As a business, it’s important to have plenty of capacity to ensure your goods make it into your customers’ hands on-time. One good way to increase your capacity is to contract with independent truckers to haul your loads across the country. When working with independent truckers, though, there’s some crucial information that will help make the process much smoother. To help you meet your shipping deadlines, here are a few things you need to know about contracting independent truckers for your shipping.
Control is Optional
Many companies don’t care what an independent trucker wears while they’re on the road, so long as the goods arrive on time. However, if you want an independent trucker to wear some type of uniform, then you’re going to have to make a significant investment. To have a say in what a trucker does, you’ll need to provide them with enough business to make up most or all of their income. If you want to present a professional end product, though, this may be a viable option.
Not All Trucks Are Created Equal
Something you can control when you contract with an independent trucker is the type of truck they drive. Truckers driving newer, more efficient trucks such as the Cascadia Evolution can help project a more professional image and help reduce your shipping costs through lower maintenance and fuel expenses. These potential savings mean that it’s a good idea to do some independent research to discover the best types of trucks for over-the-road shipping.
Watch the Taxes
Independent truckers have unique tax situations compared to their company-employed counterparts. If you utilize both types of truckers for your shipping needs, it’s important to correctly fill out the tax paperwork so that you don’t put yourself or the truckers at risk of fees and penalties. The amount of work an independent trucker does for you may affect their filing status as it pertains to your company, so be sure to research specific laws for your particular business.
Don’t Cut Corners
To be sure, there are certain benefits to hiring independent truck drivers to haul your loads. One of the main perks is that independent truck drivers tend to be less expensive than company-paid drivers. However, that doesn’t mean you can take advantage of an independent driver simply because they’re not officially on your payroll. You can be sure that word of difficult and disrespectful companies will travel within the trucking community, leaving you with few options to ship your next load.
If you want the ultimate in reliability and control, a company-paid truck driver is the way to go. As with all aspects of your business, though, it’s important to weigh the benefits against the costs involved. If you want to take your company to the next level and expand it as quickly as possible, it’s likely that a mix of both company-paid and independent truck drivers will get you there the fastest. Ultimately, though, each business is different, meaning you need to do your own research to ensure you make the best business move.
Anica is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. You can connect with Anica on Twitter @AnicaOaks.
