A trucking career isn’t for everyone; it is a very hard job to do and equally as stressful. Although this is true there are a lot of things that are great about being a truck driver or owner operator. The fact that your job is over the road, and if travel is something that is appealing to you then this is heaven. Trying to decide whether or not the trucking industry is for you is something that you should think about and take in all the factors that come with it. Truck driving is not just a job, it is a lifestyle and if you have never done anything close to it than you should consider heavily what you are going to get yourself into.

          Take these facts into consideration:

1.) The annual wage for workers in trucking in 2004 was $44,456 which is 10% higher in comparison the state’s average annual wage which was $40,276. In addition most of these employees receive health and retirement benefits.

2.) As far as long distance drivers are concerned, after some time in this type of position the new driver often takes a job requiring much less time on the road. After a year or so of experience the individual who wants to be home more often can usually find a job that allows them to be home every day.

          There are a lot of other factors that go into these two facts and can change them for the better or worse. With wages going up and down and the time needed on the road going up, there are some that would rather take opportunities in other career fields. The trucking industry is not for everyone and the decision to enter into this career shouldn’t be taken lightly. To find the best trucking career in the Chicagoland area please visit Elite Trucking Jobs and find out how you can start your career today.

Owner Operators v. Company Drivers*
- By: Joe Johnson
         

          “There was an old saying, which is still true, “Never work for the truck, the truck should always work for you.”

          What this means as an Owner / Operator (O/O), after paying all of your overhead (including paying yourself a compensation and benefits package), the revenue your truck is generating that exceeds the above, that is your profit. Without profit, you are working for the truck instead of the truck working for you … Before becoming an O/O, you need to know what you are worth as a company driver. That can vary from $30,000 a year as a rookie who’s right out of trucking school to around $100,000 a year as a very experienced driver with endorsements and no tickets or preventable accidents. However, this might mean being gone over 330 days a year and stuck on a sleeper team with a teamster carrier.

          Most of us have an idea of what we are worth, now take that number and add an additional 25% to 35% to it for a benefits package. Now, you have a number for your labor cost (if you become ill, lose your CDL, or if something else happens which prevents you from driving, you will still need to pay this to someone). Then, you need to estimate how many miles a year your truck is going to rack up. Once you have this information, you can divide your labor cost (let’s say $90,000) by your mileage (let’s say 150,000 miles) and that will give you your total labor expense (in this example, it works out to 60 cents a mile).

          The next step is to crunch the numbers on your other expenses; such as, fuel, food, etc. Since I haven’t been an O/O since 1984, I am not going to list them all; however, a rule of thumb used to be, “Two times your labor cost just to break even.” Or, to use the above example, a minimum of $1.20 per hub mile would be your cost and anything above that would be your profit.

          Another old saying that still is true is, “To be a successful O/O, you have got to have the contacts and the contracts.” An example would be someone who has a relative which happens to be the shipping manager for a large corporation. The company only leases a few O/O’s as they have a contract with each of them for X number of loads. When they need more transportation services, in order to move the remainder of their shipments, they call a common carrier to haul the excess. When business slows down, they have a commitment to their O/O’s who keep running while the common carrier’s trucks sit around waiting for work.

          I will never forget the recessions I’ve been through. I remember being in truck stops (on both coasts) and seeing drivers actually physically fighting over loads! These loads barely paid the fuel cost, but these O/O’s need that money to get home. The brokers just grinned as if they were feeding scraps to starving dogs. Take it from someone who has been there and done that; if you don’t have the contacts or the contracts, forget about it. The last thing you want to be during a recession is an Owner / Operator.

          Hopefully, now you see why many companies would prefer to have an O/O v. Company Drivers. With company drivers the companies are taking all of the risk; whereas, with O/O’s the corporations can shift a large amount of their risk to others.”

* This article was taken from Job Bank USA at http://www.jobbankusa.com/CareerArticles/BusinessAspects/ca102907c.html

          To find the best trucking career in the Chicagoland area please visit Elite Trucking Jobs and find out how you can start your career today.

