Expediting Topics

People suggest every now and then that I should write a book about expediting. It's an easy suggestion for a reader to make but difficult for a writer to respond. Writing a book is a big job. Maybe someday I'll write such a book but it is not a front burner project.

If I went ahead, the first step would be to outline the content that may or may not be included in the final work. I can do that much here with the idea that the outline may serve as a useful overview for people who are researching the expediting opportunity.

What you see below is a work in progress, updated as the thoughts flow and the spirit moves. Links point to various resources and to pieces other expediters and I have written.

This outline was last updated on April 12, 2011.

Introduction
: Expediting, A Tiny Niche in the Transportation Industry; Just Who Are Those Expediters Anyway?; How Much Money Can I Make (or Lose)?; Introduction to Expediting
The Risks: Wishful Thinking; Bad People (drivers, fleet owners, carriers, customers, vendors, cops, motorists, family members, etc.); Financial Ruin; Risks to Life and Limb; Legal Liability; Economic Downturn (Recession); Human Error; • Errors Made by You; • Errors Made by Others
The Rewards: Money; Freedom; Fun
Getting Started: Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Requirements; • Class A, B, C; • Endorsements; Physical Requirements; Education Requirements; How to Research a Carrier; • What is a Motor Carrier?; • Expediter Carriers Described; • Understanding Carrier Recruiting Practices; How to Interview Fleet Owners; • Characteristics of Good Fleet Owners; • Characteristics of Bad Fleet Owners; How to Interview Yourself (Do you have what it takes?); How to Find a Good Fleet Owner
The Trucks: B and BR-Units; C and CR-units; D and DR-units; E and ER-units; Cargo Vans; Sprinter Vans; Step Vans; Class 7 Trucks; Class 8 Trucks; Truck Bodies; Sleepers; New Trucks; Used Trucks; Custom Trucks
The Safety Aspects: Rules and Regulations; Carrier Safety Departments; Your Personal Attitude and Approach to Safety
The Tasks: What do Expediters do Exactly?; The Basics; • Where do you eat?; • Where do you sleep?; • Where do you go to the bathroom?; • Where do you shower?; • How do you communicate?; • How do you get your mail?; • How do you get paid?; • How do you pay your bills?; Expediter Common Tasks; • Do a Pre-trip Inspection; • Do a Post-trip Inspection; • Evaluate a Load Offer; • Write up a Load; • Plan a Route; • Minimize Fuel Costs; • Minimize Fuel Taxes; • Complete a fuel stop; • Profit From a Truck Stop Loyalty Card Program; • Maximize Fuel Economy; • Interact With Interested People While Under Load; • Complete a Delivery; • Submit Run Paperwork; • Maintain Business Records; • Choose a Layover Location; • Evaluate Relocation Options; • Tune and Operate a CB Radio; • Utilize Tire Chains; • Maintain a Driver's Daily Log; • Repair/Replace a Defective Lamp; • Optimize Layover Time; • Network With Other Expediters; • Utilize Freight Handling Equipment
The Truck Components: Lift Axles; Liftgates; Reefers; Generators; Sleepers
The Equipment: Freight Handling Equipment; • Items; • Sources; Tools and Supplies; Food, Water, Clothing; Survival and Emergency Gear
The Ways to Get Into a Truck: Drive a Fleet Owner's Truck; Purchase a Truck With Cash; Finance a Truck Purchase Through a Bank; Finance a Truck Purchase Through a Finance Company; Finance a Truck Purchase Through a Dealer; Get Into a Truck Through a Lease/Purchase Agreement
The Health and Wellness Choices: Attitude; Diet and Exercise
The Values and Character Traits of Successful Expediters
The Business Basics: About Being Self Employed; List of Basic Business Skills; Business Models; • Driver; • Owner-Operator Leased to a Carrier; • Owner-Operator With Own Authority; • Fleet Owner; Business Plan Basics; • What Kind of Expediter do You Want to Be?; • How Long Will You Stay Out?; • How Much Money do You Want to Make?; • Calculate Your Operating Cost per Mile; • Calculate Your Operating Cost per Day; • How to Set and Achieve Your Business Goals
The Business in Depth: Taxes; Health Care Plans; Life and Disability Insurance; Retirement Plans; Profit and Loss Statement; Statement of Net Worth (Balance Sheet); Business Form (Sole Proprietorship, Corporation, etc.); Business Planning for Successful Expediters
The Carriers: Carrier List; Carrier Similarities and Differences
The Freight: What Exactly do Expediters Haul?; How do You Get Freight to Haul?
The Rules: Compliance Topics; FMCSA Rules and Regulations; CSA Made Easy; You Are a Sitting Duck
The Customers
The Community: http://www.expeditersonline.com; Expedite Expo
The Things Some Won't Do: U.S./Canada Border Crossing Runs; New York City Runs; Drive When Tire Chains are Required
The Tips andTricks: Windshield Bug Removal; Ratchet Strap Techniques; Find a Parking Place
Appendix: Organizations and Resources; The History of Expediting; Expediter Truck Dealers; Aftermarket Sleeper Manufacturers; Glossary
Index