Trucking/Questions Answered by Expert Jim Bowers
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Medical card | 1/30/2012 |
| Q: I have recently quit my current driving position to go back to an old company that I had worked for. ... A: Edward, I don't know any regulation that allows an employer to make you turn over your medical card ... | |
| Interstate or Intrastate | 1/27/2012 |
| Q: My trucking company (which by the way is only one truck/trailer and I am the sole driver) only hauls ... A: Tex, are you talking about the MCS-150 form? You can be an Intrastate carrier that exceeds 150 mile ... | |
| Freight Payment requirements | 12/18/2011 |
| Q: I have a shipper that I feel is refusing to pay freight invoices due to they think they have been ... A: Jim, there is no ICC anymore. Common Carriers are governed by the FMCSA. ... | |
| unloading truckloads | 11/30/2011 |
| Q: Is the the driver of a truck responsible to get the product to the tail of the truck? This is a ... A: Greg, it depends on the level of service the shipper contracted for. LTL and Truckload have ... | |
| MC Numbers | 10/27/2011 |
| Q: Can 1 person have multiple mc numbers along with dot numbers and fein. I'm President of 1 company ... A: Leroy, I don't know of any restrictions on common control of multiple carriers as long as each is ... | |
| ohio dot | 9/23/2011 |
| Q: i was recently pulled at scales on i76 in ohio dot thought i had a flat tire on trailer wrote me a ... A: Brian, ask your company to help you through the process with FMCSA - CSA. ... | |
| reefer rates | 9/18/2011 |
| Q: i am just wondering if you might know current rates for produce hauling from California to Ontario, ... A: Scott, this business tends to be seasonal so rates will fluctuate based on supply and demand ... | |
| need to know about truck bussiness | 9/16/2011 |
| Q: I am new in this and my husband's friend is a truck driver but don't have the money to buy a truck ... A: Maria, what you are describing is a typical partnership where one party puts up the money and the ... | |
| Lease Agreement | 8/23/2011 |
| Q: how can i get a lease agreement form for a small mushrooming trucking company. Here is the ... A: Two suggestions Elija: First, check out the industry association; OOIDA, for educational ... | |
| age and turnover | 6/17/2011 |
| Q: Wanted to get your take on if you think 58 is too old to acquire a CDL and enter the word of ... A: Ed, 58 is not too o;d as long as you can pass the DOT physical and have a safe driving record. Yes ... | |
| trucks keyed the same | 5/3/2011 |
| Q: Ok, my husband works for a company in PA where all trucks are keyed the same. First off is there a ... A: Chrissy, there are a lot of questions here. I don't know of any law against keying all of a ... | |
| PAYMENTS | 5/2/2011 |
| Q: IS THERE AN ICC REGULATION WHEREIN IF THE SHIPPER DOES NOT PAY FOR THE TRANSPORTATION, THE ULTIMATE ... A: Andrew, the short answer is yes but it depends. For a common carrier the Bill of Lading contract ... | |
| carrier obligation | 4/11/2011 |
| Q: HEY JIM I AM A OWNER OPERATOR HAULING HOT LIQUID ASPHALT. THE COMPANY IS NOT SHOWING ME WHAT THE ... A: Tim, it all comes down to the contract you signed. What does it say about compensation? If it's ... | |
| LLC | 4/6/2011 |
| Q: Bowers, We have recently become owner operators and would like to become an LLC company? We reside ... A: Cat, at the federal level it won't make any difference. You will need to check out the regulations ... | |
| Driver Turnover | 2/18/2011 |
| Q: Do you know, or do you know where I can, find current information on turnover rates for truck ... A: Ken, this is a widely publisized topic if you follow any of the trade press. A simple Google search ... | |
| ADVERSE WEATHER | 2/8/2011 |
| Q: YOU CAN ONLY LEGALLY DRIVE 11 HOURS,DUE TO BAD WEATHER IT TAKES 12 HOURS TO REACH HOME TERMINAL,CAN ... A: Joe, If unexpected adverse driving conditions slow you down, you may drive up to 2 extra hours to ... | |
| payment terms | 1/19/2011 |
| Q: It is my understanding under the old ICC that payment was required after 15 days of billing. Is ... A: You are correct Rebecca. Under ICC regulation credit limits were set and the carriers and shippers ... | |
| Carrier Business | 1/6/2011 |
| Q: Jim, I am very interested in starting a carrier business. But I am unable to find any info on the ... A: Jessie, here are some ideas: http://www.ehow.com/how_2077076_start-trucking-business.html ... | |
| Drivers who won't take runs | 12/28/2010 |
| Q: My husband and I have run a hot shot terminal for about a year now and we seem to be having trouble ... A: Marie, I don't have an easy answer but some ideas: 1st if you are using owner operators / ... | |
| Hot Shot Trucking | 12/9/2010 |
| Q: I am a owner of a small trucking company looking to get out of Big Trucks and go to hot shots. ... A: Tracy, here are some resources that might be helpful. ... | |
| Trucking | 12/2/2010 |
| Q: I want to start a trucking business in a straight truck van. Local, statewide, and regional pickup ... A: Ralph, you just need to spend some time searching the web for all of the usual keywords and then ... | |
| operating authority | 11/2/2010 |
| Q: we are considering gaining operating authority....where would be our best option to learn all we can ... A: Brenda, start at the FMCSA website: ... | |
| Motor Carrier operating under "Contract" Carrier but Operating Without Contracts | 10/13/2010 |
| Q: I was wondering what the punishment was, if any, for a "Contract" carrier (as listed in the FMCSA), ... A: Miluska, there is probably a correct legal answer to this but from a practical point of view if no ... | |
| transportation cost vrs warehouse cost | 10/6/2010 |
| Q: Jim, if i am in a warehouse at exit 10 NJT paying $4.50/sf, is it worth going to exit 8A and paying ... A: Dan, this is the classic trade off question in logistics. I don't have enough specific info to ... | |
| turnover | 9/24/2010 |
| Q: I have an interest in becoming a driver but am amazed at the demand for the drivers and the ... A: Ed, turnover among drivers is high because they are in demand and it's easy to change companies. ... | |
| tractor was hit by another tractor in parking lot | 9/22/2010 |
| Q: We were hit in the middle of the night by another driver. No injuries just damage to our tractor. ... A: Renee, I'm not sure why you couldn't use the rental tractor to keep running. The company you are ... | |
| percentage pay | 8/25/2010 |
| Q: where do you find rules and regs for the trucking company on what or how they can pay you when your ... A: Boyd, I assume you are an owner operator and as such you are an independent business person who may ... | |
| pay rates | 7/30/2010 |
| Q: My husband is employed by a company @ .25 per shipper rate. There have been times of which he has ... A: Mia, as you noted he could look for a different company to drive for perhaps one that pays by the ... | |
| How to get back into trucking. | 6/13/2010 |
| Q: I started driving OTR in 2006. By the middle of 2007 I had 6 preventable accidents, and fired from ... A: Larry, don't be picky. Find any driving job that will hire you and keep your safety record clean. ... | |
| hours work | 6/5/2010 |
| Q: A: Robert, I think it would be 60 hours. 60/70-Hour On-Duty Limit May not drive after 60/70 hours on ... | |
| reclassification of freight | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: I would like to ask you a question regarding re-classification of LTL freight (according to NMFC ... A: Pradeep, there are a couple of different types of errors and I don't have any real current direct ... | |
| reclassification of freight | 5/28/2010 |
| Q: I would like to ask you a question regarding re-classification of LTL freight (according to NMFC ... A: Pradeep, I have not seen this as a process at a 3PL. First let me clarify that the NMFC ... | |
| CDL requirements/Hauling | 5/24/2010 |
| Q: If I'm hauling stuff around with a truck and trailer that is classified as a commercial vehicle and ... A: Aimee, here are the federal regulations to review: ... | |
| Short Hauling | 5/6/2010 |
| Q: What would be a good type of hauling service between Dallas and Houston to get started in part-time ... A: Steve, you might consider the courier or expediting business. Check out these sites for a general ... | |
| New Weight Rules | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: I have heard that the DOT is going to make a new rule about drivers weight. I was told that ... A: Marc, I have not heard of either one of these new rules. Here is link to current rules. ... | |
| carrier obligation | 4/13/2010 |
| Q: I am contracted to a carrier in which I get 84 % of the gross pay. I believe the loads pay more ... A: Lenny, what kind of business are you dealing with? If they won't show you the freight bill I ... | |
| companies that say they hire felonies after a certain time period . | 4/9/2010 |
| Q: I have recently graduated from truck driving school and prior to me going i did allot of researching ... A: Mark, you should be able to come up with dozens of leads with a simple internet search. Here are ... | |
| Independent Freight Finder | 3/24/2010 |
| Q: I am looking into starting a business as an Independent Freight Finder, I will work for the carrier ... A: Dianne, you do not need a brokerage license to do what you are proposing. You will be a contract or ... | |