          For those truckers who are thinking about leasing a truck from a company or from a private dealer there are some things that you should take into consideration before going out on this venture. Leasing a truck can be the best decision for some truckers if you know what you are getting into, read over your contract carefully, and keep your head straight. Don’t jump into any decisions without taking a day or two to think it over. Leasing a truck is a very serious business and can have life-changing effects on you; they could be good or bad but that depends on what you get yourself into and if you can handle payments and the lifestyle of a truck owner.

          The first thing that you want to keep in mind is that the salesperson is looking to make their money, so don’t jump on the first price they give you. It is most likely much more than the actual price you could pay for your truck. The second thing to make sure of is that the truck you are thinking about purchasing is in working condition. There are horror stories about how someone purchased a truck that was in need of extensive repairs that were never fully taken care of. Why would you invest in a piece of machinery like this? You shouldn’t, so make sure to check what you are getting before signing.

          Third you should watch for the fact that buying a truck is an investment and you should make sure that you can afford it every month. Try to keep in mind that, as an owner operator, some months you are going to make more than others. So try to factor in the months where you will not be making as much; are you going to have enough left over after your payments in order to survive? When you talk to the person that is selling you your truck they are going to make it seem like you can afford the truck and everything is going to be beautiful afterwards. Taking a day or two to think it over and look at your financial situation is going to help you clear your head and make an educated and well thought out decision. To find the best trucking career in the Chicagoland area please visit Elite Trucking Jobs and find out how you can start your career today.

 Nine Advantages of Truck Leasing Vs Purchasing*
-by Robert Jacobs

          “Truck leasing to get that truck equipment you need today instead of purchasing, can be a cost-effective option, particularly if you don’t have ready cash on hand. The same acquisition rationale applies to all heavy equipment. Along with being able to regulate your cash flow more effectively, truck leasing offers these additional advantages:

Asset Management ** A truck equipment lease provides the use of equipment for specific periods of time at fixed payments. Depending on how the truck lease is structured, the lessor assumes and manages the risk of equipment ownership. At the end of the truck lease, the lessor is responsible for the disposition of the asset.

Balance Sheet Management ** Because an operating truck lease is not considered a long-term debt or liability, it does not appear as debt on your financial statements, thus making you more attractive to traditional lenders.

Current Technology ** If the nature of your industry demands that you have the latest truck technology a short-term operating truck lease can help you get the needed equipment and keep your cash out-lay to a minimum. Your risk of getting stuck with obsolete equipment is lower because you can upgrade or add equipment to meet your ever-changing needs.

Customized Payment Solutions ** A variety of truck leasing products are available, allowing you to tailor a program to fit your month-to-month or year-to-year cash flow needs. Some lessors offer stepped- payment programs, with the payments being smaller at the beginning of the lease to allow the lessee’s cashflow to build. The payments then ramp up latter in the payment schedule when the new truck(s) have increased the business revenue. Other lessors offer seasonal deferred payment programs for businesses that experience cashflow challenges during the year. Always ask for these options. Independent lessors want your business. If it makes sense financially, they will often accommodate your needs.

Flexible End Of Term Options ** There are several options for disposing of equipment after the lease term ends including returning the equipment, renewing the lease or purchasing the equipment.

Flexibility ** As your business grows and your needs change, you can add or upgrade at any point during the lease term through add-on or master leases. Lessors want you as a long term customer and are often creative in how they structure a truck lease for you. Captive or in-house truck leasing programs may not be as flexible. So, you can often find more flexible truck leasing arrangements with Independent Truck Leasing Companies.

Immediate Write-Off ** Truck Lease payments can be treated as expenses (depending on how the lease is structured) on a company’s balance sheet, therefore, truck equipment does not have to be depreciated over five to seven years. (Consult with your tax professional prior to making major asset acquisition decisions)

Improved Cash Forecasting ** By leasing need truck equipment you know the amount and number of lease payments over the life of the leasing period, so you can accurately forecast cash requirements for your equipment.

Tax Benefits ** The IRS does not consider a truck operating lease to be a purchase, but rather a tax-deductible overhead expense. Therefore, you can deduct the equipment lease payments from your corporate income. (Consult with your tax professional prior to making major asset acquisition decisions).”

