It's a Team's Life

Learning by Sharing

By Linda Caffee
Posted Jun 15th 2016 12:37PM

We learn by sharing ideas and best business practices or learning by mistakes. Talking to other drivers about how and why they do certain things can be an eye opening event. Listening to Satellite Radio can keep us aware of rules changes or ways to do a difficult process easier. Picking up the free magazines in truck stops in another way to be aware of what is going on.

Many people are under the impression that driving a truck is a brain dead job and that cannot be farther from the truth. From the time we get our CDL we are regulated on what we can and cannot do. Even though it is legal to smoke pot in Colorado if you have a CDL it is not legal and you will flunk a drug test. It is legal to carry a firearm in a truck, but most companies do not allow this and many businesses do not allow firearms on the property. Not knowing the rules can cost you your CDL.

As an owner operator the responsibility is increased ten fold. From taxes to how to get the most fuel for your money is not something that is not instinctive it is something learned. What about securing your load? What if you have a load bar lying on the floor beside freight that is properly secured? If an officer opens the back of the truck you are going to get a ticket and CSA points for an improperly secured load.

What about having your GPS mounted on the windshield, is it legally placed? How much fuel does that bug deflector cost you in aerodynamics? What about running tires underinflated what does this do to the tires as well as fuel mileage? How do you figure your cost per mile? Do you have two bank accounts one for business and one for personal? What about a trucking accountant? How do you keep track of receipts?

As an owner of a business or considering becoming an owner the more you know the better your chances are of survival. In trucking there are no guarantees of success. Education is one of the keys to help succeed and learning the facts not the fiction is a necessity.

Attending workshops and seminars will increase your revenue potential easily. The speakers can spark ideas or better ways to do something. The person you are sitting next to can spark an idea or talk about another idea you had not thought of to increase income.

Why duplicate a mistake others have made or continue making mistakes when you can attend the Expedite Expo and network with other business owners with the same challenges you face?

Bottom line: Increase your income by attended the Expedite Expo this year. Is that next load worth the income when you could increase your income for the year?

To Register:  Expedite Expo 2016

To Register for The Summit Workshop: The Summit

Bob & Linda Caffee
TeamCaffee
Saint Louis MO
Expediters since January 2005
[email protected]

Expediting isn't just trucking, it's a lifestyle;
Expediting isn't just a lifestyle, it's an adventure;
Expediting isn't just an adventure, it's a job;
Expediting isn't just a job, it's a business.