Rought transcript generated under:
Todd Dills: Hey all people. This is hoping you had a fantastic first few days of the brand new yr 2025. Even with all of the chaos in New Orleans and Los Vegas and alongside I85 in Carolina late within the week final week, the highway shut down for hours after a driver’s apparently idle bomb menace that, nicely, simply couldn’t be ignored after all by the trooper who stopped him. Climate too, all throughout the northern tier of the nation. So keep secure, keep as heat as you’ll be able to as this winter season settles in for a long term itself.
Im Todd Dills, your host for this primary version of Overdrive Radio for the brand new yr. And in November, I talked to the small fleet proprietor we nicely hear from in the present day. He was waiting for hotter temps himself. About to spend a number of days on a cruise.
Josh Rickards: We will port out of New Orleans, and it goes to Roatan, Honduras, Belize after which Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.
Todd Dills: A working cruise because it had been. As you will hear for small fleet proprietor Josh Rickards along with his Rickards Transportation Companies enterprise headquartered in Renton, Washington. He calls South Carolina residence lately. The enterprise in one thing of a development mode, bringing on leased owner-operators to focus on half within the leisure trade, supporting live performance excursions and infrequently sufficient working in tandem with bigger entities, with bigger excursions often absolutely supporting smaller efforts. What’s Josh Rickards trying ahead to for the brand new yr? He simply purchased a brand-new 2025 Western Star you willl hear him discuss on this Overdrive Radio episode for January 6, 2025. And he is bringing on two extra owner-operators as he continues on the purpose of sustainable development. As he informed me final week, it isn’t nearly rising in numbers, he mentioned.
Anyone with good credit score can purchase a truck. For Rickards his laser focus is on what he calls the actual problem, sustaining that development whereas staying worthwhile.
Josh Rickards: I’ve an workplace out in Renton, Washington and that’s after all that’s just like the headquarters of the corporate. And I do have a home out in South Carolina. We predominantly, I imply all people’s an owner-operator and it is leased on and so you bought guys simply in numerous areas and we’re actually like form of over the nation. we received one among our drivers is down in Florida and close to Orlando and that is a extremely scorching spot, for the leisure. And then you definitely additionally, received one other gentleman that is over in Cartersville, Georgia, one other that is really out in Washington. He is not far from the, from the headquarters. After which you’ve gotten a gentleman that is down in Phoenix, Arizona. and we do received a, a brand new, we received a brand new driver approaching board that is like not too removed from Vegas. And that, that is one thing the place I have been like, you realize, wanting to search out any individual that is form of near that space. then you definitely form of have your bases coated there. After which after all, you realize, I am over right here in South Carolina the place, you realize, three hours from Atlanta, two hours from Charlotte. These are all massive hotspots, not only for freight, however on the leisure aspect. It’s a completely different world. We’re beginning to hit that development mode. however at a degree, however at a tempo. There is no, there is no set tempo.
You realize, it is attention-grabbing as a result of I received, I received requested this query, after I really did that DAT video.
Todd Dills: Discover a hyperlink to the DAT promotional video showcasing Rickards that he notes there within the present notes for the podcast. Likewise within the submit that homes it at overdriveonline.com. The query Rickards was requested?