| grain hauling | 3/10/2010 |
| Q: I am 52 years old. have a class a CDL with tanker and double/triples endorsements. I have done very ... A: Jim, you definitely "have a shot" at it. In normal times there is such demand for safe qualified ... | |
| Load Boards and Brokers | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: We will open a trucking business hauling produce and general freight from Texas. I am seeing plenty ... A: EA, I really don't have much insight on load boards. They make their money on listing or ... | |
| MC Number | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: A trucking company wants to haul for me. They gave me an MC number how do I check to verify they are ... A: Bruce, here is the link to check their authority,insurance and safety. ... | |
| Load Boards and Brokers | 2/18/2010 |
| Q: We will open a trucking business hauling produce and general freight from Texas. I am seeing plenty ... A: E.A. It can work either way but typically they will ask you to name your "all-in" price. This is ... | |
| Take over Authority or start new one | 2/13/2010 |
| Q: I am working on starting a trucking company that will have 2-3 drivers working for me. (These ... A: Luke, here is the link to the FMCSA SAFER website which will give you the publicly available ... | |
| Take over Authority or start new one | 2/12/2010 |
| Q: I am working on starting a trucking company that will have 2-3 drivers working for me. (These ... A: Luke, I obviously don't know all of the details but my instinct is that a $2000 investment just ... | |
| Employment | 2/10/2010 |
| Q: Have you ever heard of CR England trucking. Because they offer to train you for your cdl and promise ... A: Gene, yes I have heard of CR England. They are one of the larger well established carriers. I was ... | |
| Food grade tanker job | 2/9/2010 |
| Q: all equipment in top condition another company took hauling away A: Calvin, depends on where you live or want to work. Here are some depending on where you want to ... | |
| Truck driving school | 2/6/2010 |
| Q: I'm interested in signing up for a course to get a CDL license. I'm kind of discouraged though ... A: Gene, this is a tough one in this economy. There was a time when anyone coming out of a driving ... | |
| fifth wheel trailer with trailling trailer | 1/9/2010 |
| Q: I'm thinking of purchasing a fifth wheel trailer 11,000 dry weight, pulling it with a ford F350. ... A: Dennis, in my opinion, yes. You would need a Class A CDL with a Doubles endorsement. And there may ... | |
| Freight Broker Business | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: I am an ex truckers wife who at the time worked from home for my husband by finding loads etc. I ... A: Tracy, you can work from home as a brokers agent but most brokers will want someone with a shipper ... | |
| PUC regulation | 12/21/2009 |
| Q: I operate in Hawaii. We are presently regulated by the PUC. Are there other states that regulate ... A: Frank, The PUC can only regulate safety and registration issues under the Federal Aviation ... | |
| US DOT Number | 12/20/2009 |
| Q: I have a DOT number on a vehichle I own , I am adding another vehichle. Do I need another number or ... A: Les, the DOT number is assigned to the company not the truck. The DOT # needs to be displayed on ... | |
| A trucking career | 12/6/2009 |
| Q: What are lagitiment sites and places to go to get a job in trucking? ANSWER: Doug, what type of job ... A: Doug, what is your major? It's always good to get a job in your area of interest. To get virtually ... | |
| A trucking career | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: What are lagitiment sites and places to go to get a job in trucking? A: Doug, what type of job are you looking for? Driving? Dispatch? Maintenance? Office? There are lots ... | |
| Log Books | 12/2/2009 |
| Q: If you are an independent driver living in a state that is 600 miles away from the company you lease ... A: Cindy, this is a contract question. If you are an owner operator / contractor, you are not an ... | |
| do I need trailer insurance | 12/1/2009 |
| Q: I have a dodge 3500 and a gooseneck trailer that gross 24000 pounds do I need insurance on the ... A: Charles, probably not. Just make sure your liability and auto policy covers you when towing a ... | |
| class B CDL | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a class B cd and my company owns a truck crane that weighs 84,000lbs GVW. Am I allowed to ... A: Thomas, in my opinion you are legal to drive as long as you are not pulling a trailer. Classes of ... | |
| Truck business | 11/9/2009 |
| Q: can i make a profit if a buy a truck and hire a truck driver?? If I get paid by load not by miles ... A: Luis, if you really want to do your homework, start here: ... | |
| Truck business | 11/8/2009 |
| Q: can i make a profit if a buy a truck and hire a truck driver?? If I get paid by load not by miles A: Luis, the short answer is maybe. It's no different than any other business, if your sales exceed ... | |
| leasing to contracts | 10/30/2009 |
| Q: Jim I have owned my truck for a little better than 2 years now. Ever since it was purchased it has ... A: You are right TJ. I misunderstood what you were asking. Once you have your operating authority, ... | |
| leasing to contracts | 10/29/2009 |
| Q: Jim I have owned my truck for a little better than 2 years now. Ever since it was purchased it has ... A: TJ, there is no shortcut. You either run under another carriers authority or get your own. If you ... | |
| Leasing | 10/27/2009 |
| Q: We are trying to get our company up and running again. My brother in law has a truck with taga and ... A: Melissa, short answer yes. He will be essentially operating as an Owner Operator under your ... | |
| truck base plate & fuel mile tax | 10/7/2009 |
| Q: I'm an independent contractor looking to lease on with a company. I'm an Iowa resident and the ... A: Timothy, I have not heard of renting your plate from the company. How much would it cost for you to ... | |
| Fuel Surcharge | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: Is there any regulation at all(mandatory) pertaining to paying a fuel surcharge by the shipper to ... A: Richard, Pre 1980 when the industry was regulated there was a provision that the Fuel Surcharges had ... | |
| cdl | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: i drive a 20 foot straight truck in ny and and thinking of moving to vt and i just lost out on a job ... A: Don, you should find all of the info you need at the FMCSA website: ... | |
| Authority | 9/19/2009 |
| Q: I have an opportunity to deliver 1 day a week some basic common product to a friends warehouse. I do ... A: Donald, I think you will need a USDOT number. ... | |
| my rights as a truck driver | 9/18/2009 |
| Q: i am currently working for a trucking company in houston tx and the problem i am having is that they ... A: Juan, you didn't state if you are an employee or an owner operator. Percentage pay is more common ... | |
| ICC Regulation on BOL | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: I drive auto transport as a subcontractor. My BOL says a vehicle pays $700. so I agree to haul it. ... A: Mike, this sounds like an old BOL form since the ICC has been discontinued. The price the shipper ... | |
| getting through the ruff times | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: hey jim I own a trucking company with a common carrier authority utilizing about 8 tractors with no ... A: Grant, here is a good reefer company to lease on to: http://www.suncocarriers.com/operator.shtml ... | |
| getting through the ruff times | 7/28/2009 |
| Q: hey jim I own a trucking company with a common carrier authority utilizing about 8 tractors with no ... A: Grant, I don't have an easy solution for this one. In this economy there are still way too many ... | |
| best engine type | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I are looking into buying our first truck. He's been driving for 8 yrs and I've been ... A: Debi, I only have second hand knowledge but we had high maintenance costs with similar Volvo trucks ... | |
| car in box truck | 7/16/2009 |
| Q: Hi my name is George and I was wondering if it was legal to carry a ford f 150 in the back of a box ... A: George, I don't know any reason why you couldn't haul another vehicle inside of a box van. You need ... | |
| Best Type of Car Hauler | 7/14/2009 |
| Q: My question is two parts: 1. What's the best type of trailer hitch for car hauling: GN, 5th Wheel or ... A: Cecil, I'm no expert in this area, but if I were starting I would probably choose a long flatbed ... | |
| regulation of payment to trucking company | 7/3/2009 |
| Q: Is there a regulation where trucking companies have to be paid within 15 days of a signed delivery ... A: Dennis, since deregulation the only credit terms dictarted by the FMCSA are for Household Movers. ... | |
| trucking broker | 6/29/2009 |
| Q: And i just want to know if i wanted to become a trucking broker would it be hard? How hard would it ... A: Sean, it's relatively easy to get started with a little training but since it's so easy to start ... | |
| Price Per Hundred | 6/25/2009 |
