Components of the Master Class 2023
There are four phases to the Blue Ribbon Master Class Program.
Minimum Qualifications:
At least one year of verifiable “Over the Road” driving experience.
“OTR” is considered a minimum of 350 miles in one direction, in a sleeper cab, not home daily.
Class A CDL with HazMat/Tanker combination endorsement (X endorsement).
Clean driving record, PSP, CSA, MVR. No more than 2 tickets/accidents in the past 3 years.
Clean criminal background history, no felonies. No failed drug tests or refusals.
MUST have experience driving manual 10 or 13 speed transmissions and NO automatic
restrictions on CDL.
Be in reasonably good health with a minimum one-year DOT Medical card.
Professional appearance and demeanor, willing to dress appropriately for business.
The Interview:
After your application has been submitted and it is determined that you meet our criteria,
we will contact you to setup an interview via “Zoom”. This interview is to further
evaluate your compatibility with our program and to confirm your desire and
commitment to becoming an entrepreneur. This is a rigorous, intense apprenticeship
program which requires a tremendous amount of desire and work ethic to complete.
Once we are satisfied that you will be a “fit” in the program, you will move on to the
Landstar qualifications process.
How to Start the “On-Boarding” Process:
Complete the online application to Landstar, a link will be provided to you during
the interview process. You will need to setup a new e-mail account which you will use
for all correspondence to/from Landstar throughout your relationship.
Respond to all requests for documents, actions, etc. from Landstar qualifications timely.
If you don’t have Hazmat/Tanker
- complete the federally mandated Entry Level Driver Training for HazMat
- apply to your State
- begin background check and fingerprints.
Complete the Landstar DDC online course and submit to a DOT drug screen test.
Once all requirements are met, Landstar will assign a one-day orientation, in Indianapolis, IN
on the Monday following the Blue Ribbon orientation.
The Program Details:
This program is a paid apprenticeship. A delicate balance exists between the stakeholders and the “truck driving job” that you will be employed to do during your apprenticeship. This is what funds the program. We firmly believe in the “Win-Win-Win-Win” model.
The program must be a “Win” for all of the following:
- Landstar
- Blue Ribbon
- Our Strategic Partners (Truck Owners)
- You, the Driver and Program Participant
The profit that is generated by your efficient operation of the truck in the “Lunatic” model is the source of revenue that allows this program to exist. However, our Master Class Program is significantly front-loaded to where we must have 18 months of operation for it to be financially feasible for all concerned.
During this paid apprenticeship, we expect that you should earn in excess of $75,000 per year.
Upon completion of this program, you will be sufficiently trained to become an independent BCO with Landstar, with the experience and knowledge to use the business model we taught you to produce a net income of $150,000 or more annually, before taxes.
The training that allows you to accomplish this is provided by this Master Class. Successful completion of the 18-month program will result in there being zero or no expense to you since we will be compensated by the profit from the operation of your truck.
During Phases I, II & III, a weekly program fee of $100 will be deducted from each paycheck. Upon successful completion of Phase 4, the total fees deducted ($2400) will be returned to the program participant. Candidates will be encouraged to save additional sums of money on their own in a “Truck Savings Plan” to prepare them for the cash purchase of a truck upon completion of the Program.
Conversely, not completing the program or leaving prematurely will result in the fees being forfeited if driver resigns or there is an early termination.
The Blue Ribbon Orientation:
Held in Hurricane, WV at the Wingate by Wyndham hotel, 417 Hurricane Creek Road, 25526 on Saturday and Sunday from 08:00 EST until 17:00, prior to you attending the Landstar orientation. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Transportation to the WV orientation and lodging at the hotel are the responsibility of the attendee.
Transportation options include flights into either Huntington, WV (HTS) or Charleston, WV (CRW). Greyhound Bus Lines has a terminal next door to the Wingate hotel. Hertz and Enterprise rental cars have return locations nearby as well. You will need to arrive in Hurricane, WV on Friday. Transportation from either airport or rental car office can be provided by Blue Ribbon personnel.
The hotel has a special reduced rate of $99/night, plus taxes for Blue Ribbon guests.
Classes are held in the Conference/Meeting Room off the hotel lobby and begin promptly at 0800 EST. Lunch will be brought in at Noon and we will wrap up around 17:00. Your evenings and dinner are on your own. There are a wide variety of restaurants within walking distance of the hotel for your convenience.
Items that you will need to bring with you include:
Clothing and truck supplies to last approximately 10 days, until we can route you home to load up and organize your truck.
