Fast Freddy
Well-Known Member
Simple Question. If you could change one thing about this industry what would it be and why?
Local drivers having to do regional freight. Shouldn't ever happen.Road drivers having to do local freight. Shouldn't ever happen.
What would you like it to cost and require?Increase the cost and complication of getting an authority dramatically. Startup into this industry as a carrier is way to simple and cheap and allows people who have no business trying to run this type of business easy access.
It creates nothing but problems for everyone else.
Yeah that's easy to say as someone who already has authority.
It's like guys who were thrown the keys back in the 70s bitching about the lack of driver training.
Photography is another one you can get into cheap and ruffle feathers. Same story of they don't know what they're doing, don't belong here, don't charge enough, but aren't good enough to charge what we charge, etc etc etc.Has nothing to do with me already having authority.
This business is probably one of the easiest there is to start up, costs almost nothing in terms of other startups.
As a result, the industry gets flooded with startups, most of which cannot operate properly and fail.
At the same time, they are always showing up, operating at below operating costs, and make it much tougher for the rest of the industry to maintain proper rates. They also far too often operate sub-standard equipment until they do fail, only helping to bring in additional over-regulation to everyone else.
Then, when they fail, they simply start back up again under a new name, for the same zero cost, with the same horrible equipment.
What would you like it to cost and require?
But anyways this is just an opinion thread so I'm not gonna argue with you about it. I apologise for even getting started.
I was under the impression that they sent someone around to look at your stuff at your home base shortly after you apply and get approved.Couldn't give you an exact number, but the authority would be in the Thousands, not $300 or whatever it is now.
I would want more oversight into a startup. First year or so of operation, a more thorough look into the equipment, and the experience of those driving.
Getting my authority was a joke. I let OOIDA do mine, and it still only cost me around $600, and their entire fee that was over the authority cost being waived since I got insurance through them. Nobody ever looked at any of my equipment, I simply uploaded a small list of documents and two weeks worth of logs less than a month into operation (that was the extent of my new entrant audit).
I signed up for prepass, and it was almost three years into having my authority before I ever received my first DOT inspection, and that was just a quick paperwork check, no inspection on my equipment at all. I could have been operating the worst of equipment that entire time, nobody would have known.
I have flown completely under the radar. For me personally, that is awesome. But when I think of how many suspect companies can start up in the same fashion and operate absolute crap equipment, it's a bit scary to think about what is out here.
Good deal. I didn't want you to think I was being combative about it.I don't see it as arguing, I think it is good to point out the positives and negatives of everything. It's how we learn.
There are other businesses besides trucking where this is true. While I agree with your sentiment, I would not be in business today if the cost to get started were much higher.Has nothing to do with me already having authority.
This business is probably one of the easiest there is to start up, costs almost nothing in terms of other startups.
As a result, the industry gets flooded with startups, most of which cannot operate properly and fail.
At the same time, they are always showing up, operating at below operating costs, and make it much tougher for the rest of the industry to maintain proper rates. They also far too often operate sub-standard equipment until they do fail, only helping to bring in additional over-regulation to everyone else.
Then, when they fail, they simply start back up again under a new name, for the same zero cost, with the same horrible equipment.
You might be.There are other businesses besides trucking where this is true. While I agree with your sentiment, I would not be in business today if the cost to get started were much higher.
I can get behind the level playing field with self insurance.You might be.
If the risk is higher, usually the reward is as well.
My idea here is only a small part of the entire idea that I have. It would be much more in depth to also keep the large carriers in check by eliminating the allowance to be self insured. I would want them under the same stipulations as us, which would put them out of business for hiring horrible drivers. It would also force rates up higher because their operating costs would increase.
If they're running unsafe equipment around, government can enforce safety rules.Increase the cost and complication of getting an authority dramatically.
more fresh roller dogs at all truck stops, convenience stores, and customers, and terminals, and toll plazas, and DOT scale houses.Simple Question. If you could change one thing about this industry what would it be and why?
If you want to get rid of the fly-by-night carriers, push for an end to the selective enforcement of existing safety regs.
Oh trust me, the risk was way high. At 27 with a young family and it being a struggle just to make ends meet working for wages EVERYTHING was on the line.You might be.
If the risk is higher, usually the reward is as well.
My idea here is only a small part of the entire idea that I have. It would be much more in depth to also keep the large carriers in check by eliminating the allowance to be self insured. I would want them under the same stipulations as us, which would put them out of business for hiring horrible drivers. It would also force rates up higher because their operating costs would increase.
Increase the cost and complication of getting an authority dramatically. Startup into this industry as a carrier is way to simple and cheap and allows people who have no business trying to run this type of business easy access.
It creates nothing but problems for everyone else.