| Q: We have been hauling for the past year with a 24ft box/straight truck. We have had 2 contracts over ... A: Sorry, I forgot the link to the article I referred you to. This should help. ... | |
| DRIVERS PAY | 6/24/2009 |
| Q: i am with a trucking co in chicago. we have road drivers and local drivers. recenetly road drivers, ... A: Al, any type of activity based pay requires some form of record keeping to match the work done with ... | |
| unladden insurance | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: the company that i'm hauling for is requiring it's drivers to purchase unladden insurance.we4 do not ... A: Jim, I assume they want you to carry liability insurance to cover them if you are in an accident ... | |
| dry van or reefer | 6/8/2009 |
| Q: im getiing into buying my own truck and trailer, and i was planning on buying a 53' dry van, so that ... A: Francisco, it all comes down to having the right equipment for your target market. Some people like ... | |
| new driver trying to find a job | 6/5/2009 |
| Q: number 1 is why is the industry so hard on felons? we deserve a second chance. second are there any ... A: Steve, I can't answer for the entire industry, but if you were going to turn over a $100,000 plus ... | |
| our own authority | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: my husband and i are in the trucking business for a while but just resently started transporting ... A: Carla, your husband is correct. Getting your authority is the easy part. Getting new business will ... | |
| transitioning | 5/25/2009 |
| Q: I have just a few questions I'm hoping you can answer or help me find my answers. I'm currently a ... A: James. Your prospects are good. Even in the current economy there is a demand for safe qualified ... | |
| Trying to get started..... | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: I have been doing some research on getting started in my own hot shot business. I have no truck or ... A: Jason, I'm no expert in the hot shot business, but I would always recommend having a business plan ... | |
| base plates | 5/15/2009 |
| Q: I am considering leasing on with a company and have the option of either using my own base ... A: Buddy, any time you sign a contract look for the out clause. What happens if it doesn't work out? ... | |
| no recent experience | 5/13/2009 |
| Q: have otr driving experience.have no recent experience.having trouble finding company to give me a ... A: Gary, I don't know where you are located but there are still jobs out there for good drivers with ... | |
| team vs solo service pricing | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: Jim, I have searched all over to find an answer to thisas a shipper, How much more per mile should ... A: Grant, each company looks at team operational a little differently. For coast to coast they will ... | |
| pay per mile verses percentage | 5/3/2009 |
| Q: i am a owner operaror leased to a company that pays 71% of gross revenue.should i be paying a driver ... A: That's a difficult decision Jimmy. If you are getting paid a percentage and you pay the driver a ... | |
| becoming a broker | 4/29/2009 |
| Q: I'm a young construction worker from southern ca. and i was wondering what advice would you give ... A: Tylon, can you sell? Brokerage is a crowded field and it's all about relationships. You need to ... | |
| satellite and hos | 4/20/2009 |
| Q: My company has satellites in all the trucks and a new program has been added, my question that no ... A: That's an interesting question Martha. I suppose someone could interpret that if you send or ... | |
| log books | 4/18/2009 |
| Q: If you run 26,000 combined weight interstate do you still have to keep a log book? I can't seem to ... A: James, I'm no expert in this area, but the FMCSA defines: Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) means a ... | |
| CDL License | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: I have a truck with a GVWR of 9900 LBS and a trailer with a GVWR of 15860 LBS. ( 40' gooseneck) I ... A: Kirk, I am no expert so get another opinion, but: Classes of License: The Federal standard ... | |
| starting new transportation business | 3/27/2009 |
| Q: box trucks van or reefer. i would like to know if i will be initially be leasing a truck through ... A: Quincy, your operating authority is for your company and it doesn't matter if you own, lease or rent ... | |
| hot shot | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: I am looking into starting my own hot shot business. I am getting my business plan prepared, and was ... A: Nathan, I suggest you gain an understanding of the different business structures and the pros and ... | |
| Is the economy hurting hot shots | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: Hey Jim my husband wants to start his own hotshot company but the question is,is the economy hurting ... A: Shunda, I am not directly involved in the Expedite industry but I would imagine the economy is hitt ... | |
| Truck dispatching / broking | 3/9/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to get started in the business of truck dispatching or broking. I was just wondering if ... A: Rico, you will have to check out a lot of opportunities to find the right fit for you. Start here ... | |
| Leased to company that lost big accounts | 2/21/2009 |
| Q: The company I'm leased to (owner-operator only) lost a couple of main accounts (had their eggs in ... A: Tim, in this tough economy there are too many trucks chasing too few loads. I don't think you can ... | |
| starting a trucking company | 2/20/2009 |
| Q: Jim. I want to start my own trucking business. I don't want to lease my truck to a big company. I'd ... A: Maria, start here for your FMCSA requirements: ... | |
| Price on Loads | 1/24/2009 |
| Q: We just started and are being sub-leased by a company, I'm the owner but my son is the driver, When ... A: Mary, I would advise you to find another company to contract to ASAP. This is not an ethical way to ... | |
| getting a job | 1/18/2009 |
| Q: I have had my CDL-A for years and recently worked for a company for 6 months and then they fired me ... A: Tamma, my best advise is to be upfront with any prospective employer. You don't state what the ... | |
| CUSTOMERS | 1/13/2009 |
| Q: I own a flatbed company with four power units I have one regular direct customer but was looking for ... A: Tony, by your question I assume you know how to get loads through Brokers. To get direct shipper ... | |
| None Payment for loads delivered. | 1/12/2009 |
| Q: I am a owner operator. owned the truck not the trailer been leased on to this company for a couple ... A: Eric, at some point if you pull the plug and don't get paid you may have to resort to small claims ... | |
| trucking options | 1/8/2009 |
| Q: a window vendor in montgomery, al told me it was more expensive to ship flat bed vs normal enclosed ... A: Probably true. Flat Bed is considered a special equipment move and there are fewer companies ... | |
| broker | 1/4/2009 |
| Q: I'm in Id. have been hauling RV trailer, boats, horse trailers with a 53 ft. MO trailer. I would ... A: Shelby, best bet is to keep checking the load boards and you will probably find a few brokers who ... | |
| Broker vs. Trucking Company | 12/30/2008 |
| Q: I work for a trucking company. We did two loads for a broker. The loads originated in Houston, TX ... A: Chad, it all depends on the contract between the Broker and the Carrier. At the very least you ... | |
| Diesel Prices | 12/14/2008 |
| Q: With diesel prices low, is this a good time a start a trucking business? Now I have a vision, to ... A: Troy, sounds like you have a plan but this is a difficult business to make a profit in. Fuel prices ... | |
| ICC regulation | 12/12/2008 |
| Q: What is the term "ICC" on "ICC regulations" stand for? Thank you. A: Joe, ICC stands for Interstate Commerce Commission which was originally created by congress in 1887 ... | |
| Owner Operator | 12/10/2008 |
| Q: The question that I have is. I am trying to become an owner-operator. Lease on with a company to ... A: Ralph, you can make money or loose money on any business. The key is to understand your operating ... | |
| hot shot business | 11/27/2008 |
| Q: i am wanting to start my own hot shot business. i have many questions but am having a hard time ... A: Mike, here is the answer to the CDLhttp://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration-licensing/cdl/cdl.htm Here ... | |
| Small trucking company wants to start contracting. | 11/17/2008 |
| Q: Mr. Bowers, I own a small trucking company. We have 2 power units, 2 flat beds, and one step deck. I ... A: Matt, just to clarify: "on long haul cross country moves they will often cut that margin" You could ... | |
| Small trucking company wants to start contracting. | 11/16/2008 |
| Q: Mr. Bowers, I own a small trucking company. We have 2 power units, 2 flat beds, and one step deck. I ... A: Matt, I assume the $1.72 is all in including fuel. Depending on exact origin that sounds like a ... | |
| owning a trucking company/business | 11/15/2008 |
| Q: I am a current student and I have to do a business plan and I want to do it on owning my own ... A: Jessica, here is a sample you can start with: ... | |
| Billing regulations | 11/4/2008 |
| Q: We are a small trucking company that has been requested to be the carrier for a company, even though ... A: Victoria, I assume you are a Contract Carrier and as such you should have a contract between you and ... | |
