Starting a local company.....

Starting a local company.....
Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 10:39:26 AM

 Hi everyone. I've been driving now for about 7 years. I moved from California to Tennessee about a year ago. The company I work for down here has company drivers, and owner ops. Both co. and owners are home every night. I started asking around about buying my own truck and running for the same company. I talked to owners, and they said each would sit down with me and kind of tell me the insiders view on things. When I talked to the company guys, the resounding answer was DON'T DO IT!!!!!!! And I mean within a minute of the conversation. Like I said, I haven't talked with the owners yet. This idea really appeals to me, but, eveyone is telling me to buy a 50,000 dollar truck. I tell them that I would rather get something less expensive to keep my cost down since this will be my first foray into owning.But then I'm running the risk of repairs for a high milage truck. But I see these trucks selling all the time to  local guys like me. Most of these guys run them into the ground, but I try to pamper any truck I drive. So the guys tell me if I'm going to do this, first take out money for fuel, set a salary to pay myself weekly, then put every penny back into the truck, ie: maintenance, tires, etc.This idea sounds good, and doesn't bother me at all. Anyways, like I said, i see these trucks selling all the time. My primary route would be Memphis to Nashville and back everyday. Other than what I have stated already, I really don't know where to start in starting this company, besides getting a local business licence. I've read about singel state registration. But I'm sort of lost right now. I'm taking all the advice I can get!!!! Any thoughts would help!!! Thanks!!

RE:Starting a local company.....
Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 9:16:49 AM

Paul,
Becoming an owner operator is a big step. To be honest with the demand for driver in todays market. I personally would not become an owner operator. I guess my question is why do you want to bvecome an owner operator? More freedom to pick and choose work? think you will make more money? Is the work better for owner operators than company driver? Is it so you can say you own a truck? That will be key. I need to know the answer to that question and so do you to acheiver your goal. With the run you mentioned are you working 5 or 7 days a week? Either way, the minimum mile you are going to cover is about 110K a year. You better have pretty good and newer equipment to do that daily witout to many maintenance problems. You'll pay one way or the other, either in payment or repairs! If you go with the payment plan. How steady is the work? What will you do if the work ends? Where will you work the truck then? Covering that many miles and if fuel stays the same you are going to spend 47K to 50K in fuel for the year. Is there  enough profit on the haul you plan on doing to still make a profit if fuel prices increase? All these questions you need the answers to before even thinking about becoming an owner operator. There are to good books out. Cost Per Mile and Becoming an owner operator. I highly suggest you read both before going farther. I don't want to talk you out of doing your dream. I just want you to make a educated well informed decision. GOOD LUCK on whatever you dicide. I hop I helped. Oh, on plates, permits and what not. The company you lease onto should help you do that.

RE:Starting a local company.....
Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 12:33:33 PM

Hi Scott. Thanks for the reply. I'll try to answer some of your questions here,and kind expain my mindset. Why an owner op., well, it's just something I've always wanted to do. To work for myself, to earn for myself because of my accomplishments. That feeling that I'm doing it for me and my family, rather than making someone else's money for them, and I get a cut. I know that as an owner op the cut goes to numerous things, but, it's my things that the cut is going to. Yes I'm a hardheaded, stubborn person in a way. Really, it's something I want to do before my time is up. I'm 32 now, so I pray I still have a while to go. I know other people get this feeling, and never act on it, and regret it. It's hard to make the decision between "I should have..." , or, " I wish I would have...". Does that make sence? Well, the work is very steady, the few owners I need to get with have been there about 10 years each. The trailers are sealed containers of railyards. And down here, theres plenty of railyards, plus other companies that pull them. Now the idea of pull these heavy containers on bias ply tires for the rest of my life, don't get me going, but it's a start in a steady company, and who knows where it will go from there. Books, yes I really need to get my hands on some and read, read, read. Even if I go ahead with this idea, I'm not even going to make any moves until mid2007. I'm just  gathering as much info as I can to see if this is a fesable idea. Another thing, the company I work for gets new trucks every three years. I don't really need a truck that often. Plus we slip seat so the miles and fuel burn faster. Plus the pay scale for the company is weird. I get graded on my "preformance" for the month, and my pay can go up, or down. And when they do buy trucks, watch out, nobody can live up to thier standards for two months. So i guess in a way I'm tyring to circumvent that system as well. Anyways, I've rattled on enough. I really appriciate the reply.I know this  is a HUGE decision, and not one I'm jumping into. But if I don't try, I'll never know. Thanks again for  your reply!!

RE:Starting a local company.....
Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 5:21:05 AM

Greetings Scott

I checked Amazon.com for Cost Per Mile and they list Co$t Per Mile Made Easy as out of print. Isa this the same book you refer to or did you author trwo different books with similar titles. If it si the same do you know where it may be purchased?

Thanks in advance for you reply

RE:Starting a local company.....
Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 6:26:52 AM

Go Direct! Cost Per Mile can be purchased at http:www.costpermile.com

RE:Starting a local company.....
Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 9:42:08 AM

CONTACT COUNTRYWIDE BUSINESS SERVICES FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.  AUTHORITY, PERMITTING, SINGLE STATE REGISTRATION, AND MUCH MORE.  540-908-6205