The Business Plan

If I was to repeat myself, I would have to start out back in 2006, where I sat in my living room of my apartment, in Somerset, New Jersey, with the desire of starting my own business, and me independent. I found a website, My Own Business, Inc., that helped me with getting started, with the simplest of basics in building towards calling myself a business. It was the first certificate and understanding in being a Sole Proprietor. The next step was creating a location. I focused my research specifically through the website, and found a location in Forest City, Pennsylvania. It was to be a school room, and a service location for PC repair. All went well, until I moved to Forest City, and had to redefine my business plan, settling on a garage. Something changed in 2006, and I wouldn’t be fully aware of what was happening, but all my windows of opportunity were quickly diminishing, and I could not get any further than establishing a business name, a business plan, and a workshop. It turned out the economy fell.

It was by personal reasons that I invested my savings into a Commercial Driver’s License (C.D.L.), and would fight to work in two different fields, Computing and now, Professional Driving. I was and Independent Contractor for a company in Georgia, who found computer maintenance work in my area of Pennsylvania, while I schooled at Smith & Solomon Truck Driving School. My intent was to drive for a few weeks, and then (even back in 2006) Switch Gears to working with the company from Georgia. It was a pace that was not only exhausting but unable to manage, since some time away from a company truck, meant trying to have work ready when I went back to Computer Servicing. All this, while the economy continued to fall.

I did everything I could to keep up the pace of being available for Computer service and repair, while exploring the many opportunities and positions in Professional driving, and in three “quick” years, I had driven coast to coast in dry van trailers, pulled refrigerated loads, crossed into Canada with Double Trailers, and worked with a 6 month contract on a Northeast Dedicated “forced Dispatch” position. What started out as a 50/50 proposition was about to become a 5% to 95% ratio, as the economy never hit bottom. I spent so much time cutting my costs and spending, but fell short (like many other individuals), and found myself in debt. I was no longer just struggling. The road took me to this Lease Purchase to own contract (thus, the 5% computer-95% professional Driving ratio). Three years later, I now have six years with a C.D.L., and almost out of a huge debt, but fell behind on my financial obligation with the Revenue Department. Still, I got out of a huge hole, and completed the calendar time of a lease, and what was looked at as a bonus to own, may be the new beginning to a proposed business, that still shares the idea of Trucking and computers. The truck, now the true meaning of switching gears, combining Professional Driving with Technology.

The incentive to keeping the dream alive came from the Professional Driver’s in this  lifestyle, as I saw more and more truck drivers using computers, iPads, tablets, cell phones, GPS Programs, and computer logs (there are three products I know of, and two worth really exploring; all three hold its own worth, in my opinion). Even with the changes in the need to have a tracking system in commercial trucks (EOBC’s), it still does not take away the value of personal computers, used in this field. In short, where my original business plan started me in a small town of Pennsylvania, my combined interests in keeping busy in two fields showed promise towards future Videos, concept classes, computer servicing, creating my own computer software products for sale; anywhere in the nation (with a twist), whenever the truck was no longer pulling freight, and “ the engine was turned off”, the Commercial vehicle has the potential to be that mobile office…anywhere it was parked ( A long way from a small town project, but with so much more to consider before it becomes more than possibilities). There is a market out here! Just like the still much alive C.B. Shops. Pulling it off involves more understanding in sales and services, taxes and state regulations, but it is starting to look like a real possibility. By the way, the real office is not the truck, but will always be the computer. The truck remains just a means to be anywhere in the country, simply holding all the tools of the trade of any cubical, office room, and shop, established at a fixed location. My office can be carried in a bag, a second bag for the printer or scanner.

My Activities

Again, back in about 2008, I came across a Professional Driver, who used a spreadsheet for ever load information, fueling, income, and expense. I was excited! Someone with a C.D.L. was using an Office product, and was expanding to use it to its potential (as he learned more of what it was capable of). I watched others exploring map programs on computer, just before the explosion of every driver investing into a GPS device. It took three years for me to build my workbook for the same role as that driver who built everything one one spreadsheet, and my Microsoft Streets and Trips, and DeLorme Atlas USA (with Earthmate GPS device), and make it part of my role in the daily work of commerce. It wouldn’t be until three more years (through that lease to purchase program), that it became the routine I live by. I am still short of the crucial financial and tax routine of timely responsibility, but I have so much to personally feel accomplished. I have booked three complete years of workbooks that contain all information for loads, expenses, Income, maintenance (short of making a spreadsheet for future DVIRR); all of which should be the same records kept by the contracting Corporation. My records should match their records. By back tracking, I will eventually have my last six years in this trucking role on record.

