We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jarard Mcleod. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jarard below.

Jarard, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

It takes self discipline, creativity and hard work. I only have A GED. I have worked multiple jobs in different fields that gave me a background of multiple skillsets not taught in a classroom. I have a drive and hustle beyond your imagination. My tenacity, drive and dedication to be a good provider for my family has made me who I am today. My success is not defined from the amount of money I make, but by the individuals I impact and leave behind my legacy.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started in 2021 after taking time to research different components of the transportation industry as it pertains to expedited freight service. Began with a simple sprinter van, over the road by myself and occasionally accompanied by my wife. Learned the hands on analytics while being a driver that later allowed me to purchase more vans and hire drivers. I began to start self dispatching for my drivers. I strategized and developed some professional relationships with brokers, shipping companies and other entities that started offering more work. I then, started using my resources to start dispatching for other drivers as well. That turned into another sector of my company. I partnered with multiple brokers, used private load boards and public paid for load boards as well to successfully dispatch multiple fellow owner operators. After some time in the business, I noticed that most new owner operators didn’t have guidance in the industry. They didn’t know what insurance coverage to get, how to develop relationships to get local/ regional contracts or for the most part how to gain access to freight consistently. The most important things like how to bid a load, the rate to bid a load or configuring their operating cost per mile was a foreign language to them. Most did not complete the entire process of getting a US DOT/MC number, not knowing without one they would be limited to resources.
I then, decided to create a business module of helping others scale their business, offer consulting services to get them on track with the companies and private sectors within the info to gain access to freight. My overall goal was to teach them how to be successful in expedited freight service. I developed a mentorship program through my website in which they could take advantage of a direct one on one with me to help them shape their business and strategize. Things as simple as telling them which states pay more per mile, which states paid less or areas that were abundant in freight availability and so much more.
I became a problem solver for owner operators. The best way to describe it would be, giving them the “skip to the front of the line” pass. They could utilize my services to help become successful faster and develop professional relationships quicker than they would on their own. As well as gain access to freight sooner than it would normally take them on their own, utilizing my knowledge and resources. It’s about networking in this industry.
Im most proud of helping 107 owner operators in sprinter van expediting freight service to date. I developed a social media group on Facebook with over 2000 members ranging from brokers, dispatchers and owner operators. Everyone is very active and daily post are made with vital information for everyone to benefit from.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

My social media presence and word of mouth from previous clients. I have a group on Facebook that’s catered to sprinter van owner operators. I remain in constant contact with everyone I have provided a service to, whether weeks or months after.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

Like I said, I did my research on what was needed prior to starting in business. I knew the startup cost would be roughly $10,000 $2k for insurance deposit. $3k for down payment on my first sprinter van $1k for fees to get my LLC and US DOT/MC. 1k for my first week on the road for fuel before I got any payments from loads. $3k for overhead and other startup related cost . My wife and I both saved up together to have the initial start up cost. We didn’t use any loans.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rjcontractor.net
• Facebook: Jarard Mcleod
• Other: Sprinter van group on FB https://www.facebook.com/groups/1064721967802665/?ref=share&mibextid=S66gvF