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...

One of the facts of life as an expediter is the (often long) wait time between loads. So, if you're going to have to sit for a while, you might as well enjoy and make the most of that layover, right? What should you look for in an ideal layover destination? EO spoke with veteran team expediters Bob and Linda Caffee and Tom and Tina Evans to get their advice and learn about their favorite layover hot spots. As you evaluate prospective layover locations, keep these questions i...

On November 30, 2015, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a final rule, effective January 29, that protects truck drivers from coercion by motor carriers and third-party logistics firms to violate hours-of-service and other commercial vehicle regulations. Said FMCSA acting administrator Scott Darling in the agency's announcement: "Any time a motor carrier, shipper, receiver, freight-forwarder, or broker demands th...

If you're an expediter, you understand that temptation to fight through sleepiness. "I can do this," you think. Drink coffee. Get fresh air. Splash cold water on the face. You run through your list of "quick fixes" to stay awake and on the road. After all, you scold yourself, miles equal money and if your wheels aren't turning, you're not earning. But resist that urge to "tough it out" because it's putting you and the public at risk of a major incident, like what happened on...

Financing a high-ticket commercial truck is not the same thing as getting a loan to purchase your personal vehicle. There is a higher risk involved with truck financing that impacts what traditional lenders look for in prospective borrowers and how they structure their loans. Today we'd like to highlight an alternative to traditional lending. ExpeditersOnline.com spoke with Jeff Tacker, Vice President of Operations for Expediter Services in Southaven, Mississippi, to get his ...

As you shop for a new or used expediter truck, you probably need a loan to purchase that truck (unless, of course, you have a spare six figures stashed in the bank). But financing a high-ticket commercial truck is not the same thing as getting a loan to purchase your personal vehicle. There is a higher risk involved with truck financing that impacts what lenders look for in prospective borrowers and how they structure their loans. So, what should you expect with the truck fin...

When it comes to trucking regulations, June 2015 was a busy month with federal agencies announcing a new finalized rule (electronic stability control), a proposed rule (Phase 2 GHG emissions), and strong recommendation (collision avoidance systems). But as an expedite owner-operator or fleet owner, why should you care? How will these announcements impact your business? Expedite NOW has combed through the government's press releases and hundreds of pages within the rulings and...