed - either 12 or 14' long - and setup with a pocket goose neck.
Is there anybody out there?
I am waiting to hear back from my insurance agent exactly how I add drivers on to my company. Hopefully this gets done early next week so I can get on with what I need to do and grow my business.
I don't usually believe in coincidence, but I have no other explanation. Just before the 4th of July weekend, I had the best single day financially I have ever had as a driver. I came within $30 of matching that last Friday! And try as I might, neither one was related to my getting my own Authority. I'd like to think our economy is indeed improving.
Friday started with delivering some construction equipment here locally and my week looked to be done by noon. About mid-afternoon I got a phone call asking if we could take 1 pallet weighing 360 lbs from a truck line terminal downtown STL up to a job site near Hannible, MO 180 miles away. They wanted it delivered Monday morning. I already have another job set for Monday morning so I did it that afternoon. Delivered by 7:00 pm.
The rest of my weekend has been uneventful. I did get up to the Maryville Fireman's Picnic Saturday night, always a fun time. But I was home in bed before 11. Such a good boy!
Unfortunately my trip back to CA is not going to happen this month as hoped. I just have to much unfinished business here to address. And, as I mentioned before, my main reason to go was to visit a sister I haven't seen in a very long time. But seeing her in Boston, where she lives, would be 500 miles closer than going to LA where she will be staying. There are just a lot of little things that point to this not being the time to go back to CA.
Instead I will be going to FL with my youngest son. I will swing down to AR and pick him up and then go visit my parents near Savannah, GA before going down to Paradise for 10 days or so. But first I need to find another truck or two to add to my fleet.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
"Your Motor Carrier Authority Has Been GRANTED!"
That was the automated phone call I received last Friday morning; a day later than I expected but what the heck, better late than never! So I am now officially a business owner that is properly credentialed and insured -- and broke!
I did end up taking a trip late Thursday to Kentucky. I was able to put two different items together which is like getting paid twice for the almost the same drive. In fact, I had a local delivery early that morning and then loaded a walk-behind skid-steer (think 'lawn mower on steroids' with a small bucket in front instead of a cutting blade) and a 2011 Dodge Ram cab and chassis.
The best part was I was able to deliver ALL THREE the same day resulting in the biggest single payday I have ever had. Then again, it was the ONLY payday I have had in almost two weeks so I guess it balances out. Ah, the ebb and flo of entrepreneurship. (Great word - thx Pilar)
I spent Thu nite out and then headed toward Lake Egypt, about 40 miles north of Paducah. My best friend had invited me to the lake with them again for the Fourth of July. (I went last year) Fri afternoon was swimming and boating, a most relaxing change to the stress I have had for the past couple of weeks spending $$$ on my start-up with little income.
Saturday we went into Goreville, population 972, for the parade. It was bigger - longer - than last year. The BBQ sandwiches at the church were awesome. I think of Norman Rockwell and his portrayals of Americana when I'm here. I highly recommend this for YOUR 'Bucket List.' It will reaffirm your roots in the GREATEST COUNTRY ON THIS EARTH, which is what the Fourth of July stands for!
Saturday afternoon is back to the boat and fun in the sun. Unfortunately about a gazillion other folks had the same idea. But we found a little cove, dropped anchor and floated the afternoon away. I am so blessed and fortunate to live the life I have. It is easy to forget that sometimes. Thanks BIG GUY!
We watched fireworks that nite from the boat. Apparently our economy is doing better because there were significantly more people shooting off some BIG STUFF all around the lake this year. A great nite with wonderful friends -- it doesn't get much better.
Sunday morning I cooked my world famous French Toast and bacon for everyone and then we packed up and headed back toward STL. The Veiled Prophet Parade, and ensuing Fair St. Louis, is another item for your 'Bucket List.' I have seen fireworks all across the USA and these are Top 5! USA Today agrees with me, not that that makes any difference.
The Air Show returned to the fair this year after a five year absence. It was FANTASTIC! Pilots - and wing-walkers - doing impossible things with airplanes from the modern day F-15 built here in STL (can you say LOUD!) to WW-I biplanes in mock battle over the Mississippi River. Next up was the B-52s. No, not the bomber but the 80s band (Love Shack). And then the fireworks synchronized to music. What a great day, again!
Monday was a different story. I'm sure Sunday nite was a factor, as well as the rest of the 'sun-n-fun' weekend, but I think I ate something for lunch that just didn't sit well in my belly. By late afternoon, I was either laying in bed in the fetal position or running to the bathroom. Not a good evening. (And NO, it was NOT my French Toast! That was more than 24 hrs earlier.)
