Query Quest What Do I Name It

I need your advice because I keep putting off querying to the national magazines, keep draggggggging my feet. My basic roadblock is something very simple: organization. I have to figure out a system in Excel so I can keep track of what I sent where and when, and when to follow up. For now, though, I have the problem of what to NAME the little boogers and how to store them.

Of course Ill have a folder under Writing called Queries. Then do I make subfolders by query or by publication?

Publications would include:

• Pregnancy & Newborn
• Parents
• Parenting
• Family Fun
• Todays Parent
• Etc.

Queries would include:

• Holiday Sanity
• Teen Dating
• Kids and Cell Phones
• Pregnancy Sleep Disruption Solutions
• Etc.

Lets say a query gets rejected. I want to be able to go back to the right file and put REJECTED in front of the file name so I know. Im thinking I file by PUBLICATION, then put the right QUERY under that.

How would you/do you organize your writing?

Read More..

What is Money

Why is a dollar bill valuable? After all, you can’t eat it. You can’t wear it. It’s just a piece of paper. But you can trade dollars for things that you can eat or wear. The bills are worth something because everyone agrees that they have value.

WHAT IS MONEY?
Money is anything that is widely exchanged for goods people sell or work they do. It is a form of payment people will accept. Long ago, precious metals such as gold and silver were used as money. Today, paper bills and coins are a common form of money.
Money has other uses, too. One of them is to measure the value of things. Bicycles, clothes, even hamburgers have a certain value. That value is the price-how much money people will pay for it.
Money is also a way people store up wealth. People save their money in bank accounts or piggy banks. Saving money is a way of collecting and storing wealth, much like owning land, a home, or jewelry.
MONEY AROUND THE WORLD
Most countries have their own unit of money. The money used by a country is called its currency.
In the United States, the basic unit of money, or currency, is the dollar. Each dollar is divided into 100 cents. The value of anything you want to buy in the United States can be stated in dollars and cents.
Other countries have their own currencies. In the United Kingdom, the value of things is measured in money units called pounds, not dollars. Algerians use neither pounds nor dollars, but dinars. Indians and Pakistanese use rupees. Mexicans use pesos. Russians use rubles.
MANY KINDS OF MONEY
Money is more than just paper bills and metal coins. It can be just about anything, as long as everyone agrees.
Over the course of history, many items have been used as money. Shells, beads, furs, salt-even the teeth of dogs-have all been used as money. They were used much like we use bills and coins today.
HOW WAS MONEY INVENTED?
No one person came up with the idea of money. The idea developed slowly. Before money was invented, people traded goods using the barter system.
In the barter system, people trade things for other things directly. Suppose a man had a sheep and wanted clothes. He found someone with an extra suit of clothes who wanted a sheep.
But what if he only wanted a shirt? He might not want to trade his entire sheep for just one shirt. How could he get change for a sheep? Problems like this made bartering difficult. People invented money to make trading easier.
METALS AS MONEY
Eventually, people found they could use precious metals such as gold, silver, or copper to help them trade. Almost everyone wanted these metals. So people could trade what they had for precious metals, knowing they could exchange the metal for something else they wanted or needed.
Metals had other benefits, too. They were easy to store, lasted a long time, and could easily be divided into smaller pieces. If you wanted something small, you could offer just a bit of your metal.
COINS AND BILLS
Once people started trading metals as money, coins were soon invented. A Turkish kingdom called Lydia made the first metal coins around 600 bc. The coins were stamped with the king’s seal. About the same time, people in China began to use paper money.
In the past, paper money often stood for a precious metal like gold. You could go to the government or a bank and trade your paper bills for actual gold.
Today, in most countries, you can’t trade paper money for precious metals. People accept it because they have confidence everyone else will accept it, too.

Read More..

9 What You Actually Need to Get Started

 

1973 White Road Commander

View my Other Posts:

A Holiday Wish
Blogs, Forums and Other Resources
Texting Ban
The Way it Was - A Short History of Trucking

Pro and Cons of Being an Owner Operator

FAQ for the Owner Operator
Pictures
Anti-Idling Regulations
Definitions and Industry Terms
Blackrock Auxiliary Power Unit (APU)
Interactive Cost per Mile (CPM) Calculator Spreadsheet
Privacy Policy
1) Owner Operator 411 – Welcome
2) Income and Expenses
3) Financing and Credit
4) Operating Authority or Leasing?
5) Equipment
6) How To Do Bookkeeping and Other Necessary Paperwork
7) What You Need to Know About Loadboards
8) Companies That Lease Beginning Owner Operators
10) Truck Driving Schools

OK. You have done all of your research, and decided you really do want to become an owner operator.

