Blue Ribbon Podcast: Recent Episodes
Blue Ribbon Logistical Solutions
Formerly known as The American Truck Driver Podcast, The Blue Ribbon Podcast is a show about how thrive and survive in the Trucking Industry as an Owner/Operator. Hosted by Larry W. Long and Chris Polk, this podcast will give you all the tools and information you need to become a successful Owner/Operator.
Setting yourself apart in the trucking market requires a combination of exceptional service and clear communication. Building a reputation for reliability and excellent customer service is crucial; ensure timely deliveries and maintain open lines of communication with customers, brokers and agents. By consistently delivering value and prioritizing customer satisfaction, your trucking business can carve out a distinctive niche in a competitive market.
2024 was a rough year for everyone and every industry. Too many trucks, not enough loads, low rates, parts shortages and out of control inflation. In this episode we are going to break down the Top 5 trucks in the Blue Ribbon fleet and show you exactly how much each one made. We will also reveal who the #1 driver was for 2024. His numbers are pretty astounding. We may even convince him to come on the show and talk about his experience. Join us as we deep dive into the numbers.
On tonight's podcast, we will share significant details about the future of Blue Ribbon and the podcast.
Larry and Chris are together in Hurricane for a new driver orientation. We will discuss the election and its effects on the Trucking economy.
A lot of Landstar drivers have been contacted in the last few months by someone who has access to a LOT of data that they should NOT have access to. The scammer is trying to get fuel card numbers under the guise of there having been an accident to they can steal the fuel money. There isn't a lot that can be done to stop the calls. We are going to talk about what can be done to stop the theft.
Lease Purchase. Lease a Truck. Lease to a Carrier. There seems to be way too much confusion about what a lease is and what it is not. We are going to clear this up on this episode.
This is going to be a big episode. We have some numbers from the last 90 days that we are going to share with you about our operation, and the results are fascinating. Tune in while we breakdown three months of data to the penny and show you how we are making a profit in 2024.
Chris got hung up in the shop doing a wheel seal, so this episode was canceled and then un-cancelled when he ran out of parts. Rocky Rockefeller from N Florida MD Alignment jumped on and we had a good talk about truck suspensions.
There is nothing wrong with offering reasonable criticism of a service, product or person. What is NOT reasonable is criticizing from absolute ignorance. We will dive into it this evening.
You know we end up with some wild shop stories, and we have another one for you tonight. We will also catch up what is happening at the new shop and more.
SINCE THE EPISODE WAS PUBLISHED, THE OPENING DATE OF THE MD ALIGNMENT SHOP HAS BEEN CHANGED TO JUNE 17, 2024
We're back from MATS and the 2024 Blue Ribbon Awards Banquet, We will catch you up on what we've been up to and our experience in Louisville.
Larry is off this week. Landstar Heavy Haul BCO Phil Frese will be joining us to talk all things Heavy Haul and Platform. Get your questions ready!
Larry had a medical procedure today, so he is at home resting. Justin Martin from Freightwaves will be joining us.
$10,000 for a FUEL FILTER????We took a truck to a shop this week to diagnose a problem. We were given a $10,000 estimate to replace the turbo and the EGR cooler. We didn't trust the diagnosis so we brought the truck 700 miles back to West Virginia. What did we find? A $35 fuel filter that needed replaced.
We've always told you that you better have a plan when the "unexpected" happens in your business. Well, this past week we got an opportunity to practice what we preach when Larry was sidelined with a medical issue. The rest of the Blue Ribbon team stepped up and filled the gaps. Richie and Phil put a closer eye on the fleet while Chris managed payroll and settlements. We didn't miss a beat, but without preparation, it could have been disastrous for our company. Larry is back this week and will fill you in on all the details.
Larry is under the weather, so Chris will be joined by Steve Vest of Nationwide Equipment Transportation, Inc. We discovered Steve on TikTok last week and quickly decided to join us on the podcast to discuss his experience as a freight broker. Steve's website: https://nationwidetrans.com/Steve's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ntwdequiptrans
We will be live from the hotel conference room where we will be all together. Richie and Phil will be joining us. There is likely to be copious amounts of alcohol consumption, so buckle up and get ready for a good time.
It's been reported that 450 carriers are leaving the Trucking industry every day, and that number is expected to increase to as many as 1,000 carriers per day in Q1 2024. There are no shortage of excuses being given and blame assigned to anyone and everyone except the business owner. We are going to talk about how you must accept responsibility for your decisions and the outcome.All of our Links: https://beacons.ai/blueribbonlogistics
This episode will be about understanding your role in the market and putting yourself last.
We have a question for you on tonight's episode - Are you really willing to do what it takes to reach the pinnacle of business?
Larry is in Florida for the Holiday, so Chris decided to jump on and do an impromptu episode.
OOIDA is joining the effort for Overtime Pay for Owner Operators. We are trying to figure out what that has to do with "Owner Operators" or "Independent Drivers"
"The National Owner Operator Association" (TNOOA) called for a nationwide Trucker's Strike. To no one's surprise but their own, it didn't happen. These clowns are crying out for help, and they're looking in the wrong place. TONIGHT: Larry's first Quickbooks lesson. Stay tuned to t
Larry is out of town this week with family, so we will be joined by Brandon Johnson from Be.Logistics.Brandon Johnson is an entrepreneur that started out as a Hotshot Carrier in 2016 with 4 Trucks, to then start a dispatch company in 2018 with hopes of helping other small Hotshot carriers avoid the mistakes he did by properly dispatching & educating them per their equipment. Now, they dispatch for multiple equipment types with a team of dispatchers & provide over 100 resources on their site to help carriers and freight dispatchers alike. Brandon's Website: https://www.belogistics.net/Brandon's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@be.logisticsBrandon's List of Links: https://koji.to/k/8ErQ
One of our drivers was kidnapped by a scum bag extortionist thief in Charlotte, NC that demanded a $2500 extortion payment in order to be released. We tell that story and answer a lot of questions from the audience.All of our Links: https://beacons.ai/blueribbonlogisticsPittsburgh Power: https://pittsburghpower.comPodcast Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/podcastBlue Ribbon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueribbonlogisticsBlue Ribbon Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.comBlue Ribbon Blog: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/blogDRIVE FOR US: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/drive-for-us
We’re back after a couple weeks off, so grab a drink and sit down with us as we catch up. All of our Links: https://beacons.ai/blueribbonlogisticsPittsburgh Power: https://pittsburghpower.comPodcast Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/podcastBlue Ribbon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueribbonlogisticsBlue Ribbon Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.comBlue Ribbon Blog: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/blogDRIVE FOR US: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/drive-for-us
Larry is on vacation this week. This is probably a terrible idea that will end in disaster, but I'm going to let some of you be my co-host. Buckle up. This has the potential to be an absolute disaster. All of our Links: https://beacons.ai/blueribbonlogisticsPittsburgh Power: https://pittsburghpower.comPodcast Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/podcastBlue Ribbon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueribbonlogisticsBlue Ribbon Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.comBlue Ribbon Blog: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/blogDRIVE FOR US: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/drive-for-us
Discussions of IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement) cause more fights than Budweiser. IFTA is not all that complicated. We are going to explain how IFTA works in detail and why you should NEVER consider IFTA when making your fuel purchasing decisions. All of our Links: https://beacons.ai/blueribbonlogisticsPittsburgh Power: https://pittsburghpower.comPodcast Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/podcastBlue Ribbon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueribbonlogisticsBlue Ribbon Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.comBlue Ribbon Blog: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/blogDRIVE FOR US: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/drive-for-us
All of our Links: https://beacons.ai/blueribbonlogisticsPittsburgh Power: https://pittsburghpower.comPodcast Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/podcastBlue Ribbon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueribbonlogisticsBlue Ribbon Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.comBlue Ribbon Blog: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/blogDRIVE FOR US: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/drive-for-us
Chris had to go to Ohio and rescue a truck so the Friday night show won’t happen. We will be live SUNDAY night at 8:00 PMAll of our Links: https://beacons.ai/blueribbonlogisticsPittsburgh Power: https://pittsburghpower.comPodcast Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/podcastBlue Ribbon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueribbonlogisticsBlue Ribbon Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.comBlue Ribbon Blog: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/blogDRIVE FOR US: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/drive-for-us
All of our Links: https://beacons.ai/blueribbonlogisticsPittsburgh Power: https://pittsburghpower.comPodcast Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/podcastBlue Ribbon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueribbonlogisticsBlue Ribbon Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.comBlue Ribbon Blog: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/blogDRIVE FOR US: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/drive-for-us
It's time again for the RESET YOUR MINDSET LIVE EVENT for 2023. We're live at the Wingate in Hurricane for the reception before the event begins. All of our Links: https://beacons.ai/blueribbonlogisticsPittsburgh Power: https://pittsburghpower.comPodcast Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/podcastBlue Ribbon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueribbonlogisticsBlue Ribbon Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.comBlue Ribbon Blog: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/blogDRIVE FOR US: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/drive-for-us
All of our Links: https://beacons.ai/blueribbonlogisticsPittsburgh Power: https://pittsburghpower.comPodcast Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/podcastBlue Ribbon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueribbonlogisticsBlue Ribbon Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.comBlue Ribbon Blog: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/blogDRIVE FOR US: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/drive-for-us
Reading, writing and math are the basics of education. You must be proficient in all of them to succeed in business.
