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How to Become a Truck Broker

May 22, 2019 by Matt

Becoming a truck broker can be a lucrative opportunity that allows one to work from your home or close to home instead of traveling the road delivering freight. Truck brokering refers to the maximization of money that is made from freight hauling and it is done by negotiating between trucking companies and cargo hauling and other types of freight companies. It is helpful that one has a background in the industry of trucking because it ensures one has the the experience to become a truck broker.

The brokers in this kind of business serve as the connection between the carriers and the shippers. They do the negotiation with regards to the shipping rates as well as fast Man working at office desk as a truck brokerdeliveries from the transportation companies.

The role of truck brokers is important because they make sure that every step of the process of transportation takes place and that the freight will be able to arrive to its final destination safely and in a timely manner.

You can consider the following steps to become a truck broker:

  • Have industry experience and study – it is vital to have the strong will to learn about brokering freight. You must acquire the mathematical skills and analysis as this will be needed daily for the operation. You should have good communication skills as you will be required to work with people over the phone or even email especially when you negotiate and close deals. Moreover, a freight broker school can help for the preparation of the requirements for a brokering job. Books can be of use for reference.
  • Select a name for the company and then register the business – this is vital so that the brokerage operation is legal. You may consider checking the patency of the name for your business at the US Patent and Trademark Office. As part of the registration, you will need to choose the kind of entity you wish to register whether as a sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, or limited liability company. Be certain that you register the business in your state at the local business license department.
  • Development of business plan – it will help in preparing a line of credit that will aid with the investment needed for the business.
  • Have a freight broker bond – this gives the guarantee that you are following the rules and regulations of brokering.
  • Look for the right carriers – search for carries working on the same field as you have. They must be trusted, reliable, and are professional.
  • Apply for USDOT Number and get a broker authority – it is essential to have the freight broker license from Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Getting the USDOT number is the initial step needed for the application form and then have the one-time application fee payment.
  • Get a contingent cargo insurance as well as general liability insurance
  • Assign agents for the service of process
  • Obtain the equipment – to start with, you will need a computer, printer, copier, and fax machine. You will also need a landline phone, mobile phone, office supplies, and good internet connection. The freight brokering software is also a consideration as it boosts productivity.
  • Once you have the license, and equipment in place you can reach out to shipping companies to gain connections to start building your business.

You can learn more about getting a freight broker’s license to become a truck broker at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

Filed Under: Trucking Jobs

Highest Paying Trucking Jobs

December 16, 2016 by Matt

Knowing the highest paying trucking jobs can help you earn the most money in this career. Truck drivers, otherwise regarded as the trucker, driver, or teamster, are individuals who earn a living as truck drivers. These drivers offer vital services to the industrialized societies by means of transportation of the finished goods or the raw materials by land usually from the manufacturing plants, retail, and then to the distribution centers.

It is profitable to work in the trucking industry. In shorter duration of time, having the right job means ending up in getting higher pay rates. The earnings as well as the benefits for the right job can be enjoyed by the driver regardless of how old he is or what experience he has in the field of trucking industry. Below are some of the top paying jobs that you can take into consideration:

Liquid hauling – this requires skills for driving and hauling especially that you will be handling chemicals, gas, and other hazardous or dangerous materials. Since you will be putting yourself in more danger then the pay rate is higher or expensive.

Oversized loads – it offers higher pay rate because you will be driving double wide trucks as well as overload trucks. In order to do this driving, there is a special license and training required. It will be expected that you will learn to drive certain trucks needed for the job.

Ice road trucking – you will be driving in dangerous road conditions in relation to the climate which will allow you to earn high like from twenty thousand dollars up to seventy-five thousand dollars. This amount of money can be obtained in few short months.

Specialty car haulers – the duty for this kind of job that will pay you high rates is to transport cars which are damaged or needed to be sent or delivered to the clients. Delivering specialty or luxurious cars will even let you earn more.
Dump truck driving – to transport and work in dump trucking industry benefits you to earn high. These kinds of job can be found in different locations either international-based or small local companies.

Mining industry – working in the mining industry like doing deliveries as well as pick-ups is profitable. You can have the option to work for the small companies or to work as the contractor of the mining industry field.

