April 30th, 2005, 13:39
...and Dave asked for some participation, I copied one of my answers to him over here from the RT
If you do decide to get your authority, please be very very carefull.
This is not a guessing game ,and you really should know what you need to do, and have all your eggs in a row.
Although you can do everything online, but since you are an OOIDA member, why not let them take care of everything for you.
It will cost you more that way, but they know exactly what they are doing.
They can also put you in a drug consortium, so thats one less thing you gotta bother with.
They can take care of your IRP, (if its not in your name right now), IFTA permits, Single State Registration..etc
For a small fee, you can utilize their business services,and they 'll audit your logbooks for you among other things that you need to do.
After a while when you decide that you know how to do these things yourself, and might even enjoy doing them, then you can stop using OOIDA services....But to start out with, I highly reccomend you go that route.
Next..You will need to find your own freight...This is not as bad as it sounds..You already have laptop, so just sign up for a couple of load boards and the way you go....You may want to sign up for a credit checking service...They can check the credit of a particular broker that you need information on...usually they run about 40 bucks a month, or you can pay by case by case...
You always hear horror stories on people not getting paid, and lose the business....This is just my experience, but I had 1 nopay, so far for 500 dollars. Yes sometimes it does happen, but mostly to people that dont do their homework, and will just take any ole load that they find...
YOU MUST BE PATIENT.....Cant panic right of way, when you dont find something you want....usually the good loads are there, just gotta wait sometimes.....I sometimes kick myself for taking a load that I didnt really want, and an hour later, there is a load that I could have taken.
Factoring loads...(quick pay)...I myself do not reccomend signing up with a factoring company..If a broker offers quickpay..(3% for a 2-3 day pay is acceptable to me), then I will usually take it, but I wont sign a contract with a factoring company.
Remember, cash flow is key..
If you need any help I will be happy to help anyway I know how...lots of people helped me, and I'll be more then happy to return the favor.
_________________
There is more info, but basicly this is the very least one should know when taking the plunge
If you do decide to get your authority, please be very very carefull.
This is not a guessing game ,and you really should know what you need to do, and have all your eggs in a row.
Although you can do everything online, but since you are an OOIDA member, why not let them take care of everything for you.
It will cost you more that way, but they know exactly what they are doing.
They can also put you in a drug consortium, so thats one less thing you gotta bother with.
They can take care of your IRP, (if its not in your name right now), IFTA permits, Single State Registration..etc
For a small fee, you can utilize their business services,and they 'll audit your logbooks for you among other things that you need to do.
After a while when you decide that you know how to do these things yourself, and might even enjoy doing them, then you can stop using OOIDA services....But to start out with, I highly reccomend you go that route.
Next..You will need to find your own freight...This is not as bad as it sounds..You already have laptop, so just sign up for a couple of load boards and the way you go....You may want to sign up for a credit checking service...They can check the credit of a particular broker that you need information on...usually they run about 40 bucks a month, or you can pay by case by case...
You always hear horror stories on people not getting paid, and lose the business....This is just my experience, but I had 1 nopay, so far for 500 dollars. Yes sometimes it does happen, but mostly to people that dont do their homework, and will just take any ole load that they find...
YOU MUST BE PATIENT.....Cant panic right of way, when you dont find something you want....usually the good loads are there, just gotta wait sometimes.....I sometimes kick myself for taking a load that I didnt really want, and an hour later, there is a load that I could have taken.
Factoring loads...(quick pay)...I myself do not reccomend signing up with a factoring company..If a broker offers quickpay..(3% for a 2-3 day pay is acceptable to me), then I will usually take it, but I wont sign a contract with a factoring company.
Remember, cash flow is key..
If you need any help I will be happy to help anyway I know how...lots of people helped me, and I'll be more then happy to return the favor.
_________________
There is more info, but basicly this is the very least one should know when taking the plunge