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Podcast Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/podcast
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Blue Ribbon Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com
Blue Ribbon Blog: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/blog
DRIVE FOR US: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/drive-for-us
iTunes Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blue-ribbon-podcast/id1031752967
Have you ever been sucker-punched? Life and business can do that to you, and it always hurts more when you don't see it coming?
All of our Links: https://beacons.ai/blueribbonlogistics
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Podcast Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/podcast
Blue Ribbon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueribbonlogistics
Blue Ribbon Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com
Blue Ribbon Blog: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/blog
DRIVE FOR US: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/drive-for-us
iTunes Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blue-ribbon-podcast/id1031752967
It's official that Yellow Freight is shutting down after 100 years and a lot of people are out of a job. This begs the question - Which is better? The freedom of being in business or the security of being in a union.
We will be on Saturday night this week as Chris and Larry both have scheduling conflicts on Friday.
All of our Links: https://beacons.ai/blueribbonlogistics
Pittsburgh Power: https://pittsburghpower.com
Podcast Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/podcast
Blue Ribbon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueribbonlogistics
Blue Ribbon Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com
Blue Ribbon Blog: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/blog
DRIVE FOR US: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/drive-for-us
iTunes Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blue-ribbon-podcast/id1031752967
All of our Links: https://beacons.ai/blueribbonlogistics
Pittsburgh Power: https://pittsburghpower.com
Podcast Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/podcast
Blue Ribbon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueribbonlogistics
Blue Ribbon Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com
Blue Ribbon Blog: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/blog
DRIVE FOR US: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/drive-for-us
iTunes Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blue-ribbon-podcast/id1031752967
Larry drops some gold in this episode.
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Podcast Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/podcast
Blue Ribbon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueribbonlogistics
Blue Ribbon Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com
Blue Ribbon Blog: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/blog
DRIVE FOR US: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/drive-for-us
iTunes Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blue-ribbon-podcast/id1031752967
Larry's in Chicago in his son's "Bourbon Barn" and apparently had technical difficulties. He finally calls in about 20 minutes in and hilarity ensued.
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Podcast Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/podcast
Blue Ribbon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueribbonlogistics
Blue Ribbon Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com
Blue Ribbon Blog: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/blog
DRIVE FOR US: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/drive-for-us
We’re starting the show an hour late because Chris is on a towing mission and might not make it home by 8.
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Podcast Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/podcast
Blue Ribbon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueribbonlogistics
Blue Ribbon Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com
Blue Ribbon Blog: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/blog
DRIVE FOR US: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/drive-for-us
This week the podcast will be on MONDAY NIGHT JUNE 19, 2023 as we will be doing a midweek orientation with a new driver. Join us MONDAY instead of Friday this week.
Pittsburgh Power: https://pittsburghpower.com
Podcast Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/podcast
Blue Ribbon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueribbonlogistics
Blue Ribbon Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com
Blue Ribbon Blog: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/blog
DRIVE FOR US: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/drive-for-us
Larry is in Las Vegas this weekend putting the casinos out of business. Chris will be joined by Justin Martin from Freightwaves What the Truck? Podcast.
Pittsburgh Power: https://pittsburghpower.com
Podcast Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/podcast
Blue Ribbon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueribbonlogistics
Blue Ribbon Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com
Blue Ribbon Blog: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/blog
DRIVE FOR US: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/drive-for-us
Larry is in the midst of a major renovation, so he’s been relegated to the bunker as the construction progresses.
Pittsburgh Power: https://pittsburghpower.com
Podcast Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/podcast
Blue Ribbon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueribbonlogistics
Blue Ribbon Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com
Blue Ribbon Blog: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/blog
DRIVE FOR US: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/drive-for-us
We're trying something new this week, simulcasting the show to TikTok.
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Podcast Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/podcast
Blue Ribbon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueribbonlogistics
Blue Ribbon Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com
Blue Ribbon Blog: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/blog
DRIVE FOR US: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/drive-for-us
Larry and Chris are both in West Virginia this weekend for a new driver orientation. Stop by, grab a drink, and settle in for the conversation.
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Podcast Website: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/podcast
Blue Ribbon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueribbonlogistics
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Blue Ribbon Blog: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/blog
DRIVE FOR US: https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/drive-for-us
Larry is spending the weekend with his grandchildren, so we will have Annique Lesage back on the show to set in as co-host.
The revolution began in 2008, but no one knew it. Over the last 15 years, people with vision have been working behind the scenes to lay the groundwork for a new way of trading. The Blockchain Revolution is upon us. The old markets depended on intermediaries that owned distribution networks to get things moved. Those old ways are no longer necessary.This will be the first of many episodes dedicated to understanding what is coming. Our first guest on this topic will be Todd Ziegler, CEO of TruckCoinSwap. https://www.truckcoinswap.com He is going to help us begin to understand where to begin of our study of the new markets.Blockchain isn't only going to revolutionize trucking. It is going to change EVERYTHING - Energy, Communication, Banking, Finance, Trade and Transportation. We MUST stop being distracted by the people who have a vested interest in keeping us in the old ways. Join us for an exciting new adventure.
Our guest this week is Michael Lombard (@lombardtrucking on TikTok). He hosts the Lombard Trucking Podcast. He is an Owner/operator and became a driver in 2020. He has some strong opinions and we are going to talk about them
This week we are going to sit down with a real, live broker.We found Annique Lesage (@smallworldannique on TikTok) and found her content to be outstanding. She has been a Freight Broker for nearly 20 years. She works for Small World Ventures http://www.smallworldventuresllc.com. We are going to talk with her about her experience as a broker, the history of brokering, and what the real truth is about broker contracts.
We have Dr. Jane Gates with us this week to discuss the history and the science behind Pittsburgh Power's Max Mileage Fuelborne Catalyst.
APRIL 7, 2023We're back after an exciting weekend in Louisville at the Mid America Trucking Show. We had a lot of fun making connections and meeting fans. We will give you the rundown of our experience.
Larry is enjoying some time in the Mountains with family, so we reached out to our friends at ProMiles and are excited to have Tony Stroncheck join Chris as Co-Host of this episode. Tony also hosts the Trucking with ProMiles Podcast with Steven Todd. About Tony:Mr. Stroncheck started working in the Transportation Industry in 1989 for Owens & Associates with his then father in law. In 1991, he purchased fuel tax reporting software from his long friend and now partner Mr. Tim Pilcher. In 1992, Mr. Stroncheck took control of Owen & Associates and changed the name to Road Legal Inc. In the 20 years since the company started, it has filed over 15,000 operating authorities and permits with the ICC and FHWA. After discussing the idea for a couple of years, the two founders decided to work together to create a mileage program. In 1993, Messrs. Pilcher and Stroncheck started working together to create and market a mileage guide to the trucking industry.The first program was introduced in the spring of 1993 and was called the EZ Permanent Mileage Guide. This program provided driving miles only for the continental United States. In 1994, driving directions and state mileage breakouts were added, and the product was renamed EZP Plus. 1995 saw the launch of the first windows version of the program called EZP for Windows. In 1995, Mr. Stroncheck made a deal with industry software leader JJ Keller & Associates to market the EZP for windows software. In order to do so, Canada had to be added to the program’s database. Mr. Stroncheck launched their product in the spring of 1996 and chose the name ProMiles for it.When ProMiles was launched, it broke ground on many new features that have become standard for trucking mileage guides. It was also the first trucking mileage guide to have geographically accurate maps. In 1997, the company introduced the first trucking mileage guide on the Internet. In the summer of 1998, the founders consolidated the software development from ATSP and Road Legal and formed the company ProMiles Software Development Corporation (PSDC). 1999 was a busy year for Mr. Stroncheck and the company. PSDC moved to a large office on Texas Avenue in Bridge City and set up an Internet server farm.PSDC doubled its staff and prepared for a large marketing push. Unfortunately, just as PSDC started realizing results from this marketing push in February of 2000, the price of fuel jumped to over $2.00 a gallon in many places and trucking technology purchases collapsed. With development funds exhausted and several promising leads developing in the trucking Internet market, PSDC refocused on developing Internet applications.
