The company
I choose taught me to drive a big rig in 1 ½ days, loading and unloading
furniture in 2 days and all the paperwork in one. One week
and I was on the road by myself, running cross country in all weather conditions,
a navigator without GPS, a business person without a secretary and dealing with
the retail customer on practically a daily basis. I didn’t have a clue and could only learn by
trial and error.
The first
year was a horror show financially, small loads scattered over hundreds of
miles resulting in long hours and marginal income. It was eight months before my monthly hauling
statement included a check of any size.
Had I known the statistics of all the startups who quite the business in
the first year, had I known the level of commitment required of we owner
operators, I would have taken a long vacation on the beach.
No one was
out to get me, like every other rookie, I was just a small dingy paddling in a
very big ocean, so much to learn and so little time. Faced with all the negatives of the first
year, I had one of those rare life gut check, a decision to persevere.
I have come to understand such a decision is more valuable than
money.
G.Goslaw
Landers, CA
