Trucking With Authority

What makes your business stand out? What is the sales pitch you use when you approach your customers? In many cases these questions have the same answer, yet many people canot quickly an instictively answer either of them. A business plan can help! Let's discuss some oppotunities to create a plan and reach the goals you've set out to acheive!

What's the best way to set yourself apart from your competition? Do your job! In a world where everyone expects something for nothing, service providers have gone downhill drastically in the product they sell. What are some ways you can provide quality service and a premium product to your customers? Provide quality service!!! Let's talk about what we as trucking companies can do to provide a better service to our customers and leave the rest of the crowd in the dust! Your calls are what set this show apart from the rest.

PAPERWORK!  How do you handle it? What is required and what happens if you don't do it properly? Tonight we'll discuss the requirements and what you must always keep on file. We'll discuss the regulations and some systems to help you overcome them. How do you keep track of everything? How can it be easier for us all?

Do you have a dream to do great things but can't decide if it's time to start? Do you want to get started in the trucking business but not sure if it's a good time? Are you on the fence about getting your own authority but not sure if you're ready to take the leap? Tonight we'll talk about some techniques you can use to help make these big decisions. While we're at it, we'll take a broad look at the trucking industry today and the trends we're seeing that might help you better understand the decisions you face.

Electronic logging devices. They're coming! Like it or not they've been mandated and will be in every truck by the end of 2017. How can we stay ahead of the curve and be prepared for the mandate? Why are they so unpopular with many drivers? Do we need to rethink our Hours of Service rules? Let's discuss the rules on the horizon and how to get over the hurdle.

Talk to anyone about the history of the trucking industry and one topic will always come up, regulations. Just how does an industry that prides itself on undergoing a huge government period of deregulation have so many regulations? It seems that there is a new regulation proposed every time the government approves a new bill. So how do we stay on top of the regulations and how can we continue to conduct a profitable business when it seems as though "Big Brother" is always looking over our shoulders?

How do you find shippers to work with? Once you find them, how do you get your foot in the door? We'll discuss these issues and more!

Today's show is all about you! Bring your questions and comments and lets share our knowledge of the trucking industry to better our peers and gain some benefit for ourselves while we are at it!How can you be resourceful and set yourself apart from the crowd? What makes you different than every other person with a truck and trailer out there?

Joining us tonight will be Josh Warne and Dudley Boyd of Enoble Business Capital. There are a lot of facts, fiction and rumors surrounding the concept of factoring, and many people are lured into it not aware of everything involved. Let's discuss how factoring works, the different options and types of funding available for your business, and how you can use these options to help your business succeed. We also want to weed out the rumors and bad advice some factoring services use as propaganda. This is always a hot topic on this show and your questions and comments are what will drive us forward! Press "1" on your keypad to get on the air!

As a driver, becoming an owner operator is a big step in building a trucking business. There are boundless opportunities once you take control of the direction of your career. As a carrier, hiring owner operators can open up countless new opportunities. There are many intricacies that everyone should understand in the relationship of the carrier and the owner operator. There are laws that need to be followed, and basic ethical rules that must be adhered to if everyone is on the true path to success. Let's discuss how becoming an owner operator or lease an owner operator can help you take the next step in building a business.

We've all made contracts in our lives. From the time we are young we made promises and agreements to fulfill them. As we go through life those agreements become much more complicated, and the word "Contract" starts to take on a much more fear inducing meaning. In business we encounter new contracts on a seemingly daily basis. Do we always know what we are agreeing to? Let's discuss some of the red flags to watch out for and some simple ways to overcome them. Let's start Trucking with Authority!

Do you have the insurance coverage you need? Do you understand the different types of insurance and what they cover? Join us to welcome Brad Allen and Scott Lyden of Hadley and Lyden Insurance as we tackle the tough questions, and make sense of the confusing topic of insurance. We will find out what is required, what we should have, and even spend some time defining some of the confusing terminology? We all need to be prepared for the worst and having the proper insurance coverage is the best preparation!

Have you stalled in your career? Has your business hit a plateau? Are you thinking of changing directions? Is it time to take the leap and become a motor carrier? What does it take to form the plan, put it into action and reach your new goal? We'll discuss the new URS system and how it may make it easier for you to take that next step now. We'll also dive into the question, "Is now the right time?" We always look forward to the wealth of information and the questions that our callers bring to the show. Take control of your business and start Trucking with Authority!

Happy New Year! Let's start on the right foot to a great business this year! With the turn of the page of the calendar comes a lot of new changes in the transportation industry. FMCSA has begun to shake things up for new entrants into the motor carrier world, the freight market is less predictable than ever, and new regulations are already on deck for the future! An optimist can see the potential opportunities all around us but the risk is at a high level too. Let's discuss the new changes, how they may affect us, and the best ways to overcome them. While we're at it, how about we set some high (but attainable) goals to overcome these obstacles. Press "1" to get your questions or comments on air!

How do you get the rates you want or need from a particular customer? What are the obstacles that are in the way of your goals and how can you get people to help you move them? The answer to these questions is, Negotiation! It's time to get back to basics and lay out the fundamentals of negotiation and learn how to communicate with people to reach your business goals. You questions and input on this topic are what make this show great! Press "1" on your keypad at any time to come on the air!

Tonight is an open forum! Call with your questions and comments and we will do our best to get you the answers! On deck tonight we will be discussing the delays with FMCSA and the new URS program, a review of our Motor Carrier Meetup event, working with direct customers, FSC and a unique sales and negotiation tactic to help land that big contract you've been working on! As always your calls get #1 priority so dial in early and press "1" on your keypad to get in the queue.

In episode 39 we touched on the relationships between all parties involved in moving a load. We will elaborate further on that tonight as we discuss how a customer is not just who signs your check, but an extension of your own business. No matter the relationship of broker, carrier, shipper/receiver, or owner operator, everyone plays a role in the ultimate goal of moving the product. Working to please the interests of everyone is great way to build long-term business relationships and solidify your success in the industry. Do you look at customers as a daunting task that you must overcome, or as an equal trying to accomplish the same task you have? Your questions and comments are always the top priority and what keep this show great! Press 1 at any time to "raise your hand" and get on the air!

The customer is always right! Wait...  who is the customer? The shipper? The broker? The receiver? Building relationships and pleasing the people to whom you provide your service is what business is all about. In the trucking industry that line becomes fuzzy because we work with multiple customers on the same shipments. Finding solutions that solve everyone's problem is the best way to make that happen. Let's discuss ways we can broaden our service from being, "just a truck driver" to the company that gets things done!

Today we will discuss all of the various questions that come rolling in after every show. With some help and input from you, the listeners, we will attempt to answer these questions together to build a better understanding of what it means to be a motor carrier. Press 1 at any time to have the chance to add your question to the list or to help answer any of the others that we have along the way. Your participation makes this show great so don't be shy!

It's been a whole year since the first episode of TWA! We've covered a lot of topics and the industry has undergone some drastic changes. Let's look back at where we were just one year ago, then let's explore some of the changes coming in the near future! Are you ready to get your authority? Should you wait for conditions to improve or take the leap now? There may be more to the story than you know. Big things are on the horizon with FMCSA. Let's talk about the advantages and disadvantages of applying for your authority now.