Our streaming issues have brought a lot of frustration. Larry is in West Virginia this weekend, so we're going to try a different streaming platform to see how it goes. The gremlins always show up when we're in the same room together, so buckle up! This ride could get bumpy. We are going to talk about the reasons you should NOT go into business.
We will be joined by Shell OEM Technical Specialist Karin Haumann to discuss topics such as engine oil specifications, maintenance, educating drivers on synthetics, and more. Oil is a big topic for us, so we thought this would be a great topic for our audience. Don’t forget our sponsors:Pittsburgh Power: https://pittsburghpower.comWhat Was That Like Podcast:https://whatwasthatlike.com/
Larry and I will discuss what it's like training "professional" truck drivers in 2023. This episode will have some surprises, plus a preview of the 2023 Mid America Truck Show.Larry is on vacation and we were thrilled to have Larry Cothran join me as co-host. Larry Cothran has been a professional driver since 2007, mostly as an owner-operator who occasionally leases with a company. Larry is also a well-known professional trucking influencer and brand ambassador who brings expertise, humor, and his engaging personality to his social following. He promotes brands through speaking engagements, social media management, and content creation, driving visibility and growth. With an established portfolio of corporate partnerships and his industry-insider knowledge, his blend of professionalism and humor make him a valuable asset for companies targeting the trucking industry.Don’t forget our sponsors:Pittsburgh Power: https://pittsburghpower.comWhat Was That Like Podcast:https://whatwasthatlike.com/
Freightwaves published the results of an Owner/Operator survey they conducted about the market and the responses were interesting. Chris was interviewed for the article. Freightwaves Senior Editorial Researcher Joe Antoshak will join us to discuss his findings.https://www.freightwaves.com/news/for-some-owner-operators-this-is-the-end-of-the-road/amp35.2% of respondents said “If the market does not rebound materially by the end of 2023, I will leave the industry.” We have been warning for more than two years that this downturn was coming. Now it's here and a lot of people have some important decisions to make. Be sure to check out our sponsors:What Was That Like Podcast https://whatwasthatlike.comPittsburgh Power: https://pittsburghpower.com
In Episode 108, we introduced you to Pittsburgh Power's OPS Eco Pur Oil Purification System. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Yc4v6K07ywIn this episode we are going to talk about:- What kind of oils you should use- How to fill out and submit your oil sample to the Lab- How to read the report from the Lab- Our maintenance schedule and maintenance intervals
We're moving to Friday! The Sunday night broadcasts were taxing on us as we prepared for the week ahead. We believe Friday's will also be better because we're closer to the action of the previous week, so the chances of us being a little more spicy are elevated.
This week we are joined by our good friend and fellow Landstar BCO Steve Wheeler. Steve has extensive experience in taxes and accounting. This episode will be chocked full of information about setting up your business and making sure your accounting is done properly.
Introducing the Blue Ribbon MASTER CLASS for 2023. We will do a deep dive into the new and updated mentoring and training program. We will also cover the BCO Mentoring Program that includes Dispatch and Accounting.
Chris made a TikTok called “The Biggest Scam in Trucking History.” It is about CSA2010. https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRbKaXKg/ We got a response to that video from Brian Dale. He is an insurance broker from Chattanooga, TN. You can see that here: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRbKk14L/ We invited Brian on the show to talk about Insurance, CSA2010 and much more. He’s going to break it down for us and set the record straight on all the different types of insurance required to operate a truck.
2022 was an exciting year for Blue Ribbon Logistical Solutions. It's looking like 2023 is going to present some challenges. We are ready for whatever it brings. We will talk about 2022 and the lessons learned.
Chris will report on his week on the road last week and we will have to explain why we can’t broadcast on Facebook this week.
Chris is on the road again this week for the first time hauling freight since August 2021. We will talk about what it takes to stay profitable in a down market.
A lot of questions have come up over the last week as a couple videos have gained more traction and gotten more views. How can we buy fuel for the price we do? How can we profit as much as we do?What about "Landstar's cut"?How can we have revenue numbers as high as we do? We're going to have Zeke Goodwin on the show as well. His truck gained some fame since we did a video on it, and it has generated some questions for him, so we're going to let him answer them.
Chris made a video and put it on TikTok about a $10,000 Lunatic Truck and it went viral. The comments are hilarious and sad.
Larry's on another vacation, this time in West Palm Beach, Florida. We had some technical difficulties, but we got them worked out. Topics discussed: - Why won't truck stops fill "flat" tires?- Super Singles vs Dual Tires- How do you prepare your trucks for winter?- How fast do we drive and why?- When is the next Blue Ribbon Live Event?- How much experience is necessary to qualify at Landstar?- 12.7 Detroit or Cat 3406? Which is the best engine and why?- Truck Driver wins the lottery and wants to buy a truck.- Where can I find an open deck trailer for sale?- We have a truck for sale!- What is the future of LTL with Blockchain coming?- Is the railroad strike going to happen, and how will it affect trucking rates?- Is there going to be a "bloodbath"?- 2,000 trucks are supposed to invade NYC, but only FOUR show up. - The Blue Ribbon Mentoring Program- How does a company driver save $40-50,000 to buy a truck?- What is our opinion on factoring companies?
This episode is a little bit of a train wreck. We broadcast from the hotel in Hurricane. Chris was sick and fighting to keep his voice. We had some audio issues, but we suffered through. Be patient with us on this one. Topics covered:- 1099 vs W2 and the TikTok that sparked controversy- Will there be a diesel shortage or is it all hype?- The "alleged" trip to the Bourbon Barn in Naperville, IL with Carl Bonecutter- What it's like hiring people in 2022- The possibilities of blockchain and crypto.- News story about "36-Year-Old Mom of 2 Brings in $144,000 a Year as a Professional Truck Driver"- People with their own authority contacting us about suspending it- No Christmas freight bump?
It's happening. Rates are down. Fuel is up. People are feeling the crunch. We aren't going to celebrate, but we predicted this. We knew this was coming. We talk about how we are still profitable. It's probably going to get worse before it gets better.
We have some potentially unpopular opinions to share.
We are passionate about business, helping others learn business, and serving customers. We try our best to share that passion and ignite it in our program participants. It doesn't always work out.
There’s an old saying that goes “Dogs will bark, but the convoy moves on.” It means that the vocal voices of criticism, insults and ad hominems or other detractions have no effect on a determined person or other actor who has chosen his path and is determined to proceed.
We’re going to talk about how to operate in the face of criticism and how you don’t let it affect the path you’re on.
We built this program to help people. We found out this past week that, sometimes people ask for "help" but that isn't really what they're after. You don't get sugarcoating from us. We're going to tell you the truth as we understand it, and it doesn't matter if you like it or not.
Scott Davis has been around since before there was a "Landstar." Scott is one-half of the team that runs Landstar CHW, an agency located in Hurricane, WV (Chris's hometown). Their parents started the Ranger agency before Landstar as we know it existed. Alongside his sister Debbie, they picked up the mantle after their parents retired and have kept the agency afloat through a lot of changes in the industry. This episode will be a history lesson about Landstar and the trucking industry in general.
We have a proven program that gives an experienced driver the opportunity to see what it’s really like to own and operate a trucking business. We let you “See how the sausage is made.” We will explain why we are the best path to Becoming a BCO for people interested in buying a truck.
The thing that makes Blue Ribbon Logistical Solutions work so well is the combination of Chris's 25 years of Trucking and Larry's nearly 50 years of business experience. Neither of us never new that we would someday be faced with teaching the Basics of Trucking. We are finding that "experienced" truck drivers don't have all that much experience. The people we have encountered that don't understand Hours of Service, How to Read a Map, How to Scale a Truck, How to Plan a Trip, etc has been startling. We're going to go over some of these basics and offer some tips on how to prepare yourself for, not only a successful career as a driver, but also running an efficient, compliant, safe business.
I’ve heard Dave Ramsey say, “There is a good place to go when you’re broke - TO WORK!”The last couple years in Trucking have been the best in history. If you didn’t take advantage of it then, you’re going to have to work harder now for less money. Business is hard. We’re going to talk about why work ethic and putting others’ needs first will be what saves you from “The Bloodbath.”
The things that set truck drivers apart from business owners are the details. We've said it many times - "Driving the truck - shifting gears and backing into docks - is 15% of what it takes to succeed in business.
We're going to talk about these details and how they will be the difference between success and failure.
I sent a message out to our fleet this week and asked what they thought we should cover on this episode. We got some good questions and we will share them with you.
We're live from the Wingate hotel in Hurricane, WV doing another new driver orientation.
We started drinking about an hour before we went live, so this one is a little off the rails.