Josh Rickards: We did make the video. There was an element in the video the place, the place I mentioned, you realize, it is actually essential to create alternatives for folks, proper? So the query that, the query did not make it, however the query to them was like, what’s success to you? What number of vehicles is success to you? And to me there was no quantity on it. It might be, you could possibly, you could possibly be one truck and really profitable. You may be 5 vehicles and really profitable. so for me I used to be like, nicely, you realize, and that is the place I went to reply the query which was I, suppose it is extra in regards to the alternatives that you createave for folks, proper? So you realize, the setting and the construction that that has been constructed with Rickards Transportation Companies is I am not getting wealthy by bringing on guys like removed from that. It is such a, it is, it is a a lot. It’s a proportion base, but it surely’s such a low proportion. It is extra about like there’s these avenues for the fellows to least on to essentially, you realize, financially flourish. Proper? And it is a type of issues the place I do not essentially have, even for small fleets, I’ve a really low turnover. and it is extra about like these alternatives which are created for these guys that like the fleet consists of individuals that actually take pleasure in doing the leisure. So we focus on that area of interest. So it is principally a gaggle of men to get to do what we like to do but additionally you realize, make, make good cash doing it and have the ability to maintain our, sustain on our gear. and and have the ability to additionally sustain with the, with the picture and the branding. The title has, it has my final title in it and it was simply one thing as a result of after I began this it wasn’t about rising a bunch of vehicles. However so I do not go off an excessive amount of down, down the highway right here. you realize we received guys in numerous areas and you realize, and it is simply a type of issues the place we’re in that development mode. So I feel subsequent yr I feel there’s going toa be a number of extra approaching.
Todd Dills: You may discover his fleet on the firm web site. RickardsInc.com, the place he promotes those self same values and objectives of making alternative, of sustainable development. And with the principal concentrate on leisure hauling, constructing a real crew. And when he is partnered with greater entities on these bigger scale excursions, being that integral a part of the crew that’s any touring manufacturing.
Josh Rickards: Within the leisure aspect when a much bigger touring outfit brings on vehicles that aren’t, you realize, that are not their firm vehicles. if you’re on that, you realize, I imply we’re carrying their T shirts it is extra of like relationships and also you’re known as in and that is actually, that actually breaks down what we do. We actually are like, like I attempt to put it on the market and that is that is loopy. I am gonna go hardcore and say this. We put ourselves on the market as just like the Navy Seals, the marines of touring. Proper? So it is like if you, we’re a smaller outfit however if you name us in you are getting, you realize, you are getting such as you’re getting the particular forces that are coming in proper. In order that’s, it is a method that we model it. It is form of, it is enjoyable, you realize.
Todd Dills: Rickards’ journey to success as a small fleet proprietor begins method method again in his boyhood with a selected mentor and an owner-operator he is lengthy been completely satisfied to name his uncle in Michael Paul Visbeek out of Northern California and since handed on. On the opposite aspect of a break, Rickards tells the story of a younger man’s inspiration taken in a Kenworth W9 with a Cat and an 18 pace. Then detouring by means of music promotion and advertising and marketing and on to true trucking success. Maintain tuned.
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This is Rickards detailing the person who first put the trucking bug method down in his bones, because it had been.
Josh Rickards: His title is Uncle Mike. Proper? However he was not my blood uncle. Proper? However that is a type of issues. It is like this was like a household pal. So, he positively has, he earned the time period and the title uncle, proper? And so like you’ve gotten, in some, in some households in that tradition and completely different, completely different cultures, it is like there’s folks which are referred to as an uncle, however you realize, they are not by blood definition and uncle. So, uncle Mike had a W900 and that is over in northern California space. I went on a trip with him. He had an 18 pace, you realize, 18 pace W900. And I am like someplace between 10 and 12. Someplace in that vary perhaps, really I might say perhaps much more broad than that. Eight to 12, fairly younger. I do not bear in mind the precise yr so far as like what age I used to be, however I do know I used to be down in that age. And you realize, I stored asking my mother, I used to be like, yeah, I need to go trip with Uncle Mike. And so you realize, she talked to him and naturally he is like, okay, Josh desires to return can come out with me. Attempting to determine when it was finest. And you realize, I went out with him on some day journeys, proper? And after I rode with him, it is so wild as a result of he was like, all proper, nicely you realize, we’re gonna undergo the gears. You are not simply if, you realize, for those who wished to be on this truck, you realize, you want vehicles, proper? So it was no secret there. And so I realized easy methods to go to the high-low and easy methods to break up gears and all that.
