Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/671338
Feature • Are you comfortable with working with a partner for long stretches of time or do you prefer alone time and having your own space? Keep in mind that you're operating in very tight quarters with your partner for several weeks at a time. So, if you're planning to operate as a team, make sure you're a good fit. The expedite lifestyle can put a lot of stress on your team relationship, especially if you're not compatible in terms of personalities and goals. 4. Carrier Selec on If you're considering becoming an owner-operator, what should you consider in a trucking carrier to lease onto? Keep these 3 "C's" in mind. Culture Think about the carriers you're evaluating. What's the sense you get about their company culture? Is it an environment in which you think your business could thrive? Do you feel that you would be treated with honesty and respect? A carrier's reputation precedes them, so talk with other drivers to get candid feedback about their experi- ences with a carrier. Customer Base Who are the carrier's primary customers? Is the carrier locked into one industry, where its success (and yours) would be tied to the health of that market? Or does the carrier serve a wider range of industries? The answers to these questions will let you know if the company is going to be around for the long haul. Compensation You want to know how you're going to get paid and when. Does the carrier pay by flat rate per loaded mile or per- centage of revenue on each load? It's not that one pay plan is inher- ently better than the other; it's that you want to at least understand how you're going to get paid so you can run num- bers that compare the pay plans based on the specifics of your situation. This way, you can determine which plan would be most advantageous to you. 5. Contract Considera ons What should you know before you sign the lease contract with a carrier? The first key is to know what to ex- pect in a solid lease agreement. Refer to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulation part 376.12 on "Written Lease Agree- ments." This will give you an excellent overview of what must be (and cannot be) included in the contract for it to be compliant. Then, as you review a carrier's contract, look for chargebacks, which are fees taken out of your pay to cover administrative fees, applicable insur- ance, and other charges. Your compen- sation package might look great at first glance. But unexpected, burdensome chargebacks could quickly eat away your profits. So, know what to expect with chargebacks and compare with other carriers before signing. Also, the contract should outline precisely how much responsibility you have in terms of cargo claims and what the deductible will be. For expedit- ers, deductibles typically range from 14 April 2016 BestDriverJOBS www.bestdriverjobs.com