Hopefully, you have:

• Read this entire blog
• Talked with other owner operators, especially at the company you want to lease on to.
• Run a "What If" with the Interactive Cost Per Mile Calculator and found you really could make a profit.  Not just a profit, but enough income to pay all of your expenses and to have enough to live on, too.  (Dont forget, you also need to save enough to cover repairs or a major breakdown and enough to live on while you are getting the work done.)
• Made a business plan.
• Gotten your family to support you.  You would be surprised how many people quit driving a truck because their family doesnt like for them to be away from home.
• Decided what kind of entity you want to have.
• Decided what you will be hauling so you can spec your equipment properly?
  Have you found a truck?  Do you need a trailer too?  If you are leasing to a company, many of them have requirements as to how old of truck they will lease.  Be sure to check it out before you buy.
• Made sure your equipment will pass a DOT, state and company inspection.
• Talked with a loan officer at the bank, credit union, or loan company that will financing your equipment to see what information they require, and to see if you can even get financing for your equipment?
• Figured out how you are going to get your Commercial Drivers License (CDL).  Will you be going to a truck driving school?  If not, do you know how you are going to take a road test?
• Found an accountant or tax professional and got a list of what you need to keep track of before you start buying equipment.
• Check out Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) for vast amounts of information.  As before, I recommend that if you do become an owner operator, that you join OOIDA (non owner operators can join, too).

I would advise you to get your CDL first.  If you cant pass your tests, it would be a shame if you had already bought a truck and/or trailer.  Then you would be stuck with having to try to sell them.  Now is not a good time to try to sell your equipment.

You do not have to go to a school to get a CDL.


You do have to take both a written test and a (skills) road test. If you can pass both, then you will be issued a license.


A word of CAUTION, however,  I know you can rent trucks in some states, but in my state that is not possible. I know of no place (and I have looked) where you can rent a truck to take a road test.


Also, we tried to loan our truck to a friend to take his test in, and examiner giving the test wouldnt let him use our truck because he wasnt listed on our insurance. Dont forget, you have to take your road test in the "type of vehicle" you will be operating. In other words, you have to have a "Class A" type vehicle to get a Class A license.


In my state you must supply your own vehicle" and pay the road test examiner $75.00.


Also (any state) before you can even apply for a permit, you must have a long form DOT physical.  Cost depends on the doctor.


Dont forget, if you are applying for your own authority, you have to have a drug and alcohol program in place.  You will be required to have pre-employment  drug testing before you begin to operate your truck.  If you are leasing your truck to a company, they will do handle the drug and alcohol testing.

After you decide what type of entity you will become (sole proprietor, partnership, LLC, corporation, etc.) you may have to get an Employers Identification Number (EIN), also called a Federal Employers Identification Number (FEIN).  Its FREE! and will be issued immediately if you apply online. If you will be a sole proprietor, your EIN will be your social security number, unless you will be hiring employees (including family members), then you will need an EIN.  All others will have to file a IRS Form SS4, or file online at Employer ID Number (EIN).  See: 6) How to Do Bookkeeping and Other Necessary Paperwork Permits and Taxes for more information about sole proprietorships, partnerships, spousal partnerships, employees,and more.

After you get your federal EIN, you will have to apply for a business license with your home state.  (If you are going to be a sole proprietor, you will apply using your social security number, unless you will have employees - then you need an EIN.)  You may also have to apply for a business license with your county (parish), and/or city.  If you are going to be a LLC (limited liability company or LLP (limited liability partnership) the you will also need to have liability insurance.

Are you going to be leasing to a company or getting your own authority?  In some states you will need a USDOT number before you can get your license plates.   ** This requirement is being phased out by September 1, 2012.  Since it is until effect until then, I am not sure if you would be required to have it at this time or not.  Check with you state registration office. **  If you are applying for your own authority, you have to have a USDOT number.

Will you be operating intrastate or interstate? (intrastate is within one state only, interstate is operating in more than one state).

Will you be hauling hazardous materials (hazmat)?  Then you need a hazmat endorsement (any state).  You will also need to have a background check and be fingerprinted and get a Hazmat Endorsement Threat Assessment.  Go to Transportation Security Administration for details.  Cost is $89.25.  It is valid for 5 years, unless you transfer (to another state), upgrade (add endorsements), or renew a license, then you need to go through (and pay) all of this again.

