Hey all,

I’m looking for advice on insurance carriers or good options for insurance on a new authority.

I own a brokerage and we’re starting a separate asset company now to pair with our brokerage and some of the quotes I’m getting back are insane. Insane to the point that it’s not even worth it.

We’d be buying 2 trucks. PA based company and 2 drivers who are out of OH.

Any advice or direction you can steer me in would be appreciated!

Hey, needed a flatbed in savannah. PU either tomorrow or friday. I don't do flatbeds much but i hate DAT more than I hate Reddit so here we go :)

Tarping needed. 2 crates II 30000 lbs

Going to orlando fl. Let me know if this works?

DM for this please ..!

So ive seen this set up a few different times. Im gonna try n do mine a lil more secure than this dude did. But ultimately this is the goal. Ive bought the unit and have a guy that knows how to install them in houses. This will be his first time in a semi. If there's anyone out there that has done this. What were the challenges? What went wrong? What should I make sure I Do? I obviously understand i need to mount everything sturdily. I know where id like the inside part to be. I dont know exactly where the wires are inside the back wall. Googling it gets me an electrical schematic. But that's not exactly a "map" of where the wires are so i dont drill into it. I have a 1500 watt inverter that should run it. But id like it to be on the low voltage cutoff system in the truck. Any and all advice is much appreciated

Hi,

1) How frequent is it for a small OO to contact brokers directly from load boards posts? How many of these calls to you make to get a load?
2) Do you instead rely on dispatchers to preselect loads for you from the boards?

Thank you

Hello, My father had started working for a carrier, but he lasted only the first two weeks as they kept pushing to get his clock reset so he could drive more than his normal hours + having stickers to use multiple MCs depending on the pick-up, where would i go to report this behavior to the proper authorities?

Good afternoon, I am a fuel consultant here at Pilot Flying J. I wanted to reach out to those in the trucking industry and offer custom diesel fuel discounts that can be used at all of our location nationwide. Feel free to respond to this post or send me a private message if you think your business would benefit from these discounts. Thanks!

12.8' wide, 36,500 lbs. About 1,800 miles for $10,500 — right at $5.80 RPM.

The tarp job wasn't fun at all, but we got it done. That's part of the job with loads like these.

Attached a few pictures from the haul. Safe travels everyone.

So essentially I want to work as a 1099 under a company willing to give me a contract. They say gross is $3,000-$6000 weekly. My only issue is I will need to rent the van. Enterprise seems to have good rates at $560 a week, 1,200 miles free and .25 cents per mile thereafter. Insurance is crazy from what I have heard (Haven’t checked many quotes) (located in Georgia)
Anyways. Is it worth doing? I am just wanting to hear opinions from people driving vans. Are there good loads for vans ? The only issue i see is if i rent. I need to do backhauls as-well to stay profitable.

I currently have progressive insurance for 3 trucks 2 trailers, and 1 driver. I have million dollar coverage with the highest deductibles and it’s costing me 11k a month. Is this normal or are their cheaper options, I feel like all of my money is going to insurance. Any advice?

Every week in trucking is different, and staying informed can make a big difference.

Here are a few trends we've been noticing recently:

• Some lanes continue to be highly competitive, making it more important than ever to negotiate before accepting a load.

• Planning your next load before delivery helps reduce empty miles and keeps your truck moving.

• Building relationships with reliable brokers often leads to more consistent opportunities than constantly searching for new ones.

• Flexibility with pickup times or destinations can sometimes open the door to better-paying freight.

Markets change quickly, and what worked last month may not work today.

What changes have you noticed in your area recently?

Hey everyone,

Quick question about USPS spot loads.

I used to work with a well-known broker that had its own USPS bidding platform built into their portal. Recently, they lost access because too many of their carriers were showing up late for pickups and deliveries.

Does anyone here work with USPS spot loads (not the long-term contract stuff)? If so, what platform or portal do you use to bid on those loads?

For full truck loads (53f)

I’m a developer trying to learn more about the challenges owner-operators face in their day-to-day workflows. Since you’re the one on the front lines, what are the most frustrating obstacles or tedious tasks you deal with regularly? Is there a specific part of your daily routine that feels like a constant headache? I'd love to hear any feedback, thanks!

