Trucking With Authority

In any business you open yourself up to risk. In trucking the exposure is exponential! Like it or not, there are others that want what you're working hard for and will try anything to take it. Some may be legal, others are most certainly not. Either way, you want to avoid them as often as possible. Scam artists try many angles to get to you. It's important to recognize them before they succeed in their goals. Have you been scammed? Have you avoided a scam in the past? Press 1 on your dialpad at any time to add your questions or comments. As always, your calls are the first priority and your participation is what makes this show great!

When the market gets slim, so must you! To stay profitable in a weak market it becomes imperative to watch your costs and  keep your expenses down. Do you know where the leaks are in your bank account? Let's talk about ways we can slim down our operations and keep ahead even when the market is against us. What have you done in your operation to keep costs down? Have you cut anything that you didn't really need? How about cutting back on products or services that you do need but are willing to sacrifice and move ahead without? Press 1 at any time to share your thoughts and experiences!

Overwhelmed with paperwork? The biggest change you will notice when you make the jump to becoming a motor carrier is the huge amount of paperwork and record keeping requirements. What are the requirements? How can you become more organized and stay on top of it all? Tonight we will share some tips, tricks, and methods to staying ahead of everything you need to accomplish in the office. There is software that can help and some methods that can be used to make everything flow smoothly. What methods do you use? Share your tips and tricks tonight!

Have you considered getting your authority but don't know where to start, where to file, how to find loads, or how to get paid? Are you confident in your ability to read through contracts and spot the red flags? Do you want to know the pro's and con's of factoring? What about brokers and load boards? How do you market your new business? All of these topics have been covered in detail over the past several months on this show. In case you missed them, tonight we will do a quick review and summary of the top topics! Your questions and coments will be the center of attention and primary focus of tonights show.

Are you considering becoming an owner operator and leasing to a carrier? Are you a carrier considering leasing on an owner operator? As our businesses evolve and grow, the owner operator model can be a very beneficial tool for both the carrier and the truck owner. The are some very specific requirments that need to be met. The fine print of the contracts can make or break you and can lead to a nightmare of legal issues. Let's discuss the requirements and some key things you need to watch out for in this process.

Owning a business is the American dream. From leasing to a company as an owner operator to getting your own authority, you get a piece of that dream! Imagine the freedom you would have! Think of the money you will make! Those are great motivators but what about the risk? Are you ready to take the leap? What does it take to prepare for success and do you have it? Let's discuss some of the common mistakes made when starting or growing a business. Let's create a checklist for success! Your questions and comments are what make this show great.

Are you just getting started or are you already an established business? Where does the future hold for your company? Do you have plans and goals? What can you do to stay focused and keep moving in the right direction? How can you keep ahead of changes in your industry? Today we will discuss setting goals personally and then turning them into a strong business plan to keep your business focused and on a successful path. Your questions and comments are what keep the show going! Join us to ask your questions or to add your experiences!

Tonight's topic: How do you know what to bid on a lane or load? What is "Cheap Freight" in your operation? Are you bidding based off of your numbers or from what you think the rest of the industry is doing? We will open this can of worms and see if we can find some answers. As always, your participation is what makes this show great! Your comments and questions are the priority tonight!

You've spent time to build your brand. You spent money to market your company. You put a lot of effort into presenting your ideal image to your customers. What will they think when you or your drivers show up in person? Let's talk about ways we can better the industry as drivers to build better businesses for ourselves. Press 1 and share your tales and ideas and let's think of ways to mitigate these issues before they start. How can our business model effect our image? How can our employees effect our image? What do you think?

What's the best way to separate yourself apart from the competition? Be Creative! It's easy to fall into the traps you set for yourself and lose the most important asset your have, creativity! Too often people don't even realize they have this form of tunnel vision. It is very important to focus on the small things in business. It's also important to know where you are in your life and to do what is necessary to be happy and productive, but are you looking so closely at the small things that you lose focus on the big picture? As business owners we must focus on our customers and put their needs before our own. Finding ways to solve their problems and overcoming our own limitations is a gateway to success! Your questions and comments are what will make this show great!

We will all be faced with the decision to sign a contract at some point in our business. When working with a new broker it can be tempting to rush to the signature line and secure that freight before it's gone. What might you be missing? What can signing a bad contract do to your business? How can you avoid the traps of "legaleeze" layed out for you? What can you do to avoid these problems? We will discuss the red flags and share what to look out for when you have one of these documents in front of you. We will talk about ways you can edit these contracts to be more favorable for both parties and not just a blanket of protection for the brokers.