Fortunately it ran it's course and I was much improved yesterday morning. Although not 100%, I was well enough to take a trip down to Cape Girardeau, MO - about 120 miles south - and back.
I was hoping to go back to Southern California in mid-July but that is looking less likely as it approaches. My sister - a Justice of the Peace in Boston - is going to LA to preside over a wedding involving her husbands family. I really want to go, mostly because my youngest son was going with me. But there seems to be a complication in his agenda not to mention, my weakened wallet, and I really need to concentrate on getting another driver or two involved with my company. The stars are just not lining up for this one.
Well, I have piddled away enough of this morning. My priority needs to be finding an owner/operator to join my biz. So back to my Craigslist ad. Gotta get that up.
I did end up taking a trip late Thursday to Kentucky. I was able to put two different items together which is like getting paid twice for the almost the same drive. In fact, I had a local delivery early that morning and then loaded a walk-behind skid-steer (think 'lawn mower on steroids' with a small bucket in front instead of a cutting blade) and a 2011 Dodge Ram cab and chassis.
The best part was I was able to deliver ALL THREE the same day resulting in the biggest single payday I have ever had. Then again, it was the ONLY payday I have had in almost two weeks so I guess it balances out. Ah, the ebb and flo of entrepreneurship. (Great word - thx Pilar)
I spent Thu nite out and then headed toward Lake Egypt, about 40 miles north of Paducah. My best friend had invited me to the lake with them again for the Fourth of July. (I went last year) Fri afternoon was swimming and boating, a most relaxing change to the stress I have had for the past couple of weeks spending $$$ on my start-up with little income.
Saturday we went into Goreville, population 972, for the parade. It was bigger - longer - than last year. The BBQ sandwiches at the church were awesome. I think of Norman Rockwell and his portrayals of Americana when I'm here. I highly recommend this for YOUR 'Bucket List.' It will reaffirm your roots in the GREATEST COUNTRY ON THIS EARTH, which is what the Fourth of July stands for!
Saturday afternoon is back to the boat and fun in the sun. Unfortunately about a gazillion other folks had the same idea. But we found a little cove, dropped anchor and floated the afternoon away. I am so blessed and fortunate to live the life I have. It is easy to forget that sometimes. Thanks BIG GUY!
We watched fireworks that nite from the boat. Apparently our economy is doing better because there were significantly more people shooting off some BIG STUFF all around the lake this year. A great nite with wonderful friends -- it doesn't get much better.
Sunday morning I cooked my world famous French Toast and bacon for everyone and then we packed up and headed back toward STL. The Veiled Prophet Parade, and ensuing Fair St. Louis, is another item for your 'Bucket List.' I have seen fireworks all across the USA and these are Top 5! USA Today agrees with me, not that that makes any difference.
The Air Show returned to the fair this year after a five year absence. It was FANTASTIC! Pilots - and wing-walkers - doing impossible things with airplanes from the modern day F-15 built here in STL (can you say LOUD!) to WW-I biplanes in mock battle over the Mississippi River. Next up was the B-52s. No, not the bomber but the 80s band (Love Shack). And then the fireworks synchronized to music. What a great day, again!
Monday was a different story. I'm sure Sunday nite was a factor, as well as the rest of the 'sun-n-fun' weekend, but I think I ate something for lunch that just didn't sit well in my belly. By late afternoon, I was either laying in bed in the fetal position or running to the bathroom. Not a good evening. (And NO, it was NOT my French Toast! That was more than 24 hrs earlier.)
Fortunately it ran it's course and I was much improved yesterday morning. Although not 100%, I was well enough to take a trip down to Cape Girardeau, MO - about 120 miles south - and back.
I was hoping to go back to Southern California in mid-July but that is looking less likely as it approaches. My sister - a Justice of the Peace in Boston - is going to LA to preside over a wedding involving her husbands family. I really want to go, mostly because my youngest son was going with me. But there seems to be a complication in his agenda not to mention, my weakened wallet, and I really need to concentrate on getting another driver or two involved with my company. The stars are just not lining up for this one.
Well, I have piddled away enough of this morning. My priority needs to be finding an owner/operator to join my biz. So back to my Craigslist ad. Gotta get that up.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Now it's just a Waiting Game
In a little less than 72 hours a MAJOR MILESTONE in my life will be accomplished. My OWN trucking company will be established and in business. Pretty exciting. I picked up my new signs for the side of my truck last Friday. This is my $600 license plate that also gos 'live' Thursday. You'd think for that kind of money you would get two plates; but no, only one.