The question came up "What would it look like if any other business was run like trucking businesses are?" The reality is that the "Lunatic" model is only crazy because it's in trucking. In any other business, it would be NORMAL. Larry has 50 years of business experience in other industries, and it was when he came to trucking that he saw that "trucking businesses" aren't run like businesses. They're run like hobbies. Come have a drink with us as we tackle this controversial topic.
Larry was in Chicago over the weekend and Chris had a new driver orientation, so there wasn’t a specific topic or theme for this show. We answered some questions from the live audience. Here is a little bit of what we covered:
Leasing a truck to a carrier (not just Landstar)
Emphasis on knowing your numbers
A conversation Chris had with TA/Petro corporate
Having an attitude of service
Finding a lunatic truck
Random strangers are more reliable than established shops.
We don't live in "The Good Ole Days" anymore when drivers could operate trucks without Air Conditioning. A properly functioning A/C System has become just as important as any other system that keeps the truck running.
As we have said over and over again, you cannot trust shops and mechanics to know what they are doing. YOU have to become the expert that, even though you may not have the tools or the "certification" you can be knowledgable enough to know when someone is feeding you a line of BS or recommending a course of action that is unnecessary or incorrect.
Larry happens to be an ASE Certified A/C technician from his days in the car business. The fundamentals of A/C are the same today as they have ever been. All A/C systems function in the same basic way - your house, your car, your refrigerator - all have the same components.
We hope this episode will arm you with the basic information you need to understand this important system as you prepare to got to battle in the shop when it's time for a repair.
With 14 trucks in the Landstar system, we are well-versed on what it takes to get a truck leased on. We have it down to about a two-day process. But what if you have one truck and you want to lease on a second? Where do you begin? What is required? How can you be prepared to make the process as smooth as possible?
We will answer all these questions, plus we will give you some information on things you probably aren’t thinking about as you prepare to add a truck.
In this episode we will talk about what you missed by not being at the “Reset Your Mindset” event last weekend and why you shouldn’t miss the next one, assuming you survive the “Great Purge."
This one is going to be a LOT of fun!
We are broadcasting LIVE from the Wingate by Windham in Hurricane, West Virginia in “The Lunatic Lounge” of the Blue Ribbon Bar. We are going to have lots of guests. This is the first time EVER that all of the Blue Ribbon trucks, drivers, and mentoring clients have all been in one location at the same time. You’ll get to meet most of them as we prepare for the “Reset Your Mindset” live event.
The official Blue Ribbon Bartender, Nick Stamper, will have the libations flowing so it’s hard to tell what you’ll hear on this episode. Buckle up! This is gonna be a wild ride!
The Live Event in Hurricane, WV is only five days away. We will preview the event and what you can expect to learn from two days with the Lunatics.
The irony of this episode being on “Independence Day” is rich. The US Supreme Court, aka The Black Robed Wizards, refused to hear the California Trucking Association’s suit to end the AB5 contractor law. It’s being reported that 70,000 owner operators in California will now be classified as “employees” now that the injunction is gone. What will they do? What will you do when the Feds soon try the same thing? You need to prepare to save yourself, because help is not coming.
We don't have a special topic for tonight's episode. We're live from the Wingate where we are doing a new driver orientation.
In this episode, we're going to talk to John Rennoldson. He started his journey as a Landstar BCO from day one with Blue Ribbon. Chris is his dispatcher and Larry helps him with running his business. We'll talk with John about his decision to use this service, and what led him to renew the contract for another six months.
One of our drivers pointed me to an Asian Mai video where a truck driver said “Drivers need to grow and pair and shutdown, or get out.” Video here: https://youtu.be/b7BsWcOsT9A
This driver spends a lot of time virtue signaling about how good he is and how important “we” are as drivers. His selfish, ignorant attitude ignores the reason he even has a job to be proud of - the customers and the free market.
Obviously, we won’t be shutting down or stopping.
We’ve seen plenty of the posts about people who are claiming to go home and sit rather than pay for the fuel and “be robbed by the brokers.”
This episode is going to be about math, ethics, and economics. Things aren’t anywhere near as bad as these idiots claim they are.
We don't have a plan for this one. That's up to you. We're going to open the show and take your questions live.
It’s more important now than ever to lower your fuel cost. Lowering the price you pay and then getting better mileage are the key. We’ll talk about how to do both and we’ll talk with our best fuel mileage driver.
Surviving a down market isn't possible without knowing what it takes to run your business. You MUST have an accounting system, and you must be able to calculate the real profits and losses with data, not with a "feeling." There aren't many people better at accounting than Larry, and we're going to show you how we use the numbers to make decisions and guide the fleet.
We are going to sit down with Chris Long who is an Executive Vice President of one of the largest Warehouse Management companies in the world. Chris has a lot of experience running Warehouses and is going to give us some insight on how they work and the history behind them. He's going to be able to explain where Lumpers came from and how the industry has evolved over the last couple decades.
It’s not up for debate. The “Bloodbath” is coming. Rates WILL drop. There WILL be too much capacity, and those who aren’t prepared WILL suffer.
A lot of people don’t want to hear it, but we have the cure and we’re going to share it in this episode.
Back in November 2020, Larry came up with the idea to offer an opportunity to BCO’s that had trucks they weren’t utilizing to bring them over and let us run them in our program. Phil Frese from Cullman, AL was on of the first to answer the call. Phil is an experienced Heavy Hauler with Landstar. In 2021, we saw the opportunity to put a driver on platform freight, but Chris and Larry don’t have much experience in that world. Phil agreed to be our Platform dispatcher and is now an integral part of the Blue Ribbon team. Phil is going to offer some insight on the opportunities available at Landstar pulling platform freight.
One of the foundational principles we teach is "Find the WHY and the HOW will work itself out."
Asking "Why?" keeps you from doing dumb things just because "Everyone else is doing it!"
So, WHY do you change your oil?
Have you ever thought about it?
What makes oil go bad that you have to throw it away?
How did it survive millions of years in the ground, but only 6 weeks in your truck's engine?
Is there a better way?
The answer is YES!
Larry is going to present for you the OPS - Oil Purification Systems Seminar he gives at Blue Ribbon Live Events and Driver Orientations. He will show you why we only change our oil if the lab analysis says so, explain how we use oil analysis as a preventative maintenance tool, and how using an OPS on Larry's first truck saved him $136,000 over the life of the truck (1.85 MILLION miles).
We’ve been warning about the end of the record market for a while, and now the headlines are saying it’s coming. We will talk about how we are prepared for the coming market crash.
We will wrap up our time at the Mid America Trucking Show and make an announcement about OPS and Max Mileage Catalyst.
Unless you've been living under a rock, you've seen the cost of fuel skyrocket in the last two weeks. A lot of people are worried. Are we? No. We welcome it. It will benefit those of us that have prepared for it.
Most people have no clue how Fuel Surcharge works. We're going to break that down and explain it. We will also talk about rates and lanes, and how we pick loads to avoid the pinch.
When I invited Larry onto the American Truck Driver Podcast in 2019, neither of us had any idea the impact the show would have on Blue Ribbon. It's turned into an amazing recruiting tool that has introduced us to some amazing people that have joined our program. One of the very first was Seth Coberley. He was eager to learn and came to us with the drive and desire it took to become a successful owner/operator. There have been some ups and downs along the way, but he has successfully graduated the program and is now the owner of THREE trucks leased to Blue Ribbon. We have also brought him on staff to act as a backup fleet manager to Chris. He helps with dispatch and our live events and other activities. He truly is the "poster boy" that represents what it takes to complete the program and be a successful owner/operator.
Ever since I read the Marc Levinson's book " The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger" I've been fascinated with how goods travel from continent to continent. It's VERY different from how we move goods on American highways.
In this episode, our guest is Sara Graham aka LogisToks on TikTok. We've been following her for a while and she's done a great job at letting us know what she's encountered trying to get ships unloaded and freight moved.
Sara is a logistics industrial professional with over 10 years of experience. She currently works in non-asset multi-modal transportation services with a focus on dedicated capacity management on behalf of fortune 500 companies. Her current role is Director of Operations at NFI Industries, a leading third-party logistics provider. In her spare time, she makes TikToks under the name Logistoks about industry trends, daily experiences, and dynamic market conditions.
Tony Ramos helps small business owners who owe substantial taxes to the IRS. He is passionate about resolving overwhelming IRS debt to help people get the IRS to reduce their debt by the maximum amount and then agree to the smallest possible monthly payments for their remaining balance.