If you will be loading or unloading at ports, you will need a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).  You can get information about this at Department of Homeland Security - TWIC.  The cost is $132.50 and is valid for 5 years.


If you plan to operate in Canada or Mexico, you will also need a passport.  United States government passport information. Cost is $120.00

The answer to each of these questions determines what you need to apply for.  Go to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) registration and licensing for a matrix (list) of the required forms, and to apply online.

You will, of course, need license plates for your tractor and your trailer (if you are purchasing both).  Contact your state Department of Motor Vehicles to find out how to apply.  Unless you are applying for license plates within 30 days of your purchase of your tractor, you will need a copy of IRS Form 2290, Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax Return, showing you paid your road use taxes. This is an annual fee.  It is  $550.00 a year for an 80,000 pound vehicle (except logging.)

The type of trucking insurance you need will depend on whether you are leased to a company or have your own operating authority, what type of goods you will be hauling, and whether your equipment is financed or paid for.  Be sure to read all of the pages at the FMCSA website.  Join OOIDA ($45 a year) and they will give you all the help you need to decide what kind of insurance you need.  You can even purchase it from them.  Just as with your personal vehicle insurance, your driving record, type of vehicle and the company you buy from will determine the cost

If you are leasing your truck to a company, you may also be required to be fingerprinted, buy Occupational Accident Insurance, and/or Workers Compensation Insurance.

I know that everyone reading this wanted a nice, neat little list of what you need and how to get it, and how much it would cost.  As you can see, however, there are so many variables, it is impossible for me to tell you exactly what you need.  In addition to the federal requirements, each state has their own rules.

The costs are also impossible to calculate without knowing exactly who, what, where, why and how, but here is a rough list:

• Money to pay for a truck driving school, if you are going to go to one
• Down payment(s) for your equipment.
• Licenses
• Permits
• Insurance
• Enough money to operate until you get your first settlement check
• Enough money to live on until you get your first settlement check.  I would recommend having enough for at least 2-6 months 
• Money put up for breakdowns (it could happen on your first trip)

If you need to buy products (training manuals or safety and compliance tools), J. J. Keller is a good source for safety and regulatory compliance products and services that help you increase safety awareness, reduce risk, follow best practices, and stay current with changing regulations.  They are used by most of the large trucking companies.

I hope this has helped you.  I would be interested in your comments.  Let me know if you think this has been useful.  If you need information about something I didnt cover, let me know, and I will update this.

Read my other posts for details and resources for of some of the information in this post.

Be sure to subscribe to this blog to get the latest information, as I keep updating this site.

I am sorry I have to do this, but due to spam "comments"  I feel I need to moderate comments from now on.

I am sorry for any inconvenience this may cause to my legitimate commenters.

Read More..

Evaluation of Software Interface

The  evaluation of the software interfaces is one of the prominent concepts in Human Computer Interaction (HCI). In order to increase the usability, the design of software interfaces becomes an important task for HCI experts.

Introduction:

An effective source to exchange information and interaction between a user and a computer are software interfaces. Designing a software interface that is easy to use, easy to learn and easy to memorize are the attributes of the software usability evaluation. Therefore, the software evaluation is an important concept in the HCI. In designing the software interfaces, the SE and HCI need to understand the user behaviours, user familiarity with different features of the software interface and the user expertise while working with other software interfaces. The HCI deals with social, cognitive and interaction phenomena. Where the social layer focuses on how people interact with each other as well as with technology.

      In the HCI, software evaluation plays an important role to achieve user goals in an effective, efficient and satisfying way. It is a discipline that helps to achieve usability during

the design of software interfaces. Software evaluation is the part that contains various techniques like heuristic evaluation, guideline reviews, cognitive walk through and usability testing.

Heuristic evaluation:

A heuristic evaluation is a usability inspection method for computer software that helps to identify usability problems in the user interface design. It specifically involves evaluators examining the interface and judging its compliance with recognized usability principles. These evaluation methods are now widely taught and practiced in the new media sector, where UIs are often designed in a short space of time on a budget that may restrict the amount of money available to provide for other types of interface testing.

   The main goal of heuristic evaluations is to identify any problems associated with the design of user interfaces.Heuristic evaluations are one of the most informal methods of usability inspection in the field of human-computer interaction. There are many sets of usability design heuristics they are not mutually exclusive and cover many of the same aspects of user interface design.

cognitive walk through:

The cognitive walkthrough method is a usability inspection method used to identify usability issues in interactive systems, focusing on how easy it is for new users to accomplish tasks with the system. Cognitive walkthrough is task-specific, whereas heuristic evaluation takes a holistic view to catch problems not caught by this and other usability inspection methods. The method is rooted in the notion that users typically prefer to learn a system by using it to accomplish tasks. The method is prized for its ability to generate results quickly with low cost, especially when compared to usability testing, as well as the ability to apply the method early in the design phases, before coding even begins.