I also opened my business checking account - gotta have someplace to deposit all that money that's gonna start rolling in! Many of the forms I will use I have downloaded templates off the internet and then modified with my company info. My Delivery Tickets are 4-part tho and had to be special ordered along with new business cards. That's all done.
I can't think of anything else lacking. My next step is finding a local driver with his own diesel truck that can pull my old trailer and service the one account I have now. And then find some more freight to haul locally to keep him busy. The PERFECT candidate will be someone who has a truck and a client (shipper) - or two or three - and needs help to grow their delivery service into a legit trucking company (like mine).
Is there anybody out there?
The picture above depicts a couple of special things I have done in establishing my own Hot Shot delivery service. The rules and regulations governing driving 'for Hire' change dramatically when the total weight of your truck, trailer and load exceeds 26,000 lbs. Currently I am only legal up to that point. Beginning Thursday, when my Authority goes active (hopefully), I will be legal up to 32,000 lbs total gross.
It's not very often that I go over 26K but I will not miss any loads in the future because I was not properly licensed to haul. If there is one thing I have learned in the past three years of doing this, flexibility is your key to success. The more things you are able to do, the more likely you are able to get where you want to go. The cost for me to 'upgrade' my weight limit is only a few hundred dollars. The biggest change is in the compliance requirements.
That blue sticker on my sign is for my International Fuel Tax Agreement. I now have to report my fuel purchases and miles travelled in each state - quarterly. This program evolved many years ago because of the variance between states on fuel prices and the taxes each state derives. Trucks typically carry from 100 to 300 gallons of fuel allowing them to go great distances between fill-ups. They would fuel where it was cheapest and then pass thru states with higher prices (taxes).
The result was states lost revenue from fuel taxes but where still having the expense of road maintenance when heavy trucks rolled down their highways. IFTA leveled that out. You get credit in the states where you bought your fuel (and paid tax) and then potentially owe a tax in states you travelled but didn't buy fuel.
I will evaluate the increase paperwork and cost of being able to legally run over 26K pounds for the first year. I also am hoping this IFTA sticker will reduce the number of times I'm 'pulled-around-back' at the scale. The normal passenger registration on a pick-up truck is valid to about 8,000. My truck is rated to 11,500 lbs but is not 'legal' over 8K with a passenger plate. In IL you can buy a 'weighted' plate, which I had. My plate allowed me to go to 12K but the scale operators outside IL didn't know with-out seeing my registration. So they pulled me around back.
My new signs include my new maximum weight per my registration - 32,000 (12K on the truck and 20K on the trailer) - and a current IFTA sticker. Hopefully, the sticker will be a big clue to the scale operator that I am 'probably' legal with-out having me show my registration. We shall see.
In the mean time, I have been spending all kinds of money on this new biz and did not have one single load ALL WEEK! The good news is that I had plenty of time to get everything done. But I need to generate some income.
I will be around here (Belleville, IL) for two more weeks. I need to add at least one driver and get another client or two before Jul 12. If I can get things in order here then I will be able to go back to CA for some special family things happening later in July. One of the neatest things about this next Left Coast Trip is that my youngest son has expressed interest in going with me. That and I will potentially meet some family I have NEVER met before as well as see some I haven't seen in many, many years. But I HAVE to get another (reliable) driver.
Friday, June 25, 2010
I think I'm Done, with the Gov't Part Anyway
I spent yesterday morning in Springfield, IL finalizing (I think) the state requirements for my Operating Authority - permission to haul freight. I left town with a new license plate ($404 for nine months!) and a couple of fuel tax stickers for the side of my truck; so I would consider things a success.
And speaking of Illinois, I have an almost unbelievable tale involving the Illinois Interstate Commerce Commission. In my post last Saturday, I took a swipe at them for not returning my phone call after leaving them a message. It was not a very malicious comment (I do have a sharp tongue sometimes) but factual. You can scroll down a couple of post to read for yourself.
Last Monday, two days after posting, I get a phone call from Dave with the ICC. At first I assumed it was a return call - two weeks later - from my voicemail. NO! Dave calls me and is looking for 'the guy who wrote the blog.' I know alot of people read my blog - even tho my 'followers' shown to the left are few - but the State of Illinois is looking in? I got a huge kick out of it at first. After I got over the initial pride of my wide-read blog, I began to wonder; how did they find little-old-me with the gazillions of postings on the web HOURLY! Now I'm getting scared. George Orwell's "1984" and Big Brother are REAL! What else are they looking for? A great deal of the science fiction on TV and in the movies isn't fiction!
Anyway, Dave was fantastic, a super nice guy. We talked for awhile. I was driving and had to pull over, I was in such shock at first. He gave me several contact people and phone numbers as well as his own. In fact I faxed some things directly to him to expedite my application. I think he is a valuable resource to have on my 'friends list.'