Here are some of the questions we will address:
How long can the IRS chase me for back taxes? What happens if I haven’t filed tax returns for many years? What are the penalties for not filing tax returns and not paying taxes? What is the process to successfully negotiate the best deal with the IRS? Will I go to jail if I owe a large amount of taxes? If I don’t pay my taxes, what can the IRS do to me? Can they take my home away? What can I do if the IRS sends me a Final Notice of Intent to Levy? How can I stop bank levies, wage garnishments, etc.? What are all of the options available to resolve my tax debt? What happens If I make a payment arrangement with the IRS and then later I can’t afford to make payments? How can I find out exactly how much I owe to the IRS? What do IRS collection representatives want from tax payers? What do taxpayers want from the IRS? If I call the IRS myself, what should I ask of the IRS representative? How can I avoid a federal tax lien from being filed against my home?
Our guest in this episode is Kerry Baldwin. Kerry offers online courses on the Socratic Method of Learning. The Socratic method of learning employs a time-tested method of critical thinking used by Socrates to challenge the paradigms of the people. Seminars promote productive dialogue, civil discourse, and discovery. This is a skill that is learned, and must be practiced or it is lost.
Kerry Baldwin is an independent researcher and writer with a B.A. in Philosophy from Arizona State University. In addition to her content and courses on her website, MereLiberty.com, She’s also a regular contributor for the Libertarian Christian Institute.
She is a single, homeschooling mother of three. Her work focuses on exploring a reformed view of identity through the Socratic method. The Socratic method is a time-tested of method of teaching critical thinking and critically exploring ideas. It also teaches self-awareness, self-control, and self-confidence with those who disagree with you.
She participated in an Oxford-style debate vs. Dr. Walter Block at the famed SOHO Forum in New York City, and is a contributing author for the book “Faith Seeking Freedom: Libertarian Christian Answers to Tough Questions
Kerry's Website: https://mereliberty.com/
Episode 101 would be a great opportunity to make a "101" class to cover some of the things you need to know if you're going to be a successful owner operator.
- Generating Revenue
- Customer Service
- Controlling Costs
- Record Keeping
- Accounting
- Maintenance
- Fuel
- Taxes
We will do a quick breakdown of the principles and practices that keep us going and make us profitable.
Larry Long first met Kevin at the annual CMC (Certified Master Contractor) conference in 2009 held in Kansas City. Larry was a brand new owner/operator and knew that he needed the advice of someone experienced in the business of trucking. They became fast friends, and Larry even served on the staff of the CMC. In the years since its formation, Blue Ribbon Logistical Solutions has used the principles and practices that Kevin teaches every day on the radio to operate our company successfully in ANY market. We are honored to have Kevin join us on our special 100th episode.
About Kevin:
He is a business trainer, author of national articles on trucking and finance, small fleet owner, tax preparer, and radio host of Trucking Business & Beyond. He started his career as an owner-operator 30 years ago, running a one-truck operation with the sophistication of a much larger fleet of trucks. Over the years, his experience has evolved into a comprehensive slate of professional skills including operations, logistics, accounting, financial planning, driver recruiting, information technology systems, fuel efficiency and preventative maintenance. Let us not forget about his newest endeavor of becoming an NTP (Nutritional Therapy Practitioner).
Kevin’s contributions to Overdrive Magazine, FreightWaves, Over The Road, Driving Force, Big Rig Owner, Pro Trucker and the widely recognized Randall-Reilly Publishing’s “Partners In Business” series showcase Kevin’s cutting edge grasp of the owner-operator success equation. He has authored several online courses on how to be successful as an owner-operator and has given seminars to thousands of owner-operators, drivers, and fleet executives in the U.S. and Canada. He has also prepared thousands of federal and state tax returns for owner-operators and company drivers. Kevin was also a member of the Florida Trucking Association “Road Team”. Currently, Kevin hosts Trucking Business & Beyond on SiriusXM / Road Dog Trucking. Kevin’s down-to-earth ability to communicate to the professional driver with knowledge, experience, and statistics, makes the show the only one of its kind dedicated to the success of the American professional driver.
Kevin’s website: https://letstruck.com/
Carrie Coffey has an interesting story to tell. She came to work for us in April 2020 right as the pandemic restrictions were being put in place and the country was shutting down. She worked hard for 18 months and recently purchased her own truck from a BCO. We will discuss what led to the decision to come here and how the experiment affected her journey to being an owner/operator.
It’s been another busy period for Blue Ribbon as we’ve added another driver AND a new (used) truck to the fleet! This episode is going to be about defying in your business and making it better than the competition. Larry says, in trucking, “There is a lot of capacity but very little competition.” We’re going to tell you about how Larry set himself apart in his other businesses before he got into trucking and how we use those same principles and practices in the fleet today.
This one is gonna be fun, y'all. Larry got his hands on a 22 page lease contract from a major US Carrier, and he's going to break it down for you. To say that he isn't happy is an understatement. This contract is filled with so much garbage that it's stunning. There is NO CHANCE that someone could sign up for this lease and ever survive it. It is an absolute SCAM meant to get drivers to drive a truck for free. It should be criminal. Buckle up, folks. It's gonna be spicy!
How tired are you of dealing with brokers? Isn't it time that we use the technology available to us to gain access to shippers directly so that we no longer have a "middle man" taking a piece of the action. Allow us to introduce you to LaneAxis, a platform that is focused on building direct relationships that lead to Shipper-direct freight opportunities on a daily basis. We really enjoyed this conversation and we think you will too. Blockchain IS the future of economics and commerce. Those who pay attention and learn now will see the greatest benefit.
You have met Zeke Goodwin before on Episode 53: Highway Refugee. In that episode, he described his experience of being jobless and homeless, finding refuge in a cab of a truck. He has come a long way since then. Now, alongside his new wife Vanessa, he is on a new journey. They have join the Blue Ribbon Team by purchasing a truck, giving it the “lunatic” treatment, and leasing it on for us to operate. He sits down with Larry to share his experience of the ups and downs of getting a truck ready to go.
We aren’t shy about our opinions of new trucks, especially those built between 2008 and 2015 - they suck! They’re WORTHLESS! Success in business is all about managing risk and lowering expenses. These are two things that don’t mix with new trucks. Trucks built after 2007 are notoriously unreliable and the costs that come with them are generally prohibitive. The clock is ticking on our old trucks and we know that someday we may have to move into the “new” trucks. In this episode we will talk about how to “lunatic” a new truck and manage the risk that comes with them.
The difference between success and failure in business is how well you can solve problems. It is the first lesson we teach when we hire a new driver. Adversity is coming. It is inevitable. How well are you prepared to handle all the things that will be thrown at you while you're running your business? We will give some examples of how we deal with big problems as a fleet and how you can learn how to do it with one truck.
We’re gearing up for our next Live Event coming at the end of July. We’re still adding trucks and we will bring you up to speed on our latest editions. We have a few more maintenance stories and we need to talk about drivers being robbed by 1099 thieves. We will also talk about leases and what a horrible choice that is.
This episode will be an open discussion. We will catch you up on what we’ve been up to. We will be taking viewer questions as normal.
We talk to a lot of people who tell us they’re interested in becoming a business owner. We even hire a few of them. Too often we find that knowing what to do and then doing it presents a challenge too great for some. This is an episode about how difficult it really is to run a business and keep it open. Do you REALLY have what it takes? Tune in and find out.
The latest numbers are in from ATBS - the largest accounting service for truckers. We will dive into the numbers and talk about the importance of keeping score.
We will also provide an update on our new BCO Mentoring Program. We had an event in March and it was a blast.
We have mentioned many times that we have a desire to help people that already have a truck or aren’t able to join our program directly as a driver. The time has come for us to let you know that program is ready and available. We recently learned that an astounding 60% of new BCOs leave Landstar in the first six months. We believe that happens because people come to Landstar unprepared to maximize the opportunity. We believe this program will provide the help a lot of people need and we’re thrilled to let you know about it.
Selecting the right loads for your business involves strategy and forethought. You must know your costs in order to know what loads to choose. We will talk about how we choose what lanes we run and how we pick loads to make the most for our drivers and our company.
Many great opportunities exist in the trucking industry. We stand by our belief that building wealth is easier in trucking than in any other. However, there are many scams that a driver can get caught up in, and they aren’t necessarily easy to see coming. We are going to discuss ways to avoid getting caught in the web of these predatory contacts and how to achieve your goals in a safe and less risky way.
It’s time to address some hot topics that come up with how the Landstar system works. We see heated debates pop up whenever there is a dip in the market, and they’re showing up again over the last couple of weeks. There is a fundamental lack of understanding of how the Landstar system works and it leads to a lot of confusion and stress. We will break them all down:
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How Third Party Logistics loads get on the Landstar board and how to deal with them.
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What are “Copy and Paste Agents” and what do they do that makes everyone so angry?
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The issue of “Bait and Switch Loads” where BCO’s believe they’re being manipulated by agents to take a lower rate.
This is gonna be a hot one! Don’t miss it!