   A cognitive walkthrough starts with a task analysis that specifies the sequence of steps or actions required by a user to accomplish a task, and the system responses to those actions. The designers and developers of the software then walk through the steps as a group, asking themselves a set of questions at each step. Data is gathered during the walkthrough, and afterwards a report of potential issues is compiled. Finally the software is redesigned to address the issues identified.

Usability testing:

Usability testing is a technique used in user-centered interaction design to evaluate a product by testing it on users. This can be seen as an irreplaceable usability practice, since it gives direct input on how real users use the system.[1] This is in contrast with usability inspection methods where experts use different methods to evaluate a user interface without involving users.

   Usability testing focuses on measuring a human-made products capacity to meet its intended purpose. Examples of products that commonly benefit from usability testing are foods, consumer products, web sites or web applications, computer interfaces, documents, and devices. Usability testing measures the usability, or ease of use, of a specific object or set of objects, whereas general human-computer interaction studies attempt to formulate universal principles.

Main Principles in evaluation of Software Interface:

Purpose:

Is this the application I intended to run? Can I easily determine what the application is for?

Structure:

What is the interface layout? Can I find where everything is in the application window and how it all fits together?

Interaction:

Can I do what I ran the application to do (e.g. successfully type a document or configure a system setting)?

Navigation:

Was I made aware that the application launched? Can I get to everything in the interface? Can I get back to each application screen if I need to?

Keeping these four principle areas in mind will help you glean the purpose of a given accessibility requirement and will ensure that applications that pass your evaluations are usable by diverse user groups.

Evaluation criteria also includes:

End User Needs:

What does the user of the software want to do, what are their present skills and how do they intend to use the software? It is important to be very clear about the problem that is to be tackled by the software. For example, a disabled person who wants to write letters but cannot type might strongly consider software with lots of ready-made letter templates that can then be added to using voice recognition.

Functionality:

Does the software perform the functions required? Does it have specific facilities? For example, someone buying a spreadsheet application might need to produce graphs and charts.

Performance:

How well does the software work? This is normally available as benchmark test reports where independent tests have been carried out using the software.

Ease of use:

How easy is the software to use? Is there built-in help? It is important to be happy with the user interface.

Compatibility with existing data:

Will the new software be able to read any data that is already in use, ie in a different format or file type? If not, is it easy to convert existing files to a readable format?

Compatibility with existing hardware:

Software is written to run on a specific operating system, eg Windows, OSX (Macs) or Linux. It is sometimes written to run on and take advantage of specific hardware too. The new software needs to be compatible with the existing operating system and hardware.

Robustness:

How does the software handle problems? Robust software works well in combination with different hardware and software without crashing.

Cost:

Costs have to be weighed against the benefits that the software will bring. These may be about making more money or doing something quickly or with fewer staff hours involved. Price doesnt always dictate the best piece of software for the job, ie just because its more expensive it doesnt necessarily means its better.

Support:

The level of support when using the software can be crucial to making it a success or failure. Is a telephone or web based helpdesk available for the software? Are there any tutorials or training courses available?

Customisation:

Will the software allow users to change the look and feel so that it does exactly what they need? If so, is this easy to do?

Goals and results of evaluation

Software evaluation has pragmatically chosen goals. In the domain of software evaluation, the goal can be characterised by one or more of three simple questions:

1. “Which one is better?”

The evaluation aims to compare alternative software systems, e.g. to choose the best ?tting software tool for given application, for a decision among several prototypes, or for comparing several versions of a software system.

2. “How good is it?”

This goal aims at the determination of the degree of desired qualities of a ?nished system. The evaluation of the system with respect to “Usability-Goals” [9, 94] is one of the application of this goal. Other examples are the certi?cation of software, and the check on conformity with given standards.

3. “Why is it bad?”

The evaluation aims to determine the weaknesses of a software such that the result generates suggestions for further development. A typical instance of this procedure is a system developing approach using prototypes or a re-engineering of an existing system.

Key Points Related software Interface:

• User interfaces should be designed to match the skills, experience and expectations of its anticipated users.
• Read More..