And I did say this in that video. And that is the one factor that is like, yeah, if you hear that turbo spool up, particularly on them, you know, the motors that they had again then, he had a Cat in that. And you realize, listening to that turbo spool up and every little thing, I used to be like, yep, yep. I. I really like this. Yeah. After which after all, you realize, I simply. I knew, I knew from that age I used to be like, oh yeah, I am gonna drive vehicles. No matter I do, it is go going to be. I will be linked in some way. I did not know at the moment, you realize, like, as a result of I take a look at that as a child, you realize, you simply take a look at the truck, you realize, you do not pay an excessive amount of consideration to the trailer. So to me, I did not, I did not care what wagon I used to be pulling with it. You realize, it is like taker, bull hauler, no matter, you realize, dry van, reefer. I simply know that it’ll be one among these tugging it, you realize.
I at all times had a ardour within the music aspect and it actually stems to like. I really began. Began off from the very starting selling music, similar to going round passing flyers out and there was an artist that, you know, I can point out, Tech N9ne. I began, And this was. I wasn’t even 18 at this level. I used to be like 16, 17. I used to be going round passing out flyers and selling his music and you realize, getting free tickets to the live performance. However I actually, I did not do it particularly for that. You realize, it was a type of issues like at the moment I used to be like, man, you realize, I supported that artist. I am like, I will purchase tickets to his live performance. however I simply actually, I used to be over in Portland, Oregon and I used to be pondering, you realize, lots of extra folks ought to find out about who this man is. Tech N9ne is from Kansas Metropolis. And they also had been making an attempt to construct extra of a presence they usually had been operating fairly a bit of selling and so, and Tech has his personal label. Like he is often known as an unbiased.
I used to be selling and passing out flyers. After which, after I was 18, I began doing one thing the place I used to be like getting, you realize, they might ship me little small checks and stuff for doing it. However once more, it was a type of issues. I simply did it extra out of ardour. after which I received the decision, was like, hey, you realize, they usually had a field truck on the time, you realize, they usually’re like, and it is attention-grabbing how the dialog went as a result of that they had a gentleman that was dealing with their advertising and marketing on the time. And that is earlier than I am 21, proper? So I am like, hey, I will drive vehicles, proper? As a result of I had this ardour for trucking, which went again to. I used to be a child, and so I knew I wished to enter trucking. And I used to be doing music promotion as, like, extra of a pastime, actually, one thing I like doing. So I. However I had a ardour. So I had a ardour for vehicles and that zeal for music. After which the gentleman at that time, he was the advertising and marketing director for the label at the moment. He was like, oh, you drive vehicles? There’s an organization known as Boar’s Head. Like, they’re like the Boar’s Head meats in shops. I used to be driving for Boar’s Head, a field truck doing native deliveries in Texas. and he was like, you realize what, man? Let me speak to tech’s supervisor and enterprise associate. After which I get a name from Travis, and Travis is like, hey, would you, we received this field truck. Would you go drive for it on the tour? And, you realize, after all, for me, I used to be like, nicely that is superior. I get to do what I like doing. I will go towards trucking.
And so, yeah, after which that finally led to me, you realize, drive that field truck a pair occasions on excursions, received my CDL. On the time, my tenure at the label wasn’t all driving as a result of Travis noticed there was another, qualities that I had, which was, you realize, form of a salesmanship factor the place he had me, like, run and merch.
I tour managed some small, smaller excursions, and I at all times wished to have extra information of different taps of that aspect. So it is attention-grabbing, after I go on a tour now or after I do a present now, I’ve insights or I’ve information on manufacturing. I’ve information from tour managing. I’ve finished merch, so I’ve finished all these different positions. So after I’m on these excursions, I am similar to, okay, I understand how to speak with the to supervisor, manufacturing supervisor, stage supervisor, merch supervisor. Like I simply, you realize, I perceive what they do and what workflow they’ve after which how can all of us come collectively? And you realize, as a result of on the trucking aspect, you realize, you are dealing with each facet, proper? So it is completely different if you’re on a tour and you are like, for those who’re a lighting man on a tour, you are coping with your world. You are in lighting world, proper? However if you’re the truck driver on that tour or a lead driver on a tour, you are coping with the entire worlds since you might be hauling lighting otherwise you might be hauling merch or you could possibly. And so if I really feel like in case you have a bit little bit of understanding their. Of their world, I can bounce behind a board, do some primary stuff.