*This article was taken from Articles Base at http://www.articlesbase.com/ask-an-expert-articles/nine-advantages-of-truck-leasing-vs-purchasing-207571.html

To find the best trucking career in the Chicagoland area please visit Elite Trucking Jobs and find out how you can start your career today.

          Chicago and the surrounding areas is always a bustling and crowded marketplace for many different vendors and manufacturers. There is so much going on in this city that it is no wonder it’s one of the biggest cities in the United States. With everything that is going on in Chicago on the level of manufacturers and product that needs to be shipped far and wide across the country, you can understand why there is so much opportunity for a trucking career in this area. With that being said, if you are looking for a trucking career or looking to transfer to a different area Chicago is going to be one of the best areas to start.

          Finding trucking companies in Chicago is not a hard thing to do, they are located all throughout the city everywhere. The difficult part of this is finding out which companies are hiring and which ones are going to fit your experience levels and pay requirements that you want from your trucking career. Going into interview after interview to find this information out is somewhat of a burden as well as time consuming. There are easier ways to go about searching for a trucking career if you are interested in finding a company that fits you.

          Trucking recruiters or trucking job assistance companies are going to be one of the biggest helps for you whether you are just starting your career in trucking or if you are an experienced veteran. These companies help truckers find suitable jobs and take into consideration every aspect of their previous experience or schooling. Using a trucking recruiter is a great supplement for truckers in search of their first, or one of many, trucking job(s). To find the best trucking career in the Chicagoland area please visit Elite Trucking Jobs and find out how you can start your career today.

          The trucking industry is full of ups and downs for both company truckers as well as owner operators; with finding jobs with or without companies becoming harder and harder and gas prices raising rapidly. This ever increasing pressure on truckers is why there are strikes, put together by frustrated owner operators, taking place all over the country. The following article is an excerpt from an article from www.askthetrucker.com and was written by Allen Smith:

          “Whether you are a seasoned driver, just out of truck driver training or attending any of the truck driver schools across the nation, one should be watching the outcome of this recent truck drivers strike.  Primarily owner operators, many drivers shut down for a few days to protest the high cost of diesel fuel.  At $4.00 plus per gallon, nobody can blame them.  When a rig holds 300 gallons of fuel, $1200 just to fill up your tanks is destructive to your bottom line profit.”

          With the rise in gas prices owner operators are finding themselves at a loss when trying to make a living. Although there strikes taking place and protesting occurring there will most likely be no change in the price of gas for truckers and owner operators making the thought of trucking less appealing than ever. Although this is true there are still many opportunities to take on a company trucking job. These positions are readily available and many in number and a good opportunity to stay within the trucking industry without falling to the high prices of gas. To find the best trucking career in the Chicagoland area please visit Elite Trucking Jobs and find out how you can start your career today.

          Trucking across the country has always been a lucrative career for most. There are a lot of factors that go into deciding where to go for the best placement or for the best career in trucking. Although there are quite a few places that would be ideal for a person to go in order to find their way in the trucking industry, Chicago is the best place to go by far. This is because it is in the center of the country and therefore, smack-dab right in the middle of the trucking industry; which is right where you want to be as a truck driver or owner operator.

          Finding a trucking job in Chicago or the Chicagoland area shouldn’t be a problem for anyone because there are so many available positions with many different companies. There is always trucking work to be found in the Chicagoland area for truckers that are experienced and/or have professional training done. Although you may have the location down it can be a little more difficult to actually find the best companies to apply with and which one is going to be the best fit for you at this time in your career. Luckily for you, there are companies that specialize in finding you a great and well-suited trucking job.

          After using these resources to your benefit you’ll soon be well on your way to being hired on with a great trucking company and begin/continue you trucking career in a lucrative area that is sure to bring you the best days in your trucking career. To find the best trucking career in the Chicagoland area please visit Elite Trucking Jobs and find out how you can start your career today.