Team driving – this kind of driving needs collaboration with other drivers. You will be expected to drive long distances. The disadvantages of the type of job is that you will be burned out in the field while driving, will have limited time of driving, and will have limited areas to drive according to the federal as well as the state regulations.

Interstate drivers – the driver will be driving longer distances. You may be driving with heavy load deliveries and even on tight schedules. In order to drive more, you must be able to maintain the tight schedule for which in return you can also earn higher pay.

Recruiter – this will let you earn high rates aside from being the driver by means of recruiting other drivers. You will even earn more if you are going to bring in the great drivers.

Truck Driving Instructor – in this area, you will work in the trucking schools wherein you will be staying in a single location and will be working with students. Other advantages include not driving for long hours or not driving in dangerous roads.

Filed Under: Commercial Drivers License

Tow Truck Driver Requirements

August 31, 2016 by Matt

Driving a tow truck is used for the movement of improperly parked, disabled, or impounded motor vehicles. These drivers may have involvement with the recovery of vehicles which have been damaged in accidents, the return of vehicles to a solid driving surface in inclement weather, the towing or transportation of vehicles to repair shops or any other location. These vehicles are driven and carried by tow truck drivers for the implementation of its different uses. Below are the tow truck driver requirements to be able to be employed in this job.

tow-truck-driver-on-the-roadTow truck drivers make certain that they are able to work in different kinds of industries. Generally, the requirements of tow truck drivers differ according to the state, local, or federal jurisdictions. Government agencies both local and the state are administering the general qualifications for the tow truck drivers and these include the licensing and the certification. The standard age requirement is to be at minimum of 18 years old. There are a lot of states requiring the tow truck drivers of the submission of fingerprints needed for the criminal background investigation, payment of a certain fee, and having to take a hold of a driver’s license which is valid. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the tow truck drivers must have in possession a commercial driver’s license and this is most especially applicable to those drivers driving both cargoes and trucks that are over 26, 001 pounds.

Despite the fact that the U.S. Department of Transportation have the requirement of obtaining a commercial driver’s license which are ideal for tow trucks as well as cargoes of more than 26, 001 pounds, there are still a number of local and state agencies who implement the requirement of a commercial driver’s license for each and every operator of tow trucks. In order to acquire the commercial driver’s license, one should be able to attend an accredited training as well as be able to pass both the written and the driving test. Having the commercial driver’s license will also help increase the opportunities for employment.

Being able to have a good physical health is what a lot of the local, state, and federal agencies require the tow truck drivers to possess. The drivers may be needed to pass different kinds of assessments and these include the test vision, hearing test, and physical fitness. Majority of the employers as well as the agencies have the requirement to pass a drug test for the adherence to the policies of the insurance. The job of the tow truck drivers is working on irregular hours which may include during evenings, weekends, and even holidays. Individuals who have the interest to this job must have the will to work on this type of schedules. They too must be willing to work overtime for the completion of the job responsibilities.

Certification for tow truck drivers are being offered by different organizations which include the Professional Truck Driver Institute as well as the Towing and Recovery Association of America. Not all employers will require the certification however this can increases the chances for employment.

Filed Under: Commercial Drivers License

Owner Operator Pay (Independent Truck Driver Salary)

July 7, 2016 by Matt

According to recent reports the average salary of owner operator pay is much more than the salary of OTR truckers. The average owner operator truck driver earns $164,000 according to Indeed.com. Meanwhile the average CDL truck driver working as a company driver earns a net of $35,000 – $50,000 annually and this is about an average of $42,500. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the average pay for tractor-trailer truck drivers was $40,260. This will still vary according to the driver’s gross as well as actual expenses.

Independent truckers are driving long distances holding the responsibility of all the expenses like the freight, gasoline, and maintenance. These expenses are deducted from their gross in able to

Man standing in front of truck
Man standing in front of truck

determine the yearly incomes. The number of customers that the truckers have contracts with will raise their gross pay. In order to lessen the expenses and have higher earnings on net incomes then they need to have a maximum freight weights that is set for the shipments.

Working as an independent truck will benefit you to have a global positioning system wherein your pickups and deliveries can be rerouted properly while saving on the gas expenses. Owner-operators can indeed earn more however it is important to trace all the expenses and be keen on the important details of your operations so that your expected earnings can be achieved and even go beyond it.

