Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Setup packages for brokers

If you have never worked with the brokerage company that you want to do a load for then, you have to fill out a setup package for the first time, and then most of the time it has to be updated every year. The wording of these contracts is designed to protect the brokers best interests.


Do not let this setup package reduce the number of brokers you are willing to work with because of the time it takes getting setup. Brokers are like customers. The more customers you have, the more money you will make. I know a lot of carriers that do the setup packages from the road. 


Mobile apps like Adobe Reader, PDF Expert, and Hello Sign will save time and money by never having to print anything out or use paper. Just type and sign electronically. You can save information files that include operating authority, insurance, & W-9 already prepared for your company, so it is ready to send to each new broker.

Some pay for a dispatching service to fill out setup packages. Whereas many would feel uncomfortable with someone else doing a contract for their company because of the languages in those contracts having the carrier responsible for everything.

DAT has a new program called "Carrier Onboarding." I am still new to using it but let me show you what I have done so far.

This is my company showing that I already have all of my information in the Onboarding program. It took about 30 seconds to do the setup with YRC Freight.   

This is what the next screen looks like after you setup with the broker


DAT Customer Support
(800) 551-8836

Onboarding is a free service for all carriers.  

   


Saturday, February 4, 2017

40 hours is all you get

So how much would you get done as an owner operator if all you work every week was 40 hours?
If I told a factory worker that I put in 70 hours every week and sleep at my job most nights they would most likely think I am rolling in some big money.

I started thinking about this after seeing the good paying trucking company Wal-Mart getting sued for not paying minimum wage. What about overtime pay? I know there has to be a lot of companies falling short on overtime pay.

From my quick study of drivers that do get paid by the hour in a 40-hour work week, you would be around 190 miles a day. This would also include going home every night. For me living in Lexington KY, I would not be able to get much more out of this cycle with those hours and still get home every night.
  


This is what it would look like if Dolly Parton decided to become a truck driver and only worked 9 to 5. 

Pre-trip inspection: 0.25
Get off-loaded: 1.25
Get fuel: 0.25
Get loaded: 1.25
Stop to eat: 0.75
Getting parked before 5pm: 0:50
= 4.25 hours - 8 hour work day = 
3.75 hours of driving at 55mph = 206 miles for the day 
If she had to find her own load
Making and receiving calls 2:25
Setting up with new broker 0:50
waiting for rate sheet 0:25

Dolly would say, I just left the truck stop and now I got to get this big truck parked before my working 9 to 5 job is done for the day.