When you operate under your own motor carrier authority, you get to call your own shots and keep more of your income by negotiating rates directly with customers and not having to share a cut of your revenue with a carrier. But all the support that a carrier supplies -- such as sales and marketing, dispatch, and other important business services -- you'll have to handle on your own. And while the rewards of getting your own authority can be attractive, the risks are high. Wha...

The Affordable Care Act -- also known as "Obamacare" -- has been a political lightning rod since it was passed into law in 2010. But for trucking owner-operators, the ACA may actually be making health insurance more "affordable." At least that has been the case for veteran expediters Linda and Bob Caffee. When they received notice that the health insurance company they had been with for about 10 years was going out of business, the Caffees explored other options. They started...

Choosing a motor carrier is one most important business decisions you make as an expedite owner-operator or fleet owner. But when it comes to evaluating carriers, there is no "one-size-fits-all" option. So, what should you look for in a carrier to ensure it's the best fit for your own business and lifestyle goals? EO spoke with three expediters to find out why they chose their carrier and what advice they could offer rookie expediters on selecting a company. Here's what they ...

Properly maintaining your truck's tires not only keeps you (and the public) safer on the road but also saves you a lot of money. As results from tests conducted by Goodyear show, just 15 percent underinflation of steer, drive and trailer tires results in about an 8 percent drop in expected tire life and a 2.5 percent reduction in fuel economy. And according the American Trucking Associations Technology and Maintenance Council, a constant 20 percent underinflated condition red...

At the rate of a gallon of fuel wasted per hour, engine idle can get real expensive -- real fast. And excessive idle is illegal in many areas of the U.S., creating risk of hefty fines if you continue running the engine to keep your truck heated or cool when it's parked. So. what are the latest developments in idle reduction technology to help you cut fuel waste without sacrificing cab and sleeper comfort? Here are three new anti-idle systems that have just entered the market ...

If you're constantly feeling sleepy throughout the day, you might be suffering from sleep apnea. And that could be having a major impact on your long-term health and safety as an expediter. According to the National Sleep Foundation, obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where your breathing is interrupted repeatedly during sleep, with a breathing pause that lasts at least ten seconds. Sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat fail to keep the airway...

You're considering becoming an expediter to be your own boss, set your own schedule, see the country. Or, perhaps, you even dream of owning your own fleet of trucks in the future. Whatever your ambitions, the expedite business is just that -- a business -- and that involves both risks and rewards. So, as you evaluate expedited trucking as a business opportunity, we've put together this 5-point checklist to help you look at the business with your "eyes wide open." This way, if...

As an expedite owner-operator, your truck is a tool that makes you money. So, if it breaks down on the road, you not only have to pay for the repairs but -- with every hour that truck is down -- you also lose revenue. And that can be catastrophic to your business. How can you more effectively care for your truck to prevent untimely breakdowns -- and protect your financial future? Follow these three tips. 1. Make daily pre-trip inspections a top priority "Truck maintenance, in...

What does the expediting trucking landscape look like for 2016? What trends should we expect? EO recently spoke with industry veterans John Elliott, chief executive officer for Load One LLC, an expedited trucking carrier headquartered in Taylor, Mich., and Stuart Sutton, former president of Sylectus and now CEO of Full Circle TMS, a Toronto-based transportation management software firm. We asked them to peer into their crystal ball and share what they see for 2016. Here are t...

You want to become an expedite owner-operator to launch a new career, see the country, and take charge of your financial future. But if you overlook important start-up expenses, you'll put yourself (and your health) under a lot of stress, as you struggle to pay the bills and keep your dream alive. So, avoid unpleasant surprises by making sure you can cover all your startup costs before diving into the expedite lifestyle. 1. Carrier Costs When you're planning your startup cost...