Newbie Questions on Expediting...HELP!

[bushdoctor]

Hello all,

First time poster here. I have recently discovered this aspect of commercial truck driving and have been reading alot of the postings here.

I am considering expediting as an option to over the road truck driving. My main reason is that I would not have to go to school for a class A license, and it seems I might enjoy this avenue of professional truck driving.

I have a class C (non-cdl) license now, and am going in to my DMV soon to test for my class C cdl w/hazmat. I have an accident/ticket free driving record over 10 years. I have been driving cargo vans, and rental type trucks up to 26 feet in my work for the last 10 years, both local and interstate.

I have always worked well independently, and undestand operating a small business. I also understand some of the shortfalls of this business like layovers, deadhead, and gaining "experience" with dispatchers.

I know most likely folks will suggest I start as a driver for someone, which makes sense. I have a few questions which I will list below and would appreciate any help/answers from expedite drivers out there can offer.

1. Are there companies (independent?) out there that hire folks without the cdl class license, or is that an absolute neccesity?

2. From reading postings, it seems there are some out there who are working as total independent contractors (no company affiliation), am I wrong on that assumption or is it true? if so, who does one go about finding/getting loads in this capacity? I have read postings about agents, and I am unfamiliar with how one would "qualify" to sign on this way.

3. My own short cargo van is outdated, and if/when i go O/O I would want to get a newer model (B), It seems from the EO survey site most drivers have GM products, any particular reason? also, are there companies that have a lease-to-own program? also, are such programs advisable?

4. I do not have a criminal record, but what kind of licensing, certification, bonding is rquired for this profession?

5. I live out west, but am willing to move out east, if it is going to get me the miles I need. I am single, selling my home, and also have an adult son who may team with me. Are the dispatches mainly out east? I checked the load board at EO today and find lots of loads out of WI, IN, and TN, but not much elsewhere. Is this the norm? I guess these load boards are for the strict "independents", am I correct on that?

6. If a driver works for a company, can he get loads elsewhere? What are the options to that?

I will keep my questions limited to those 6 for now. I am very excited about my new career as a driver, whether it is in expediting or OTR. Thanks to all of you who post here for helping us newbies out, and thanks to EO for making this forum and website available.

Stay safe out there,
Doc

 

[Jack]

Here's my humble opinion on your questions:
1. I don't know of any companies that would not require cdl. It's easy to get anyway, so just do it. I believe it would be required by the company, the customer, the insurance policies, and the Dept. of Transportation. Most also require hazmat endorsement, and air brakes if you drive a vehicle with air.
2. You can have true independence, but then you may have higher insurance rates, spend a lot of your time trying to get customers, probably have to get your own authority from governmental agencies, get loads through brokers and then of course they get a piece of the pie, and you stand the chance of not getting paid by them or having to spend time and money chasing them for your pay. Why waste the time and money when the bigger companies take care of your headaches and paperwork for you?
3. Over time GM has made a good product for expediting, has proven to be reliable.....and GM is a big player in the expediting business, why insult your best customer? If you haul for Ford, buy a Ford, they are reliable too.
4. You'll need CDL,canadian I.D. if you do any work to/thru canada, and insurance as required by the company you lease with. That company will let you know their requirements, and do almost all the paperwork for you. If you need it, they will tell you and help you get it. If you don't need it, why bother.
5. You can only survive in expediting in the East. I know, somebody will be the exception, but not as a newbie. Loads go west, but infrequently, and return travel is usually empty and costly. Most expediting is WI, MI, Ill, IN, OH, secondarily is SC, NC, GA, TN, but any day could get you a load to any where in the country. Companies are using internet to find loads when their usual customers are slow; internet competition and bidding for loads is increasing. Companies also look for reliable and proven carriers, may be hard for an "unknown" with limited resources to get a lot of loads.
6. Some companies allow you to haul freight on your own, but usually require that you cover any of their decals, identification numbers, and you may find that their insurance on your vehicle and freight applies only when you are hauling for them. Thus, if you take a load on your own, you have no insurance.

Does it sound like I think a newbie should go with an established company? You bet. Let them do the paperwork for you, get insurance coverage, get you loads, and dont crab about the fact that they keep a percentage. A lot of the paperwork and hauling requirements are not always from the companies anyway. The companies are under the thumb of their customers, the DOT, insurance carriers, local, state, and federal governments and agencies; the companies just pass those rules on to you, and you will have to pay to comply, but the time you would spend with all that paperwork and seeking loads would eat into your driving time....thus, into your earnings. Don't reinvent the wheel. Lease to a company of your choice, learn the business, learn the upside and downside of being independent, talk to a lot of drivers, and then go on your own if you wish. But there is just too much to learn, too many pitfalls, and too much financial risk for a newbie to even think about going independent.
Just my opinion. Good luck in whatever you do. Jack

 

[RichM]

To answer your questions starting with your license,I would study and apply for a class B CDL which will allow you to operate vehicles over 26,000 pounds gross weight. You should also get a Haz/mat endorsement as moost of the expediting companies haul haz/mat and will require that you have that endorsement.
I would reccommend that you drive for someone else in the beginning.Here again if you contact the expediting companies,the recruiters know what owners have small fleets and atre looking for drivers.You can also post on this site thatyou are available
To operate independently you will need your own operating authority and your own cargo and public liability insurance.This insurance does not come cheap so I would only go that way if you had shippers ready and committed to you.There are several internet load matching board where shippers post their requirements and you can bid on the shipment. Expediters On Line has a load board for expediting freight.
You will definitely do better working in the East or Mid West as the automotive industry is a major player in the expedited freight area.

I don!t own a van but you are right about GM Vans being popular these days.A few years back Ford Vans with Diesel engines were all the rage,seems to run in cycles.
Good Luck.

 

[louixo]

Bushdoctor:
First of all, most companies won´t hire you without a class A cdl with hazmat. Expediting is mainly in the midatlantic and midwestern states. You can get your own authority and be a true "independent", but i suggest you walk before you run, and tackle the getting loads problem later, when you have some experience. The type of equipment to run is personal preference. you will hear good and bad about every unit and power train. to answer your questions more specifically, you should do a topic specific search on this EO site. If you do that, I´m sure most of your questions will be addressed.

 

[bushdoctor]

THANKS for the helpful hints and answers to my questions. I appreciate you all taking the time to help me out. We have a big Truck Show here in Vegas this week, and I hope to see some of the expedite companies out there...maybe even some of you! I am learning more every day, and am excited about my new career. Take care and stay safe.

Doc