Tuesday I paid my new insurance premium. Just yesterday, I saw the fed website had the updated info. Everything has a July 1 effective date so it's difficult to tell if all requirements have been satisfied. It LOOKS like it, but my authority - while GRANTED - is not ACTIVE yet. I'm assuming (danger - danger - danger Will Robinson!) that because my insurance is IN PLACE but not IN FORCE until 7/1 that this is the reason. Guess I'll find out next Thursday.
I am still waiting to actually RECEIVE my state authority. But here again, indications are that things are done on my side (Dave gave me my MC number) and it's just a matter of time to process. There are notices that get published - like my dba name - and then waiting periods for someone to challenge I suppose.
Also yesterday I ordered my new signs for the side of my truck. They will be done today. I need some delivery tickets printed, ones with MY numbers and address on them. I also need to open a business checking account; banks are funny about depositing a check made out to a business into a personal account. I will take care of both those things today, assuming I don't get called into work. Which I HAVE NOT been all week. Remember my earlier post? Feast and Famine.
Today I also want to design a flyer that I can leave with potential clients. I have to get business cards ordered (JUST remembered that one). I don't think it would be very professional to go solicit business and then leave my name and number on a post-it note. That is a MAJOR item on my 'Things-to-do List" - go solicit new business. And get another driver lined up. Because once I have a driver - and something for him to do besides sit around updating his blog - I will be able to do what I like -- Travel the USA! I am anxious to get back on the road.
And speaking of fun, last nite was a blast (mostly). It has been hot as blazes here - upper 90s and humidity to match. Summer just started officially but the weather has been more like a late July thing. Until yesterday. My ride up to Springfield - about 100 miles - was with the windows down. I could have taken the bike but I was so wound up about WHAT I needed to do that I never even considered it until I was on the way.
Last nite was Bike Nite again around town. The Pasta House one is sponsored by the Harley dealer in O'Fallon, IL who I was extremely active with several years ago when they were located here in Belleville. It was like old home week again for me. I saw people I haven't crossed paths with in 3 or 4 years. It was very kool!
(sidebar: I think I may have a few new peeps reading this so I should mention, I try to protect the privacy of my friends on here. I do not mention identifiable names of private individuals with-out asking them first if ok. Public entities are another matter. I have no qualms about slamming or praising as I feel appropriate.)
The weather was absolutely perfect late yesterday. Clear skies, temps in the low 80s, low humidity and an almost Full Moon last nite! (OH-OH! The full moon is Saturday night. Danger - danger - danger Will Robinson!) This morning it is also spectacular out. But the weatherman says we will be back in the muggy stuff by tomorrow. No sweat (literally), we shall enjoy today!
And speaking of weather - one of my favorite topics. One of my friends challenged me yesterday thinking that I 'hated' to be in Illinois. Not exactly true. What I hate is the WEATHER - much of the time - in Illinois. Perhaps more specifically, I hate the winters here, and the fact that there are no beaches. (Sorry Lori, lakes are different) But I love the people. There is truth in the perception that people in the Midwest are more laid back and easy going. I have lived here most of my life but I have also travelled extensively - both nationally and internationally. I feel qualified to make this observation. Besides, I write a blog read by people I don't know. I must be legit! (Tongue-in-cheek)
So, to recap what we have learned today: Be VERY careful what you say on the internet. Which seems like a very appropriate follow-up to my Sunday post regarding Facebook. Hmmmm, ironic.
And speaking of Illinois, I have an almost unbelievable tale involving the Illinois Interstate Commerce Commission. In my post last Saturday, I took a swipe at them for not returning my phone call after leaving them a message. It was not a very malicious comment (I do have a sharp tongue sometimes) but factual. You can scroll down a couple of post to read for yourself.
Last Monday, two days after posting, I get a phone call from Dave with the ICC. At first I assumed it was a return call - two weeks later - from my voicemail. NO! Dave calls me and is looking for 'the guy who wrote the blog.' I know alot of people read my blog - even tho my 'followers' shown to the left are few - but the State of Illinois is looking in? I got a huge kick out of it at first. After I got over the initial pride of my wide-read blog, I began to wonder; how did they find little-old-me with the gazillions of postings on the web HOURLY! Now I'm getting scared. George Orwell's "1984" and Big Brother are REAL! What else are they looking for? A great deal of the science fiction on TV and in the movies isn't fiction!
Anyway, Dave was fantastic, a super nice guy. We talked for awhile. I was driving and had to pull over, I was in such shock at first. He gave me several contact people and phone numbers as well as his own. In fact I faxed some things directly to him to expedite my application. I think he is a valuable resource to have on my 'friends list.'