However yeah, lighting. I can not run their board, however I do know their board what it appears like and I do know what kind of circumstances, and the way it’ll be packaged up and easy methods to correctly safe it.
Todd Dills: So give me a way of when that was. You mentioned you had been 16 if you. So how outdated are you now, Josh?
Josh Rickards: 39. I will be 40 in February. So yeah, we’re going again to the early, early 2000s. Yeah, proper. late, late 90s. Early 2000s was about across the time. And it began in Portland, Oregon after I began selling for them. After which I moved right down to Texas and I used to be outdoors of. I used to be in Austin, Texas, again when, after they provided me my first tour that I did for them. I feel that is round. And that is the factor like going again in reminiscence. I suppose round 06, perhaps 06 07, someplace round that vary is after I went did my first tour with them.
Todd Dills: I feel it was a decade or so in any case that, that you just began the enterprise right here. Did you get right into a tractor trailer earlier than that and drive for anybody?
Josh Rickards: I assume after I left the label is attention-grabbing as a result of I had you realize, I might been with that label for a very long time and particularly at that age, you realize, as a result of I am like, nicely, you realize, most of my grownup life has been with this report label, proper. And it was, it was scary form of stepping out as a result of it was a type of issues the place on one hand was a little Scary stepping out. However however I used to be additionally like, you realize, I, I reached just about the best place I used to be going to get there. Proper. you know, I, for. For what I used to be doing. I imply there wasn’t like far more development at that label and but it surely was like these guys had been like my household, you realize, this was like, you realize, these, I imply and tour brothers. I might finished lots of excursions with them and However you realize, so I stepped out and I really I went to work for some. I went to work for a giant. A mega provider simply to. Did that for a yr. wished to only form of get. And it is humorous as a result of that mega provider was like, hey, you bought this background and touring and I used to be hauling freight as a result of I used to be simply making an attempt to get. I wished to get extra expertise into going to completely different locations outdoors of simply leisure. They usually ended up. They’d an leisure division in order that they ended up placing me on it in direction of the top of, you realize. However once more it was a type of issues was like seem like I am simply desirous to. So I bounced round like after I say bounce round, not like, you know, not like lower than a yr. You realize, I did a yr with them after which so it was all and freight. Then I moved out to Seattle space after which I used to be hauling reefer for some time on a refrigerated imaginative and prescient for an additional massive provider. After which I went and did tanker for a bit to get a style of one thing completely different. I simply wished to attempt completely different, get some extra expertise on outdoors of simply going into venues. Proper. As a result of I might been lots of venues. I might pushed a tractor trailer in fairly a number of venues. New York Metropolis, San Diego, San Francisco, no matter, you know. And so as soon as I gained that have then it was like, okay, now you know, I will purchase a truck. and you realize, I purchased a used truck from a fairly in style used truck supplier and you realize, even paid the next. I had nice credit score however paid the next rate of interest as a result of it was a, you realize, no industrial historical past. Proper then began my You began my LLC and and out of state of Washington began that. After which I used to be like, you realize what? That is after I really leased on to a giant. A giant provider that he’leases on owner-operators, very well-known one. I wasn’t there lengthy. I leased on as a result of I simply wished to, you realize, earlier than the time got here to get my authority. I simply need to get what I felt like was as a lot expertise as I may. and I and when Le ono that massive provider, that well-known title that anybody would know u I used to be like, okay, U I am positively not going to develop right here both. Proper? I simply received to exit and do this myself. And in order that’s after I leastased on received my very own authority received my authority in 2018 and I leased on my first. First Man Le on in 2019. And after I began it was. I did not begin it to develop some trucking firm. I simply wished to do what I really like doing and do it by myself. And and. However then I used to be like, I noticed the way in which different folks had been getting handled from rather a lot, you realize, and I am not out right here. Like there’s lots of nice carriers on the market, however there’s additionally a lot of ones the place it is like, you realize what? Like I am I least on guys that I get to know. and And