What I've never said. What happened to Bright Mountain, Inc?

Summary

In this video, the creator discusses the journey of Bright Mountain, a company he formed in 2020 after winning a FedEx contract. Initially, he faced challenges with equipment and managing drivers, which led to downsizing to two reliable drivers. The freight market downturn and unreliable loads from FedEx Custom Critical forced further adjustments. Eventually, they moved to Panther, where the creator now operates as an owner-operator leased to a carrier, focusing on consistency and less paperwork. He reflects on the difficulty of managing people and hints at no immediate plans to rehire, preferring to contribute to the industry solo.

Takeaways

• 🚚 The speaker started Bright Mountain in 2020, initially working for FedEx Ground and later transitioning to other FedEx services.
• 📈 The company grew quickly, with the speaker purchasing two trucks and renting two more, eventually managing multiple drivers.
• 💸 Financial challenges arose due to driver mistakes and the cost of equipment, especially with the fluctuating freight market.
• 🛑 The speaker had to deal with frequent load cancellations with FedEx Custom Critical, which was unsustainable for the small business.
• 🔄 After moving to Panther, the business faced similar issues, leading to a decision to downsize and focus on a smaller, more manageable operation.
• 👥 The speaker struggled with managing drivers, finding it difficult to enforce strict rules and maintain a balance between being an authority figure and caring for the drivers' well-being.
• 🚛 The company now operates with the speaker as an owner-operator leased to a carrier, which simplifies paperwork and liability.
• 🔄 The speaker has considered the possibility of hiring drivers again but is currently focusing on running the business independently.
• 🔧 The speaker emphasizes the importance of equipment maintenance, as evidenced by the need to replace grommets on trailers.
• 🚘 The speaker provides a practical tip for backing up a trailer, highlighting the importance of facing the trailer in the desired direction for easier maneuvering.
• 🏁 The speaker concludes by expressing satisfaction with the current state of the business and a desire to contribute positively to the industry as an individual operator.

Q & A

What was the primary reason for starting Bright Mountain?

Bright Mountain was started in 2020 after the owner was encouraged by a manager at the Portland Hub of FedEx Ground to apply for an opening, which they ended up getting awarded.

How did the owner initially finance the acquisition of trucks for Bright Mountain?

The owner purchased two trucks and also rented two additional trucks until the purchased ones arrived, with payments around $5,000 a month for the new trucks and varying amounts for the rentals based on miles.

What challenges did Bright Mountain face with its drivers?

Bright Mountain went through several drivers, some of whom were hard on the equipment and made mistakes, which became financially burdensome for the small company.

Why did Bright Mountain move from FedEx Ground to FedEx Custom Critical?

They moved because FedEx Ground could not provide the home time the owner wanted for the drivers.

What issues did Bright Mountain encounter with FedEx Custom Critical?

Loads would often cancel on the same day without any fees, resulting in deadheading to delivery locations and financial losses for the company.

Why did the owner decide to downsize to two trucks and two drivers?

The owner decided to downsize to focus on a good foundation and build again later when the market conditions improved, as the Freight Market was going down and it was becoming unsustainable.

What is the current status of Bright Mountain in terms of operations?

Bright Mountain currently owns one truck and operates under a lease to a carrier, with the owner acting as an owner-operator without running under their own authority.

What type of industry is the owner of Bright Mountain involved in now?

The owner is an owner-operator leased to a carrier, focusing on a specific market that has been doing well and providing consistent work.

Does the owner of Bright Mountain have plans to hire more drivers in the future?

The owner is hesitant about hiring more drivers due to the difficulty of managing people and the desire to maintain a smaller, more personally involved operation.

What is the owner's perspective on handling people within the company?

The owner finds handling people challenging due to having a big heart and struggling to establish the necessary authority while also wanting everyone to be happy and have home time.

What advice does the owner give for backing a trailer?

The owner suggests making sure the trailer's rear is facing the desired direction, and if necessary, pulling up to get it to face the right way before correcting it.