Tuesday I paid my new insurance premium. Just yesterday, I saw the fed website had the updated info. Everything has a July 1 effective date so it's difficult to tell if all requirements have been satisfied. It LOOKS like it, but my authority - while GRANTED - is not ACTIVE yet. I'm assuming (danger - danger - danger Will Robinson!) that because my insurance is IN PLACE but not IN FORCE until 7/1 that this is the reason. Guess I'll find out next Thursday.
I am still waiting to actually RECEIVE my state authority. But here again, indications are that things are done on my side (Dave gave me my MC number) and it's just a matter of time to process. There are notices that get published - like my dba name - and then waiting periods for someone to challenge I suppose.
Also yesterday I ordered my new signs for the side of my truck. They will be done today. I need some delivery tickets printed, ones with MY numbers and address on them. I also need to open a business checking account; banks are funny about depositing a check made out to a business into a personal account. I will take care of both those things today, assuming I don't get called into work. Which I HAVE NOT been all week. Remember my earlier post? Feast and Famine.
Today I also want to design a flyer that I can leave with potential clients. I have to get business cards ordered (JUST remembered that one). I don't think it would be very professional to go solicit business and then leave my name and number on a post-it note. That is a MAJOR item on my 'Things-to-do List" - go solicit new business. And get another driver lined up. Because once I have a driver - and something for him to do besides sit around updating his blog - I will be able to do what I like -- Travel the USA! I am anxious to get back on the road.
And speaking of fun, last nite was a blast (mostly). It has been hot as blazes here - upper 90s and humidity to match. Summer just started officially but the weather has been more like a late July thing. Until yesterday. My ride up to Springfield - about 100 miles - was with the windows down. I could have taken the bike but I was so wound up about WHAT I needed to do that I never even considered it until I was on the way.
Last nite was Bike Nite again around town. The Pasta House one is sponsored by the Harley dealer in O'Fallon, IL who I was extremely active with several years ago when they were located here in Belleville. It was like old home week again for me. I saw people I haven't crossed paths with in 3 or 4 years. It was very kool!
(sidebar: I think I may have a few new peeps reading this so I should mention, I try to protect the privacy of my friends on here. I do not mention identifiable names of private individuals with-out asking them first if ok. Public entities are another matter. I have no qualms about slamming or praising as I feel appropriate.)
The weather was absolutely perfect late yesterday. Clear skies, temps in the low 80s, low humidity and an almost Full Moon last nite! (OH-OH! The full moon is Saturday night. Danger - danger - danger Will Robinson!) This morning it is also spectacular out. But the weatherman says we will be back in the muggy stuff by tomorrow. No sweat (literally), we shall enjoy today!
And speaking of weather - one of my favorite topics. One of my friends challenged me yesterday thinking that I 'hated' to be in Illinois. Not exactly true. What I hate is the WEATHER - much of the time - in Illinois. Perhaps more specifically, I hate the winters here, and the fact that there are no beaches. (Sorry Lori, lakes are different) But I love the people. There is truth in the perception that people in the Midwest are more laid back and easy going. I have lived here most of my life but I have also travelled extensively - both nationally and internationally. I feel qualified to make this observation. Besides, I write a blog read by people I don't know. I must be legit! (Tongue-in-cheek)
So, to recap what we have learned today: Be VERY careful what you say on the internet. Which seems like a very appropriate follow-up to my Sunday post regarding Facebook. Hmmmm, ironic.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Facebook Fenomena
It's a lazy Sunday morning. I was a good boy last night (again) and was in bed by 9 PM watching TV until midnight. I got up very early this morning - before sunrise - as a result. So I have been online the last couple of hours (doesn't time just STOP when you're on the Internet? Why is that?) which includes checking in on Facebook.
Facebook was first launched in Feb 2004 as a social networking site for Harvard University students. More than 1200 people registered with-in the first 24 hours. It is still a privately held, multi-billion dollar company that has become a household name used in TV shows and movies. Even 89 year-old Betty White (Golden Girls) made a reference to fb on her Saturday Night Live skit recently. Everyones doing it.
I have found it beneficial to stay in touch with friends and acquaintances that I normally might not see too often. I also have some family members who are quite religious about posting their day-to-day events. I use fb to share pictures with people who may - or may not - be interested without sending them individually to each. It's easy.
But like my blog here, I am extremely careful about the things I put out there in this very public forum - both pictures and words. Many times I see postings from others and I don't think they realize the extent that their stuff may be seen. I said something about Bill but it's okay because he's not on my friends list. But John is. And he's friends with Sue; who knows Bob; who's Bill's best friend. Oops!
