Almost everything worth achieving is a challenge. My next challenge will be to finish my tenth marathon. Officially it began with a group 5 mile run on January 6th in balmy (-1F) Green Bay, Wisconsin. The truth is that I started earlier. Actually for me, I started the first week of November. It started with getting Roxanne's approval and then I discussed my plan with Paper Transport. Whether you are starting a business, or training for a marathon clear communication with everyone involved is essential.

Planning and groundwork are necessary. If you're starting a business, have a plan before you even think about getting that first truck. Get guidance from as many places as you can. We at Team Run Smart know a lot about starting a business. We don't know everything, and we can't know your exact circumstances. The same thing goes for the marathon process. This will be number 14 for me. My groundwork has been in the weight room. A solid foundation is necessary to finishing a marathon or starting a successful business. If you are planning to start a business, make sure that your personal finances are solid. Starting a business while your personal finances are in rough shape is not a great idea.

Start small. Learn the ropes. For me I spent 13 years as a company driver before I bought my first truck. My kids were close to adulthood, and my personal finances were in good order. I talked to insurance people, mechanics, and other owner operators. You need to know what your fixed costs will be as well as your variable costs. As a runner, I ran a 5k long before my first marathon. I subscribed to Runners World magazine and read books and training guides.

Get the right truck for your trucking business. The used truck business side of Freightliner has evolved along with the trucks. You no longer have to buy “just” a truck that is on the lot. Talk with a salesman and others. Know your intended operations and things like what is your average length of haul going to be. What type of weight the you will be carrying. Are you pulling a van or a deck? How fast do you intend to run? Figure out the best spec package for your operation. Make sure that the specs are set up to exceed at your average, but are capable of doing your max.

Get the right shoes for your feet. Go to your local running store and bring in your old shoes. Avoid the big box store. Just like your Freightliner dealer, the local running store does not want to just sell you a pair of shoes or just any truck. They want to sell you the right shoes for you. They want a customer for life not just one sale. Therefore they want you to succeed.
 

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Jeff Clark

Jeff Clark of Kewaunee, WI has been driving a truck for 24 years. He has been an owner operator for 11 years.

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