Talk to any fleet owner and ask them what their biggest challenge is, and the vast majority will reply that it's finding and keeping good dependable drivers. That's because with unemployment at historic lows and increasing demand for freight in recent years, fleet owners are struggling to compete for drivers to keep their trucks rolling and earning money. So, how can you gain a competitive advantage in attracting the "cream of the crop" drivers to your fleet? Here are four ma...

As an expedite owner-operator or fleet owner, you may not have a lot of time to read books. But you can always find time to listen to good books-while you're driving, working out, cleaning your truck, or performing other tasks-to expand your knowledge, learn new skills, and become a more profitable expediter. So, which audiobooks can help you change the trajectory of your business and your life? Here are three to check out. The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don'...

Accepting a load, buying a truck, working with customers-these are just a few instances where effective negotiation skills can pay dividends in your business. But good negotiation is not about getting all you can at the expense of the other party. Instead, negotiation should be more like collaboration to arrive at an outcome that both sides can feel good about. At least that's the perspective of successful team expediters like Bob and Linda Caffee and Jason and Heather Hutch...

Meet Scott Driskill. Scott is a former EMT (emergency medical technician), who got into the expedited trucking business in 2012, first as a fleet manager and then as a driver. In 2017, Scott bought his first van-a 2014 RAM Promaster extended van-to become an owner-operator. And about a year later, in April 2018, he purchased a straight truck to officially become a fleet owner. Today, Scott runs Hammerhead Logistics headquartered in Bucyrus, Ohio, operating a fleet of three v...

When you invest six figures in a new expediter truck, you don't want any regrets. That's especially the case when spec'ing a custom sleeper for your truck where your goal is to balance comfort and cost. After all, your truck is your home away from home, so comfort is essential. But your truck is also a tool to generate revenue for your business. And the more you pay to accommodate amenities you might want, the less profit you get to keep. So, how can you ensure your next cust...

What would define "success" for you in 2019? Is it earning a specific amount of income? Is it achieving a certain level of health? Is it taking the next step in your business to become, say, an owner-operator or fleet owner? This is the time of year most of us reflect on our goals. But how do you ensure that achieving success with one goal doesn't lead to failure in other areas of your life? For example, you could set an income goal that would require you to run much harder ...

Benjamin Franklin put it best when he said, "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." And one resource that can help you generate a high return on your time investment in expanding your industry and business knowledge is ExpeditersOnline.com (EO). So, what were the most-read articles on EO to help you grow your business this past year? What were the most popular topics? In case you missed any of them, here are the Top 10 EO articles for 2018. #1. How to Succeed as ...

Meet Carol Shelton. Before getting into expedited trucking in 2010, Carol ran a freelance bookkeeping business from her home, while her husband Joe worked as a sales and technical trainer in the convenience store industry. The couple drove for a fleet owner for several months before they purchased their first truck in early 2011. And then, in 2013, they bought two more trucks to become fleet owners themselves. Today, Carol and Joe manage a fleet of nine straight trucks at R2R...

When expedite owner-operators Bob and Linda Caffee arrived at a customer's site one evening to deliver a load in Charlotte, N.C., something didn't feel right. "Their gates were open, and when we drove in, it looked odd," Linda recalls. "Something just wasn't right, but we couldn't put our finger on what it was. So, we turned around and went probably about 20 miles to a truck stop." And it's a good thing they did. In the morning, when the Caffees went back to the site to deli...

Is your truck ready for winter? If not, the last thing you want to happen is to be stuck on the side of the road in bitterly cold conditions, especially for an issue that could have been avoided with proper planning. So what can you do to prepare your truck to reduce the risk of downtime, improve truck safety, and be as productive-and profitable-as possible during the harsh winter months? Veteran expediter Bob Caffee recently put together a great video where he starts underne...