One profitable move does not always make a good lane. Consistent volume, reload options, equipment fit, dependable schedules, and a customer who communicates can matter more than the best rate on a single load.
What has to be true before you put real time and capacity into developing a lane?
One profitable move does not always make a good lane. Consistent volume, reload options, equipment fit, dependable schedules, and a customer who communicates can matter more than the best rate on a single load.
What has to be true before you put real time and capacity into developing a lane?
A strong rate can look a lot different after deadhead, tolls, expected wait time, fuel, and the chance of finding a decent reload are factored in.
Owner-operators, what numbers do you run before accepting a load? And which cost do you think newer operators are most likely to overlook?
A strong rate can look a lot different after deadhead, tolls, expected wait time, fuel, and the chance of finding a decent reload are factored in.
Owner-operators, what numbers do you run before accepting a load? And which cost do you think newer operators are most likely to overlook?
Every owner-operator expects repairs. The harder question is knowing when you are maintaining a good truck and when you are throwing money at a problem that keeps coming back.
Do you have a repair-cost threshold, downtime limit, or other rule that tells you it is time to move on from a truck? Or is it always a case-by-case decision?
Every owner-operator expects repairs. The harder question is knowing when you are maintaining a good truck and when you are throwing money at a problem that keeps coming back.
Do you have a repair-cost threshold, downtime limit, or other rule that tells you it is time to move on from a truck? Or is it always a case-by-case decision?
Not because you think it's easier.
Because you're curious what their day is actually like.
Whose role would you want to experience, and what do you think would surprise you the most?
There's no shortage of conversations about what needs fixing in trucking.
So let's flip it around.
What's one change over the last 10 to 15 years that you think genuinely made the industry better?
Not because you think it's easier.
Because you're curious what their day is actually like.
Whose role would you want to experience, and what do you think would surprise you the most?
There's no shortage of conversations about what needs fixing in trucking.
So let's flip it around.
What's one change over the last 10 to 15 years that you think genuinely made the industry better?
Everyone tracks the obvious metrics.
Revenue. Margin. Loads.
What's one KPI you pay attention to that you think deserves more attention?
Or is there one metric the industry puts way too much emphasis on?
Every industry changes over time.
What's something in trucking that's slowly disappearing that newer drivers might never experience?
Could be equipment, habits, truck stops, paperwork, technology, or anything else.
Everyone tracks the obvious metrics.
Revenue. Margin. Loads.
What's one KPI you pay attention to that you think deserves more attention?
Or is there one metric the industry puts way too much emphasis on?
Every industry changes over time.
What's something in trucking that's slowly disappearing that newer drivers might never experience?
Could be equipment, habits, truck stops, paperwork, technology, or anything else.
If you couldn't be a truck driver anymore, what job do you think you'd end up doing?
Not necessarily your dream job, just something where the skills you've built over the years would transfer well.
Curious to see what people would pick.
If you couldn't be a truck driver anymore, what job do you think you'd end up doing?
Not necessarily your dream job, just something where the skills you've built over the years would transfer well.
Curious to see what people would pick.
What's one opinion about freight that you'll defend no matter what?
Could be about rates, technology, customer relationships, carrier relationships, negotiations, communication, or anything else.
What's one opinion about freight that you'll defend no matter what?
Could be about rates, technology, customer relationships, carrier relationships, negotiations, communication, or anything else.
Not necessarily something major.
Maybe it's a better way to track appointments, document conversations, onboard carriers, or communicate with customers.
Sometimes the smallest process improvements end up having the biggest impact.
What's been the biggest game changer for you?
You hear different opinions on this all the time.
Some drivers say the sense of community isn't what it used to be. Others say drivers are still just as willing to help each other when it matters.
What's been your experience? Has the culture changed over the years, or do you think it's mostly the same?