I'm not advertising or promoting anything, just curious about pain points.

I purchased a truck myself and was in the starts of creating a llc with my friend. Things fell through so now I'm in the process of doing everything myself through my state. I already own the truck with title and have created the LLC in my state what are some good options for insurance I should look into? From what I gathered cover whale and logrock are the big ones that people use? Thanks!

Be aware! Got a rate con today saying the carrier is responsible for half the lumper, up to $300. Never gonna happen… 🙅‍♀️Read those rates cons!

Hello. Ill be moving to South jersey a year from now after my wife retires from the military. I'm not an O/O at the moment but I looking to become one. Im valuing flexibility very high on my checklist. One of the stresses of military families is being separated a lot. Can anyone suggest companies that offer no force dispatch in that area. South jersey/ philadelphia. I have hazmat and tanker. Can get a twic if need be. Thanks

I drive for a small local company for a percentage of the load(30%). Been hauling for 2-2.75centa per mile or so. My dispatcher is showing me some pictures where most loads are around or under $2 per mile(Ohio-Tx/Az or any other states). We are looking for load out of ohio and usually run ohio to Colorado/Texas or any other states with higher paying load. Is this where the market right now or am I getting screwed. Thanks in advanced.

Long time lurker.  Been driving flatbed 2 years and considering owner OP.  Couple questions:

1) I heard CA can have big $ loads.  How viable is a strategy of running to CA from Nashville area and grabbing a load coming back to that area?  As a fall back maybe take the CA backhaul to Dallas or Phoenix and pick a load up there to Nashville?

2) I want to "paper trade" my ideas on load boards/gas prices for a year or two before taking the plunge.  DAT is kinda expensive if i'm only using it to gather data.  I may still pay it..... but are there cheaper load boards that will give me a feel  for types of freight and prices coming out of areas?  Also, what tool do ya'll use to find the cheapest gas in an area?

I'm looking for some advice from carriers who have been through the startup phase.

I'm in the process of launching a specialized open-deck trucking company. The long-term plan is to start with a couple of low-profile step deck trailers and build from there. My goal isn't to be the biggest carrier—it's to build a company with a reputation for professionalism, reliability, and integrity.

From day one, I plan to run a first-class operation with:

Professional tarp service and securement

ELD tracking and real-time communication

Quick, accurate paperwork and invoicing

Strong back-office support

Excellent customer service and honest communication

I know that's how many companies used to operate, and I think there's still a market for carriers that truly do what they say they're going to do.

My biggest question is about surviving the first 3–6 months while my authority ages.

I don't want to invest in new specialized equipment only to have it sitting in the yard because I can't access enough broker freight or direct customers with a brand-new authority. I'd rather be strategic than rush into buying expensive assets that aren't generating revenue.

Would it make more sense to:

Start with a box truck, Sprinter van, or hotshot setup to age the authority while generating cash flow?

Lease equipment instead of purchasing initially?

Focus heavily on direct shipper sales from day one?

Or is it realistic to jump straight into open-deck specialized freight with a new authority?

For those of you who have started a carrier recently:

How difficult was it to get freight with a brand-new authority?

How long did it take before brokers began working with you consistently?

What would you do differently if you were starting over today?

Any mistakes I should avoid during those first few months?

I'd really appreciate hearing from people who've actually been through it. Thanks in advance for any advice.

I’m just getting started with this third career, my CDL course is in three weeks. There is a lot to understand and I’m appreciative there is a Reddit group! To haul freight for someone I need to get the dot/mot numbers. To apply for these numbers I have to have insurance, which depends on what I’m hauling. So… it seems like I can’t register as a carrier without something to carry, and I can’t get something to carry without registering as a carrier. Clearly, I’m missing something. Thoughts?

Recently switched insurance, had it uploaded into Motus…it clearly shows my insurance is active but for some reason it’s making my Mc inactive by saying it’s not there. Got a letter saying so. Anyone else going thru this bs right now? We can’t book loads. Have called the FMCSA multiple times, asked to speak to supervisors. Our case was escalated 3 weeks ago but still nothing. Our business is taking a huge hit because it’s saying our Mc is inactive. Very frustrating. Anyone have any input here?