| Small trucking company wants to start contracting. | 10/30/2008 |
| Q: Mr. Bowers, I own a small trucking company. We have 2 power units, 2 flat beds, and one step deck. ... A: Matthew, I have heard that a fair amount of flatbed capacity has left the market since the downturn ... | |
| pricing company's and what brokers give | 10/21/2008 |
| Q: my question is this I have been told about a book that gives you an idea of what is a fuel surcharge ... A: Aisda, I don't know of the book you are referring to. Fuel surcharges are commonly accepted and ... | |
| Ohio/DOT Laws and Regulations in regards to small trucking co., drivers, etc. | 10/16/2008 |
| Q: My husband HAD a good buddy who owns two trucks. He drives one and wanted my husband to drive the ... A: Jenny, check the FMCSA website to see if the "authority guy" is properly licensed and insured. ... | |
| South Florida Trucking | 10/15/2008 |
| Q: I have been driving OTR for 1yr. Now looking to purchase truck for hauling business in So. Fla. ... A: Jay, it all depends what you want to do. Long haul over the road tends to pay more than local work ... | |
| trucking | 10/14/2008 |
| Q: I want to pull a trailer 10,000+ with a 3500 series truck for commercial use. Can I put ... A: Scott, here are the federal requirements for a CDL: Classes of License: The Federal standard ... | |
| hotshot | 10/13/2008 |
| Q: Jim i was wondering do you need a cdl to run a hot shot rig? i use to have a cdl but after 7 years ... A: Don, I'm not sure running hot shot will get you home every night, but to answer your question it all ... | |
| trucking | 10/11/2008 |
| Q: What's the required amount of insurance should an independent carrier have to haul freight? A: Marc, if you are going to operate with your own authority you will need to comply with federal ... | |
| log books | 10/10/2008 |
| Q: is there or isn't there a regulation in PA about not having to carry both log books for beginning of ... A: Bobbi, here is a link to the Federal driver log regulations: ... | |
| dually and gooseneck | 10/8/2008 |
| Q: bowers. do you know of any hot shot trucking companies that will lease a dually truck and possibly a ... A: Chris, I don't know. But check out these websites and see if they lead you to someone in the ... | |
| Owner Operator looking for container work | 9/17/2008 |
| Q: myself and my husband started or own trucking business. We have 2 trucks and 2 48ft trailers. We are ... A: Tonda, I am not well versed in that industry but check out the association website: ... | |
| o/o | 9/16/2008 |
| Q: I am 50 years old. I know what it is like to work hard for a living. I was an Ironworker for 14 ... A: Ed, 1st thing is get your current CDL. I am not aware of any requirement to go to a driving school ... | |
| how to secure contracts | 9/15/2008 |
| Q: Jim, I have a 26' box truck and need direction on how to secure a contract? Should I go through a ... A: Ken, I assume you have your CDL. I think you have more steady work if you contract as an owner ... | |
| start trucking company | 9/14/2008 |
| Q: i been driving for 8 years and have experince in all types of trucking jobs.i want to go in ... A: John, whether you are in business for yourself or drive for someone else the price of fuel has to be ... | |
| starting up | 9/10/2008 |
| Q: would you say the way fuel prices are now, it is a good idea to open a trucking business? A: Logan, it's no better or worse than any other time. To succeed you need customers who value your ... | |
| whats the difference? | 9/8/2008 |
| Q: hey jim, my husband has been driving trucks for the better part of 33 yrs.thats where his heart as ... A: Jean, there are many options for training but I can't vouch for any of them. You will need to check ... | |
| sighning on with CRST Malone | 9/5/2008 |
| Q: Good evening Jim. Do you have any info on CRST Malone? Good or bad information on this company ... A: Paul, all I can tell what is public information: US DOT:105790 MC-075840 ... | |
| what numbers and permits are needed | 9/2/2008 |
| Q: My name is Michael. I been driving OTR ,for many years now, and decieded it time to run my own ... A: Michael, start with Arizona MVD: http://www.azdot.gov/mvd/motorcarrier/motorcarrier.asp for basic ... | |
| Truckers pay | 8/27/2008 |
| Q: Please tell me the difference between "Practical Miles" vs. "Rand McNally Miles"? Is it ... A: Chuck, it's true. There are several ways to calculate mileage. Carriers will use one of the major ... | |
| crst/contracts | 8/21/2008 |
| Q: Mr. Bowers: I was intrigued by your comments to an individual that was disspointed with CRST and ... A: To answer your question Dan; "Why is it all these large companies seem to have a huge turn-over and ... | |
| Payment terms | 8/20/2008 |
| Q: Is it a law that trucking companies should be paid by customers in 7 days after delivery date of ... A: William, the 7 day credit limit was in the old Interstate Commerce Act. After deregulation carriers ... | |
| get contracts | 8/19/2008 |
| Q: if i wanted to get my own contracts to cut out my middle person due to im gonna say his ... A: Jayson, you didn't give me much detail, but I assume you have your own operating authority. If not, ... | |
| freight bill | 8/15/2008 |
| Q: I run a small trucking company in California and have about $20,000 in uncollected freight bill. ... A: Chau, you can try to collect from the shipper unless you signed a contract with the broker that ... | |
| DOT Inspected Vehicle | 8/12/2008 |
| Q: In Louisiana, if I want to drive a Ford F-450 truck that has DOT inspection, I'm I required to have ... A: Jo, here is link to the federal cdl requirements: ... | |
| frieght rates/fuel surcharges | 8/6/2008 |
| Q: As an intermodal hauler from the ports in North Carolina,What is a fare rate? I have been given a ... A: Paul, I am not familiar with your market, but it does seem low. The 53% fsc sounds OK. You didn't ... | |
| Licenses, Insurance, Permits ...etc | 8/1/2008 |
| Q: To whom it May concern: My dad has been a truck driver for 8 years now. About a year ago he bought ... A: Kenia, start here: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/espanol/english/new_entrant_index.htm Be aware however ... | |
| Truck & Trailer Combination Weight | 7/25/2008 |
| Q: If I have a trailer at the weight of 22,500 and trailer at the weight of 10,001, does this require a ... A: Joyce, check with your state DOT. Below is excerpt from Florida and I think most or all states have ... | |
| New Start | 7/21/2008 |
| Q: I recently obtained a CDL-A, I drove in the 80's, hauling flatbed and Food grade tank 18 Wheelers. I ... A: Jeffrey, best advice I can give is keep trying til you find a company that will contract with you. ... | |
| leaseing or buying | 7/20/2008 |
| Q: I'm starting my own hot shot business and I wanted to know which is better leasing or buying a ... A: Again, you have options. The easy way to start is by contracting to an existing carrier as an owner ... | |
| leaseing or buying | 7/19/2008 |
| Q: I'm starting my own hot shot business and I wanted to know which is better leasing or buying a ... A: Justin, there is no right or wrong or one way fits all on this issue. First understand that there ... | |
| geeting started | 7/12/2008 |
| Q: I hope you can help me. I would like to know step by step how to start my own hot shot buisness in ... A: Rene, try these websites for ideas: http://www.expeditersonline.com/ ... | |
| Dirt Yard Start-up | 7/11/2008 |
| Q: My better half has the trucking experience, so bear with my ignorance. He has been an O/O, and has ... A: I'm not familiar with this specialty area, but try searching "dirt broker", or "dump trucking". ... | |
| changing truck companies | 7/10/2008 |
| Q: My son is a truck driver. He has only been one for about 8 months. He started out at Crst, but ... A: Elizabeth, wow, it sounds like he is off to a rocky start. There is always a demand for safe ... | |
| Factoring | 7/1/2008 |
| Q: Hey Jim, I am looking at ways to increase and maintain the solvency of my start up LTL (I am still ... A: Sheldon, I think you will find most of the van loads on the load boards are going to require at ... | |
| hot shot car hauling | 6/28/2008 |
| Q: how can i get in hot shot car hauling? i want to get my own authority, and i am planning on buying ... A: Elizard, for operating authority start here: ... | |
| Local rates | 6/24/2008 |
| Q: I'm an owner operator here in Texas. I'm trying to bid on a contract with a brick and stone company. ... A: Frank, with any pricing question the first step is to understand all of your costs both fixed and ... | |
| broker knowledge | 6/10/2008 |
| Q: I have a chevy 3500 with a 3-4 car trailer i often deliver cars for small car lots but there not ... A: A.J. Try these sites: http://www.getloaded.com/ http://www.expediteloads.com/index.cfm/Home ... | |
| owner/operator contracted with shipper | 6/6/2008 |
| Q: We have 3 drivers including my boyfriend. We are leasing all 3 trucks only and don't have our own ... A: Marie, looks like you need to keep working with this company for a while since they are helping to ... | |
| owner/operator contracted with shipper | 6/5/2008 |
