HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Dave brings to you 38 years of valuable experience in transportation, management, business and compliance. Dave has driven in every condition across North America and overseas as military, police, company driver to owner operator to now Publisher Editor of Canadian Trucking Magazine.
This is the 5th New Years Edition of Canadian Trucking Magazine! CTM is celebrating being able to bring you a Transport magazine with articles pictures and entertainment worth picking up, keeping and reading over and over again. CTM started at the worst possible time in this Industry.
But here we are, you reading and CTM printing. Tonnage is up, people are spending, wheels are turning which means 2013 will be a good year in the transport business that equals a good year for you. Thanks for your readership in 2012 and your support in 2013, may this be your best year ever!
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Did you notice the Hockey jersey I was wearing on Page 3 with the CTM Event Cruiser, Heroes Hockey Challenge. Here is an event you can take part in where you support the real Heroes who wore the real helmets. These Canadians wrote a blank cheque to us, up to and including thier life! Time for us to give back and also enjoy a great game! Heroes Hockey Challenge shines the spotlight on some of this nation’s greatest heroes for the benefit of Canada’s unsung heroes. Former NHL professionals will face off against Canadian Forces veterans in an exhibition of hockey pride that is sure to please Canadians. The hockey game will be preceded by an inspirational Gala dinner. Make sure to visit the web site; www.heroeshockeychallenge.com and I will see you there! Supporting our Military and Service people is very important and very Canadian!
So awesome to see the New Chrome Shop at the Roadking Calgary! The Roadking Chrome shop run by Steve pictured below on the left is sure to have all the toys and necessities we need for our trucks. This is just another good reason to fuel and stop at the roadking. A lot of drivers travel further and miss all the shops, the laundry and a right priced place to sleep if you are stuck the week-end. I stay there every magazine trip to Calgary. I get my hair cut there, my laundry done by Tony, and visit you in the lounge. Marc below the rep for BFG, we all know what that means, moron masher for politically correctness, dropped off a BFG so all could touch and kick it. Stainless steel, under 300 lbs and goes over your existing grill. Stainless is so strong and weather resistant, why did someone not think of this sooner! Ask Grumpy what a BFG does to a boulder or Terry to a bear and kept on going.
There is a New Chrome Shop at the Road King in Calgary AB.
Dave continued from Page 4
I know my Buddy from Integra recovery Edmonton is going to hate me for putting his response vehicle in the magazine dirty, but hey that means it’s working! Just what an amazing sign on it and it tells those 4 wheelers to SLOW down as they pass a recovery. Jamie’s article about his granddad this month is awesome! A must read, a real life hero that made a difference in peoples lives. Next to us is the Winnipeg Powersports Show more importantly the Tri Service Vets being there with an incredible new creation from my brother Mark. If you are in winnipeg that week-end, drop by and say hi to us. I will be the one with the train guides on my bike! Long story, but keeps me upright, and on the bike.
One of the best things about my job is the people I meet on the road and get snap shots of or with! Kind of neat to see how many of you know who they are and where they are from, kind of a wheres waldo! A bet a good 50% of my AB readers know these 2 fine and friendly fuel people! Here is a shot of a Great family of folks form the ABC spot in Red Deer AB. If you get in there say Hi and you saw them in CTM!
(Jiggs) Edward Franklin G
Well it is 2013 we are all a little older but are we wiser always leave my little stories till the last minute I don’t plan what I write because I write from the heart so this month is going to be a little off topic. One big reason why have succeeded in life was because a person in my life was tuff on me ,some times I thought a little to tuff at times but the love was always there. He would say, study it, look at it, and figure it out. That gave me the ability to get out of difficult situations which we run into every day in the towing business, no two jobs are the same and there is no text book, figure it out, study it, come up with a plan . The next thing is not to be wasteful recycling is not new, I saw this person build complete additions onto houses and barns with used lumber and straighten out his own used nails to put it together . Nothing was wasted. the hardest one for me to over come was fear, he had none and he pushed me to the point where I over came my fears ,but there is a difference between fearlessness and stupidity and this man knew the difference, common sense always prevailed. He would say look at it study it you gosh darn prune . So here I am 41 years later doing the thing I feared the most talking about my grand fathers passing. JIGGS, Edward Frank Grant Borland. the greatest fear of my life has come true my biggest hero the man who taught me to be a man has passed . We all know these things happen but we are never really prepared so I am enclosing some articles with my words today about my greatest hero and true hero he was .