My Tasks

I have a list of started projects, much in the form of databases, with my key focus on the Driver’s Database project. This database contains fuels stops, weigh station location, Repair shops, state information numbers, and customer/ load information. It is only about 31% completed. It will eventually become a program for retail. It will possibly become a “released BETA” before it is completed as the first version. There is just so much information to include, and I still need to build it’s ability to draw up specific reports. There is also the need to personally build a Database library of backed up data files, DVDs, and their locations. This database will eventually also help in not redundantly back up the same static records that won’t be updated. The Blog Tasks came short of a timetable, and is far from ever being a routine, but I will keep trying. The small video “How To” Videos remain not started, but remain a goal to achieve. Making my email and social surfing a daily routine seems to be my next focus. My family would love to keep in touch with me (along with those I am a customer with…not to forget those in the Revenue Department). What has shown improvement, when it comes to business development, is the voice communication, relating to the PC–to-Phone. I started out using yahoo! Unfortunately, for the mini computer, the conversation for the person on the other line had issues (sometimes only heard a part of me, and sometimes could not hear me at all). Skype championed over Yahoo! when it comes to mini computers and the use of PC-to-Phone. There is still a delay in communication, but, I had a one time video call with my Sister-In-Law, and the belief in video calls and future conferencing calls was that more real to me! I again, am so excited! I still have Yahoo! All voicemail still can be sent to my email account….but now by two different phone numbers. I really need to master in checking my mail everyday.

My Procedures

      My day begins like everyone else, by washing up, and getting dressed, except the main computer is turned on, while I put on my pants, and clean the floor. I get the printer setup, and the next step is to complete and print the Driver’s log from the day before (a step left to be finished, since typically the log needs to wait until after midnight), and filling in yesterdays, miles, worked hours, driven hours, and hours coming back [recap] on a printed page that is identical to every drivers recap table. If needed, the paperwork from the load delivered at the end of the day is prepared for submitting to the company, along with my Driver’s logs, scale ticket, and receipts. Then, I leave the truck for breakfast (or at least a cup of coffee). I come back, and set up my scanner, to scan the same work that was scanned into the company (my records match theirs), and I record the submitted the paperwork on a spreadsheet; scanning and recording my fuel stop, when I can find the time (sometimes it piles up for a couple of days). I look over my next trip, and see how long I estimated, using my Microsoft Maps & Streets. Finally, it is time to straighten up my bunk area, and start up the EMachine that records and tracks the days movement of the truck (it is also the faithful “underdog” that runs the Skype program efficiently). Time to switch gears. While the second machine is starting up, I begin my Pre-Trip of the truck and trailer. I hop in the truck a couple of times for my air gauge or rag, reaching over to plug in the Earthmate (into the EMachine). With all Fluid, tire pressures, physical structure of both vehicles (a trailer is technically a vehicle…it is registered by States), I return to my Driver’s Daily log to make sure I log it as I go. My day has begun. Along the way, with every pickup and delivery, the main computer is turned on to record the load information, the stops for fuel, and the driver’s daily log, as a Log it as I go (that means for every time the driving status changes, I catch up on my log), and finally open my Microsoft Streets and Maps, and update each stop time, and see if I am still on track. This also givers me the opportunity to check out my route I chose to drive. By the end of the day, I record my ending mileage, fill in the miles driven, work hours, and driven time, the recap table, and it is time to do a post trip. The computer typically is shut off, after I submit my Post-Trip information (and any maintenance repairs done during the day), updating my Microsoft Streets & Maps, and drawing the line that shows I am now off duty, in my Driver’s daily log.

I still need to make checking my mail a routine… and saying “hello”, and, “goodnight” to my friends and family. All in all, I have a routine that took three years to develop, and another three years to justify it as my routine.

This has been so much work in developing, and that was with the ratio as 5:95. I don’t ever see me being able to make this a 50-50 proposition, but I know I can come close to a satisfying dual role in the future. There is a market out here, in the professional driving environment…and it includes the use of technology, both at a corporate level, and for every willing professional driver. Over time, I do see the future conferences done by video between those in the office building, and those professional who work in these “ten wheeled mobile office’s”.

There is more development going on for me, but until I get there… a quick shout out to my father, “HI Dad! I am doing just fine. Luv Ya’, and I hope to see you soon.”