We all have idiosyncrasies within the walls of our house. It's 'our' castle and (as long as no one's watching) we are free to do as we please, within reason. Even within the confines of our cars, we feel a certain insulation from the outside-world and are prone to do and say things we would never think of standing on the street corner. (Can you say "Road Rage"?)
But when we are in public - at least most people - we have a different standard of conduct (normally better). It's rare when we curse some stupid knuckle-head to their face. I'm not sure if it's being polite or the fear of conflict, or maybe even both, but we act different in public.
But sitting behind a keyboard in the confines of your bedroom can give you a false sense of security. Before you know it, you're putting something in one of the most public forums in existence - the internet - that you would never even consider doing while standing on the street corner. What are you thinking?
So the next time you 'tweet', blog, fb, myspace, wretch or whatever - consider for just a moment: Would I do this standing on a street corner?
Facebook was first launched in Feb 2004 as a social networking site for Harvard University students. More than 1200 people registered with-in the first 24 hours. It is still a privately held, multi-billion dollar company that has become a household name used in TV shows and movies. Even 89 year-old Betty White (Golden Girls) made a reference to fb on her Saturday Night Live skit recently. Everyones doing it.
I have found it beneficial to stay in touch with friends and acquaintances that I normally might not see too often. I also have some family members who are quite religious about posting their day-to-day events. I use fb to share pictures with people who may - or may not - be interested without sending them individually to each. It's easy.
But like my blog here, I am extremely careful about the things I put out there in this very public forum - both pictures and words. Many times I see postings from others and I don't think they realize the extent that their stuff may be seen. I said something about Bill but it's okay because he's not on my friends list. But John is. And he's friends with Sue; who knows Bob; who's Bill's best friend. Oops!
We all have idiosyncrasies within the walls of our house. It's 'our' castle and (as long as no one's watching) we are free to do as we please, within reason. Even within the confines of our cars, we feel a certain insulation from the outside-world and are prone to do and say things we would never think of standing on the street corner. (Can you say "Road Rage"?)
But when we are in public - at least most people - we have a different standard of conduct (normally better). It's rare when we curse some stupid knuckle-head to their face. I'm not sure if it's being polite or the fear of conflict, or maybe even both, but we act different in public.
But sitting behind a keyboard in the confines of your bedroom can give you a false sense of security. Before you know it, you're putting something in one of the most public forums in existence - the internet - that you would never even consider doing while standing on the street corner. What are you thinking?
So the next time you 'tweet', blog, fb, myspace, wretch or whatever - consider for just a moment: Would I do this standing on a street corner?
Saturday, June 19, 2010
My New Business is Almost Open
Things are moving along nicely (seemingly) with my qwest to get my own federal Authority to conduct interstate trucking commerce. In fact, all I need to do is write (another) check for my insurance to get that in place and the deal should be done. At least the feds part. I will make the decision by mid-week on who gets my money so that the policy can go "in-force" on July 1.
The state is another story. The 'point-of-contact' for the Illinois Commerce Commission (who oversees trucking in IL) has yet to return my phone call. Nothing unusual there. My tax-dollars hard at work. (Note to Self: future blog topic - "Big Government = Big Headache" another example of bigger NOT being better!)
I have been able to glean info from other sources tho and I think I can complete that part of the process with-out guidance from the ICC. I have been peppered with fees and permits and filings and licenses and postings yada-yada-yada! With-out exception they have all required some sort of payment ranging from $11 to register my business dba with the county since I'm a sole-proprietor to hundreds of dollars for insurance filings. Money-money-money! If you have ever opened a small business you understand.
But I still think that in 10 days - by July 1 - we will be legit and driving down the road with MY name on the side of the truck. THAT'S kind of exciting. And financially I should recoup my start-up costs in two months - pretty amazing. Why didn't I do this two years ago? Oh ya, the compliance thing! The trucking industry is one of the most regulated industries in this country. I WILL get a safety audit from the feds with-in 18 months. My concern is that I will miss some requirement - for example you must have an accident log. Mine is real simple - it's blank after the headline! But ya gotta have it. And the list of requirements is many-many pages long. If you are suffering insomnia some evening, check this out: Federal Motor Carrier Rules & Regulations.
I am still in Belleville getting this all done. My business 'garage' address is here. There are many reasons for this - as opposed to having a FL based biz - but suffice to know, that's the way it is for now. We can 'move' later if we want.