| Q: We have 3 drivers including my boyfriend. We are leasing all 3 trucks only and don't have our own ... A: Marie, you say "We are leasing our trucks through them." Does that mean that you are leasing the ... | |
| owner/operator contracted with shipper | 6/4/2008 |
| Q: We have 3 drivers including my boyfriend. We are leasing all 3 trucks only and don't have our own ... A: Marie, there are a couple of issues here. First there is no reason why the shipper or carrier you ... | |
| Getting started | 5/30/2008 |
| Q: I have had a cdl since 2000 and i have an EIN, i want to get a semi so i need to know how to put in ... A: Cory, here are a couple of resources for you to check out: ... | |
| Fuel Surcharge | 5/23/2008 |
| Q: Jim, I am leased on to a small trucking company that hauls for a bigger carrier in our state. They ... A: Gail, the question "Is that fair?" is relative. It all depends on the total deal. If they are ... | |
| flatbed pay | 5/20/2008 |
| Q: How much to charge by the mile with a flatbed trailer, what is the going rate now.DO you add extra ... A: Al, there are too many variables. It depends on length of haul, specific lanes and direction of ... | |
| Becoming a freight broker | 5/2/2008 |
| Q: I would like to become a freight broker, but am not sure of all of the necessary steps that would ... A: Michael, do don't need have a certification or go to school, but you do need to be licensed by FMCSA ... | |
| training | 4/10/2008 |
| Q: do you have to go to a trucking school to get your cdl or can the training be done by the trucking ... A: Noel, there is no rule that I know of that requires school training as long as you can pass the test ... | |
| Late Model Trucks | 4/9/2008 |
| Q: My question is do most companys require late models trucks I have a 2001 dodge 3500 Quad Cab with ... A: Scott, some companies do have age restrictions on equipment but most are pretty lenient. You will ... | |
| cdl exemptions | 4/5/2008 |
| Q: i am thinking of buying a truck and trailer to haul cars . i was looking to get a 3500 or 4500 ... A: Mike, I think you will need a Class A CDL for this combination: ... | |
| trucking in louisana | 4/1/2008 |
| Q: im a trucker based in california. im thinking about relocating to louisana.what would be the best ... A: Brian, I don't have enough info to make a recommendation, but I assume by your question that this is ... | |
| Buy first or find business first?? | 3/31/2008 |
| Q: My fiance & I recently got "handed down" a small trucking company-we have 2 tractors (my fiance & ... A: Megan, in today's slow economy I would definitely recommend finding the business first. You have ... | |
| cdl requirements | 3/21/2008 |
| Q: I'm transporting (driving)a 26 foot straight truck that weighs less than 26,000lbs gvwr. It's a ... A: Carl, I don't know the regulations in your state, but here is the federal requirement: Commercial ... | |
| how to start | 3/15/2008 |
| Q: i am in driving school and should get my cdl- A license in 2 weeks. i used to invest in real estate ... A: Ashraf, I suggest starting as a company driver to get a couple of years of safe driving experience ... | |
| getting started | 3/12/2008 |
| Q: I am a grain farmer and am exploring the possibility of semi-retireing in the Phoenix AZ area. I ... A: Jeff, I don't know anything about this business or the local market in Phoenix, but you might start ... | |
| hot shot | 3/9/2008 |
| Q: i live in houston,tx and i want to start hot shotting. however, i have a few felonies and the most ... A: Glenn, without specifics the answer is "probably". Check out these websites: ... | |
| START UP | 3/5/2008 |
| Q: I JUST PURCHASED A TRACTOR FOR CASH AND WANT TO KNOW THE BEST WAY TO START OFF, WILL I NEED A ... A: I assume you are an Owner Operator. I suggest starting by pulling the company trailers because you ... | |
| Starting a Trucking Business | 3/4/2008 |
| Q: My husband and I are looking into starting a trucking business in North Carolina. We had a friend ... A: Nikke, I wouldn't make such a major decision on 1 persons report of 1 months results. The term ... | |
| hotshot | 2/15/2008 |
| Q: . was not told much but, i could make some good money doing this.. i am 44 years old and looking to ... A: Wendell, I am no expert on the Hotshot business, but here are a couple of sites that might be ... | |
| Pricing | 2/14/2008 |
| Q: My wife and I recently purchased a rig to get started in the HotShot buisness We would like to know ... A: Don, I am no expert in the Hotshot business, but here are a couple of sites that might be useful: ... | |
| good or bad(pricing) | 2/12/2008 |
| Q: Iam trying to start and run my own small fleet(2 tractors),and just like everyone else do not want ... A: Joel, It's hard to say on the surface. Does that include Fuel? How much "free" time are you ... | |
| Hot Shot Info | 2/11/2008 |
| Q: Wanting to get into the Hot Shot business and want to know about what the price per mile is going ... A: Eric, I am no expert on the Hotshot business, but here are a couple of sites that might be useful: ... | |
| Trucking company startup in New England | 2/9/2008 |
| Q: I recently sent this question to Isreal, then realized your background seems more aligned to the ... A: Rich, your model seems sound. I can't really speak to the regional differences since I do not ... | |
| ICC Regulations | 2/7/2008 |
| Q: I'm trying to find the regulation on concealed damages and filing claims. Can you tell me where to ... A: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/49cfr370_03.html Here is the place to start for the ... | |
| authority | 2/3/2008 |
| Q: how much does it usually cost to get your authority. insurance, etc. and when you get a load does ... A: Laura, start here for everything you need to know about getting your authority. ... | |
| finding customers | 2/1/2008 |
| Q: I've been an 48 state owner/operator for over 2yrs. I'm recently getting my own authority,but ... A: David, Pricing is part Science and part Art. Step 1 is know your costs in detail. Step 2 is market ... | |
| Hotshot | 1/28/2008 |
| Q: I have my own company and I was doing local transport with a 1 ton truck. I also have my class a ... A: Mike, I don't have any specific experience in this market, but I would try these to start: ... | |
| fedex trucking business | 1/27/2008 |
| Q: i got excited when i heard about fedex critical customs,.... but i don't have enough information. ... A: Renzon,I really can't answer that but suggest you find out what they will pay for different size ... | |
| Starting a freight forwarding business | 1/24/2008 |
| Q: My fiancee' and I, his nephew and wife would like to know how do we start up a freight forwarding ... A: Shannon, are you talking about international or domestic freight forwarding? These are two very ... | |
| finding customers | 1/21/2008 |
| Q: I've been an 48 state owner/operator for over 2yrs. I'm recently getting my own authority,but ... A: David, building up a customer base can be very time consuming even for a dedicated sales person. ... | |
| OO Pursuing Independent Contract | 1/20/2008 |
| Q: We are new to the trucking industry, and decided to enter with a Straight truck (24ft straight, ... A: Harv, from a contract perspective familiarize yourself with the ATA NITL model Truckload contract. ... | |
| Starting a Trucking Company | 1/19/2008 |
| Q: I am thinking about starting my own company. I have 11 years of driving experience, almost 10 years ... A: Phil, with your experience you probably have a pretty good idea of the various options. Unless you ... | |
| Hot shot Insurance | 1/16/2008 |
| Q: I have done quite a bit of research here and elsewhere on being legal hotshotting. I'll pay about ... A: Mark, if you are operating entirely within a state you just need to check your states requirements ... | |
| Hot shot Insurance | 1/11/2008 |
| Q: I have done quite a bit of research here and elsewhere on being legal hotshotting. I'll pay about ... A: Mark, don't confuse liability with insurance. As a carrier your liability will only be limited by ... | |
| Who do I drive for? | 1/7/2008 |
| Q: I just graduated from a PTDI certified school in Liverpool, NY ( NTTS) maybe you are ... A: Jeff, there is still a shortage of qualified drivers so you should be able to find something. The ... | |
| Freight Brokerage | 1/5/2008 |
| Q: just found this site myself. I've been doing some research into opening a Brokerage, and I have ... A: Rita, I have not seen the material but TIA is the leading industry association for Brokers so I ... | |
| Hot Shots | 12/27/2007 |
| Q: I am in the process of putting on some hot shot trucks, my questions are: 1. Do drivers have to ... A: Ken, 1. the CDL requirement is based on size of truck. ... | |
| boat hauling | 12/18/2007 |
| Q: im about to turn 20 and im a firefighter in florida. as you might know i have alot of time off and i ... A: Kyle, with this type of truck you might be interested in the expediting sector, also known as ... | |
| Owning your own dump truck | 12/17/2007 |
| Q: I am thinking about buying a dump truck or two and I read the two posts about owning a dump truck. I ... A: Lin, this is the classic Chicken and the Egg scenario; which comes first? I tend to be conservative ... | |
| How much do you charge a mile for ltl frieght? | 12/8/2007 |
| Q: just looking on starting a hot shot business and not sure how everything works. I went on ... A: Chris, Generally a broker will offer a load or ltl at a set price to see if he can find a qualified ... | |
