Fuel for Thought

Greener Grass

As Thomas Paine wrote in 1776, These are the times that try men’s souls. While this was written during the infancy of this country and about the independence of this country, this simple statement can apply to so many situations. Okay, maybe your soul is not at stake, but the soul of your business could be. Whenever the economy does not favor the owner operator, many start to seek better funding for their failing business elsewhere. Not necessarily changing professions, but changing carriers.

After coming off historic high rates, many truck drivers are now ready to go carrier shopping. Business minded owner operators will generally stay put. While the former thought of the higher rate times as a new normal (remember that annoying phrase from the Covid years?), the latter prepared for leaner times to come. If you are in the first group, then you truly are a truck driver. Business owner operators usually have a plan for the long haul (pun intended).

So here we are, post covid, rates declining and drivers have begun to flail about. Truck drivers will blame everyone for their failings but the person in their mirror. When they were riding the wave of high rates, they had no cares for the future, their carrier was top notch and the world was right. They were in the midst of the tallest, greenest grass to be found anywhere. Now, the grass has died, weeds are cropping up everywhere and they cannot afford to stay with their miserable carrier any longer. Their carrier is now the enemy. These drivers claim that their carriers are taking too much and not keeping the rates high enough to sustain their lifestyle of the rich and famous that they became accustomed to during the last couple of years.

A few words of advice for you drivers that claim to be business owners - The grass is not greener elsewhere, the grass is greener where you water it.

Okay, maybe the grass is greener elsewhere, but oftentimes it is from all the manure spread on it. It may just be artificial grass, you know, looks good on the surface, but it has no roots and will not grow.

Most drivers talk about rates and costs, but business minded owner operators discuss value. Value is one of the defining characteristics of the business owner. Why are you worth more than your counterparts? Who are your counterparts? Who is your competition? Should you be competing with them? 

You will generally be compensated according to your value. If you only provide basic services, you will most likely receive basic compensation. If you acquire a skill set and apply it to the right carrier or customer, your value will increase and your revenue will likely reflect the value you possess. 

Be the solution, not the problem.

I’ll say it again for those way in the back - The grass is not greener elsewhere, the grass is greener where you water it.

If you don't drive your business, you will be driven out of business. 

-  B. C. Forbes

See you down the road,

Greg