What kinds of Animals are there

Animals live everywhere. They roam the land. They burrow in the ground. They swim in the sea. They fly through the air. They creep, they leap, they soar, and they dive. A very few-including corals and barnacles-stay in one place.
Animals come in all sizes. The biggest animals are whales, which can be 100 feet (30 meters) long. The smallest animals can only be seen through a microscope.
Zoologists (scientists who study animals) have found more than 2 million species (kinds) of animals. They think they have discovered only a small portion of all animals on Earth.
Several things make animals different from other living things. Unlike plants, animals cannot make their own food. Animals eat other living things-plants and other animals-to get energy. Animal bodies are made up of more than one cell, unlike bacteria and other life forms with only one cell. Cells are the building blocks of living things. Animals also have senses, such as eyes or ears, that tell them what is going on around them.
WHAT KINDS OF ANIMALS ARE THERE?
Zoologists divide animals into about 30 groups. First, they divide them by whether they have a backbone. Animals that have a backbone are called vertebrates. Animals that do not have a backbone are called invertebrates.
The biggest and best-known animals are vertebrates. Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish are vertebrates. You are a vertebrate. Your backbone is also called your spine. There are about 40,000 species of vertebrates.
There are far more species of invertebrates. Even though you can probably think of many vertebrates, the many kinds of invertebrates greatly outnumber vertebrates. Almost all invertebrates are small animals. Insects, spiders, mollusks, and worms are all invertebrates. The biggest invertebrate is the giant squid. It can be up to 60 feet (18 meters) long.
COLD-BLOODED AND WARM-BLOODED ANIMALS
Zoologists divide vertebrates into two types, cold-blooded and warm-blooded animals. The body of a cold-blooded animal is the same temperature as the air or water around it. A cold-blooded animal has to stay in the sun to get warm. It must find shade to cool off. Reptiles, amphibians, and fish are cold-blooded.
The body of a warm-blooded animal stays about the same temperature all the time. Warm-blooded animals use food energy to stay warm. Some warm-blooded animals can sweat to cool off. Birds and mammals are warm-blooded.
You are warm-blooded. The normal temperature of your body stays at about 98.6° Fahrenheit (37.0° Celsius). When it is hot outside, you feel hot. You might sweat or look for an air-conditioned place. But your body temperature does not change. When it is cold outside, you feel cold. You might put on a coat or go indoors. But your body temperature does not change much.
PLANT EATERS AND MEAT EATERS
All animals eat plants, other animals, or the remains of dead animals. Animals that only eat plants are called herbivores. They eat seeds, nuts, grasses, stems, or flowers. Some mammals, such as cows, are plant eaters. Some insects, such as termites, only eat plants. Bees, moths, and butterflies suck nectar from flowers.
Animals that only eat meat are called carnivores. The meat can be from other living animals or animals that have died. Many meat eaters hunt the animals that they eat. Sharks go after smaller fish. Lions and wolves hunt deer and other mammals. Owls swoop down on rabbits, squirrels, rats, and mice. Some frogs and lizards zap insects with their sticky tongues. Hyenas and vultures mainly eat animals that are already dead.
Animals that commonly eat both animals and plants are called omnivores. Bears and opossums are omnivores. Humans are omnivores. They eat fruit, vegetables, fish, chicken, and steak.
HOW ANIMALS BREATHE
All animals must breathe oxygen to stay alive. They must breathe out a waste gas called carbon dioxide.
Some animals breathe through lungs. Lungs take oxygen out of air. Cattle, dogs, cats, whales, people, and other mammals breathe through lungs. Birds and reptiles also breathe air through lungs.
Lungs cannot take air from water. Seals, whales, dolphins, and other mammals that live in water breathe through lungs. They can stay underwater a long time because they can hold their breath for a long time.
Sharks and other fish breathe through gills. Gills take oxygen out of water. Snails, slugs, clams, squids, octopuses, and other mollusks breathe through gills. Crabs, crayfishes, lobsters, and shrimp have gills. Gills cannot take oxygen out of air.
Some animals breathe through their skin. Insects have small holes in their bodies called spiracles. Air comes in through the holes. Oxygen from the air goes through tubes to all parts of an insect’s body.
Amphibians, animals that live on land and in water, can also breathe through their skin. Amphibians also may have lungs or gills or both.

Read More..

What Ive Been Working On Another Free Ebook!

So heres what Ive been working on instead of posting scintillating updates all the time. Its my latest ebook, The Kerrie Show Takes on Christmas and its free 9/26 through Sunday, 9/29/13. Heres the link, friends! They say you need 5-7 ebooks on Amazon to start seeing a financial difference and this is #4 for me, which means ...

