Question:
Hello all! I've visited this site many times before but this is the first time I have actually asked for information since I wasn't able to find the subject anywhere else. I would like to purchase a truck, lease to a company and hire someone to drive. I have been planning to do this for sometime but I know there is more to this business than how much I can make per mile. I will not have a monthly truck payment and I plan on taking care of the driver who drives for me since I will not be depending on any income from the truck for living expenses. My problem is how and where to find a driver. I can imagine that most drivers don't see anything positive out of driving for anyone other than themselves or a company, but I will be prepared to do the extras to keep that driver happy. If it helps or matters, I live in the Baltimore, Maryland area. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

Answer:
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
Invest in the Stock Market,atleast you stand a chance to make a profit on your investment.
Baltimore isn't far from Atlantic City if you really want to throw cash away.
Mike
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Since you are only wanting (1)one drvr....Put an ad in the newspaper.

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Then I highly reccomend you FULLY research the ins, outs, and up side downs before commiting any money in this.
As far as finding a driver you should first of all make a list of what you are wanting in a driver, and then talk to your insurance company to get their input on what you need to look for in a driver.
Also if you are leasing the truck on to a company you will more than likely be subject to that companies minimum hiring requirements for drivers and any driver you hire will have to pass that companies hiring requirements.
Once you have all your info together you can then start looking for a driver. As suggested a simple ad in the newspaper (make sure it is in there on the weekend) should pretty much do the trick. Also the company you are leasing the truck on with may be able to help with finding you a driver.
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
Answer:
Thanks alot for your help and suggestions. I have been reading and collecting information for the last year about anything having to do with owning a truck. I will definitely add your advice to my plan so that I can start off on the right foot. Thanks again for your input.

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http://www.partners-in-business.com/

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Be careful. There are many O/O's that have hired what they believed were "clean" drivers and ended up with nightmares.
A lot of horror stories out there.

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This is such good advice it needs to be said again.
Invest in the Stock Market,atleast you stand a chance to make a profit on your investment.
Baltimore isn't far from Atlantic City if you really want to throw cash away.
One truck? Don't bother with the head-ache.
Do you really need a hobby that bad?...Buy an old car to restore. Or perhaps an old sea boat to cherry out and go fishing.
Your wish to add a job to the market is commendable; and in my earlier days you are the type of guy that I'd drive for (I have all kinds of experience running trucks for O/O's and taking care of their books and reciptes etc...), but as it has been mentioned above, you can get some real "winners" to drive that truck right into the shop every week, or abandon it clear across country, or trash it so bad the next guy won't want to drive it etc...etc...are you prepaird to foot that bill and/or responsibility?
In my opinion; if you have the money to buy a truck out-right---drive it yourself.......
_________________________
Cover Your Cans People!!!It's apparent this place is never going to change....then again; why should it? It gets the clientel it deserves.
Bette Midler

Answer:
You can`t make any worthwhile profit with one truck.
Probably none unless you took care of all the paper work.
A driver that will take care of you and your equipment will demand better pay than average,and proper preventive maintenance will cost you more.
These is nothing left but the headache.
Big


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I gotta admit...after all of the research I've done the last year or so, you guys really make a person start to second guess; but I am prepared to deal with the headaches and crazy stuff out there at least for 1 to 1 1/2 years. What I really wanted to do was to buy 4-5 trucks right off and to run with my own trailers. Of course after getting advice from other good people like yourselves, it was suggested that I buy just 1 truck (preferably used) and see how I like the business and if I could del with the "headaches" everyone's been telling me about. I never really thought about driving the truck myself because I would have to argue with my wife to be gone that long and I don't have the time to drive right now. I'm taking the good advice and the bad experiences I've been given and weighing what I want to do so I really appreciate stories/suggestions. I had made up my mind to try to start the operation between the middle of May and middle of June so I still have some time to sort things out. One more thing; I nearly got wiped out in the stock market back in 2001 but I still hit Atlantic City every now and then. Thanks again.

