From one truck to a multi-million dollar FedEX Ground business part 2

[@brcisna]

Mike, Interesting how a truck driver got into ISP business. Your son has a smart mind. Remember where we lived and internet was just starting ,we were in a series of very small towns in the sticks. A family that had started an ISP ,in a university town,was going to start branching out into the outlying areas. (This area would be almost 50 miles from their home base) They had a 'town meeting' at several of these little towns to see what kind of interest would be in this service for us hillbillies in the sticks! :) Anyway they did follow through and we had dial up internet! Am sure it was a very big risk for them,at the time. You may get a kick out of this story also. Remember when i first started into the work force . Were i worked the old timers that came into the shop,,,about 20 miles from where i lived,,,used to tell the story when some small telephone co-op companies where starting out, some local people that invested in these at that time were made fun of. All the local farmers said, "telephones will just be a passing fad". Go figure! :)

[@MichaelJones1527]

We had always been interested in computers, we use to build our own PC's back in the eighties. I got my son his first computer when he was in the 2nd grade. He learn to program and had a program published in a national magazine when he was in the third grade. I was a trucker by occupation but myself and my son were computer nerds early on. When he was at college we saw the need for internet access in this area. I checked into becoming an ISP and I made the investment. My son built the servers we needed and we were off and running. About 6 years later we were approached by the larger ISP and they bought us out. It was a good business to be in at the time, but it was a good business to get out of with a profit since all the big telcos were getting into it.

[@Jerseytrucker911]

Thank you for sharing your story!

[@MichaelJones1527]

You're welcome, I hope you enjoyed it.

[@gregsullivan8956]

Thanks for sharing Mike.

[@MichaelJones1527]

Thanks Greg

[@bradstrong5271]

I hope you have more stories about when you first started in the trucking business

[@MichaelJones1527]

I have plenty, Too many to put in just a few videos. 50 years of trucking, 34 with FedEx

[@bradstrong5271]

Wow a long time

[@ray7483]

Can you start with one truck?

[@MichaelJones1527]

No

[@Nofacenocase1619]

@@MichaelJones1527how many trucks do you need to buy a line haul route?

[@MichaelJones1527]

@@Nofacenocase1619 I think it's still a minimum of two trucks in linehaul.

[@Jeff250lbc]

nice.

[@MichaelJones1527]

Thanks

[@makg83]

Hey Mike I live in Charlotte and I'm interested in purchasing a P&D FedEx business (my first one) maybe later this yr. Is it OK if I reach out to you to learn more about the process etc?

[@MichaelJones1527]

I'll be glad to help you as much as I can, but remember I was not in P&D. I was a linehaul contractor. I have been out of the system since 2020 so my info would be a little dated. I did work out the Charlotte linehaul on Toddville Road.

[@makg83]

@@MichaelJones1527 I appreciate it. I know exactly where that is...thats right near the Duke Energy ops center.

[@MichaelJones1527]

@@makg83 Yes it is.

[@brelendwiggins7238]

Hey mike, who do I need to talk to at the Charlotte hub about getting a contract?

[@MichaelJones1527]

Talk to Rick Starnes, Linehaul manager

[@elijahkoterba8977]

I just started school to get my CDL and I’m looking to save money and by my own route- what advise would you have to someone just starting off?

[@MichaelJones1527]

Work hard and don't give up. It's a hard job and don't be discouraged.