it is a type of issues the place I at the very least on folks generally I get to know. there’s clearly placing us on the market male, feminine, you realize, like I anybody’s open and any of any however you realize, we’re in a predominantly. You realize, the general public I do know that drive are male M However yeah, so I least on first owner-operator. and it simply got here down to love we had a dialog and I used to be telling him, I mentioned, you realize, like, let’s simply do that proper, as a result of you are going to be a scenario the place, you realize, I belief you belief me and, and you are going to get, you are going to get extra piece of the pie as a result of, you realize, I am not making an attempt to make tens of millions of {dollars} to off a guys s les on proper. You realize, so I haven’t got that mentality. And so, you realize that. After which it simply stored going from there. After which extra, you realize, folks and a pair folks have, I imply some folks have left. one of many. One of many drivers handed away and that was actually laborious. Actually laborious. He handed away at residence, which was you realize, positively similar to pondering again on it, it is like, oh man, be he had a household, however he was along with his household. And it is a type of issues like for lots of drivers it is like, oh man, you at all times suppose like, you know, if it’ll occur becausee it is gonna. We’re all leaving at some level. It is you realize, positively, who desires to be on the market in a cab, you realize, in a truck, you Know. Proper. After which we had one other gentleman that retired. He is simply, he is finished. Does not even drive anymore.
Which is, which is nice too as a result of it is a type of issues the place it is like for me it was like nicely, you realize, you, if you are going to step out, I attempt to create this environment. It is such as you, you’ll be able to go the place you need to go and step out the place you need to step out. Nevertheless it’s a type of issues the place it is like you realize, even for that gentleman, he was s like yeah, I am not going to, you realize, go anyplace else. And out of doors of being leased on, actually the one step past this could be getting your authority, which we did have One other gentleman that I really need to say this rapidly.
There was a gentleman that he went and received his personal authority at the start of this yr. He, he was leasedd on for 2 years. And on the finish of u spherical round this time final yr, October, November, he mentioned hey, I am serious about getting my very own authority. And for some purpose he thought I used to be going to be like upset or one thing is he is leaving. I do not count on anybody at leastase is on. I do not count on, I actually do not count on this to be the top of the highway for them. You realize, it is form of like hey, you are go going toa develop and go completely different areas. And so I mentioned, you realize, that is superior and I’ll allow you to and I will stroll you thru the entire course of. And so he is guys personal authority now and you realize, issues are going good for him. he did not need to be on tour, you know and all that. So he was. He is received a direct buyer now the place he he lives out in Nebraska and’s he is in a position to be residence each weekend and even on this market, you realize he is doing nicely.
Todd Dills: So you realize lots of people at all times say like you realize, hey this, that is the right time to start out as a result of if you may make it now you re will be doing very well if it issues warmth up.
Whenever you guys aren’t on a tour. I believe you are hauling freight with brokers or what? What are you doing?
Josh Rickards: It is a combine. We do have some direct clients. you realize, once we’re not on excursions there’s really lots of company work. Like I received two guys proper now which are at Javits middle in New York. And that is a company occasion. So there’s lots of company occasions, Numerous. There’s commerce reveals, even stuff like, you realize, just like the Mid-America Truck Present. I imply, every little thing’s hauled in and hauled out of there. And so we do a lot of these. It is a fairly small proportion of freight. Nicely, throughout COVID it was 100% freight, proper? So throughout that, all of reality, I had. I had a company. It was manufacturing, but it surely was company. And we’re on our method. I used to be on my method over to California, and California, it was going to Anaheim Conference middle. And that was one among like, you realize, initially, Covid, that was one among the early locations that was like, we’re shutting down. Proper. And so I actually needed to flip round. I left Missouri and I began heading on the market, and I had to show round and go proper again to go return the gear after which haul nothing. Ideally, load boards are actually form of extra arrange for, you realize, like, supplemental. however I’ve, I imply, I’ve lived 100% on the spot market earlier than, so I can really, I can perceive each side, however yeah, for us.
