We started a small trucking business, this year. April 2020 is when we were able to get our LLC. We transport items for specialty stores, and individuals. At this time mostly furniture and clothing, and various odds and ends.
We started this business in order to provide first for our family. And second because we would like to be able to help others, especially those who have spinal cord injuries. We would like to support adaptive sports programs, and other adaptive programs, and programs offered by Shepherd's Center in Atlanta GA. The reason why we would like to do this is partly because of the fact being SCI (spinal cord injury) it is devastating not just for the individual but also for the family who cares or helps the person who is paralyzed.
When we started this trucking business we just happened to find a well used box truck on Craigslist, that truck currently needs some work done to it, or better just plain replaced, we were able to use it several times before that we had to park it, due to it needing some repairs.
Currently we obtain our customers from load boards, We have completed over a hundred deliveries since we started, we had a five star rating, but currently our rating has dropped because of delayed deliveries. These delays were due to our vans breaking down, and also the hurricanes that came through the gulf.
We really need newer vehicles, they don't have to be new but newer would help. The ones we've been using are older vans, and the box truck did not have a lift it was very hard loading that, it needs a lift added when the kingpin is fixed it also needs new tires and headlights, and I'm not sure what all else. I just know it either needs a good bit of work or replaced. The vans, do not really have heat or air, and we go places where that is really needed.
Our business grew much faster than we were prepared for, and while we faced extreme personal circumstances. (since Feb our son who is paralyzed has been in and out of the hospital seventeen times, staying a min. of one week each time. and has nearly died multiple times, and this has been due to complications of SCI. Paralysis is not just not being able to walk it's so much more and we keep finding out more. And there is not as much medical funding for paralysis as there should be or rehab for those affected. More physical therapy is better than less. So as our business grows we plan to support organizations that are helping those who are paralyzed places such as Shepherd's Center in Atlanta, I mentioned it because that is where our son went the first year of his paralysis and they have several good programs, and they help people who are paralyzed to learn how to function and do as well as possible long term. They have staff members who are paralyzed including at least one doctor. The thing about paralysis is a lot of people give up and don't believe that they can do anything any more. When with adaptive equipment they can .
Besides our son being in and out of the hospital so many times with serious life threatening issues, the house we were renting for the last seven years was sold, just as the Corona19 virus shut most businesses down. At about that same time one of my coworkers had to take an extended medical leave which meant I did my shift and hers, because she wanted me to try to save her job so she'd be able to come back to work. ( She was not able to come back to work, and passed away a few weeks ago now, she died from heart issues.) I am still working extra hours but not as many now because they have been rotating another couple of ladies through the week so I can have some time off (I work as a caregiver for a homehealth agency and this is not a high salary job, it's barely above min wage) . When the house we were renting sold we were not able to find another place soon enough so we put everything into storage and rented an efficiency for short-term, however we've been here much longer than we intended. We are currently making more money than we've ever made in our lives, but we're doing it under extreme stress from a hotel room. We need newer vehicles in order to cut costs, they don't have to be new although new would be nice but newer is better than what we're driving, the vans are from 2005 and the box truck is from 2001. These all have a lot of miles on them.
Anything I may have left out if you'll ask me I'll do my best to answer as quickly as I can. I am working on average six days a week, and don't have access to my email from work.
Thank you for any support you may be able to offer.
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