Answer:
I'm a baltimoron as well so I can give you some insight on some of the peculiarities of behavior of some of the locals. I also have observed, very closely, the hiring process of drivers--thru O/O friends and I was behind the desk for a while as a dispatcher.
If you have to ask how to hire a driver, you don't know jack about the industry and should not proceed until doing much more research. However, if you insist on doing this read on.
Firstly, you want to try the Sun or the Post. Make sure your ad is in there on Sunday. You'll get a boatload of calls.
Many of these calls will be worthless.
You really MUST become a detective. Let me explain:
1)Let's look at the driving record. Is it clean? Does the driver have a rap sheet with 6 or 7 violations? This should raise a RED FLAG for several reasons:
a) Your insurance isn't going to go for it. If you're leasing to a co, the co. isn't going to go for it.
b)Several violations usually means, not always but usually, a less stable, less mature personality. This is the most important point. If s/he speeds in the car, what do you think s/he will do in your truck? Persons with spotty driving records tend to, not always but tend to be less conciencious.
c) If "your driver" gets into an accident where the fault is unclear and the other party has a clean record, what do you think this does for your chances in court?
Bottom line for driving records---HIRE ONLY THOSE WITH CLEAN RECORDS (or at the most only one violation).
Next, look at the DAC record. Are there any abandonments? If so, watch the F out! What about terminations? Find out exactly why. Better yet eliminate any candidate with any of the two above mentioned abberations. Remember that not all companies that the applicant has ever worked for will appear on the DAC report; Only companies that subscribe to DAC will report, and even then some won't. So check all previous employers as thoroughly as possible.
Check criminal records. If it ain't clean forget about em'. Not saying that all people with criminal records are still bad. But why take unessesary chances? There are plenty of drivers with clean criminal records.
If possible check credit reports. Those with impecible credit will tend to be more resposible, mature, honest and conciencious about the job and your equipment.
So, if all the above check out we must ask ourselves some very important and fundamental questions:
A) Why the hell would a driver with a clean driving record and good work record want to work for you when s/he could work for a larger, more established company with better benefits and very possibly better equipment (better maintained at least)? Generally "A" level candidates don't. You generally can't compete with a larger company in terms of pay, benefits, reputations etc. But see below for some exceptions.
But, here are a few reasons why some "A" level drivers might want to work for a small company:
1) Going through a messy divorce and does not want the spouse to know about/get any of HIS MONEY. Maybe you are paying him by cash, thus harder for the courts to detect any income. Ladies, as much as I love you when a man earns money and aquires assets before he meets you IT'S HIS MONEY! The moment the divorce is finalized any money earned thereafter is HIS MONEY. I don't care what the law says. If you disagree start another post, don't reply to this one.
1a) Perhaps the driver is trying to avoid paying taxes. If you are paying by cash, s/he can avoid paying uncle sam.
2)Fed up with big companies and big company politics.
3)Maybe, just maybe you have a peterbilt or KW and he just HAS to drive one.
4)Maybe, just maybe you are located right around the block from him and this way he doesn't have to deal with rush hour, transportation expenses etc.
You really have to question why a driver with a spotless work and driving record would want to work for a lesser known/ established company with lesser pay/benefits/equipment.
Now, let's get into the personalities of drivers. And this applies mostly to baltimoron drivers. I will explain momentarily. When he comes in notice how he got there. Did he drive his own car, or did someone have to give him a ride/catch the bus?
A) If he has no car, this means:
1) You really have to wonder about an adult male (or female for that matter) with no car. What does this say about the person? Not very responsible among other things, that's for sure.
2)It also means he's going to want to take YOUR tractor home with him. Not good because more usage and fuel consumption. And what kind of neighbourhood will he be parking in? What about the wheels getting stolen?
B)Next, what about his lifestyle. Does he have three or four kids, each with a different mother? Is he living with any of the children and/or mother(s), or is he shacked up with yet another woman? If the answer to any of the above is yes this should raise a RED FLAG. It shows lack of maturity and inabilty to contol impulses/delay gratification.
C)Does he own a home? What about renting? Or is he shacked up with a "girl?" A grown man that needs to be supported by a woman---come on! Where is all the money going? Do you want this type of person as "your" driver?
I point all this out because, as you may very well know, there is an epidemic that seems peculiar to inner-city baltimore: We have young men with brains and talent yet they seem hell-bent on screwing as many women as possible, not caring the least if a pregnancy results and doing as much drugs as possible. This leaves them with absolutely no money. And then they have to get into stealing--or worse to support their habit(s).
My owner-operator friend, who is the Forrest Gump of trucking--hence nicknamed "Forrest," just recently got screwed out of $5 grand because he did not do some or all of the above. You see the guy he hired had 6 moving violations and money problems. One day he parked the truck(with a load of perishable mushrooms) in Baltimore and stole the inner contents of the cab (TV's radio etc) and batteries to buy drugs. Truck was missing for three days.
Think you need to do a lot more research before you dive into this one.
More to come later.

