Newbies beware! Law of Morons

ATeam · Apr 25, 2011

bimbim29 said:
I am a newbie and I personally find this forum an invaluable source of information. I think it is wonderful that these "seasoned" truckers take the time to post their opinions and help us newbies out. If we, newbies, don't have enough sense to sort through the information and glean what is valuable to us, then we probably couldn't succeed in any business....

All true. I would just add that succeeding in ANY business is difficult, as indicated by the very high small business failure rate. Expediter wannabees will do well to prepare for the expediting BUSINESS by setting up a good set of books and money management practices now.

You don't have to wait to get into expediting to gain total control and total of and total knowledge of your money now. Set up a household budget and spreadsheet. For practice, track your car milage and expenses as you would a truck. The more you do to prepare before you get into this business, the better you will do after you get in.

See this Partners in Business manual for a good introduction to the trucking business and bookkeeping info.

Dabus1952 · Apr 25, 2011

If you ask me I think cc was celebrating national 420 day.

Jumbuck · Apr 30, 2011

BimBim29 You said it SO well. I learned ALOT from the kind folks on this forum, even though I chose to use their wisdom to make the decision NOT to go into expediting right now. I would much, much rather hear the plain, unvarnished truth from seasoned expediters than to hear wine and roses from people that sound exactly like "recruiters!!!" If a person with 2 broken legs and two broken arms tells you that it could be dangerous riding a motorcycle, you might ought to listen. But if a Motorcycle SALESMAN tells you how SAFE it is, you might want to do some research! Jumbuck...

ATeam · Apr 30, 2011

Jumbuck said:
BimBim29 You said it SO well. I learned ALOT from the kind folks on this forum, even though I chose to use their wisdom to make the decision NOT to go into expediting right now. I would much, much rather hear the plain, unvarnished truth from seasoned expediters than to hear wine and roses from people that sound exactly like "recruiters!!!" If a person with 2 broken legs and two broken arms tells you that it could be dangerous riding a motorcycle, you might ought to listen. But if a Motorcycle SALESMAN tells you how SAFE it is, you might want to do some research! Jumbuck...

It is not either all good or all bad. While some expediters are literally starving out here, most are not. Opposite the expediters who are starving there are those who have found the life and work to be the easiest, most lucrative, and most fun job they have ever had.

Even with the same expediter or expediting team, the years vary. You may have a year when you come close to being wiped out by a catastrophic event or a series of regretable decisions. Those are offset and often exceeded by good years that feather your nest quite nicely.

The wisdom of your conclusion -- and it is indeed wise -- lies not in the expediting opportunity itself, but in your realization that your circumstances do not match those of people who are prepared to enter the business and succeed. Unlike many who entered the business and failed, you kept that from happening by seeing the entire opportunity for what it is and nipping your wishful thinking in the bud.