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My words of this wisdom this month, study it come up with a plan then do it .
I think most companies call it a JSA or Risk assessment these days, use your head think before you act, you don’t live to 86 being careless. Read the following this is from articles I have collected over the years We have to remember our war vets Borland, more commonly known as "Jiggs" by his family and friends, was born of Canadian parents in Reading, Pennsylvania and migrated to Canada with his parents at the age of 10. He volunteered for the Canadian army at the age of 17. From here he would attend jump school in Manitoba but did not finish due to an injury. From here he moved onto tanker school in Borden, Ontario. Once he had completed this portion of his training he was assigned to 14th Canadian Hussars. Once in England a number of the armored units were asked to assign a number of its members to a new unit known as the 8th Reconnaissance Squadron, better known as the Canadian 8th Recce. Jiggs’ role within the unit was to be a main gunner, radio operator and secondary driver. In a letter from French President, Jacques Chirac in 2005, it was stated that he has been chosen to receive the “Legion of Honor ”. The honor has been bestowed upon Mr. Borland for his saving of the French town of Dieppe , Seine-Maritime from a planned Allied Command air raid. The 8th Recce was made aware, by the French resistance, that the German army had left the town overnight. The Germans had fought with the 2nd Canadian Division earlier in the war and didn’t fare well and had no interest in doing it again. Upon learning that there were no Germans in the town Jiggs radioed to headquarters with the news. The response was to go and verify this because the bombing mission had been planned for a long time and wasn’t about to be called off without concrete evidence.
Grant Borland 1925 - 2013 by JAMIE The 8th Recce set out to verify the claim. Only six vehicles in the unit had radios. Due to the terrain and limitations of the radios the communication link with headquarters was lost every 8 to 10 miles (13 to 16 km). At this point they would leave a vehicle and a few men to re-establish the link. This tactic is never done as there is always the possibility of attack from an enemy force. The 8th Recce didn’t have a smooth trip as they encountered small enemy ambushes and a retreating anti-aircraft unit. All of which put up a limited fight. Upon reaching a hill overlooking the town of Dieppe, with only 1 armored car and a bren-gun carrier, Jiggs and his crew of eight others were approached by the Mayor and members of the French Resistance. They told them that there was only one German machine gun nest left in the town and pointed it out. As Jiggs lined up on the window with his main gun, a white flag emerged indicating surrender. The French police then arrested the Germans. Jiggs radioed back to headquarters the following message; “Francis is alive and well and will be expecting his friends for dinner”. This meant that the town was indeed free of the enemy and that the rest of the 2nd Canadian Division could move up to this point. At this point the allied bombers were already in the air and less than 30 minutes from the target. The bombers were then re-routed to another target.
When interviewed by local and national news media, he had commented that he does not consider himself a hero. Borland was quoted as saying "There was no heroism in it, we were doing our job".
After the war, Jiggs started homesteading in Oakville, Ontario where he met his wife Alma Giles.
Alma was from Newfoundland and convinced Jiggs to move there. In 1953, the family and all their belongings were moved. They settled on a small plot of land between Bishop’s Falls and Botwood. The farm was developed and went through many changes over the years, from vegetable to hog to poultry and egg farming. Jiggs has now turned the farm into a popular tourist attraction with a petting zoo, horse back riding, and a bed and breakfast among other things.
Jamie Integra Recovery
info@integrarecovery.ca
(780) 719-8077
Editors Note: Thanks Jamie for your dedication and services to the trucking industry through your service, articles and support for good causes! Thank you for sharing this story of a real Canadian Hero! I know who to call for recovery! Dave
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PILOT PROJECT WILL MEASURE EFFECTIVENESS OF FAST LANES AT BLUE WATER BRIDGE At the Blue Water Bridge there has begun a 6-month pilot project that will measure the time savings for truckers using dedicated FAST lanes. About 1,400 trucks will be involved in the pilot project. As part of the project, trucks using the dedicated FAST lanes will be fitted with a dash-mounted blueRover sensor, which measures traffic flow. The idea is to measure how significant the time savings are for trucks using FAST lanes to cross into Canada at the Blue Water Bridge. All hopes during this project are that the trucks indeed prove that the FAST lanes provide time saving for the truckers. Approximately 6,000 commercial trucks cross the Blue Water Bridge each day, making it Canada’s second busiest commercial crossing. It’s estimated that border delays costs Canada’s economy between $15 billion and $30 billion per year. 23 KILOS OF SUSPECTED COCAINE INTERCEPTED BY CBSA AT THE ABBOTSFORD-HUNTINGDON BORDER CROSSING On December 7, 2012 CBSA sized 23 kilograms of suspected cocaine hidden in the trailer of a commercial truck carrying produce at the Abbotsford-Huntingdon border. The drugs were found while searching the truck and trailer.
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Smuggling never sleeps, even By: Dawn Truell, President, Cross Border Services During the examination, anomalies were detected within the wall of the trailer. The load, produce from California, was fully offloaded, and after officers carefully inspected the truck and trailer, they made drill holes into the wall of the trailer. The drill bits hit a white powder and officers discovered 23 cellophane wrapped bricks of cocaine inside the wall. The driver was arrested and the drugs were turned over to the RCMP as well as the driver. Over the past five years CBSA officers in the Pacific Region of Canada have seized over two tonnes of cocaine alone. "The smuggling of drugs into our country poses a grave threat to the safety of our communities," said Darryl Lavia, the CBSA's Chief of Operations at the Abbotsford-Huntingdon port of entry. "CBSA officers work tirelessly to keep illegal drugs and other contraband from entering Canada." GUN FOUND IN HORSE TRAILER AT SARNIA BORDER A horse trailer entering Canada from Missouri at the Sarnia border on December 7, 2012 was found with a revolver in the hay bales, the driver was fined $20,000 and was in jail for four days; guess he forgot that it’s illegal to carry guns into Canada! James Keith Webster, 72, pled guilty to attempting to smuggle a gun into Canada at the Blue Water Bridge. Webster had been repeatedly asked by CBSA if he had a gun, he said yes but he had left it at home, CBSA discovered a .357 revolver in his possession. Upon Search, CBSA also discovered $50,000 in a lunch bag and $6,000 in his wife’s purse. Webster’s wife was returned to America where the cash was seized, as most of us are aware, any amount over $10,000 must be declared at all border points going in or out of Canada and the U.S.A.
during this Holiday Season.
2.3 KG OF HEROIN SEIZED IN A BONDED WAREHOUSE IN MONTRÉAL On December 18, 2012, CBSA seized 2.3 kg of heroin worth approximately $1,000,000 in a bonded warehouse in Montreal, Quebec. The drugs were discovered in six boxes that contained work gloves imported from Pakistan; in the fingers of the gloves is where the heroin was found. Arrested by the RCMP for this crime was Stephen Ashamu Giwa of Brampton, Ontario. He faced charges of importation and possession of heroin for the purpose of trafficking. A second individual was also arrested related to this seizure: Adeseye Adegoke Adewale, of Montréal, he faced accusations of importation and possession of heroin for the purpose of trafficking, as well as conspiring to import heroin for the purpose of trafficking. "CBSA officers at MontréalTrudeau Airport work in close cooperation with their partners from the RCMP's Airport Federal Investigation Section to intercept narcotics when they're being imported, before they reach our communities," said Benoît Chiquette, the CBSA's Regional Director General for the Quebec Region. Since the beginning of 2012, CBSA officers in Quebec have made 1563 drug seizures valued at over $77 million. CBSA SEIZE 64 KILOS OF KHAT DECEMBER 20, 2012 On December 20, 2012 CBSA discovered 64 kilos of khat inside two parcels sent via postal courier service. Two parcels sent from a company in London, England to Montreal via the M o n t r e a l Mirabel Airport, were discovered to contain the khat which was in the computer cases that were wrapped in carbon paper, street value is approximately $32,000.
"This seizure demonstrates that our officers work tirelessly to prevent the importation of illicit drugs into Canada, regardless of the methods used," said Benoît Chiquette, CBSA Regional Director General for Quebec. The drugs were handed over to the RCMP by CBSA for further investigation. Khat is one of the most dangerous drugs out there currently, when one does this drug no matter the form, irreparable psychiatric damage is done.