Todd Dills: It may be finished, but it surely’s not. It isn’t simple.
Josh Rickards: For those who do it, you bought to play that sport. You bought to try this technique. You bought to play that sport and you bought to maneuver like that. And yeah, I imply, you actually should be keen to goere you, ah, cannot simply be like, for those who simply need to run, you realize, a trifecta or, or an A and B, if you wish to go to A and, after which, you realize, if you wish to go to B, then again to A, you realize
Todd Dills: Not going to give you the results you want on a regular basis.
Josh Rickards: Actually tough. Yeah. However for those who’re. If you are simply keen to go anyplace, let’s go. Yeah, and play that sport, Submit your truck, watching the, you realize, the recent market map and all that, you realize, you’ll be able to. You are able to do nicely. But when, you realize, and I do know guys are nonetheless enjoying that sport. I do know guys that play that sport, and I do know, I do know some that play very nicely, you realize, however they, you realize, they’re versatile. I do not care the place they go. And you bought to remain out three, 4 weeks as a result of for those who do not stay out three, 4 weeks, you are not you making the cash to essentially. You bought to place into These markets the place. That, the place it is good, you realize, do.
Todd Dills: Your guys leased on do they get out and guide their very own masses when, when, if you’re not concerned in a tour or how does, how does that work? Do you assist them dispatch or dispatch themselves or what?
Josh Rickards: They’ve each choices. I received a gentleman that does not actually know easy methods to work that board too nicely, and he is similar to, Josh, you. He tells me, he is like, man, I belief you. I go away it open. There’s. There’s positively gonna be lots of freedom as a result of I imply, I do not micromanage my guys. I will look, I will look to see the place they’re at. We’re leaving on a cruise. and we’re leaving, we’re flying Saturday and we’re gonna be on this cruise. The attractive factor of what is at. As a result of I, I pay for the Web on the cruise. The cruise ship I am on, they’ve Starlink and we’re working all the. I imply, this does not set off, you realize, I imply, I received guys are nonetheless out and I received two which are on tour, and two that aren’t on tour that are simply operating one-offs proper now. And so, yeah, it is a type of issues the place it is like I inform them, hey, you’ll be able to come up with me on whatsapp. Like you’ll be able to name me on WhatsApp, you’ll be able to message me on WhatsApp. And u cannot name me on my voice, you realize, cannot name me a daily cellphone. However yeah, so we received a, And I really two of them are coming off tour December 2nd and we get again December 2nd. however we received to, you realize, guide stuff for them upfront. So I will be reserving masses, serving to them guide masses. Like why we’re on the cruise ship. You realize, so take into consideration 20 years in the past they usually had like payphones and stuff. like, you realize, after which load board was like on an analog television. You realize, I bear in mind these days, you realize.
Todd Dills: Our speak then turned to a different space that is developed considerably over the time Rickards has been round trucking, the bedrock truck gear itself. After all, he detailed the truck that received him began on his possession journey.