... its self-sabotage and procrastination time, people!

Just kidding, I think.

You dont have to have a Kindle to get it. Heck, I dont even have a Kindle and I write for Kindle. They have a Cloud reader so you can read things on your computer. They have some sort of app so you can check stuff out on other devices. After you get my ebook, put "free ebooks" in the search box and see if anything else strikes you! Heres the description:

Wanna Rock Christmas With Your Kids?

Find out how to do the set up a Christmas budget now (as well as other ways to stay out of debt over the holidays), new traditions to start (driving around looking at holiday lights while playing silly music and sipping hot cocoa), how to handle other people’s expectations, how to green your holidays and top it all off with a reinbeers “craft” and 4 recipes (3 of them are “craftipes” … a craft you can eat!). 

“The Kerrie Show Takes on Christmas” is about the humorous journey of parenting through a major holiday. It’s full of fun, tips, advice and ideas so you can make this holiday season the best one ever. No matter what religion you are, there is something in this book for you!

My hope is that youll download it, love it and then come back to leave me a glowing review.

I cant wait to hear what you think! Thanks for reading and Merry EARLY Christmas!

Read More..

What Do I Want to Do in 2014

Ah, goals. Gotta love em! I dont think its too early to start thinking about this. The holiday season is upon us and we are going to be getting very busy. So what about some goal setting now?

1. One of the top posts people come to this blog to see is about Babble.com submission guidelines. I want to have a piece published over there so I can talk about my own personal experience with it instead of just having the guidelines there.

2. Another top post is checking for Family Fun submission guidelines. What if I could get something that amazing publication? So theres another little goalie-poo that would also take care of ...

3. Get published in a national magazine in 2014 using the guidelines from my very own ebook!

4. Keep writing for the regionals, which I love.

5. Write 4 more ebooks for Amazon Kindle.

6. Keep proofreading/editing at Fiverr.com as writerkerrie.

7. Grow my new business, The Kindle Pixie, which helps promote self-published authors.

8. Keep writing for Bubblews because it pays and because it helps spark new ideas for articles and ebooks.

9. Pull down at least $2,000 per month. Heres October 2013s income in case you missed it.

10. Toss me out a goal. Challenge me to do something new!

PLEASE feel free to write your own goal post (isnt that a sports thing?!) and put the link here in the comments. Id love to come visit you and check out your goals and encourage you!

Read More..

5 What the Owner Operator Needs to Know About Equipment

2001 Kenworth T600

Information About How to Become an Owner Operator

5) Equipment

See my other posts:

A Holiday Wish

The Way it Was - A Short History of Trucking

Pro and Cons of Being an Owner Operator

FAQ for the Owner Operator
Pictures
Anti-Idling Regulations
Definitions and Industry Terms
Blackrock Auxiliary Power Unit (APU)
Interactive Cost per Mile (CPM) Calculator Spreadsheet
Privacy Policy
1) Owner Operator 411 – Welcome
2) Income and Expenses
3) Financing and Credit
4) Operating Authority or Leasing?
6) How To Do Bookkeeping and Other Necessary Paperwork
7) What You Need to Know About Loadboards
8) Companies That Lease Beginning Owner Operators
9) What You Actually Need to Get Started - Licenses, Permits, Insurance, and Taxes
10) Truck Driving Schools

There is one more thing you need to decide before you apply for a loan (assuming you have read my previous posts): what kind of freight do you want to haul?

This will determine what company you can lease to (all companies dont haul all types of freight) and what kind of equipment you will need. If you are buying your own trailer, then you need to know what kind to buy based on what you will be hauling. For example, do you need a refrigerated trailer (reefer) to haul food, a dry van for general freight, a flatbed to haul steel, or a drop deck or goose neck to haul equipment?

Even if you dont buy your own trailer, knowing what you will be hauling will determine how to spec your tractor. If you are going to be hauling heavy loads, you need to spec a tractor with heavy duty suspension and a big motor. If you are going to be hauling mostly light loads, you might be able to get by with a tractor with a smaller engine or lighter suspension. Also, the type and length of trailer might determine the length of the wheelbase of your tractor. What you are planning to haul will definitely decide how much your tractor can weigh.

Deciding what you will be hauling will also tell you what other equipment you need to buy. If you are going to pull a drop deck or goose neck, you will need chains, tarps and binders. If you are planning on pulling a flat bed, you will need all of those things plus a side kit. If you pull a dry van, you most likely will need load jacks.

