It’s still possible to track an owner-operator business with paper and pencil. But with improvements in consumer technology, owner-operator apps and software and steadily dropping prices, tracking your business electronically makes more sense than ever.
You can outfit yourself with a powerful laptop equipped for wireless Internet access and software designed to manage your business for less than $1,000. Or you can find a smartphone for little or no initial cost that can perform many of the functions that used to be the sole domain of an Internet-connected computer, and you don’t need a Wi-Fi subscription. Some owner-operators are using an iPad or other tablet to have some of the advantages of a smartphone but with more of the feel of a laptop. The savings from analyzing, managing and monitoring your business, as well as revenue boosts utilizing sophisticated services such as online load-matching, will net you a speedy return on your investment.
HARDWARE
Any computer with the right software will allow you to track and analyze your data in much the same way that a good business services provider would – evaluating your costs, revenue and per-mile comparisons. But be prepared to spend hours throughout the year organizing your paperwork and entering the data. And depending on your expertise with the program you use, you could meet some frustration in crunching the numbers and making sense of them.
Basically, there are two main things to consider before making a hardware purchase:
If you want to run trip-planning software with GPS, receive and send e-mail, keep track of your own fuel tax and scan your receipts to retain electronic copies, a laptop with a scanning and GPS device would be a wise choice. A multifunction smartphone or larger netbook (a miniature laptop, essentially) also may do the trick with the right peripheral devices.
If you decide on a laptop, consider one with a large screen and a built-in DVD player so it can double as an entertainment center on the road. Do you plan to surf on the Internet while you eat in truck stops or picnic areas? Make sure the battery life of your laptop is long. You may want a second battery as backup; the same can be said for smaller devices.
When shopping, consider all the retail options, not just national chains. Shopping online gives you many more models and prices to choose among, and some vendors allow you to customize the computer to your specs. Other tips:
