A smart bookkeeping system will save you from heartache and hassle if you’re ever audited by the IRS. And it can help you maximize tax deductions, so you can keep more of the money you earn. But for many expedite owner-operators, staying on top of all your receipts can be an intimidating process, causing you to want to put things off, only to scramble at the last minute, stressing out as you hunt for everything you need to file taxes. How can you push through that feeling o...

One of the facts of life as an expediter is the (often long) wait time between loads. So, if you're going to have to sit for a while, you might as well enjoy and make the most of that layover, right? What should you look for in an ideal layover destination? EO spoke with veteran team expediters Bob and Linda Caffee and Tom and Tina Evans to get their advice and learn about their favorite layover hot spots. As you evaluate prospective layover locations, keep these questions i...

On November 30, 2015, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a final rule, effective January 29, that protects truck drivers from coercion by motor carriers and third-party logistics firms to violate hours-of-service and other commercial vehicle regulations. Said FMCSA acting administrator Scott Darling in the agency's announcement: "Any time a motor carrier, shipper, receiver, freight-forwarder, or broker demands th...

If you’re an expediter, you understand that temptation to fight through sleepiness. “I can do this,” you think. Drink coffee. Get fresh air. Splash cold water on the face. You run through your list of “quick fixes” to stay awake and on the road. After all, you scold yourself, miles equal money and if your wheels aren’t turning, you’re not earning. But resist that urge to “tough it out” because it’s putting you and the public at risk of a major incident, l...

Perhaps you're in expediting to call your own shots. Or, you always wanted the freedom to travel the country. Or, you dreamed of teaming up with your spouse to enjoy a meaningful second career together after the kids had grown. Whatever your reason for taking the plunge into the expedited trucking business, your destiny is now in your own hands. No boss to blame. No incompetent coworkers to point the finger to. It's all on you as to how far you go in this business. So here ar...

Financing a high-ticket commercial truck is not the same thing as getting a loan to purchase your personal vehicle. There is a higher risk involved with truck financing that impacts what traditional lenders look for in prospective borrowers and how they structure their loans. Today we'd like to highlight an alternative to traditional lending. ExpeditersOnline.com spoke with Jeff Tacker, Vice President of Operations for Expediter Services in Southaven, Mississippi, to get his ...

Motivational speaker Tony Robbins often says, “Success leaves clues.” What he means is that you can succeed in virtually endeavor, if you study the “clues,” the habits and actions that are most common among the top performers -- and then apply those principles in your own life. So, if you’re looking to fulfill your highest earning potential as an expediter, look for the “clues.” What are the habits most common among the highest-earning expedite owner-operators? ...

A fully autonomous truck may be 10 to 20 years down the road. But here are three major 'building block' technologies being developed today that offer a glimpse into the future of trucking....

To give you a glimpse into the world of a recruiter, ExpeditersOnline.com spoke with Scott Holcomb, recruiting director for the Premium Group, a full-service transportation and logistics company headquartered in Toledo, Ohio....

More potential loads, higher pay rates, less impact from hours of service rules -- these are just a few advantages of team driving compared to going solo. But team driving isn't for anyone. And savvy solo expediters can still do very well for themselves financially. So, before you move forward with a potential driving partner -- whether it's your spouse, relative, friend or acquaintance -- keep these five considerations in mind. 1. Decision-making As a solo driver, you only h...