When you are deciding what you are going to haul, dont forget to think about the physical side of what you choose. If you are going to be pulling a flatbed, you will have to be outside in all types of weather chaining and tarping your load. If you want to pull a reefer, you may be required to unload it, which means you will be working in very low temperatures, regardless of what the outside temperature is.

When you spec your tractor, there are several factors you need to need to consider. Will you be making long or short hauls? If you make long hauls, you will probably want to spec a sleeper. You dont want to spend all of your money on motels, and besides, there are a lot of times when you have to spend a night on the road and cant get to a motel.

What kind of engine do you want and how much horsepower do you want? The three major engines are Cummins, Caterpillar, and Detroit.

You need to decide what size tires you want, and what kind of a transmission and how many gears. Today, you can get a semi with an automatic transmission! Definitely a far cry from the old days when many trucks had two sticks (two gearshifts).

Modern trucks have power steering, ABS brakes, heat and air conditioning. They have big comfortable seats and privacy curtains. The beds are large and comfortable and some have a couch, and some have two beds. Most have closets and storage space. You have to decide what you need, then decide how much of what you want you can afford.

Other equipment you will need is a CB radio, gloves, coveralls, fuses, flares, a fire extinguisher (mandatory), tools, oil, fuel, and water filters. You should also carry oil, grease, and anti-freeze.

Optional equipment you may want is a cell phone, a satellite radio, and a TV. If you are planning on being gone from home a lot, you might want to consider buying an inverter. Then you can buy a coffee pot, a toaster and a microwave, and save yourself a lot of money on meals. 

A note about meals: When you file your taxes, the IRS lets people who are in the transportation industry and those who are regulated by hours-of-service rules (see "Income and Expenses") deduct meals differently and at different rates than everyone else. See an accountant or tax preparer for details. To simplify a very complicated rule, basically you can flat-rate your meals for every day you are on the road long enough that you are required to take a sleep break, even if you dont eat a thing, or spend a dime. Of course with the IRS, there are 40,000 ifs, ands, ors, and buts, so be sure to check it out with a tax professional or preparer.

An auxiliary power unit (APU) is becoming a must have. These range from about $6,000.00 to $10,000.00. What is an APU and what does it do? Basically, it is a generator. It is used when you are not driving to eliminate idling. Why is idling necessary? If you have to sleep in the truck in the winter or summer, you will probably run your truck so you can have heat or air conditioning. It is hard to sleep when it 25 degrees or 118 degrees in the sleeper.

With an APU, you can heat or cool your cab without running you truck. This is very important, as an APU can reduce your fuel consumption by about 75 %. Yes, I said 75%. Instead of using a gallon of diesel an hour idling, you use a quart with an APU. Not only is this important for your bottom line, but more and more cities and states are making anti-idling laws with fines ranging from $50.00 to $25,000.00 and/or up to 1 year in prison, for idling your truck.

Sometimes the idle time allowed is as few as three minutes. These anti-idling laws were written to reduce noise and air pollution. 

Click here to go to an: Anti-idling Regulations Chart

To view this chart you need Adobe Acrobat Reader

The cost and age of your equipment can affect the costs of your license plates and insurance.

As you can see, it is very important to decide on your equipment before you make a commitment. Once you have bought that $40,000.00 used truck, it is very hard to change to another truck if you find you dont like what you bought.

Although you will never know exactly what it is like until you actually do it, you need to ask questions of other drivers about their equipment, and what they like and dont like about it. If at all possible, go out on a load with someone. Volunteer to help them load/unload to get a feel of what it is like. The more you know before you buy, the better off you will be.

What make of a truck should you buy? That is up to you. Just a some people wouldnt own anything but a Chevy, some people wont own anything but a Volvo.

Any make of truck, if specd correctly, will do the job, it is a matter of personal preference and how much you can afford to pay.

The most popular trucks are Peterbilt, Kenworth, and Volvo. Other popular truck makes are: Freightliner, International, Ford, Mack, Sterling, and Western Star.

Anything with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating above 33,000 lbs. is a "Class 8" truck.

Good places to look for a truck (new or used) are "The Truck Paper" and "Truck Trader". If you have cash and are very familiar with trucks, good deals can sometimes be found on eBay.

Next post: How To Do Bookkeeping and Other Necessary Paperwork

Be sure to subscribe to this blog to get the latest and newest information.

I am sorry I have to do this, but due to spam "comments"  I feel I need to moderate comments from now on.

