ISP Blog | Information for ISP Ground Businesses

Who Decides How Much You Earn?

Posted by Ben Weil on 7/14/19 2:43 PM

It's a simple question with a simple answer. If you're a FedEx CSP, you may think - of course FedEx decides how much I'll earn because they decide what to pay for my services.

But it's not the right answer.

Focus instead on two key words, "decides" and "earn."

FedEx offers, or negotiates, estimated fixed and variable revenues, but they don't decide how much of that you'll keep.

You will make decisions during the course of the contract determining how much you'll earn.

Don't confuse income with earnings.

1 Comment Click here to read/write comments

Topics: Business Structure, Business Outlook, FedEx, Training, Ground, FedEx Ground, Negotiation, Profit

Keeping Score and Making Money

Posted by Ben Weil on 7/7/19 10:40 AM

Wayne Gretsky, Isiah Thomas, Magic Johnson, and Pete Rose. Each was phenomenally successful at scoring goals, points, or runs in their respective sports. Coaching others to do the same? Not so successful.

Bill Belichick, Pat Riley, Bobby Cox and Tony La Russa. Polar opposites to the previous four athletes.

"What's your point?" you ask.

Business people, like athletes, don't have to be great players to be great coaches and vice versa. However, great coaches can bring out the best in others.

0 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Topics: Business Structure, Business Outlook, FedEx, Training, Ground, FedEx Ground, Negotiation, Profit

3 Steps to Prepare for 7-Day Service

Posted by Ben Weil on 6/16/19 9:00 AM

FedEx recently announced that seven-day service will be starting in 2020. This means big changes for FXG Contractors.

"Eight Days a Week" is a popular song written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon in the 1960's about love. According to McCartney, the title was inspired not by love, but by work.

He has been quoted as saying when he asked his chauffeur how he was doing, the chauffeur replied, "Oh working hard, working eight days a week." (Wikipedia, May 22, 2019).

You and your drivers probably feel the same about FedEx' recent announcement to move FXG to a seven-day work week.

0 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Topics: Business Structure, Business Outlook, ISP Negotiation, FedEx Ground, Negotiation

Should Contractors Band Together To "Work It Out"?

Posted by Jeff Walczak on 11/5/17 2:50 PM

Take a look around.

Do you see the number of contractors around you dwindling?

How many contractors do you see today, vs. how many there used to be 2, 5 and 10 years ago.

It's plain to see the number of contractors is shrinking, while the number of trucks grows

This results in fewer, but larger operations.

Think this is a coincidence?

It's not.

As you seek answers from FXG on how you will achieve scale, contiguous service areas and overlap, you are being told you need to "work it out" with those around you. Well that's great, but how are you supposed to do so if you have limited resources?

There is a way, but you'll need to ask yourself some questions first.

7 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Topics: Business Structure, Business Tools, Management, Payroll, FedEx Ground, Business, Investment, model, Merge, Purchase

Should I Stay Or Should I Go?

Posted by Jeff Walczak on 12/30/16 3:51 PM

Here we are at the end of another year.

4 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Topics: Business Structure, Business Results, FedEx, Business Metrics, Business, Investment, model, Metrics, Selling, contractor, Profit, vendor

A Contractor's Guide To The ISP Negotiation Process

Posted by Jeff Walczak on 12/14/15 10:15 PM

The time has come to look at the ISP Negotiation process from the contractor perspective.

First, let's go ahead and call it what it is: David v. Goliath, FBS vs. FCS, Large Cap vs. Small Cap. It's the tremendous resources of FXG vs. those of an individual contractor. I think we can all agree that from the ability to influence, FXG holds the cards.

But that doesn't mean, a contractor cannot conduct a meaningful, and even successful negotiation. It just means that in order to do so, the contractor needs to do some homework, and find some very special tools and help.

Well, now, finally, the tools, and help exist...

2 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Topics: Business Structure, Business Tools, ISP Negotiation, FedEx

The Business of Independent Service Provider Contracting

Who Decides How Much You Earn?

Keeping Score and Making Money

3 Steps to Prepare for 7-Day Service

Should Contractors Band Together To "Work It Out"?

Should I Stay Or Should I Go?

A Contractor's Guide To The ISP Negotiation Process

Independent Service Provider (ISP) Tips And Advice

Learn From Industry Experts And Successful Contractors

Subscribe to Receive New Posts

Recent Posts

Posts by Topic