Comments on: Fedex Face-off with the IRS http://lifeontheroad.com/2008/01/11/fedex-face-off-with-the-irs/526.html Discussion and opinions about the trucking industry Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:27:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Mark Spearman http://lifeontheroad.com/2008/01/11/fedex-face-off-with-the-irs/526.html#comment-1057 Mark Spearman Sat, 12 Jan 2008 19:40:19 +0000 http://lifeontheroad.com/2008/01/11/fedex-face-off-with-the-irs/526.html#comment-1057 I could see technology turning the tables on the companies though. I know you can make it with your own authority with all of the services that are out there, it is just a hassle to get it working together and you need to have the contacts and reputation to get high paying freight. All it would take is a some smart folks to provide all of the services an owner operator gets from a trucking company and sell them at a price that is a better deal than leasing to a company. If they can find good freight for you and provide the services that you pick and chose, then you are a true business person just buying their services. This arrangement would be much more efficient than a bloated company. Some companies are almost leaning this way, but they still hit you with required extras that you don't need and they charge to much for the service and they still try to make you part of the "company". I could see technology turning the tables on the companies though. I know you can make it with your own authority with all of the services that are out there, it is just a hassle to get it working together and you need to have the contacts and reputation to get high paying freight.

All it would take is a some smart folks to provide all of the services an owner operator gets from a trucking company and sell them at a price that is a better deal than leasing to a company. If they can find good freight for you and provide the services that you pick and chose, then you are a true business person just buying their services. This arrangement would be much more efficient than a bloated company.

Some companies are almost leaning this way, but they still hit you with required extras that you don’t need and they charge to much for the service and they still try to make you part of the “company”.

]]> By: Gene http://lifeontheroad.com/2008/01/11/fedex-face-off-with-the-irs/526.html#comment-1052 Gene Sat, 12 Jan 2008 06:05:36 +0000 http://lifeontheroad.com/2008/01/11/fedex-face-off-with-the-irs/526.html#comment-1052 For having such an independent image, thanks to technology and being under a companies thumb even as an owner operator, truckers aren't that independent anymore. For having such an independent image, thanks to technology and being under a companies thumb even as an owner operator, truckers aren’t that independent anymore.

]]> By: Wayne Weisser http://lifeontheroad.com/2008/01/11/fedex-face-off-with-the-irs/526.html#comment-1051 Wayne Weisser Sat, 12 Jan 2008 01:26:02 +0000 http://lifeontheroad.com/2008/01/11/fedex-face-off-with-the-irs/526.html#comment-1051 As you can see, they may not be getting away with it much longer. Being leased isn't the ideal way of being independent, especially some of these companies make you paint your truck and have so much control over everything from you might as well be an employee. And then they add escrows, maintenance funds, registration funds, fuel funds even a 2290 fund at one company, there's barely any pay left and they have all your money and it's like pulling teeth to get your own money out of some of them. As you can see, they may not be getting away with it much longer. Being leased isn’t the ideal way of being independent, especially some of these companies make you paint your truck and have so much control over everything from you might as well be an employee.

And then they add escrows, maintenance funds, registration funds, fuel funds even a 2290 fund at one company, there’s barely any pay left and they have all your money and it’s like pulling teeth to get your own money out of some of them.

]]> By: Mark Spearman http://lifeontheroad.com/2008/01/11/fedex-face-off-with-the-irs/526.html#comment-1047 Mark Spearman Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:20:05 +0000 http://lifeontheroad.com/2008/01/11/fedex-face-off-with-the-irs/526.html#comment-1047 I have always wondered how trucking companies get away with calling their owner-operators independent when they have so much control over you. Like the statement above, you are performing their core business. I always felt that they just call you a business professional to make you feel good, but you're truck isn't much different than a mechanic bringing a toolbox to perform his duties, it's just that a truck is more expensive to operate than that box of tools. I guess that's where the "extent" language comes in. I noticed that Schneider started putting a load board on the Internet like Landstar. I wonder if they're doing it because of language like this coming into legal arguments or if it's part of improving their business model. Taxes and employment law. What a mess. I have always wondered how trucking companies get away with calling their owner-operators independent when they have so much control over you. Like the statement above, you are performing their core business. I always felt that they just call you a business professional to make you feel good, but you’re truck isn’t much different than a mechanic bringing a toolbox to perform his duties, it’s just that a truck is more expensive to operate than that box of tools. I guess that’s where the “extent” language comes in.

I noticed that Schneider started putting a load board on the Internet like Landstar. I wonder if they’re doing it because of language like this coming into legal arguments or if it’s part of improving their business model.

Taxes and employment law. What a mess.

]]>