There's a joke thread going on about ways to make money at a particular company. It's decent tongue in cheek humor. I thought about it more and realized we need a serious thread for those looking into the business or new in the business on things to do to succeed and make money. I'm going with my same five thoughts, as follows.
1. Accept 73% of the loads offered. Accept too many and you'll be running jobs that lose money. Accept too few and you'll be leaving money on the table.
2. Be available a minimum of 82%. That gives you 66 days at home or a little over 9 weeks scattered through the year. If you are in this as a career you have to be available to make money.
3. Be courteous and friendly on the phone no matter how stupid the dispatcher is. They will be. Quite often. Regardless of the fact they'll be dumber than dirt and totally in the wrong, you'll still be the one who loses if you blow up at them. They'll remember that and hold it against you for as long as they are there.
4. Be courteous and polite to the shipper and consignee no matter how stupid they are. Some of them will be equally stupid as your dispatchers. Remember there is no money to the truck if there's no freight on the truck. Shippers and cons have been known to call and tell a company to never send truck abc123 again. They've also been known to ask for a specific truck if available. Your bank account will do much better if you are in the latter group.
5. Maintain your equipment in top condition. This ties in with being asked for in number 4. It also goes with the money rolls in when the wheels roll down the road. Trucks in good condition do that. Trucks that aren't maintained are in the shop costing money not on the road making money. Don't neglect appearance and consider yourself as part of the equipment. A clean professional appearance of truck and operators is the first thing they'll see and one of the main things they'll remember.
Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB
OOIDA Life Member 677319, JOIN NOW
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
EO Forum Moderator
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
1. Accept 73% of the loads offered. Accept too many and you'll be running jobs that lose money. Accept too few and you'll be leaving money on the table.
2. Be available a minimum of 82%. That gives you 66 days at home or a little over 9 weeks scattered through the year. If you are in this as a career you have to be available to make money.
3. Be courteous and friendly on the phone no matter how stupid the dispatcher is. They will be. Quite often. Regardless of the fact they'll be dumber than dirt and totally in the wrong, you'll still be the one who loses if you blow up at them. They'll remember that and hold it against you for as long as they are there.
4. Be courteous and polite to the shipper and consignee no matter how stupid they are. Some of them will be equally stupid as your dispatchers. Remember there is no money to the truck if there's no freight on the truck. Shippers and cons have been known to call and tell a company to never send truck abc123 again. They've also been known to ask for a specific truck if available. Your bank account will do much better if you are in the latter group.
5. Maintain your equipment in top condition. This ties in with being asked for in number 4. It also goes with the money rolls in when the wheels roll down the road. Trucks in good condition do that. Trucks that aren't maintained are in the shop costing money not on the road making money. Don't neglect appearance and consider yourself as part of the equipment. A clean professional appearance of truck and operators is the first thing they'll see and one of the main things they'll remember.
Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB
OOIDA Life Member 677319, JOIN NOW
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