What is the most important service any business can provide? What is the most essential aspect of sales and negotiation? How do you build relationships, both professional and personal? There is one answer to all of these questions and that that is communication! On today's show, let's discuss ways we can better our businesses and stand out from the crowd by providing outstanding communication in every aspect. Let's share some tips to sharpen our skills and be better communicators. As always we will focus first on your questions!

Let's secure direct customers! Some of the biggest complaints in the trucking industry are about brokers. Many carriers make brokers a primary source of their freight, but swings in the spot market can have a detrimental effect on profits, can make dispatching a truck stressful, and adds an unnecessary layer of confusion between carriers and shippers. How can you avoid the headaches of brokers while securing good, steady paying freight? Market and sell yourself to direct customers! We'll share tips and practices to get your foot in the door and build relationships that will ensure a more profitable business.

Are you confident in your negotiation tactics with brokers? Do you understand the market well enough to sell your services? What is the difference between haggling and negotiation? Too often drivers and carriers enter the negotiation with a broker lacking the information and understanding to answer these questions. Price can quickly dominate the conversation and emotions take over. We will talk about how you can overcome these weaknesses and negotiate a better rate while building strong business relationships. The goal of this show will be to help new carriers feel comfortable in their first interactions with brokers and help experienced carriers refine their skills!

When you're running a business or just dealing with people in day-to-day life; sales, negotiation, and marketing play a huge factor in your success. Think of how your people-skills effect every interaction you have. We share Three Factors that will help you improve your skills and build better relationships. We will cover some additional tips and tricks to help you negotiate better rates, sell your services to direct customers, or simply gain the benefits of having great relationships in your life. This show isn't just about improving your business, it's to help you improve your life!

Today, Kenny Long from the AudioRoad Network has a special guest with him. Petra Voelker of C.U.T.C. Inc. joins the show, to teach a way to reduce miles, increase pay, develop a niche, and expand your customer base. Sounds great right! How? By opening up your business to cross-border freight! Today we talk about what it requires to be set up for customs screening at the border, how your apportioned plate works with every jurisdiction, and the requirements for the Canadian provinces. Petra is an expert when it comes to Trucking with Authority for both U.S. and Canadian based carriers!

Now's the time to grow your business, and today on the show, Kenny Long from the AudioRoad Network walks us through how to do just that! So what do you do? Should you hire drivers or owner operators? What hurdles will you face? How many trucks should you take on? If you're thinking about taking the leap to a fleet, this is the show for you! Special guest Bill Hood of Farm2Fleet joins us to talk about what it takes to grow. We'll talk about some of the Do's and Don'ts and the many decisions you may be facing. Let's get moving, successful and trucking with your own authority.

What is a fuel surcharge and how does it work? Today, Kenny Long from the AudioRoad Network navigates us through everything fuel. How can a fuel surcharge effect spot market rates? How is it calculated and added to a contract? Today we answer these questions and teach each other how to take advantage of higher fuel prices and make consistent profits even as fuel prices make huge fluctuations. We will explore the often misunderstood concept of fuel surcharge and learn how to use it to your benefit. Your questions and comments are always welcome and encouraged as we share tips and practices to grow our businesses together, and truck with authority!

IFTA? Fuel Surcharge? These are commonly misunderstood topics in our industry. Today, Kenny Long from the AudioRoad Network walks us through them. We discuss how fuel prices drive rates, and how a fuel surcharge effects the spot market. We will find ways to harness your fuel costs, take advantage of the IFTA system and make it work in your favor. We also talk about ways to save money even while fuel prices are low, maximizing your rates and your bottom line. As always, your questions, advice, and stories from the road are the most valuable information we can share, so call in and get on the air!

Did you have a breakdown? An accident? A theft? A fire? These things are sometimes uncontrollable. Today Kenny Long from the AudioRoad Network is talking about how to Prep for Disaster. At some point you will be faced with a situation that may jeopardize your entire business. What will you do? Disaster always happens when we least expect it. How do you overcome these obstacles? What can you do ahead of time to be ready? How can you prepare? What is your "Plan B?" Today we discuss some options and techniques to help you keep a clear head and find the best solution when the time comes. We also listen it to you stories of how you overcame the hardest situations!