Josh Rickards: In order that truck was really a 2014 Mack and I purchased it in 2018 after which it, it really after I had. So I purchased a brand new, a brand- new Freightliner. It was a 2020 Cascadia that I purchased at September of 2019 and I purchased in a down market so I received it you realize I used to be down market and received a great good value on it. So the gentleman that got here on that first gentleman at the very least on I least buy him that truck after which when heired out he received out of driving I really purchased the truck again from him after which lease bought it to ah a gentleman. Now we ran that truck till really we actually ran that truck until it was like finished proper after which and we weren’t going to in-frame it. We ran it till the motor was finished after which I put that gentleman that at least bought that truck and put him into it. He is in a 2020 Worldwide. And so I am really going to in the present day I am sitting down with a salesman and we’re going to. I am spec’ing out a brand-new Western Star. I follow Daimler. Of my brothers one among them really does cybersecurity for Amazon Internet Companies and then the opposite he does like coding. He is an engineer and all that and lots of knowledge and he used to work for Daimler vehicles in North America. So he pioneered this one program that they do you know I might in all probability butchered if I went to like the total particulars on it but it surely’s like some lengthy traces of some like the information that the pc ship from the, from the truck sends again and like compiling that knowledge after which getting it to love mega fleets such as you, your Walmart and snders and stuff like that. My brother would love he would, I imply he would go to Walmart’s headquarters and sit down with them and go okay, you realize this is like the information and like serving to them higher spec their vehicles serving to you realize as a result of they’re at all times searching for effectivity. in order that was one factor for me with Daimler after which the opposite factor is there’s ah, a Freightliner store that is like not even 10 minutes from my home. And so primarily based on that I am like I am form of caught in that Daimler community there. however you realize we’re not like you realize when you le least not owner-operators. There is no. It could be good to. As a result of a lot of the massive touring fleets do run the identical gear. Proper. The identical colour and the identical. And all of the vehicles look uniform and that is good. I am really additionally a believer in that too. however you realize, we received a man with gentlememan simply got here on. He is received a W900. One other gentleman’s approaching. He’s received a W900. Now on the report, my favourite of the lengthy hood vehicles is the W9. Peterbilt 389 is an exquisite truck too. these are the truckers vehicles. I imply do not get me flawed. however we go to lots of tight locations and for me, I am like, I like, I like the gas effectivity and, and I am not afraid of the brand new electronics. So I am cool with having all the brand new electronics and, and having all that. I am in that era. I am not, you realize, as a result of I seen lots of, you realize, lots of drivers of their 50s and 60s. Hey, I do not blame them. They’re like, man, put me in a pre emission truck and let’s roll. And I can perceive that, however. Yeah, so began with that used 2014. after which for me, all of the truck purchases are Daimler since. I had a Cascadia since, since 2019. So I used to be like, you realize what, why get one other Cascadia? I will get a Western Star. Let me change it up a little bit. However nonetheless keep in that Daimler, you realize, realm.
Todd Dills: Do you run crew? Do you must run crew some? Sounds such as you do.
Josh Rickards: Sure. Really there’s some crew runs coming up that had been crew. What the answer we do proper now’s we simply have to love fly a man out. I am really . On for the leisure aspect, there’s some folks that they are like unbiased contractors and also you simply, you realize, you do a DQ file with them. So that you do the drug check and you realize, principally onboard them. however you simply, you realize, fly them out and rent them to do. To do a drive. You realize, do a crew drive. I am really trying in, I am trying and doing that. and also you carry them on it. I do not carry on any firm drivers. you know, and that is the factor too is just like the regulation panorama. My firm is out of Washington state and being out of Washington state. It is like one among these issues the place it is prefer it’s a lot better to have owner-operators and like true unbiased contractors and to have a real unbiased contractor they have. They’ll flip down something. You realize you’ve received to positively received to keep on prime of regulation and I. That does not matter for those who’re in leisure otherwise you’re in freight. And we do every little thing, I imply we’re by the guide in order that I do not, I do not carry on any pre-emission vehicles. I haven’t got a prejudice in direction of anybody that is in a pre-emission truck. I simply, I do not need any questions of compliance. I do not need something, you realize like I like that hey you’ll be able to monitor so you’ve gotten places and then you definitely even have. I imply the ELD and staying and even the elds I exploit are absolutely like I exploit elds that aren’t in danger of FMCSA taking them down. I primarily use, I have been utilizing Omnitracs which is owned by Solera now and for a very long time I simply, I’ve one unit that is Motive and you realize we’re up within the air whether or not or to not make the change to Motive. I see Motive is certainly in main development mode proper now. So. They usually have been since they had been even Maintain Truckin. So we’re, we’re operating two in the meanwhile which is rather a lot for me as a result of I am like know that pulls a few of my consolation zone. I am so used to omnitracs.