Back on Episode 64, we wrapped up the year 2019 and discussed the challenges of the previous year with a soft market and gave our forecast for what we thought 2020 would hold. We had no idea what was about to happen! Join us for our 2020 wrap up to see if we met our goals and how we navigated the most difficult market in history.
In the first two years of operation, 9.5 out of 10 new owner/operators will FAIL. In this episode we’re going to talk about why these new businesses fail, how to avoid it, and how to put it back together after it all falls apart. Larry has 45 years of business experience and Chris has 25 years of trucking experience. Together they have developed a program that will teach you how to avoid failure, maximize profit, and assure success. Dave Ramsey says “Broke, desperate, and stupid are three brothers that hang out together.” Self-employment can be rewarding, but it’s also difficult. It’s really difficult if you’re dumb. Join us as we break it all down.
In this episode we discuss choosing the right truck for your operation. Choosing the wrong truck can be devastating to your ability to earn the most profit.
You’re buying fuel in all the WRONG places and for all the WRONG reasons. IFTA isn’t all that difficult to understand, but people have made it much more complicated than it needs to be. We will break it all down and show you how we buy fuel and where we buy it to get the most savings.
The time has come for us to do a detailed breakdown of how the Landstar System works. We are going to explain how the billing process works, how to work with agents, and all the benefits that come with leasing to Landstar.
We’ve talked a lot about how important building relationships and serving customers is. We’ve talked about serving customers. Now it’s time to talk about what to do when a relationship isn’t working out.
Operating a truck as an Owner/Operator is tough. It isn’t easy or for the faint of heart. The task is made all the more difficult by a shop industry that is out of touch with the rest of the trucking industry it is meant to SERVE and SUPPORT. Since Larry and Chris began this journey in 2018, they have spent tens of thousands of dollars in shops trying to maintain the trucks so they can continue to serve their customers and raise up a new generation of Owner/Operators. The level of service that Blue Ribbon has managed to receive has been unacceptable. They will tell some stories that highlight this problem and illustrate that the shop customers need to be the ones that hold them accountable.
In this episode, Chris and Larry wrapped up the story about the 2006 Frankenliner and the lessons we learned from the catastrophe.
A viewer names Aleks asked some good questions in the comments of my "Does Landstar Really TAKE 35% of My Money?" video. I decided to make a video to answer them. They're good questions that I'm sure a lot of people have.
This is a hot topic and one that needs to be discussed. There’s too much misinformation out there and it’s time someone talked it out.
We are joined on this episode by Judy Byerly. She and her husband Marty have been team driving since 2004. They bought a truck and leased it to Landstar in 2017. She shares their story of success and how they used a strong work ethic, and attitude of service, and a passion for networking to build relationships with customers and agents in the Landstar system.
In this episode we will explain why we've been a little behind in making podcasts. We experienced TWO catastrophic failures within a week of one another. We'll tell you all about how we overcame the problems, how we kept our drivers making money, and how we sent one truck to the salvage yard and brought another back from the dead.
In this episode we are going to discuss what to do when the sh!t hits the fan. Your ability to solve problems and deal with them when they arise is absolutely essential to your success in the Landstar system (or any other system).
We cover:- What to do when a load cancels- What to do when you have to cancel a load- Preventative Maintenance Strategies to keep you from falling off loads because of breakdowns- How to handle Detention and TONU (Truck Ordered Not Used)
We’ve spent the last few episodes talking about the influence the pandemic has had on the market. We decided to get '“back to basics” and discuss the principles that we use and implement that allow us to survive in a crisis market.
It's been 20 days since our last podcast. We've been busy keeping five trucks running during this pandemic. The market is down, but it isn't dead. We've had to work really hard to keep everyone loaded, but we have kept the trucks moving. We have found some silver linings and we talk about how we are optimistic for the future.
We're approaching 30 days into the crisis that has gripped the entire world. Markets are shut down and people are terrified to leave their homes. We talk about what we have seen in our own interactions with the market and what we think the future could hold. The Blue Ribbon Business Model is being proven in this time of uncertainty. No debt and low cost of operation positions us to still be here long after the crisis has passed. We now have five trucks operating and we just hired two new drivers last week. This is certainly a fascinating time to be in the trucking business.
SHOW NOTES:
Larken Rose on YouTube
OOIDA asks Trump to "help" Truckers
800 Professors Write Letter to Mike Pence
Things have certainly escalated quickly since our last episode on March 13th. We break down the hysteria surrounding the actions of the state and media and how it has affected the trucking industry. We also answered some listener email. Buckle up and grab a helmet. You won't need a ventilator for this episode!
For us, silence is not an option. We have watched the world lose its mind over the last couple days. Events are cancelled, markets have crashed, people are terrified. We are not allowing the fear to distract us. This is an important episode. We need to talk about what this means for today and what it means for the future.
SHOW NOTES:
BLOCKCHAIN - Ted Talk by Betina Warburg https://www.ted.com/talks/bettina_warburg_how_the_blockchain_will_radically_transform_the_economy?language=en
Blockchain 101: https://builtin.com/blockchain
Future of Money Series with Jeffrey Tucker https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ65JTADbbt6eMn55JRzIiKqW_J2jCMyz
CORONAVIRUS:
Event 201: http://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/event201/
This episode contains a lot of things that need to be said. We live in a time when information flows more freely than at any time before in all of human history. The answer to nearly any question you can think of is available IF you are willing to spend the time seeking it out. In the year 2020, being ignorant is a choice. Unfortunately, it seems like being ignorant is also a preference for a lot of people. So sit down, buckle up, grab a helmet and get ready. This episode will either make you mad, or it will make you free.
We have recently had a truck open up because a driver had a family medical issue at home and he could not be on the road any longer. We started going through applications we've received since we started doing the podcast. What we found are that people are asking a lot of the wrong questions.
This is a hot topic and one that we need to set the record straight on. Too often i will hear people say that Landstar takes 35% of the revenue. While it is true that 35% of the linehaul revenue goes to Landstar, it is important to understand where that 35% goes, what it pays for, and who it truly belongs to
We recently discovered an article that talks about how Farmers are buying decades-old tractors because they can acquire them at a fraction of the cost of new equipment and they can actually repair them without the need for complicated computer diagnostic equipment. We use this opportunity to discuss why Blue Ribbon buys ten year old trucks that others have discarded.
In this episode we take a moment and reflect on 2019 and talk about things we're looking forward to in 2020.
We’re back with the first new episode of 2020 and we answer a couple of great emails we received from our listeners. The answers will cover what processes to use when you’re looking at a truck and also how to consider the value of one brand of truck over another.
I’ve seen a lot of posts on social media over the last couple weeks with the #DecadeChallenge hashtag. People would take a picture from 2009 and put it with a picture from 2019. It was an interesting contrast to see the difference in people’s lives over ten years in the social media age.
We thought it would be fun to run through the years 2009-2019 and compare our own stories. Neither one of us saw the end of the episode coming together the way it did. It was, by far, the most fun and interesting episode we’ve done so far.
You can also check out the Dissecting a Decade Series I did before Larry joined the show where I detailed the years 2009-2018 in my story of becoming (and failing) an Owner/Operator.
DECEMBER 1, 2019
Before you make the decision to become and Owner/Operator, it’s very important for you to ask yourself “Why am I doing this?” Owning and operating your own truck or trucking company can be incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. It can also be a nightmare. If you aren’t prepared with the right mindset and expectations, your journey to self-employment can be a very bumpy road.
In the last week, Landstar has begun notifying its BCO's (Business Capacity Operators) that they can only continue to be leased to Landstar if they: move out of the state or accept that they cannot pick up any loads in the state where they reside. We took this opportunity to discuss the elements of this story that no one else is talking about - Where did this come from and where do we go from here? The peer-to-peer economy is here to stay. Uber and Lyft are just the beginning of a shift that is happening in the global economy. Everything is about to change and these independent contractor mis-classification laws are a distraction and and a last desperate attempt for the establishment to hold onto its waning power.
We have teased this story over the last few episodes. At the end of 2018, we came across a truck that we considered adding to the fleet. This would be the first truck we would buy together. We had to go through a lot to get this truck legal and operating. It’s been a great learning experience. Strap in and enjoy the ride!
In this episode Chris and Larry talk about ways to ensure profitability and success by taking full responsibility for your actions and understanding the market you work in.
This is an episode about responsibility. Sometimes we may have to look in the mirror to find the source of our problems. Chris and Larry have both had experiences in business where they realized that some problems were self-induced. We are in a tight freight market. Rates are down. It’s not as easy to find those high-paying loads as it was last year. Instead of looking for someone else to solve your problems, you may need to reach down inside yourself to make certain that you haven’t brought it on with your own actions. We finish the episode with a discussion about DOT Medical Certifications and Sleep Apnea testing. We also give some shoutouts to listeners are read some of your emails and texts.
