Let’s add this straight drive, not filling a driver. When your work is needed, when you need it, you know exactly and make it easier to move. Very small carrier hires very early, chases growth without systems to rise or support. And what will happen? Wages are squeezed. The equipment sits. Operations Spiral. You do not grow – bleeding. Hiring should be a strategic decision, not hopeful.
If you are having a small transaction and think that someone is your first drive or fifth this article, it is your intestinal check. Because the time is as important as the period of time. It’s time to expand, it sees the indicators you are not yet ready and the truck of the foundation work you need before this hiring.
This is where the majority of small carriers are short. A good deal of contracting or began to start seeing consecutive loads on the board and thinks: “It’s time to measure.” But it is not continuously the same. A broker with consistent loads is not a business model – this is an addictive. If this load disappears, you have now received a salary for a drive.
Ask yourself before you get hire:
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Can you cover a truck consistently, not only action, but a profitable load?
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If my main load source is dry, do you have a reserve plan?
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Didn’t the numbers work outside the rough factoring on fuel, salary, insurance and work in time?
If you can’t say yes to all three, you are not ready. The waiting is smarter than hiring someone you can’t pay for three months from today.
To hire the driver without knowing the value of a mile is like trying to win a race without knowing where the finish line is. You also need to know your breeken, which is up to a mile per week, per truck.
If you don’t know:
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How many times per week should be loaded to be profitable
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How much cash flow that requires your business to pay the salary in both weeks
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How much can you swim in case of a shipper late or a cargo container payment
… Then the hiring is not a decision to work – it is a guess. And this market was expensive in real speed.
Here’s to “I have to hire?” Ask: “Am I maximizing the truck I have?” Most owners go to hire because they are tired. They want help. But it is true, a second driver will not solve a job that is not optimized. If the current truck does not work 5+ days a week or turn the load down, you can cover yourself, you are not ready to hire – you’re ready to squeeze.
This is your signal, if you run earned stripes if you pre-order the days beforehand, and if you can consistently cover the loads. The demand is drawn. When a second truck means meaning.
Let’s talk about money. To hire a driver means you’re trying to pay someone every week – even if your customers do not pay 30 days. At least 45-60 days of wages are put aside before you do not take any steps to your operation. If it sounds like an extension, you are not alone. But this is your red flag.
Do the math:
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What is the average number of weeks per week, including taxes and employee computers?
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Increase this 6-8 weeks.
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This number is your security network. If not, wait.
Because once the driver does not have a break button. Time to pay the next invoice by tight and hopeful is not a work strategy.
To add a driver simply means adding the shaft – it means to add complexity. Shipping, Security, Care Tracking, Driver communication, Plane, Paper case download – All scales with each truck. If you work everything out of your phone or from your phone, you will burn or drop the ball. Or both.
Ask before hiring:
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Do you have a standard process for sending loads, collect bolks and tracking hours?
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My Eld is ready to manage a second drive?
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Do you have a way to follow your safety and real-time compatibility?
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Do you have someone (or a system) that can help control the back office work with another truck?
If your answer says, “I will figure it out when they started,” you are already behind. Set up the system first. Then his employees.
Let’s talk about what seems right. While the job hiring is correct calling:
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You have a contract or a direct shipper volume that your current truck can fully handle your car
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60 days you operate useful and consistent with cash flow supporting salary
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You have systems to send, track and support another truck
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Only without taking something that moves, you turn the cargo that matches your strips down
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You have tried your numbers and hiring you don’t add income – it adds margin
In this case, adding a driver is a force. You only grow – you increase.
If you still have a lot of load boards, if you still operate the inappropriate load or still do not intend to manage everything outside a table. Will break faster.
Wait for:
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You still guess in your week numbers
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There are unpaid invoices that are 30+ days
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You don’t work more often than negative weeks
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You hope another truck will create a cash flow instead of continuing it
There is no shame to wait. There is only risk when hurting.
This is not a phase to add a driver – it is responsible. And very early hiring in this area will cost you a long time. Numbers don’t lie. If you will not solve lean, consistent and cash positive, more trucks, you will solve the problem – they will multiply. However, when load, systems and financial are foundable, this hiring game can be a changer. Simply, not a bailout, make sure you have a business movement.
Post When will you be hired and wait when your truck work appeared for the first time Load waves.