Answer:
Suppose a single driver can't see the sense of making payments (plus fuel, insurance, maintenance, and jump start a dead cold battery) on a vehicle which would sit in a trucking yard 25 or more days a month ?
JB, irresponsibly parking the truck in the yard, 3 or 4 weekends a month ; then getting home and coming back by cab ...
Answer:
your last post was as FOS as you are.
Driving record,work history,and DAC report I'll give you.
But when you start prying into who I live with,whether or not I'm married or "shacking" up,what kind of vehicle I do/do not own,and if I rent or own my own home you go too far.
That really is none of your business,or the business of any carrier.
I sold my 2002 truck when I went OTR cause there was'nt any point in making payments and paying for insurance on something I only drove for 2-3 days a month anyway.
I have lived with my girlfriend for the past 6 years,we have both been divorced(only once for each of us) for over 10 years and have no plans on getting married again,ever!!!
I live in "her" house,its payed for but I helped make the last six years of mortgage payments,but its still "her" house.
I have a criminal record---was stupid when I was 17 and got busted for some pot.That does'nt make me a drug addict and I have'nt touched the stuff since.
I worked for the same company for ten years before I decided to start driving a truck and before that I served 6 years in the USMC and was meritoriously promoted once and have two meritorious mast in my SRB.I was honorably discharged in 1984 and have a 4 year degree in construction management.
However,based on your assumptions you think I'm un-fit to drive a truck???
The Governor.
Arguing with a truck driver is like wrestling with a pig in the mud;Sooner or later you figure out the pig enjoys it.
Answer:
After reading the posts of Chad and "The Governor" I can understand both arguments. Jaro also made a good point.
There is definitely a big part of the selectable, truck driving population in Baltimore that I wouldn't let drive my bike. The reason I know this is because I have a family member, who is now retired, who drove trucks while living in Baltimore and who has spoken to me for several hours about the business and potential drivers that he knows; particularly in Baltimore. After talking to him and several others who gave the same suggestion of "placing an ad in the paper", I decided to come to this forum to find out if there was another way to hire a dependable driver that I hadn't yet discovered. From that information, I can understand the very cautious approach that Chad advocates.
I think my patience has been paying off in that everyone has basically said an ad in the paper is the best way to find a driver. I really wanted an opinion and information from someone other than a family member and some of the greedy lawyers I've spoken with.
As I said earlier, I can understand "The Governor" in that there are people that have made mistakes, people that don't have the picture perfect relationship, and people that have turned their lives around afterwards. I am sure that these people can be some of the best drivers out there but if you've been burned before or know someone that has, I think that whatever level of investigation a O/O feels comfortable with is the best for them. I'm sure that by screening the way Chad has suggested, many decent drivers will be missed but I have been told to take my time in deciding on a driver because I have more to lose than he does.
In the end, I think everyone is basically the same in that they want someone dependable driving their equipment; its just that we all will probably have different criteria when it comes to that important background check.
I'd like to thank you for all of the feedback. It really helps a lot.

Answer:
A mans word coupled with his actions have to be one in the same.
Honesty,trustworthiness,dependability are the character traits that make good employees.
The pride and integrity to treat another mans equipment as if it were his own.
IMHO,in this industry being a successful O/O does not happen by accident or luck.It comes from the experience that years of hard work and careful planning provide.
I too have the dream of owning that shiny new large car and being the master of my own domain but I am still so wet behind the ears that I need a towel wrapped around my neck to keep my clothes from being wringing wet.
I could draw from my 401 to buy my dream but am smart enough to know I am not ready for a risk like that with my limited experience.
My time will come a few more years down the road and until then I am happy for those O/O's that run successful, profitable operations.
Having run a successful construction business I will say this;have the capital on hand to pay your drivers when they deliver the load.If you have to wait to be paid to pay your help you will fail miserably.An OTR driver has enough worries on the road to deal with and getting accurate pay in a timely manner is priority one to him/her and their families.
I do not pretend to have the answers that you seek for I am not an O/O but just a company man that has found a career I truly enjoy and possibly a man suffering from delusions of grandeur.
Best of luck to you!
The Governor.
Arguing with a truck driver is like wrestling with a pig in the mud;Sooner or later you figure out the pig enjoys it.