In Episode 55 we talked about how the Trucking Industry provides a unique opportunity to build wealth with very little financial investment. “Truck and Grow Rich” is a play on words that describes how easily an individual with an attitude of service and a work ethic to earn a million dollars in as little as ten years. In this latest episode, we discuss managing risk. What we prescribe in our program is not easy, and it is not without risk. However, this risk can be managed. Come along with us as we dive in to seizing this opportunity and managing the risk that comes with it.
There is a lot of negativity in the trucking industry right now. There are too many trucks available for the number of loads to be hauled and that has affected the rates. Our aim in this episode is to look beyond all that and attempt to show you that a unique opportunity exists in this industry that doesn’t really exist anywhere else. Obtaining and keeping a CDL is VERY easy to do. If you can get a CDL and keep it, you have an opportunity to build wealth very quickly. At a time when people are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to get college degrees that aren’t worth the paper they’re written on, the trucking industry offers a wealth building opportunity you just can’t find anywhere else. Ride along with us as we explain how to see this opportunity. TRUCK and Grow Rich - A Trucker’s Trip Plan to Become a Wealthy Lunatic
This has been a hot topic over the last few years. There are many truck operators and truck owners that will argue until they turn blue that they can legally pay drivers on a 1099 instead of a W2. The intent of this episode is to make the point that it is in fact NOT legal and it is both a really stupid way to run a business and also a stupid way to be paid. Drivers should NEVER accept a 1099 contract. Ever.
Zeke Goodwin is my closest and best friend. You've heard him on the podcast before. I brought him on the show this week to allow him to share his story of how he rebuilt his life through his job as an over the road driver. He was jobless and homeless. It was a dark and scary time. The trucking industry doesn't get enough credit for how it provides a way for people with little or no assets to earn a living and have shelter from the weather.
In this episode of the show, Larry sits down with fellow Landstar BCO Steve Wheeler. In addition to his experience as an owner/operator, Steve has experience as an accountant and bookkeeper. Their conversation is about “keeping score.” You cannot know the health of your business if you do not possess the statistical data to measure what freight you can haul and what you can’t. Larry and Steve also discuss important topics like -
When to file as a corporation versus a sole proprietor
How to save for maintenance
Use a P&L (Profit and Loss Statement) to watch your cost savings strategies that affect your bottom line.
Most importantly, find and monitor your CPM (Cost Per Mile). This is the only way to know what freight rate you can haul for a profit.
Fuel is the biggest expense for a truck operator. In this episode, Chris and Larry discuss the methods and principles of fuel - where and how to buy it and how to manage consumption.
In this episode, Larry and I discuss how Blue Ribbon manages to survive and grow in a market where rates are down. With the news breaking nearly every week that another trucking firm has closed its doors and left drivers out of work, how is it that we are growing our fleet and looking for new opportunities? The answer lies in the foundation of the company and the decision that are made when we acquire equipment and how we operate it. We also discuss what to do when you want to get your own truck and the perils of lease/purchase contracts.
This is the episode I’ve been waiting 18 months to produce. From the moment I met Larry Long, I knew he would be the perfect addition to this podcast. He is a great storyteller and has an unbelievable wealth of knowledge and experience. He’s owned and worked in multiple businesses and industries for nearly 50 years. In this episode, we talk about the unconventional route he took to end up in the trucking industry and allow him to explain his passion for helping drivers and for giving them the opportunity to own and operate their own successful trucking business.
Check out our website www.bluieribbonlogisticalsolutions.com
This is a special series on the decade that made me. Each episode will chronicle my journey from 2008-2018 through successes and failures, and ultimately to redemption.
This is a special series on the decade that made me. Each episode will chronicle my journey from 2008-2018 through successes and failures, and ultimately to redemption.
This is a special series on the decade that made me. Each episode will chronicle my journey from 2008-2018 through successes and failures, and ultimately to redemption.
This is a special series on the decade that made me. Each episode will chronicle my journey from 2008-2018 through successes and failures, and ultimately to redemption.
This is a special series on the decade that made me. Each episode will chronicle my journey from 2008-2018 through successes and failures, and ultimately to redemption.
This is a special series on the decade that made me. Each episode will chronicle my journey from 2008-2018 through successes and failures, and ultimately to redemption.
This is a special series on the decade that made me. Each episode will chronicle my journey from 2008-2018 through successes and failures, and ultimately to redemption.
This is a special series on the decade that made me. Each episode will chronicle my journey from 2008-2018 through successes and failures, and ultimately to redemption.
This is a special series on the decade that made me. Each episode will chronicle my journey from 2008-2018 through successes and failures, and ultimately to redemption.
This is a special series on the decade that made me. Each episode will chronicle my journey from 2008-2018 through successes and failures, and ultimately to redemption.
This is a special series on the decade that made me. Each episode will chronicle my journey from 2008-2018 through successes and failures, and ultimately to redemption.
I saw an article today on Business Insider that I need to discuss. The “trucker rights” group Black Smoke Matters is getting attention in the media for the shutdown/strike they have planned in April 2019. This group does not represent me and I will not be associated with them in any way.
Link: Business Insider article on Driver Wages in the 1970’s and the Motor Carrier Act of 1980
Link: Business Insider article on ELD’s
Link: The Book - The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the Economy Bigger
It’s been eight years since I made the decision that began my journey through being an owner/operator and back again. There has been both success and failure along the way. The lessons were all valuable and all learned the hard way. In this episode I reflect on eight years and talk about what I wish I had known in 2010. It would’ve made all the difference.
Over the years I’ve run on a few dedicated accounts. I’m currently serving a dedicated customer hauling residential windows and doors. Hauling dedicated is perfect for some drivers because it give them a firm schedule they can count on. For others dedicated is boring and monotonous. In this episode I talk about the good and bad of dedicated freight.
Email: anamericantruckdriver@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/anamericantruckdriver
I got an email from Rodney and he wanted to know where to begin when wanting to buy a truck and get started as an Owner/Operator. In this episode I’ll read his email and tell you about my response to him and give my take on when and how to get started.
Email: anamericantruckdriver@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/anamericantruckdriver
This lifestyle is hard on our bodies. Making changes for our health involves behavior modification. In this episode I’m going to talk about what I think leads to behavior modification - identity.
Email: anamericantruckdriver@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amamericantruckdriver
How hard would you work for someone if you weren’t getting paid? What level of performance and dedication would you offer if you knew you wouldn’t get any money in return? Two stories I’ve run across in the last week have taught me a lesson about effort being tied to compensation.
The first was an interview with Dan Whitney (Larry the Cable Guy). His compensation for his first gig with the Blue Collar Comedy Tour? They paid for his hotel room. No travel. No talent fee. He had just come home off the road when his agent called with the opportunity. One of the greatest shows in comedy history may not have happened if Dan decided his time was too valuable than to go to Nashville and not get paid for it.
The second was about NASCAR Camping World Series and Xfinity Series driver Ross Chastain. Chastain is a eighth generation watermelon farmer from Florida. He’s been racing in NASCAR for a few years, but has never had an opportunity to drive a really good car for a quality team. He scored a three race deal with Champion car owner Chip Ganassi. He won the pole position for the first race at Darlington and got caught up in a wreck while leading. He won the second race at Las Vegas. In the final race at Richmond he finished second. His pay for the three races? $0 He drove that car for free. It should be obvious that showing the skill to nearly win three races in a row should be enough to get him a ride. Maybe not. There is no guarantee. Without sponsorship, he may never get another competitive ride. Do you think he poured all of his effort, talent, and skill into driving that car for which he got no compensation? I’d say yes. In this episode I talk about how we can relate these lessons to trucking and how much we give of ourselves and our skill even if we aren’t getting paid what we think we deserve.
Interview with Larry the Cable Guy
Ross Chastain Driving (and winning) in Chip Ganassi’s NASCAR Xfinity Car For Free
I’ve been there. Your broke, your truck is broke, and you have no clue how you‘re going to make it. I got a text message from an acquaintance asking for help with a broken truck. Our experiences are similar. I talk about what i told him and how we can insulate ourselves from these problems and how to be prepared when that day comes.
I believe that an experienced truck driver of great quality is worth a MINIMUM of $75,000 per year. In this episode I want to talk about our value as drivers as a part of the whole market. Join me and let's talk about how to earn what you're worth.
SHOW NOTES:
I have a Patreon Page! I’d love to have your support to make the show the best it can be!
Video: USA Truck driver destroys a truck trying to make a U-Turn.
