How do I get contracts as an owner operator?

Firest things First......COMPETITION, Everyone wants the Luxury of pulling Containers 150 radius of Rail Hubs/Ship yards..

secondly.......you will need CAPACITY...Steamship Lines wont even look at you with 1 truck

Next, You MUST be recognized as a Cartage co, not a Common Carrier running typical OTR freight..They wont touch you. You must be a Cartage company.

Next, You Need to put in an application with the UIIA.......(Steamship Lines-Ocean Forwarders need to recognize you in your drayage area)

Next, You need insurance through the UIIA AND Set up Interchange Agreements with EACH and every RailYard/Port/ Container Yard/ you will be operating in.

Last But Not Least........'Getting your Name out there'...You Must Solicit yourself to steamship lines.. Example-' Evergreen America' 'Mitsui-Osk'-'Hanjin'-'Maersk lines'-etc.etc.etc


best of luck...Very Hard to get in with as he competition is fierce..PLUS dont forget..You will Need SEVERAL pieces of Equipment...

 

Look around, as a one-truck-chuck you will not be attractive to a shipper, however, there are many brokers that need some reliable transporters and contract the small carriers to work under their contracts.

 

Who are you leased on to? I've heard there is a big gap in rates between the top and lowest rates coming out of Baltimore. I'd like to get back into running cans out of there but the few companies that will put on company drivers don't pay very well. I'd be interested in comparing notes with another local guy, maybe I know some good contacts or vice versa. PM me if interested in talking.

Adam

 

I doubt one truck can handle the volume of a company. Cause look at the downside. Your truck goes down they are out of luck. They go bankrupt you're out of luck. Try asking your company for a dedicated account, but you might need more years with the company.