I am sorry for any inconvenience this may cause to my legitimate commenters.

Read More..

7 What You Need to Know About Loadboards for the Owner Operator

2000 Pete 379

How to Become an Owner Operator

7) What You Need to Know About Load Boards

View my Other Posts:

A Holiday Wish
Blogs, Forums and Othrt Resources
Texting Ban
The Way it Was - A Short History of Trucking

Pro and Cons of Being an Owner Operator

FAQ for the Owner Operator
Pictures
Anti-Idling Regulations
Definitions and Industry Terms
Blackrock Auxiliary Power Unit (APU)
Interactive Cost per Mile (CPM) Calculator Spreadsheet
Privacy Policy
1) Owner Operator 411 – Welcome
2) Income and Expenses
3) Financing and Credit
4) Operating Authority or Leasing?
5) Equipment
6) How To Do Bookkeeping and Other Necessary Paperwork
8) Companies That Lease Beginning Owner Operators
9) What You Actually Need to Get Started - Licenses, Permits, Insurance, and Taxes
10) Truck Driving Schools

One of my readers asked a question about loadboards, so I decided to do a separate post on them. See Coupon Mommies comments at Owner Operator 411 – Welcome

One reason 123loadboard doesnt seem to have very much freight is because it has dropped off dramatically. A year ago, if I did a search from Ohio to Texas, I would get about 100 loads returned, now I get about 25 - on a good day. It is the same on the Members Edge load board. My dispatcher tells me theirs is the same way.

Be aware, though, that a lot of the loads posted on the free loadboards is not as complete as the loads posted on the expensive loadboards the companies use.

As I told you, I use (and pay for) Members Edge , they are part of 3SixtyFreightMatch. I just found out that the company I am leased to uses 3SixtyFreightMatch. They get all the loads I get on Members Edge, but they also get loads I do not. The loads posted on MembersEdge seem to be "leftovers". They are all cheap freight. Very few of them pay even $1.00 a mile, much less more.

My point being, there may be a lot of freight posted, but is it anything you would want to haul?

One other thing I did not think to tell you, both of the load boards I subscribe to show the rates, but the companies seldom post them. They are like used car dealers, they just say, "Call."

Now that I have answered Cookie Mommies question, I guess I should explain for you new to this what a load board is. A load board is a place where companies post available loads and/or available trucks.

Some load boards are free and some have to be subscribed to. Some are public and some are private, that is they are only for owners leased to that company.

Almost all of them let you search in various ways.  Some have alarms or alerts that let you know when a new load that meets your criteria becomes available, either by a sound, email or a text message to your cell phone.

In the old days before cell phones and laptops, if you took a load to Houston, TX for instance, and wanted to get back home to Richmond,Virginia, the only load boards were in truck stops.

Here is how it worked. You would go to a truck stop and there would be a TV screen with a list of available loads, the broker who had it, their telephone number, what type of trailer, and the origin and destination.  This list would scroll endlessly.

There would be a lot of drivers (up to 20 and 99.9% men) standing around watching that board with a pen and paper in their hands. Every once in a while, the board would go, "DING", meaning a new load had been posted. All eyes would swivel to see what it was. Everyone would furiously scribble down the phone number, then run (fast paid off) to the bank of pay phones to call the broker. Hopefully, you got to the phone before everyone else, and had change in your pocket. You would then call the broker to see how much it paid, and any other particulars.

If you werent fast enough, or if the load didnt suit you, then you would go back to board and start all over. Usually there werent any chairs, so you had to stand. If you left to get a drink, more change, or to pee, the perfect load would come up and be taken while you were gone.

Often you would get excited when you saw a load going to your hometown, only to realize that it was for a reefer and you were pulling a flatbed.

It was not unusual to stand there from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., and have to start over the next day.

My, my, that sure was fun!  I really dont miss "the good ole days".

Now days, you sit in your truck with your laptop, tell the load board that you want a load for a flatbed from Houston to somewhere near Richmond, and it will sort out all of the loads that match. If you dont see what you want, it might still go "DING", but now you pull out your cell phone and make your call.

It may easier to look for a load, but it isnt any easier to find a load. Some industries are still doing well, of course, but freight is really slow, and the rates keep dropping. It gets harder every day to make a dollar.

Next post: Companies That Lease Beginning Owner Operators

I am sorry I have to do this, but due to spam "comments"  I feel I need to moderate comments from now on.

I am sorry for any inconvenience this may cause to my legitimate commenters.

Read More..