For further information on aiding in the fight against smuggling,
terrorism, C-TPAT, FAST, PIP please contact;
Dawn Truell, President, Cross Border Services, at: www.c-tpat-certified.com dawntruell@c-tpat-certified.com.
Note from Dave here, if you see suspicious activity, persons asking you for a ride acrosss the border in your truck, a loose lipped driver talking about smuggling loads of drugs or weapons, do us all a favour and contact authorities. Try to get as much information as possible without becoming involved and shut these bad guys down!
BORDER WATCH CALL
1.888.502.9060
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By Sandy Long
Increasingly, more and more drivers are exhibiting unsafe behavior. I am not sure what it is causing it, perhaps lack of training, poor judgment, or a ‘I don’t just give a dern’ attitude. The other day coming home in my car up I 35, a trucker passed me and came back in so close I couldn’t see the ICC bar on the trailer.
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I would bet money that if a car cut that driver off so closely, the cab and cb would of crackled with them cussing the car. Two days before I was sitting in the truck at a shippers who was kind enough to allow me to take my break there. Pouring down rain and one company’s drivers were coming in and out of the warehouse lot doing at least 35 mph down the drive and then making a sharp turn into the dock apron area without slowing down. I kept waiting for one of them to just slide right into me! Guess they had never heard of hydroplaning.
Safety is as Safety Does
We hear repeatedly about what drivers of cars do while driving such as reading, working on the laptop or watching DVD’s among many other things. Have you paid attention to what the driver in the truck you are passing is doing? I am not nosey, but always glance quickly over and give a wave to a passing brother or sister driver, some things you cannot help but notice. Watching TV’s that are set up in the nook above the driver’s seat, watching DVD’s and playing games on laptops, reading a paperback book and fixing a sandwich are some of the things I have seen. Somethings would boggle your mind! I saw a male driver standing between the seats holding the steering wheel with one hand presumably he had the cruise on, taking care of a bodily function…at 60 mph! Safety begins at home or in this case, in the truck. Being considered professionals, if we exhibit unsafe behavior like following too closely or cutting off another driver, it would follow that younger drivers of both cars and trucks specially would take that as being the thing to do.
One must remember that unlike when I was in school, very few schools offer driver’s ed anymore and let‘s face it, truck driver training leaves a lot to be desired, so many times it is a case of ’monkey see, monkey do’. Becoming a safer truck driver just takes observing what others do to tick you off and make you feel unsafe…then not doing that yourself. Sounds simple doesn’t it, it is. Following too close to other vehicles, speeding through construction zones, truck stops and warehouses, cutting people off are all seen daily and tick drivers off. Why in the world would those very same drivers do the same things themselves to others? Drivers, back off from that vehicle in front of you. Pushing them down the highway isn’t going to get them out of your way any sooner, and may either make them mad enough that they hang you there for miles, or scare them enough they goof up and cause you to wreck. Slow down that truck in truck stops, construction zones and warehouse areas. The few seconds you save will be lost plus hours worth of time while you do the paperwork on an accident, kill someone walking along, or while that nice police officer writes you a ticket and DOT’s your truck.
Finally, save the watching of TV, DVD’s and playing games for when you are stopped, same goes for reading a paperback book…get books on tape. Stop for five minutes and make that sandwich after you take care of your bodily functions…don’t try to cook and drive. If you don’t have that five minutes, then perhaps you should of left sooner. You cannot get angry at other people’s unsafe behavior if you exhibit unsafe behavior yourself. Lead by example and be a safe professional so the drivers who see how you drive can imitate you and become safe drivers themselves. Forrest Gump would say, “Safety is as Safety does”… don’t be as his famous saying goes, “Stupid is as Stupid does”, be a safer, smarter driver. Ya’ll be safe and I wish you peace and some serenity in your busy lives
Do not cuss a trucker or a farmer with your mouth full!
Street Smarts: A Guide to a Truck Driver's Personal Safety Arriving Alive: personal safety, driving and sharing the road with semis tips Just a Lady Driver blog Sandy Long's Faire personal website Sandy Long @ Facebook TrailerTruckinTech Life member OOIDA Women In Trucking Association
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For my Readers I roped a real Canadian CowGirl for the Cover
and Centerfold of January, these are some of the photo shoot!
