[A CA Guy]

The friend is a reliable carrier, has several major companies contracted and I think his drivers get good salaries last I heard.

The independent issue that you call hogwash is logically one of the issues with being an independent.
You have to develop a reputation over time, your growth is restricted and everything that happens falls harder on an independent and that is less appealing IMO to a customer.

So many independents haven't kept up with maintenance, tire replacements and so forth.
Granted some fleets may try that, but beyond Primetime shuttles a couple of decades ago, I can't think of any.

I used to be in the business of doing cost accounting for some major trucking companies, so I know some stuff.

[maine-iac7]

I used to be in the business of doing cost accounting for some major trucking companies, so I know some stuff.

I talk every day with a trucker who drives today, not used too, for one of the big outfits - he knows "some stuff" too...

[politicket]

Granted some fleets may try that, but beyond Primetime shuttles a couple of decades ago, I can't think of any.

Did you know the owners of PrimeTime shuttle? Just curious...