Expediting Your Career

A common conversation topic among drivers, and other like-minded professionals, is the idea of no longer driving for someone else, but rather following their dream of becoming an independent contractor and thus one's own boss. So, how does one go from career steering wheel jockey to being head honcho? Let's consider the ways.

How It Starts

Most folks begin their working lives in a low-key job. Maybe it's as a server in a sit-down restaurant, or as an order taker in a fast-food joint. Perhaps their first job was working in retail or in an office setting. Whatever it was, it helped set a precedent for what could be expected when first joining the American workforce.

But as time marches on, people can grow weary of taking orders and performing a job for the sake of someone else's fortune and glory. The same can be said for those who make their livelihood as a professional truck driver, they typically start out driving for a company or a fleet owner. But eventually, some of those folks want to experience what it's like to call their own shots.

Not every person is built this way, of course. There are a lot of fine folks out there who simply feel more comfortable working for someone else because it eliminates certain stress factors, like dealing with taxes or finding their own health insurance. But for every person who is more than okay with punching a daily timeclock, there is someone who wants to taste that sweet freedom of being an independent contractor.

How It Progresses

Say you're one of those who wish and dream to someday be your own boss. How do you get there? How do you get from point A to point B? Well, here are some suggestions that might help in transitioning from company driver to independent contractor.

• First, learn the ropes. Go and drive for a company or a fleet owner and learn the ins and outs of expediting, there's no shortage of drivers out there willing to share their knowledge. Seriously, have you ever sat at the coffee counter in a truck stop? You're bound to pick up little nuggets of advice (good and not-so-good) from the folks nearby.
• Give yourself at least a year to get educated. Take some time to learn the important ins and outs of driving expedite. Make sure you have a working understanding of what loads are good loads, and what areas are best for freight. Pick the brains of the fleet owner, the dispatchers, and other drivers.
• The internet can also be a great place to gather information that pertains to the expedite trucking industry. Search out trucking tax professionals, insurance companies, and legal advice regarding starting your own business. Because as an independent contractor, that's exactly what you're going to be, a business owner.

What's Next?

Once you've collected all your new-found experience and industry know-how, it's time to step out on your own. The key is to prepare for everything and expect anything. The difference in making the jump from company driver to independent contractor is going to be night and day, so you better rest up before you get started.