| Are brokered loads the only way???? | 12/7/2007 |
| Q: My husband has had his authority for about 6 months now. He's registered with several brokers and ... A: Kimberly, if your husband has his contract operating authority and the appropriate insurance and DOT ... | |
| sites | 12/6/2007 |
| Q: what are the best sites for a car hauling business? i use central dispatch right now but if you ... A: Tim, I don't have any personal knowledge in this field, but here are a few you might check out: ... | |
| Hot Shot start up | 12/4/2007 |
| Q: Jim I am looking at starting a hot shot company in north central Texas. My question is what I need. ... A: Caleb, aside from the usual stuff you need to do to start and run a business, here are suggestions ... | |
| Trucking broker | 12/2/2007 |
| Q: Jim- My husband is an over-the-road driver who is in the process of buying his own truck and I am ... A: Sarah, you will be better off if you can find a broker to hire and train you. To do it on your own ... | |
| Owning your own dump truck | 11/27/2007 |
| Q: My fiance' is thinking about looking into owning his own dump truck. He has worked in the trucking ... A: Tomica, the first question is who will hw haul for? Do you have customers lined up or will he ... | |
| pricing issues | 11/9/2007 |
| Q: I am new to the trucking industry and have been an owner operator for only a short time. I have ... A: Clayton, the "market" rate for this lane is about $1.24/mile +.32/mile fsc. There is currently a ... | |
| Trying to start up | 11/8/2007 |
| Q: I am in the process of opening my own hot shot business. I am using my personal truck to haul ... A: Lindsay, this is outside my normal area of expertise but the $1.00 to $1.50 sound like it should ... | |
| couple starting out | 11/4/2007 |
| Q: My wife and I are considering a career in trucking. Can you recommend any information sources? A ... A: Jim, I think this is an excellent way to start. You can start with any size truck and then decide if ... | |
| Hot shot trucking | 10/24/2007 |
| Q: I have ten years of driving experience, and I am very serious about starting my own hot shot company ... A: Daniel, if you are just starting I would recommend signing on as an owner operator with one of the ... | |
| pricing | 10/23/2007 |
| Q: being new to the trucking business, I'm struggling with determining what is a fair price when ... A: Paul, if I were in your position I would subscribe to an online data service that collects and ... | |
| new carreer | 10/20/2007 |
| Q: I am wanting to start a new carreer as a driver. I'll need to get the CDL and everything. What is ... A: I can't really recommend any particular school, but I wouod suggest staring with your local ... | |
| Hot Shot Trucking | 10/17/2007 |
| Q: Jim- I know a couple who have started a trucking business here in Houston, they have one truck, the ... A: Eric, the term leasing as used in trucking can have several variations. You can lease a tractor or ... | |
| Need Advise | 10/13/2007 |
| Q: I obtain my CDL in 2005 and in 2006 I had a truck accident with a fatality. They charged me with ... A: You are in a difficult situation. If you had years of safe driving before this accident you would ... | |
| Bid/Proposal Forms | 10/9/2007 |
| Q: Bowers, Just want to start off again and thank you for your great advice. My question is there ... A: Manuel, any templates I have seen are created for a specific customer bid / response. Many bids ... | |
| Contracting with Local Courier Services | 10/4/2007 |
| Q: In Georgia, we are making the transition from driving tow trucks (had 2, sold them) to 24' or 26' ... A: Maddy, I think you have a good plan, BUT, be sure to read any contract you are handed in detail. ... | |
| company expansion | 10/1/2007 |
| Q: I'm novice to the industry-but i am considering investing or partnering in the expansion of my ... A: Dennis, there is no easy answer to your question. The current driver shortage is national in scope ... | |
| Trucking Partnership | 9/30/2007 |
| Q: Friends rig is in the shop and needs me to help him get it out. We are considering a partnership ... A: PJ, there is more than one way to go on this. If you operate as an owner operator running under ... | |
| Bid Process | 9/28/2007 |
| Q: Bowers, Looking into getting my own contracts from shippers. Do shippers put out "bids" and ... A: This is part of that marketing, prospecting and sales effort. You just have to start asking and ... | |
| Bid Process | 9/27/2007 |
| Q: Bowers, Looking into getting my own contracts from shippers. Do shippers put out "bids" and ... A: Manuel, large shippers with big volumes generally put their freight out for bid to their select list ... | |
| Own Business - Contracts | 9/26/2007 |
| Q: Bowers, Probably this question has been asked a million times but this is my first time finding ... A: Manuel, most small trucking companies have a mix of business. Some directly from shippers and some ... | |
| CPM on standard loads | 9/19/2007 |
| Q: I did some research on getloaded.com and some other website, but I can'realy get price info. I see ... A: Ray, the pricing will be all over the board depending on the lane, the direction, and general ... | |
| Starting in the business | 9/14/2007 |
| Q: some of my friends and myself are trying to make a move and join together with about 15 trucks and ... A: Ray, to begin start by understanding the legal requirements for DOT registration. ... | |
| Starting a Dump Truck Business | 9/10/2007 |
| Q: Good Afternoon Mr. Bowers: I have gained a lot of interest in getting into the Dump Trucking ... A: Bobby, I assume you are talking about buying a truck and running as an owner operator. It sounds ... | |
| o/o looking for local work | 9/6/2007 |
| Q: Whats the best way to find local work for an o/o most local co.s dont advertise and dont have web ... A: Mike, target the 3PL and warehouse companies that have their own fleets. Most will have a mix of ... | |
| OTR Experience Not Recent | 9/2/2007 |
| Q: I have a total of 3 yrs experience driving OTR. However, I have not drove since 2001. Im finding it ... A: Bobby. I'm surprised you are having difficulty finding a job with the constant demand for drivers. ... | |
| driver salary | 8/29/2007 |
| Q: I'am starting a car hauling buisness and I know that most truckers get paid per mile but in my case ... A: I'm sorry but I really don't have and specific market knowledge for car haulers. It will be ... | |
| Buying a 53 foot reefer trailer | 8/21/2007 |
| Q: My brother and I recently started our own trucking business. We only have one truck at the moment ... A: Here is another site to check out for used trailers: ... | |
| Hot Shot car hauling local rates | 8/17/2007 |
| Q: I'm thinking of getting into the hotshot car hauling business with a 1 ton dually and an open 3-4 ... A: Tom, I'm not familiar with the local market for this service and your competitors are not likely to ... | |
| Specialty Trucks yet still no work | 8/16/2007 |
| Q: My family and I just started trucking business in Texas with a couple of conveyor trucks. They are a ... A: David. This is a really unique specialty niche. I checked your website and the manufacturer's. ... | |
| bol law regarding payment | 8/13/2007 |
| Q: We did some cross dock work for a broker who is now defunct, one of the carriers who picked up here ... A: I would suggest contacting a transportation attorney. There are several variables. Was the carrier ... | |
| Specialty Trucks yet still no work | 8/10/2007 |
| Q: My family and I just started trucking business in Texas with a couple of conveyor trucks. They are a ... A: David, I am not familiar with the truck you describe. Is it an open bulk hauling truck like a dump ... | |
| Novice Importer Needing Guidance | 8/8/2007 |
| Q: Boy am I glad I found your website. We're beginning an import business and we'll be importing about ... A: There are many variables that can impact both cost and service. I would start by contacting drayage ... | |
| start-up idea | 8/5/2007 |
| Q: Jim; I have an idea to deliver freight locally within 100 of dowtown Atlanta. Using a 26 ft. box ... A: Charles, just to follow up. Look at this link: ... | |
| contract negotiations | 7/27/2007 |
| Q: My brother wants to get back on the road and would like to work on getting a contract so he can have ... A: That changes the answer a little. As an owner operator you can either contract to a regular ... | |
| contract negotiations | 7/26/2007 |
| Q: My brother wants to get back on the road and would like to work on getting a contract so he can have ... A: Clay, the first step is to identify what type of work he is looking for. I assume he is not an ... | |
| Contracts for auto hauling company | 7/24/2007 |
| Q: Do you know where I can obtain a sample contract for an auto hauling company? A: Nicole, I don't know of a contract specifically for auto haulers. You might start with the general ... | |
| hotshot hauling | 7/17/2007 |
| Q: Is there a internet load that is more focused on hotshot or ltl loads most i have found seem to be ... A: Terry, I assume you already know about this website: http://www.expeditersonline.com/ It's not a ... | |
| truck size | 7/16/2007 |