To succeed as an owner-operator, it is essential to take into consideration of the following:

• Have an understanding and acceptance that the payment which you will receive from the people whom you work for will just be for the labor. This means that working more will lead you to earn more.

• Be able to build a long-duration relationship. It is important to have a loyal customer that is constant rather than transferring from carrier to carrier because this will just cost you a lot of money. Factors that will affect your operation will include the costs, rates, customers, and safety records. Be sure to have an idea of what you will be getting yourself into.

• Understand the economy of the business like being able to look for carriers serving growth industries and having long-duration relationships with the customers.

• Make your anticipations realistic with regards to the revenues and income. Keep in mind to live according to your means just like selecting your truck preference.

• Keep in mind that there is a lot of cost in maintaining a semi tractor trailer with the average maintenance per year around $14,000.

An owner operator refers to a truck driver who owns and operates a commercial vehicle for which is being used as his business and occupation. It pertains to an individual who both owns as well as operates the business. These operators hold the responsibility of the transportation of goods across the highways and urban environments using the vehicle or cargo that is appropriate for the road.

In addition they maintain effective communication with the loaders to have a clear understanding regarding the time frames of the delivery of goods. Moreover, the operators make sure that they maintain focus on both safety and route efficiency.

One vital factor to determine one’s success or failure as an owner-operator is the relationship with the customer or carrier. There are also times that the owner-operators themselves are their own enemy as they destabilize their business like having a budget that is based according to the best of times rather than year-long averages.

Filed Under: Commercial Drivers License

Dump Truck License Requirements

June 14, 2016 by Matt

Dump truck drivers transport of materials of different substances such as gravel, dirt, and coal by making use of an open-bed truck. Most frequently, they work in industries including the construction as well as the agricultural areas. The dump trucks used in construction are being equipped with hydraulic bed which has a mechanical operation. There are also a number of times wherein the dump truck drivers hold the responsibility to load the truck either making use of the hands or by utilizing some kind of mechanical loader.

dump-truck-cdlTruck drivers move to and from locations and in and out of the dumping sites. Moreover, these drivers are the ones who take control of the mechanism of dumping the contents.

Below are the additional duties of the dump truck drivers:
• to do the maintenance of both the interior and exterior of the vehicle
• to track the work as well as the service of the vehicle
• to secure the contents of the truck

It is important to acquire a commercial driver’s license through the department of safety. The license must be issued according to the state from where the driver lives. Dump truck drivers drive trucks of different gross vehicle weight however there are cases that the truck is more than 26, 000 gross vehicle weight requiring a commercial driver’s license in majority of the states.

A CDL (commercial driver’s license) is a requirement for the dump truck operators all throughout the nation. The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators is providing a CDL manual but with the recommendation of the applicants to have the completion of the Professional Truck Driver Training certified course.

A Class B CDL license is what the driver needs to obtain in order to operate vehicles including the dump trucks. This allows the driver to maneuver commercial trucks which have attached cab and a cargo area having a combined weight of more than 26, 000 pounds. The driver can also control the trucks having a detached towed cargo vehicle weighing below 10, 000 pounds.

The federal government is the one that established the minimum requirements to earn the CDL license. The requirements may vary according to state however they need to be as strict as the federal regulations. The CDL testing can be conducted by the state or by an authorized school or training program.

Community colleges and vocational schools are offering the Class B CDL training programs for the provision of training in both the knowledge and skills necessitated in passing the state CDL examination. The length of the program differs according to the school however it needs to be finished in four weeks or less. For the first few training days, the students are being taught of traffic and trucking laws which are applicable to the CDL manual as well as the federal safety regulations of the state.

The drivers enrolled in CDL training must practice driving skills while being accompanied by a driver who already has a CDL. The skills covered in the training include the following:

– shift of gear and control of vehicle
– backing, docking, and parking
– load and unload
– driving in both city and highway
– defense driving

Furthermore, the CDL training programs for dump truck drivers will need the applicants to possess a Class B CDL learner’s permit that is usually obtained by taking a test. Additional requirements will include the minimum age of 18 years old, a holder of a valid driver’s license with no infractions, and completion of medical tests or drug test. Visit this page about how to get a CDL for more detailed information for your specific state licensing.

Filed Under: Commercial Drivers License

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  • How to Become a Truck Broker
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