I have been very busy working here, I'm happy to say. I had two very excellent days this past week which made for a good week. My bottom-line guide is $$ per mile. And I use the actual miles driven as opposed to just the loaded-miles. This number includes the dead-head miles and I think gives me a much better picture of my financial health. I'm burning fuel; spending time; and wearing-out tires, brakes and oil on my truck while driving empty so that's an expense. The norm in this industry is to consider your loaded miles and then just keep your dead-head miles at 10% or less. I prefer having 1 number to look at.
The nice thing about having a direct customer - as opposed to picking loads up off the internet load boards - is they usually pay much better. There is no middle man (or two or three). I have averaged more than $2/mile for the last three weeks. And I sleep in a real bed every night. The bad thing - besides NOT being in FL - is that we only have one customer and their work load is down significantly with the economy (they are a construction-related business). So the jobs have been inconsistent - feast and famine!
Part two of my business plan, after getting my authority, is to add more drivers and then add more customers. If you were a shipper, would you prefer to deal with a middle-man (broker) or directly with the carrier? I'm counting on folks picking "B". Of course, you had better be able to deliver when they call.
My time here in Belleville is a little bit depressing, probably because I miss not being in Paradise. I have to hang-out in the mornings waiting for the phone to ring, which it doesn't do every day. On the days it does ring, I work. Sometimes it's just a couple of hours and occasionally it's 16-18 hours - like yesterday. On the days it does not ring - I'm usually bored out of my mind! In a couple of weeks, I will be able to go out in the afternoons and solicit new business.
So that's the latest. Oh, except one small sidebar. Thursday nites around here is Bike Nite at several places. This past Thurs I went to the Pasta House in Fairview Hgts - 5 miles away. I ran into so many old friends! I was very involved in the Harley Owners Club (HOG) many years ago - both on a national level and locally. One of the local chapters, which I was the Asst Director for at one time, sponsors the Bike Nite here. Many, many familiar faces that I haven't seen in several years. In fact, I did not get to talk with all the people I saw that I wanted too. (Sorry Butch, Cheri, Marty, et al) Guess I'll go back next week.
The state is another story. The 'point-of-contact' for the Illinois Commerce Commission (who oversees trucking in IL) has yet to return my phone call. Nothing unusual there. My tax-dollars hard at work. (Note to Self: future blog topic - "Big Government = Big Headache" another example of bigger NOT being better!)
I have been able to glean info from other sources tho and I think I can complete that part of the process with-out guidance from the ICC. I have been peppered with fees and permits and filings and licenses and postings yada-yada-yada! With-out exception they have all required some sort of payment ranging from $11 to register my business dba with the county since I'm a sole-proprietor to hundreds of dollars for insurance filings. Money-money-money! If you have ever opened a small business you understand.
But I still think that in 10 days - by July 1 - we will be legit and driving down the road with MY name on the side of the truck. THAT'S kind of exciting. And financially I should recoup my start-up costs in two months - pretty amazing. Why didn't I do this two years ago? Oh ya, the compliance thing! The trucking industry is one of the most regulated industries in this country. I WILL get a safety audit from the feds with-in 18 months. My concern is that I will miss some requirement - for example you must have an accident log. Mine is real simple - it's blank after the headline! But ya gotta have it. And the list of requirements is many-many pages long. If you are suffering insomnia some evening, check this out: Federal Motor Carrier Rules & Regulations.
I am still in Belleville getting this all done. My business 'garage' address is here. There are many reasons for this - as opposed to having a FL based biz - but suffice to know, that's the way it is for now. We can 'move' later if we want.
I have been very busy working here, I'm happy to say. I had two very excellent days this past week which made for a good week. My bottom-line guide is $$ per mile. And I use the actual miles driven as opposed to just the loaded-miles. This number includes the dead-head miles and I think gives me a much better picture of my financial health. I'm burning fuel; spending time; and wearing-out tires, brakes and oil on my truck while driving empty so that's an expense. The norm in this industry is to consider your loaded miles and then just keep your dead-head miles at 10% or less. I prefer having 1 number to look at.
The nice thing about having a direct customer - as opposed to picking loads up off the internet load boards - is they usually pay much better. There is no middle man (or two or three). I have averaged more than $2/mile for the last three weeks. And I sleep in a real bed every night. The bad thing - besides NOT being in FL - is that we only have one customer and their work load is down significantly with the economy (they are a construction-related business). So the jobs have been inconsistent - feast and famine!
Part two of my business plan, after getting my authority, is to add more drivers and then add more customers. If you were a shipper, would you prefer to deal with a middle-man (broker) or directly with the carrier? I'm counting on folks picking "B". Of course, you had better be able to deliver when they call.