| Q: I wonder if you could tell me if my pick up truck is useful to haul freight and if so could you ... A: Wes, you will be limited by the carrying capacity of your truck and if it's open or closed on the ... | |
| Need a F450 dump truck | 7/12/2007 |
| Q: I just started my business in masonry, and in need of a f450 dump truck. do you have any ... A: Try these websites: http://www.trucker.com/Trucks.aspx?EquipType=5&EquipTypeName=Dump_Truck ... | |
| Transportation Broker | 7/5/2007 |
| Q: I work as a credit research investigator, doing credit reports on trans broker, and shippers, I was ... A: Jamie, for the legal licensing requirements go to FMCSA: ... | |
| Cutting out the middle man | 6/27/2007 |
| Q: My husband is an 0/0 and he would like to get loads directly from shippers instead of dealing with ... A: Sara, as an OO you can lease directly to another motor carrier. If you lease to a motor carrier you ... | |
| trucking briker | 6/16/2007 |
| Q: we have a hot shot trucking now and are looking into starting up in the broker business, how much ... A: Regina, for the legal licensing requirements go to FMCSA: ... | |
| hired movers | 6/7/2007 |
| Q: we hired a moving company to come and move our belongings from Colorado to California. This is a ... A: Barbara, the Interstate Household Goods moving industry is regulated by the FMCSA. Check this link: ... | |
| starting up side work | 6/3/2007 |
| Q: I have a 1Ton truck and 26ft gooseneck trailer with 2 10,000lb axles i want to know if there is any ... A: Typically this type of equipment is used in the "hot shot" business. Depending if you have an open ... | |
| how to find local flatbed shipping | 6/1/2007 |
| Q: Good morning, I am trying to locate a shipping company in or around Luzerne county, PA and I'm not ... A: Samuel, I don't personally know any flatbed truckers in your area, but you might start here: ... | |
| Charge per mile | 5/24/2007 |
| Q: I have been a company driver for about 8 years and I have finally decided to start working for ... A: As you might guess Rick, I like the rest cannot give you a specific CPM for all the same reasons. I ... | |
| bidding usps mail route | 5/23/2007 |
| Q: I would like to bid on a mail route using tractor trailers running 300 miles prox per day local. ... A: Merle, I can't tell youo how to price your services, only you can determinine that from your ... | |
| Dump trucking | 5/16/2007 |
| Q: I'm currently Ower Operator in the freight hauling industry in local Chicago Intermodal. I will love ... A: Lloyd, I'm sorry I don't have any specific knowledge of the dump trucking market in the Chicago ... | |
| Hot Shot business | 4/24/2007 |
| Q: Jim- I am an accountant by trade, in fact, both my wife and I are accountants. Lately, I have been ... A: Eric, I am no expert in this business, but check out these websites for a general feel for the ... | |
| Should I start my own company | 4/16/2007 |
| Q: I have a furniture co in Eastern PA and I make around 50-75 delvieries to NJ/NY/MA we have asmall ... A: Mike, you may need to consult a good attorney on this one. I took a quick look at the NJ sales tax ... | |
| Pricing Structure | 4/9/2007 |
| Q: I am starting up a hot shot company and I am looking for help in setting up a pricing structure. I ... A: E.B., Pricing is 1/2 art and 1/2 science. 1. Know your costs and the difference between fixed and ... | |
| Pricing | 4/9/2007 |
| Q: Jim, I would like to know if you could tell me if there are any sites out there that can help in ... A: Khari, Try this site: http://www.promiles.com/TruckMiles_WEB.asp You can also get miles from Google ... | |
| Assesorial cost | 3/20/2007 |
| Q: What do you mean by Assessorial cost ? A: Accessorial charges are generally added cost for additional services above and beyond the basic ... | |
| trucking | 2/14/2007 |
| Q: what is the difference between a courier service and a freight forwarder or broker? Also, if a ... A: Pat, here is an article that goes into some detail on the subject. ... | |
| trucking investment | 2/10/2007 |
| Q: Like the other person I too have no idea about trucking business and am in a position where I can ... A: Frank, the numbers sound ok, but it sounds risky. Why wouldn't an O/O simply finance his truck ... | |
| Trucking Investment | 2/6/2007 |
| Q: Jim, This is just a case of me financing a truck and then leasing it to a carrier. My only ... A: Sounds prestty simple. What is the term of the lease and what will the residual value of the truck ... | |
| Trucking Investment | 2/6/2007 |
| Q: I'm not sure you can answer this question for me. But you may be able to give me some insight with ... A: Jeff, a couple questions. Who is going to drive the truck and provide the loads? Is this simply a ... | |
| Trucking | 1/24/2007 |
| Q: I own 3 trucks two 48 and one 53, like someone else I saw who asked a question we now use a third ... A: Ashley, it's all about sales. Start with companies you know. Ask questions, get to the decision ... | |
| What to charge | 12/24/2006 |
| Q: I have a 18ft van which I plan to hall freight in for different companies here in Southern ... A: In a short haul operation subject to traffic congestion it's more a matter of time than miles. ... | |
| Bidding on Contract | 12/19/2006 |
| Q: A fellow co-worker and I work for a company who does nothing but shuttle trailers and the contract ... A: Roger, shuttle trucking is not for the faint of heart. It's a tough way to make a buck. How big is ... | |
| Difference Between Dispatcher and Broker | 11/29/2006 |
| Q: Could you explain the difference between a work at home dispatcher that services an owner operator ... A: Jeffrey, i have never heard of a work at home dispatcher that services an owner operator. Is ... | |
| Shipping a water truck | 11/26/2006 |
| Q: We are a drilling company located in San Jose Costa Rica. We recently purchased a Mack 6X6 water ... A: Jerry, this is a bit out of my area of expertise, but I would suggest getting quotes from a couple ... | |
| Another part of the trucking industry | 11/20/2006 |
| Q: I have worked behind the wheel of a truck (over the road) and found that: It sucks. The principal ... A: Lemas, dispatching and brokering are two alternatives to use the knowledge you gained as a driver in ... | |
| profits in the trucking industry | 11/12/2006 |
| Q: How much can a company driver OTR make throughout the year with intensive driving 6 days of the week ... A: A company driver OTR is usuall paid by the mile, so you want to work for a coompany that will give ... | |
| invoicing | 11/6/2006 |
| Q: What is the time limit to bill assesorial charges that were not billed on orig. invoice? A: Tina, if you are operating as a common carrier the limit for undercharge and overcharge claims, ... | |
| truck broking | 10/14/2006 |
| Q: Can you help me find a source to work for as a truck broker. I just got off the road from being a ... A: Amy, do youo have your brokers license? or looking to work for a broker? You could also work as a ... | |
| OTR and drive time/ Log Books | 10/5/2006 |
| Q: I am interested in OTR. But, I have heard stories about drivers and the LOG BOOKS. Can I really ... A: Peter, your bewst source of information on Hours of Service is the FMCSA website: ... | |
| Zone rates | 9/29/2006 |
| Q: I am just starting in the buisness as a owner operator with my own authority, where can I find ... A: I don't know of anything like what yoiu are looking for. The market determines the rate and as you ... | |
| invoce | 9/28/2006 |
| Q: pleae advice on the proffesional invocing wording. we were hold up and not loeaded for 2 days -- ... A: Steve, before you bill anything, what does your contract say? You can use any standard invoice form ... | |
| dispatching trucks | 9/24/2006 |
| Q: I would like some information on how to become a truck dispatcher. Any and all information would be ... A: Amy, not knowing your background it's hard to say where to start. Here is a possability: ... | |
| Owner operator just starting | 9/20/2006 |
| Q: My boyfriend just purchased a truck[owner operator] Down the road we would like to look into ... A: Kim, I don't know of any government driving jobs outside of the military. The government usually ... | |
| My own Operating Authority!!! | 9/20/2006 |
| Q: Jim- I purchased a tractor earlier in the year and leased on with a gentleman pulling his stepdeck. ... A: I'm not real familiar with the market in the Northwest, (I'm in Florida). But there are several ... | |
| Owner Operator | 9/18/2006 |
| Q: I have a very unfortunate situation I need to handle and I am hoping you would not mind helping. My ... A: Gini, not knowing the specifics of your case I can respond only in generality. You mentioned a ... | |
| Career Change | 9/7/2006 |
| Q: I am thinking about changing careers. OTR trucking keeps popping into my head. What can I expect? ... A: Truck Driving is definitely a good career for a woman if you are suited to the irregular hours and ... | |
| payment of fuel surcharge | 9/6/2006 |
| Q: Mr. Bowers, I lease to a nationwide carrier and their only customer at my terminal pays a pretty ... A: John, the first thing is to look at your contract to see if they specify how the fuel surcharge is ... | |
| brokerage | 9/1/2006 |
| Q: My husband is going to be an owner operator and I want to become a broker. Do I need to go to ... A: Yes Carietta, you do need a license to legally act as a broker. I don't know any shippers or ... | |