          The trucking industry is commonly known for being a male-dominated career path, but as we progress further in society, more and more women are entering into the truck driving field. “Today, there are nearly 170,000 women truckers, making up 5% of all U.S. trucking jobs. By the end of 2007, that number is expected to attain 200,000. What motivates these women to leave the general work place? You will find that independence and the irrepressible challenge of truck driving jobs are the two most common motivations given.

          Another important reason is the wage-earning aspect. Truck driving averages 20-30% higher wages than jobs’ women usually enter into. Woman in trucking is on such a rise in the United States that it is the cause of such great organizations such as the National and International Women’s Trucking Association. Also, women are taking on more important leading roles such as management, safety, dispatching, sales and recruiting*.”

          The advancement of women in the trucking industry hasn’t gone unnoticed by trucking companies. In some cases ” trucking companies show more respect and even provide BETTER opportunities to women drivers*.” This is a great opportunity to any woman who has thought about truck driving as a career opportunity; the door is open for you to make this career yours. To find the best trucking career in the Chicagoland area please visit Elite Trucking Jobs and find out how you can start your career today.

*This information was taken from Ask The Trucker at http://www.askthetrucker.com/those-wonderful-women-truckers/

          “Truck drivers have important responsibilities before leaving with a shipment. They check fuel and oil levels in the truck. They ensure that all safety equipment is aboard and that the cargo is secure. Once underway, larger long-distance trucks are often equipped with GPS (global positioning system) or satellites to communicate weather, traffic, or other possible problems. These systems also allow a warehouse to track delivery time.

          Heavy truck and tractor-trailer drivers drive vehicles that weigh more than 26,000 pounds. These vehicles are used to transport cars, livestock, or other materials. For trips that last several days, truck drivers sleep in the berth of the cab. They stop only for fuel, food, loading, or unloading. Sometimes, two drivers make these trips together. Some drivers travel regular routes, while others perform unscheduled runs. Once a delivery is complete, the U.S. Department of Transportation requires all truck drivers to file reports on the trip, including accidents and the condition of the truck.

          Light or delivery services truck drivers drive vehicles that weigh less than 26,000 pounds. These truck drivers typically have short trips throughout the day. As deliveries are made, customers must sign for receipt of packages. Any money due is collected at this time. Drivers report on the condition of the truck or van at the end of the day. They also turn in all receipts, money collected, and delivery reports.

          Route drivers, or drivers/sales workers, handle customer service or sales while on a route. They establish relationships with customers, taking orders, delivering goods, and handling questions or complaints. They complete their day by placing the next day’s orders and reporting on sales*.”

* This information was taken from All Trucking Jobs at http://www.alltruckingjobs.com/truck-driving-jobs.html

 - To find the best trucking career in the Chicagoland area please visit Elite Trucking Jobs and find out how you can start your career today.
 

          In the business of truck driving there are those that are separated into a group called owner operators. “Owner operators perform basically the same job as truck drivers with the main difference being they are independent contractors who own the truck and run their own business. About 8 percent of truck drivers operate their own business. Although many of these owner-operators are successful, some fail to cover expenses and eventually go out of business. Owner-operators should have good business sense as well as truck driving experience. Courses in accounting, business, and business mathematics are helpful, and knowledge of truck mechanics can enable owner-operators to perform their own routine maintenance and minor repairs*.”

          “Most owner operators have several years experience driving a truck as an employee with a trucking company. If you are not currently a truck driver and plan to someday be an owner operator, there are probably several truck driving schools near you. Another option is to find a trucking company that has a driver training program. Once you have established experience as a truck driver, some trucking companies may offer some type of financing or a lease purchase plan to allow you to become an owner operator or independent truck driver**.”

          With this being said, anyone has the capability to be an owner operator and if that is something that you think you want to pursue than it is completely feasible. With the right amount of training and experience you can have a successful trucking career as an owner operator. To find the best trucking career in the Chicagoland area please visit Elite Trucking Jobs and find out how you can start your career today.

* This information was taken from Owner Operators Career Information Source - Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Career Guide to Industries, 2002-03 Edition, Trucking and Warehousing, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs021.htm.
** This information was taken from All Trucking Jobs, http://www.alltruckingjobs.com/owner-operators.html