What drivers should consider when choosing a company
The transportation industry is struggling to find enough professional drivers. Many companies tell me they have the freight – they just need more drivers. If we have a slight increase in demand then the driver shortage will exponentially increase.
As a professional driver it’s up to you to decide which company will best meet your career needs. In this article we will discuss the 6 items that make up the “Total Employment Package.” In the past some thought it to be enough to ask how much do you pay and when will I get home. That limited analysis of a carrier’s compensation package can lead to a big surprise when you look at your net take home pay.
When you call a trucking company the Recruiters job is two fold: Sell you on the company and qualify you as a driver. Your job on the recruiting call is two fold: Sell yourself to the company and make sure the company is right for you.
Item 1 – “Appreciation and Respect” is listed by drivers as the number 1 reason for leaving a company. It doesn’t matter how much you make if you’re not treated like you want to be treated. You spend too much time away from home to work for a company that doesn’t appreciate the sacrifices you make.
To get an idea of how a company treats their drivers I recommend talking to their current drivers. I would also pay attention to how they treat you on the recruiting call? Do they treat you like a number or a person?
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Item 2 – “Pay per Mile” is only part of the compensation package. Experienced drivers should expect to be paid for their experience. Inexperienced drivers should look for a progressive pay scale.
Many carriers offer Bonuses for Fuel Mileage, Accident Free Driving, and Productivity. Inquire into how many of the carriers current drivers achieved the bonuses in the last month. Achievable bonuses can be a great way for those who put forth a little extra effort to make a lot more money.
Item 3 – “Home Time” many carriers offer a variety of runs. You can pick from Local, Regional, Dedicated and Long Haul operations. Two things will usually be affected depending on the type of run you pick: Home Time and Take Home Pay.
Long Haul drivers usually gross more money per month. In considering which type of operation is right for and what you can afford to give up in gross pay per month for the ability to be home more you have to consider road expenses. Local drivers incur less road expenses by not having to purchase meals out every day. This alone can save you over $200 a week. Item 4 – “Benefit” costs have increased with all insurance cost. You should take a careful look at what their portion of the insurance premium and co-pay will be. This can make a significant difference in your take home pay.
For instance, if your portion of the insurance premium at Carrier “A” is $300.00 a month and you drove 10,000 miles that month then .03 cents per mile went toward your insurance cost. So if you were making .40 per mile once you take your insurance premium into consideration you are now making .37 per mile. If Carrier “B” is offering to pay you .38 cents per mile and they cover the full cost of your medical premium then on the same miles per month you are actually making .01 cents more per mile or $100 more per month.
Other things to consider are: What is the insurance deductible? What is your maximum out of pocket expense per year? Do they offer a prescription card?
Every dollar you don’t have to spend goes to your bottom line. A close look at benefits should be part of your employment decision.
“The 6 Items of a Complete Employment Package” By Kelly Anderson Item 5 - “Type of Commodity” being hauled will dictate the difficulty of the job. This will go hand in hand with the type of equipment driven and pulled. Each commodity has its inherent pros and cons. It’s up to you to decide which type of operation is right for you.
Item 6 – “Equipment” is another major concern when choosing a company. Not just Make and Model but overall appearance and maintenance.
Dirty and poorly maintained trucks attract DOT attention. When you are being inspected or placed out of service you aren’t making any money.
You should ask about the age of the fleet. How the trucks are assigned. How often you are allowed to get a truck wash. Look for the companies trucks on the road and judge for yourself the condition of their equipment.
The 6 items listed above collective create a complete employment package. There are other benefits carriers can offer in addition to the ones listed above. For instance, several carriers are paying for XM Satellite Radio for all their drivers. Another carrier is offering WiFi compatible laptops at a substantially reduced price to all their drivers.
Although not an employment benefit, carriers CSA Score should also be considered. A carrier with high basic scores can be an indication of their attitude or the attitude of the drivers on the fleet toward safety and compliance. Regardless, this could result in you being flagged for inspection more frequently.