| Need Advice | 8/18/2006 |
| Q: I escort oversize loads. My question is if another escort company that I run loads for does not pay ... A: This is outside my area of expertise, but it seems like a simple question of who did you contract ... | |
| truck broker | 8/14/2006 |
| Q: I am wondering if you know anything about http://www.freightbrokerbootcamp.com/, like is a reliable ... A: 1st question Brenda, do you have any experience in Trucking? There is a whole lot more to the ... | |
| no pay for driver | 8/5/2006 |
| Q: .i have a friend who is working for werner now. of course, he is long-haul. for the past 2 months, ... A: I don't have any personal knowledge of Werner's business practice, but if they did this to all of ... | |
| bidders list | 7/14/2006 |
| Q: Just wondering if you have any links or information about getting on a bidders list for a small ... A: try these: http://www.costpermile.com/load%20boards%20online.htm You could also consider signing on ... | |
| how to become a trucking broker | 7/6/2006 |
| Q: I am interested in becoming a truck broker handling freight in the US. How would I start. Thank ... A: Depends on your current industry knowledge and network of contacts. Start by checking out the ... | |
| Pricing | 6/19/2006 |
| Q: I am hauling ltl freight. If I were to come up with a daily rate and then charge per mile, would my ... A: There are a couple of ways you could do this depending on the customer's preference. You could ... | |
| Pricing | 6/18/2006 |
| Q: I have been contracted to a major carrier and am now looking to go out on my own. I've been ... A: Are you talking about truckload or LTL? How far do you want to go? Is it just you and 1 truck? ... | |
| how 2 be a broker and advice | 6/9/2006 |
| Q: ------------------------- Followup To I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP MY TRUCKS AND BECOME A BROKER ALSO. AND ... A: Juan, I would start by checking out the industry association: http://www.tianet.org/index.htm There ... | |
| how 2 be a broker and advice | 6/9/2006 |
| Q: I HAVE 3 TRUCKS AND TWO OF THE TRUCK I DO SPLIT SEAT. I AM LEASE ON TO A COMPANY IN JACKSONVILLE FL. ... A: Juan, it all depends. Are you planning to get rid of your trucks? or use the brokerage to get ... | |
| Becoming a owner/operator | 5/16/2006 |
| Q: I have thought about leaving my 9 to 5 job for quite sometime now and becoming a owner/operator ... A: I would suggest signing on with a company at first to see how it works out and how you like it. ... | |
| Becoming a owner/operator | 5/16/2006 |
| Q: I have thought about leaving my 9 to 5 job for quite sometime now and becoming a owner/operator ... A: You can definitely make it as an owner operator if you are hard working and flexible. I am curious ... | |
| Rate and Reliability | 2/27/2006 |
| Q: I am establishing a business that requires the transportation of freight within four separate ... A: Peter there is deefinitely someone out there interested in serving your business. The pricing will ... | |
| where do truckers sleep? | 2/10/2006 |
| Q: i've been wondering about this for a while now since i considered being a trucker a few months ago. ... A: Eigan, there are all kinds of driving jobs. Many local driving jobs have you home every night, ... | |
| Submitting a bid | 1/19/2006 |
| Q: We would be hiring drivers, since my husband already runs 6 days out of the week. We are bidding on ... A: If you have accurately calculated your total costs including depreciation to replace the truck down ... | |
| Operating costs | 1/18/2006 |
| Q: I am thinking of buying my own truck and I was wondering if you could outline some of the costs that ... A: Shane, check out this link: http://www.ooida.com/Documents/2003_Cost_Ops.pdf This should give you a ... | |
| starting a trucking company. . .? | 1/18/2006 |
| Q: A friend of mine has recently informed me of his desire to start a trucking company. Nothing big. ... A: Keith, you have heard the saying "If it sounds too good to be true, it prabably is!". Having said ... | |
| Submitting a bid | 1/14/2006 |
| Q: My husband and I operate a small trucking company with our own authority and our own insurance. We ... A: There are really too many variables but this is basically a supply and demand business. What kind ... | |
| rate question | 10/9/2005 |
| Q: ------------------------- Followup: Wow! That was fast! My wife and I are leased to a small carrier ... A: Carlos, you do not need your own authority to contract to Bullet or any other carrier as you would ... | |
| rate question | 10/9/2005 |
| Q: my wife and I are owner operators looking to get our motor carrier authority and contract with a ... A: we are practicaly nieghbors. I live in Lakeland. I'm not sure exactly what to tell you. The ... | |
| truck brocker | 8/15/2005 |
| Q: Are there any schools that i can take a truck broker class at other than the DOT? Also what are the ... A: Tiffany, I would start with the industry association, The Transportation Intermediaries Association ... | |
| Truck Recruiter/Broker Jobs | 8/14/2005 |
| Q: I'm a 51 y.o., O.T.R. trucker w. 4.5 yrs. exp. Getting kind of tired of being gone for periods. I ... A: Mike, I have seen ads for broker training schools but don't have any knowlege of how good they are. ... | |
| Trucking Income Possibilities | 6/24/2005 |
| Q: I live in Tennessee and have no trucking experience (currently looking into the best route into the ... A: Gary, are you planning to sign on as a company driver or buy a truck and operate as an ... | |
| Become a Broker | 5/16/2005 |
| Q: My neighbor is a truck broker and seems to be doing quite well at it (he has mentioned this twice ... A: Dennis, truck brokerage sounds like a good business to operate from home but it all comes down to ... | |
| Truck Driving | 4/12/2005 |
| Q: I live in Huntsville, Texas and I am looking at getting into trucking. I wanted to see if you could ... A: Michael, I don't have any knowledge of truck driving schools, but there is a shortage of qualified ... | |
| semi trucks | 2/23/2005 |
| Q: why are they called "semi" trucks. I'm dying here, I can't find the answer anywhere online! A: I have head other theories but I think when they were first invented most trailers or carts had 4 ... | |
| Trucking Charges | 1/31/2005 |
| Q: Jim, I need some info on what and how i should be charging customers. I have just started a small ... A: Todd, I am not real familiar with the pricing structure in this segment but anything "expedited" ... | |
| o/o vs. motor carrier | 1/18/2005 |
| Q: just a quik addtional question. if we have o/os hauling loads for us is that considered brokerage in ... A: If you hire an owner operator they are acting as a contractor to you, so the freight has to move ... | |
| owner operator vs motor carrier | 1/18/2005 |
| Q: so would a motor carrier maybe less hassle, what about the cost differance, we haul intermodal from ... A: Not knowing the details of your business, it would be difficult to give you a credible answer one ... | |
| owner operator vs motor carrier | 1/17/2005 |
| Q: i work for a small trucking company(3 trucks)and we want to expand and haul more loads but at this ... A: Jeff, Owner Operators are a good way to expand your capacity but not easy. Most Owner Operators ... | |
| Trucking Salaries/ Employability | 1/9/2005 |
| Q: I am talking to some schools right now, and they are telling me how high the demand is for truckers. ... A: There is currently a severe shortage of truck driveres throughout the country. Although I don't ... | |
| truck costs | 10/14/2004 |
| Q: where can we find out costs average for the trucking industry as far as all costs relating to ... A: Marion, so much depends on your particular type of operation, but the best source of information I ... | |
| Buy a Truck? | 6/14/2004 |
| Q: I am asking for some quick help on a matter. An OWNER OPERATOR company named "Refrigerated Transport ... A: Mike, be careful what contracts you sign. To check out this carrier, start by getting their MC or ... | |
| Trucking Rates | 5/28/2003 |
| Q: Jim - I work for a company in Southern California and we manufacture furniture. Each week, we ... A: Bill, Your truckload rates seem to be pretty much in line for quality carriers. You might find ... | |
| Dispatching | 5/20/2003 |
| Q: first, I want to thank you for volunteering your expertise and I hope my question is within the ... A: Don, this is not my normal area of expertise but I believe that many dispatchers are former drivers. ... | |
| Trucking! | 6/4/2001 |
| Q: One of my friend want to buy a couple of trucks and used them for shiping( as a freeland). At first ... A: You might want to be very cautious until the economy starts to come back. Take a look at this ... | |
Jim Bowers
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Expertise in U.S. Trucking Industry, Solution Development, Pricing issues, Bid process, Negotiations, Costing and Pricing information systems.
Experience
30 years.
LTL, TL, and Dedicated Pricing programs, Activity Based Costing, Cost modeling.
Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals
Organizations
Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, Roundtable Officer.
Education/Credentials
BA Marketing.
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