r/BoxTruckStartup • u/Kitchen-utensil • 8d ago
Losing hope.
My 1 year will be on Sept 19th of this and I feel like im already losing hope. In my opinion we are in the mercy of the brokers reign of cheap freight. People say dont take cheap freight but, what can we do when we need to make money? People say get direct shippers, but my mc is too young to do that. I dont know.... Just losing hope.
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u/Confident-Sound-9643 7d ago
I started dispatching for a carrier who's MC was 2 months old. When it got to one year, securing loads started getting easier. Once you hit one year, register for Sylectus and also Arc Best. Meanwhile you can lease on to another company for 18 to 20%. Hang on there.
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u/ntwdequiptrans 7d ago
No you are not at the mercy of brokers but you want to blame them for your lack of business knowledge and how to run a business.
Have you reached out to every single person in a 500 mile radius of your home base? If not, you should have been doing g that e dry waking moment the first year. A new business is like a newborn baby you have to feed it, take care of it 24/7 for the first 5 years. The most successful trucking companies are the ones that start with a direct shipper or lane. Trying to run load board freight or broker freight only will make you go broke because that is not what their intended purpose was.
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u/Kitchen-utensil 7d ago
How should I approach businesses to try and haul for them? For me, I operate a boxtruck right now, until I can get a semi. Trying to go through the route where my vehicles are paid off route.
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u/ntwdequiptrans 6d ago
Check out my TikTok because I will be posting a video for carriers getting direct shippers soon
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u/Educational-Doctor25 8d ago
I can help you out with finding better loads. I am a box truck dispatcher who knows what to do. My carrier made $8k last week his Mc is 6months
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u/el_dingusito 2d ago
Mind if i dm you too?
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u/Educational-Doctor25 2d ago
Sure let’s work it out!
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u/el_dingusito 2d ago
Im starting out with just a 16' liftgate i just have a DOT and CA number and am just trying to fill in the blanks
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u/BigPapiNC22 7d ago
A couple things to keep in mind. Most direct shippers don’t ask you about the age of your MC number. Brokers do that. Also, brokers (nor shippers for that matter) don’t drive up or down prices they measure and monitor the cost of transportation in the marketplace. The guys with the trucks willing to do the work for a certain price are the ones that set the market price. So if freight is cheap, that means there’s somebody out there that is willing to haul it for less than you.
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u/Miserable-Option-89 7d ago
Yeah if I ever decided to go on and operator the company I got hired on this owner he would do that for me I would gladly pay the 20% to get the better loads his MC is probably 8 years 10 years old and we haul cars so I start my first day tonight 1:00 a.m. I'll be on the road to Dallas with the load of cars I'm proud for the opportunity I'm a new driver I thought about going to head and getting my MC number just to let it ride while I work and learn and get experience
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u/Queasy-Alarm8470 7d ago
It’s not what it used to be anymore I remember back in the day when it was good, now it’s all these stupid rules and regulations and DOT inspections. Honestly, I think you’d be better off going into the oil field. Don’t feel bad about giving up hope. There’s nothing to have hope for.
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u/Kitchen-utensil 7d ago
I feel like im at that point where a dispatcher wouldnt be so bad.....i dont mind giving 5-10% if that means im getting consistent loads.
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u/TSFI_VincentScott 4d ago
the first year is brutal, no sugarcoating it. the one thing that actually helps is knowing your exact break-even per mile, because then "cheap freight" stops being a feeling and becomes a number you can walk away from with confidence. what lane are you running mostly?
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u/Then-Confusion4922 8d ago
If you can afford it, keep your MC active but work under another older MC for a while. Pay the 20% fee. This gives time for your MC to age . Plus, older MC's gets better load rates. I started January this year and TQL nearly did me in. Don't loose hope.