Making the right employment decision will make all the difference in your career and ultimately retirement. Every time you change jobs you lose a minimum of one weeks pay, you start over on seniority, vacation time goes back to zero, and you have to learn a new carrier and its operating procedures. Over the course of your career this will make a major difference in your earning potential and quality of life.
This article was written by Kelly Anderson, President of Impact Transportation Solutions, Inc. An independent consulting firm specializing in Driver Recruitment and Retention issues in the transportation industry. You can reach Kelly at 417-451-0853 or Kelly@impacttrans.com.
NOTE FROM DAVE; In this months magazine you will find Ads from a variety of Carriers in different regions. That is because CTM is not a Job Posting Magazine but one with Articles, Entertainment and loads of pictures. The companies you find in CTM are Dave approved and geared to be different to suit any type of work you love to do. Take a hard look at thier Ads and make them your best next move! If a company is not in CTM it may be the worst move you ever made, talk to me driver. CTM is built for you!
Dave with Val the Truckers Pal Husky Regina!
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Danica Patrick, driver of the #7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, poses with the Coors Light Pole Award after qualifying for the pole position for the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 24, 2012 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
A conceptual rendering of the proposed multi-year redevelopment of the historic Daytona International Speedway, presented by President Joie Chitwood in Daytona Beach, Florida on January 22, 2013.
On the road on magazine delivery Dave tries to talk a dog off Tammy at the Husky as Shelby clearly has an App for Dave, go figure, these days they have an app for everything! Does Dave have enough memory to run it?
uShip: The Go-To Load source in My Tool Kit The search tool lets you narrow the options based on your specialty or equipment. You then place competing bids against other haulers on these loads, and the customer then picks their preferred service provider, based on price, timing, feedback, etc. When it comes to operating my business, there are three main reasons I use uShip in my tool kit:
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Like most successful owner-operators today, I have my go-to number of load sources to maximize the money in my pocket -- trusted brokers, load boards, repeat business to name a few. I always like multiple options in my tool box so I know I can get my hands on a load at any time. A few years ago, I stumbled across one source that’s become essential in my tool box, and that’s uShip.com. While I have my other sources, I’ve had the most success with uShip. In fact, almost every load I’ve brought into Canada has been through uShip. As a Canadian hauler, you can use uShip, too, either within Canada or into and out of the States. On uShip, simply put in your origin and destination – and the site will show potential loads within 100miles / 160kms of your route. These are live loads from people looking for your help across a bunch of different categories.
1. uShip is free. Unlike many load boards where you pay a monthly subscription fee whether you use it or not, uShip only collects a fee when you book and complete a job. Fees range based on what you haul.
2. Quick operating capital. When I’m looking to fill holes, grab a load for a backhaul, or want to make some extra money, there’s always something available on uShip. There’s a reasonable amount of industrial type loads – uShip has an exclusive relationship with Ritchie Bros. – but most loads are more personal property like household goods, cars, boats, motorcycles, AG, etc. In other words, loads that more easily fill holes and get you paid quickly. I find it helps keep my cash flow liquid.
www.snortnboartransport.com
By- Marc Springer - Snortn Boar Transport
3. Experience pays. uShip’s customer feedback system lets customers view your track record and history before they accept your bid. Like all of us, they just don’t want to get screwed. I love uShip’s customer-reviews because as I have successfully completed loads and built my feedback rating, customers know they can trust me. It demonstrates I know what I’m doing and won’t put their equipment or goods at risk – and most people are willing to pay a higher price for this assurance. One of the complaints I hear about uShip is that the prices customers want to pay are too low. While I agree to a certain extent, consider this scenario: That completely-empty 1,000 mile backhaul ahead you just takes money out of your pocket. But booking a load on uShip – even though it might be below your preferred cost-per-mile to haul it, will at least cover your expenses, maybe even with a small profit. Sometimes you can do better than that also. So, as an owner-operator, what would you rather do?
I encourage you to check out how uShip can benefit your business. It’s really tailor-made for the owner-operator, making it a great way to start or expand your business, ultimately putting you in charge of your own business destiny. All the best and be safe and profitable out there!
Marc Springer Owner/Operator
Snortn Boar Transport Providing Quality Transportation Throughout the US and Canada www.snortnboartransport.com
https://www.facebook.com/Snortnboar
If you got it! a Truck brought it! Thank a Trucker Today! 41