Someone to Lean On

Mentoring from an experienced adviser can help smooth out the rough patches of developing as an owner-operator

Becoming an owner-operator doesn’t come with an instruction manual. Through trial and error you slowly learn the ropes of how to take advantage of your time on the road and grow a profitable business. A mentor, a trusted adviser who knows the industry, can help you avoid mistakes and guide you to better choices in equipment, operations, maintenance and spending.

Kris Hogg operated under his own authority before leasing on a couple months ago to Greatwide Logistics Services. His contractor adviser, 12-year Greatwide veteran Daryl Rodman, has made a difference in his business and life. “Before I was working sun up to sun down, doing my own paperwork and taxes and keeping up with fuel receipts and the like,” Hogg says. “With Greatwide I can put all my receipts in a packet and keep it separated and still have time for my family.”

Greatwide’s two-year-old mentorship program covers budgeting, financial advice and ways to develop as a businessperson. “Our Greatstart owner-operator is going to have some anxiety about being in a new job, in a new routine at a new company,” says Rob Newell, director of capacity management. “Plus, he’s in a new truck and starting a business.”

Terry Redding

Virgil and Briana Bruning became Greatwide owner-operators in May 2009. Full of questions, they turned to ATBS (www.atbsshow.com). The husband-wife team has called for advice countless times on topics from truck purchase to taxes to creating a budget. “Our adviser, Mike Hosted, advised us what we could use for tax deductions and what receipts to keep,” Briana says, “managing our fuel costs and whether we should buy a used truck and what kind to consider.”

ATBS consultant Chris Harrington says the company provides unlimited calling opportunities for its owner-operator clients. “We’ll spend an hour a day with them if they want.”