Parking is a hot topic. With the ELD mandate, drivers are facing additional challenges when trying to find a place to take their mandated rest break. Cities and towns across the nation aren’t helping. New ordnances against truck parking are popping up everywhere. Drivers are facing being booted and charged outrageous fines for parking at Walmart. Let’s talk about some of the real problems and solutions to this growing issue.
Link to the Allstays Truck and Travel App that I use to find truck parking
I got a notification today that Kevin Rutherford had posted on Facebook. I learned that there is a driver's group called United Drivers Association America. One of their "leaders" made a public comment on the regulations.gov website about the proposed changes to the Hours of Service. It's a mess. Bad grammar, incoherent rambling, and no clear and concise point. When Kevin challenged them on the lack of professionalism in their post, he was attacked and blocked.
Honestly, I really couldn't care less what these people do or believe. It is frustrating that they are going to make a bunch of noise (apparently they plan some sort of rally in DC), but mainly that they will proclaim that they are representing all drivers. I want to be VERY clear that I will not be represented by them. I want absolutely nothing to do with them .
I've included screenshots of the comments made both on the government website and by Kevin.
After I recorded this episode, Kevin posted screenshots of this idiot defending his bad form by telling everyone that his grammar was so bad because HE WAS TEXTING WHILE DRIVING!
I don't need the state and neither do you. Your value is based on your experience, your knowledge, your skills, and your work ethic. You don't need to bow on your knees and cry out for relief.
This episode contains the audio from a Facebook Live chat I had with Jared Wall from AnarchoLand. Jared wrote a fascinating essay called Breaking Liberty. It is a libertarian treatment of the television show Breaking Bad.
Any time I've heard the phrase "Possession with intent to deliver" I think, "That's exactly what I do for a living!" I possess a trailer filled with someone's products and I intend to deliver it. Obviously it isn't the transporting of products that is a problem. The problem is that some people somewhere decided that certain products are "illegal" and so anyone who is involved in the movement of these goods is now a "criminal." Jared and I have a fun discussion about the War on Drugs and its effects on society and human liberty.
Every five years, I have to complete the ritual of buying back my rights to travel and enterprise from the Department of Motor Vehicles. In the two decades since I got my CDL, the process has become more burdensome and annoying. This is episode is about my latest experience with the Den of Iniquity, better known as the DMV.
Being an owner operator comes with a lot of freedom. That freedom comes with a lot of responsibility. We have many choices to make, and those decisions need to made with an attitude of service, respect, and courtesy. This episode is about making wise choices and knowing when to not say “No.”
In this episode I have a chat with Jessica Hillyer of The Patricia Margaret Company. She has just gone out on her own and started her own brokerage. It was a fun conversation. We talked about communication and the attitude we need to have to keep a good and strong relationship between shippers, brokers, and carriers.
For decades, carriers and truck drivers what done what is right instead of what is legal. By that I mean that we have not followed the letter of the law when it came to getting goods delivered. Everyone cheated on their logs. EVERYONE! Now that the Electronic Log Mandate is in effect, we are forced to do what is "legal" instead of what it right, because "legal" and "moral" are rarely the same thing. In this episode, I talk about how this change has affected our ability to deliver goods on time and the changes it has made to the market.
In this episode I want to tell you about some lessons I've learned over the last ten months.Also, I have a correction to make about my comments on the ELD mandate.
On this episode, I was joined by Pete Emahiser, Owner and Operator of Tadmore Transportation in Toledo, Ohio. Tadmore is #980 on this years INC 5000. He is a member of BiTA, The Blockchain in Trucking Alliance, and a Charter Member of TransRisk. Tadmore is in the TOP 5% of Brokers rated by Credit Worthiness and the highest Rated Broker in at least 100 miles as per DAT Reviews. Pete is also a Moderator for the Rate Per Mile Masters Facebook Group, the largest Professional Trucking Group on Facebook.
We talk about what the blockchain is and how it can change how we do business in the trucking industry and the world. It was a really fun and interesting conversation, and I learned a lot.
JANUARY 14, 2018
In this episode I get us ready for 2018. There are a lot of exciting things happening in the economy and especially as it pertains to trucking.
I came across a piece of garbage propaganda piece published recently in USA Today. It gives us the tales of woe of Port Truckers in LA and the lease agreements they are "forced" to operate under. But who is to blame? The drivers? The companies? I think someone is being left out of the equation.
The article from USA Today can be found here.
The Supreme Court announced that they will not hear OOIDA's appeal to the ELD Mandate. This shouldn't be a surprise. The Federal Government ruled in favor of the Federal Government. You shouldn't be shocked that this has happened, yet many seem unable to grasp the concept that the Federal Government doesn't care about you. Let's talk about the real issue here, and it ISN'T the ELD.
I'm back with an all new episode. It's time to address the real issue around our Hours of Service.
I think we've lost our minds. People seem to have lost all their good sense and ability to reason over this electronic log mandate. In this episode, I will tell you that we NEED the electronic log if we're going to be forced to operate under such an inefficient and archaic system. I've been using one for five years and you won't get it away from me.
Fuel taxes are an important element of your profitability. It is very important to understand this issue so you won't end up losing money by buying fuel in the wrong states.
IFTA Website with State Fuel Tax Rates
An overview:
Before IFTA-
Fuel taxes were collected by individual states. Trucks had to have fuel tax permits in each state, many having to display plates on their trucks for each state. Fuel had to be purchased in each state to cover the amount owed for traveling through that state.
With co-host Dan Babbit. I get a lot of questions about Landstar. Now that I've been here two years, I feel a lot more confident about answering them. There's also a lot of misinformation out there about Landstar that needs to addressed. Whether or not you lease to Landstar is your own decision. I just want to provide ACCURATE information so that you can make your best decision.
We discuss and describe the freight network at Landstar, how the billing and payment works, and the pro and cons (in our opinion) of being leased to Landstar versus another company or having your own authority.
One thing I always tell people is, "If you succeed at Landstar, it's your fault. If you fail at Landstar, it's your fault."
In this episode I talk about the most important things you need to know about buying a truck and becoming an owner/operator.
It's all about attitude. In order to succeed, you have to first have an attitude of service. You put others' needs ahead of your own.
The Steve Harvey video I talked about where he says you need to jump in order to be successful.
With Co-host Dan Babbit
In this episode we discuss the last month of my life and why I haven't posted a new episode lately. I suffered a catastrophic engine failure 4 days before Christmas. We discuss the financial and mechanical details involved in dealing with an event like this. I also tell the amazing story of how we were able to obtain the funding to cover the cost of a $24,000 engine.
Today I had the pleasure of interviewing Zola Sawdy, founder of the Facebook Group: Big Trucks Cooking. I've been wanting to do an episode on the lifestyle in the trucking industry and found Zola's group to be a perfect example of how drivers and their spouses are finding creative ways to save money and eat healthier inside their trucks. You can find the group here.
Introducing Co-host Dan Babbit. We talk about ridiculous propaganda aimed at the trucking industry and knowing your operating costs.
SHOW NOTES:
http://www.salemnews.com/opinion/column-time-to-re-regulate-trucking/article_411792fe-b57f-53f4-b502-c5cc2154b226.html
Introducing Ezekiel Goodwin, one of our new co-hosts for the program. Zeke has been in the industry for 5 years and is joining the program to give his perspective on issues facing the trucking community.
In this episode we talk about pig protesters and the so-called "driver shortage."
SHOW NOTES:
Animal Rights Protesters Block Entrance to Pig Slaughter Facility
I received an email this week from a company driver who is considering taking a 1099 contract. In this episode I give my thoughts on 1099 Company drivers and also talk about the horrible attitudes in the industry that come out when rates and volume are down
It is time to address an issue that is facing this industry - the so-called "Safety" Advocates.
SHOW NOTES:Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts 2012
ATA Relative Contribution/Fault in Car-Truck Crashes Paper which cites University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute
Moms Against Cars Facebook Page
In this episode I talk about managing profit as an owner/operator. You cannot know your profit unless you know your cost. Proper attitude and perspective are also a requirement for success in trucking business.
www.letstruck.com
www.dropbox.com
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jotnot-scanner-scan-pdfs-from/id307868751?mt=8
In this episode I talk about the types of revenue a truck can earn, and percentage versus mileage contracts.
In this episode I talk about the costs associated with operating a truck leased to a carrier.
SHOW NOTES:
IRS EIN Link: http://www.irs.gov/instructions/i2290/ch02.html
American Truck Driver Facebook Post "Leasing a Truck Onto Landstar": https://www.facebook.com/anamericantruckdriver/posts/908883379169212
I decided to make an episode that would shake things up a bit. I talk about the desperate need in this industry for a basic understanding of economics, courtesy, and respect.
Welcome to the American Truck Driver Podcast. In this episode, I introduce myself and talk about how I got into the trucking business and how I went from being a Company Driver to an owner/operator.