However each these, each these models are you realize they’re so compliant it isn’t even humorous. You realize like they are not, they are not in danger of being revoked. You realize going again in my story throughout that point the place I had was hauling earlier than I began my firm. One of many guys that is leased on now that I lease bought to. I used to work with him at that firm. So I’ve recognized him for over 10 years. I’ve recognized him since about 2014, 2015. And so there’s one other gentleman I do know. So lease buying for me is an effective method to assist get somebody into being an owner-operator and learn to be an owner-operator and then they will go purchase their very own vehicles from there. Whereas you realize some fleets put lease-purchasing As a method it is only a. It is a income producing mannequin for them. And it is unhappy that lease buy has I really feel like the way in which that I do lease-purchase, to not toot my horn or something, but it surely’s simply a type of issues the place like I really feel like that’s actually the way in which the lease buy ought to be. It is like, hey, this is a solution to get to be an owner-operator. Whereass. Oh my goodness. That lease purchases. I imply there’s lots of speak, lots of regulation speak and it is getting the eyes of the regulators the place it is like, yo, that is being abused to the purpose the place, you realize, regulators are having this. I feel they are going to completely should step in on it as a result of it is gotten out of hand.
Todd Dills: What do you do? What is the secret factor you really feel like? Simply simplicity, I assume. Clear phrases.
Josh Rickards: transparency. Transparency. My guys get the gas reviews, the gas reviews that I get from my gas card supplier. So that they get the. So there is no as a result of I imply man, the issues that firms do to cheat folks is insane. They cheat folks both telling them that oh nicely, this is this low cost after which they’re going to pocket an expansion between the precise low cost and what they cost their owner-operator. they’re going to physician up charge cons. I’ll ship my guys screenshots of emails with a buyer to the purpose the place we’re discussing the cash. So that they know, hey, that is. I do not thoughts exhibiting them remittance. In the event that they need to see remittance, I will present them remittance as a result of I’ve a, I’ve a lease settlement with them, I’ve a contract with them and it is like this is our proportion and it is primarily based on this. And at any time you’ll be able to request, or most occasions I simply current it. So I feel transparency, like simplicity is essential. I feel simplicity is certainly essential for a smaller fleet. As a result of if you’re a smaller fleet, for anybody that is an individual that is concerned with leasing on they count on simplicity. You know, it is form of like, okay, I am not, I am not going to some company conglomerate right here. I am anticipating issues to be easy. However then additionally transparency. And with transparency, that is the place you construct belief. So principally like we do not simply have, we construct relationships with our drivers. Such as you know, one of many guys was at my wedding ceremony, all had been invited however you realize, who may make it and stuff, you realize. Nevertheless it’s a type of issues the place it is like, it actually is sort of a household and that is one other factor for small fleets. Small fleets and why folks will favor them. It’s extra of a household environment as a result of it is household owned, however it’s, it is ran like a household, you realize. So like I actually go to bat for these guys, you realize, and I inform them, I am like, I am like your lawyer innoc sense. Like I am representing you. You want I received your again. You will be. We will be actual trustworthy with one another as a result of you realize’re we’re. That is the factor. Like this is rather a lot. Life is brief. We’re doing life collectively. It is like life is simply too brief for all that. All that, you realize, the B’s and chaos. Like, man, we ain’t received no time for that.
Todd Dills: This is a giant because of Rickards for his time and a want for continued success by means of the brand new yr. That is Josh Rickards, proprietor of Rickards Transportation Companies.