My time here in Belleville is a little bit depressing, probably because I miss not being in Paradise. I have to hang-out in the mornings waiting for the phone to ring, which it doesn't do every day. On the days it does ring, I work. Sometimes it's just a couple of hours and occasionally it's 16-18 hours - like yesterday. On the days it does not ring - I'm usually bored out of my mind! In a couple of weeks, I will be able to go out in the afternoons and solicit new business.
So that's the latest. Oh, except one small sidebar. Thursday nites around here is Bike Nite at several places. This past Thurs I went to the Pasta House in Fairview Hgts - 5 miles away. I ran into so many old friends! I was very involved in the Harley Owners Club (HOG) many years ago - both on a national level and locally. One of the local chapters, which I was the Asst Director for at one time, sponsors the Bike Nite here. Many, many familiar faces that I haven't seen in several years. In fact, I did not get to talk with all the people I saw that I wanted too. (Sorry Butch, Cheri, Marty, et al) Guess I'll go back next week.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Happy Sunday
This past week was very steady with work. I had something each day even if it was a little biddy thing. But there were two very nice days also in there making for a pretty decent week. Especially considering I drove just over 500 miles total and was in a real bed EVERY nite, I'd say it was an excellent week.
One thing in life you can always count on is 'change', things always change. I had a post once before about change and, in general, feel that change is usually for the good, albeit sometimes painful. If you don't embrace change but rather allow it to upset you and affect your mood, then you are destined for more un-happy times than you need be.
This change for me revolves around the 'Authority' (Federal governments permission to conduct interstate commerce) that I drive under. Last summer, I terminated my lease with a company in IN and began working with my oldest friend - Dennis - here out of Belleville, IL. We got the necessary things in place that allowed me to drive under his authority. But he is in his 70s and maintaining compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrations rules is more than he wants to do.
The result is that I will now get my own authority. I have actually considered this for the past couple of years but have been intimidated by these same compliance issues. I felt it was easier for someone else to worry about the feds and just let me drive. It was worth giving up a small percent of my gross to use someone else's authority. But there are some third-party administrators you can hire that will help in the compliance department for a fee. That's the route I'm going, at least to start. The feds monitor new trucking companies very closely for the first 18 months.
I actually have put together an action-plan for the next six months that includes hiring at least one new local driver to service the account we have here in STL and a new truck for myself. I want to put the new driver in my present truck. This will allow Dennis to stay involved with the client (whom he has worked with for 20 years) but have a younger driver available to do the work. This will happen under my authority so we can maintain compliance and I can also continue to do my thing. Looks good on paper!
The first part of this - my application - will happen with-in the next 30 days. I will then look to add on a driver - or two or three - from there. Perhaps I can even add some other owner-operators interested in a situation similar to what I have now.
And speaking of now, I gotta go. I'm meeting some friends for breakfast in a few minutes and then we will go on the Motorheads Poker Run. This is typically a very large ride and the weather today looks perfect so a big turn-out is likely.
One thing in life you can always count on is 'change', things always change. I had a post once before about change and, in general, feel that change is usually for the good, albeit sometimes painful. If you don't embrace change but rather allow it to upset you and affect your mood, then you are destined for more un-happy times than you need be.
This change for me revolves around the 'Authority' (Federal governments permission to conduct interstate commerce) that I drive under. Last summer, I terminated my lease with a company in IN and began working with my oldest friend - Dennis - here out of Belleville, IL. We got the necessary things in place that allowed me to drive under his authority. But he is in his 70s and maintaining compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrations rules is more than he wants to do.
The result is that I will now get my own authority. I have actually considered this for the past couple of years but have been intimidated by these same compliance issues. I felt it was easier for someone else to worry about the feds and just let me drive. It was worth giving up a small percent of my gross to use someone else's authority. But there are some third-party administrators you can hire that will help in the compliance department for a fee. That's the route I'm going, at least to start. The feds monitor new trucking companies very closely for the first 18 months.
I actually have put together an action-plan for the next six months that includes hiring at least one new local driver to service the account we have here in STL and a new truck for myself. I want to put the new driver in my present truck. This will allow Dennis to stay involved with the client (whom he has worked with for 20 years) but have a younger driver available to do the work. This will happen under my authority so we can maintain compliance and I can also continue to do my thing. Looks good on paper!
The first part of this - my application - will happen with-in the next 30 days. I will then look to add on a driver - or two or three - from there. Perhaps I can even add some other owner-operators interested in a situation similar to what I have now.
And speaking of now, I gotta go. I'm meeting some friends for breakfast in a few minutes and then we will go on the Motorheads Poker Run. This is typically a very large ride and the weather today looks perfect so a big turn-out is likely.
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