Technology devices: cell phone, tablet/laptop, truck specific GPS, professional quality Bluetooth headset.
Current Rand-McNally motor carrier road atlas.
Notebook, paper, pens for note-taking.
On Sunday you will be assigned to your truck/trailer. This will be your transportation to Indianapolis for the Landstar orientation. Landstar will provide a hotel room Sunday evening and lunch on Monday. You will be assigned 5 online classes during the Landstar orientation which must be completed prior to you being dispatched on your first load from Indy.
Professionalism:
A critical part of your success in business and certainly at Landstar, is your ability to establish good working relationships with your customers...in this case, the Agents. Many hours of cold calling, knocking on doors, getting through gatekeepers, etc. is required to convince a shipper to give us a chance at hauling their freight. It takes one bad experience between a BCO and a shipper/receiver to ruin the chances of ever getting that freight again. Whether we want to admit it or not, first impressions last forever. A professional, well-mannered BCO will be remembered and many times recognized for his effort. Likewise, a poorly dressed, smelly, inconsiderate BCO wearing flip-flops, will surely be remembered, too.
Professionalism is displayed in many ways; appearance, grooming, choice of clothing, attitude, expressions, demeanor, cleanliness of equipment are all factors that are “judged” by others. Here at Blue Ribbon Logistics, we pride ourselves on having excellent working relationships with our Agents and their customers.
In order for us to maintain our image and reputation, these are our requirements:
Be properly groomed, showered, generally a clean appearance.
Facial hair neatly trimmed.
Blue Ribbon or Landstar logo shirts and/or hats are recommended.
No graphics, political, controversial, offensive clothing. (Both Landstar and Blue Ribbon have online stores where logo wear is available to purchase. It is a deductible business expense.)
No flip flops, wedges, crocs, open toe shoes are ever permitted. Some customers require shoes to be “safety” approved. You should always have these available in your truck, along with long sleeve shirts and long pants, in the event it is required by a customer.
Even though your truck is older, it can still be kept clean and clutter free.
Trucks and trailers should be washed monthly or as needed.
Courtesy and appropriate behavior towards agents and customers, including dock personnel is required.
You are here to learn how to start, run and succeed in the world of small business. One of the keys to your success will be establishing your “brand”. Customers remember you by the image that your brand leaves in their memory and by their impressions of working with you. This cannot be taken lightly or overlooked because it’s inconvenient to you to maintain. Do you patronize businesses that are dirty, run poorly, or have bad attitudes when you have many, many others to choose from to take your business to?
Components of the Master Class 2023
There are four phases to the Program
Phase I:Learning the Landstar System (6 weeks)
Phase II:Operating within the Landstar System (6 weeks)
Phase III: Owner-Operator/BCO Training (24 weeks)
Phase IV: Perfecting the “Lunatic” Business Model (42 weeks)
You may be thinking, “why are these Phases so long in time”? We subscribe to the “wax on – wax off” method of teaching/learning (credit here goes to the movie “Karate Kid”). Along with gaining the knowledge, there needs to be time for the new skills to be practiced so they become habits. Back to the movie, think about painting the wooden fence or waxing the old car, Daniel-son was learning Karate and didn’t even realize it. By using the newly found skills that we teach and giving you ample time to apply them practically will achieve the results needed to form the habits and have them become second-nature.
Phase I Learning the Landstar System (6 weeks)
Phase I Topics:
Landstar is a very unique collaboration of capacity providers (BCO’s) and freight opportunities (Agents), along with the back-office support of the corporate office of Landstar. Since it is one-of-a-kind, it takes some time to learn to navigate its complexities. Understanding your unique relationship as a (future) truck owner/business person is vital to your success. Coming from a background as an employee/company driver requires a change in your mindset to realizing that you will now be in a business-to-business partnership. There is the expectation that you are self-supporting and independent; able to make decisions that are best for your business and able to resolve issues that arise from time to time.
For the first six weeks, while you are adjusting to this new environment, we will be performing most of the tasks required to book and deliver freight, and of course make money. Your dispatcher will do most of the background work and prepare the trip plan that will give you all the important information on the load you are currently assigned.
This is a list of tasks that you will be expected to master during Phase I:
Communication with BRLS Management
Report trailer numbers
Report maintenance issues w/Maintenance Report
Report delays or issues with Trip Plan, routing, customers
Communication with Agents
Acknowledge receipt of Rate Confirmation
Arrival & Departure
Trailer numbers
Send Proof of Delivery with Empty message
Scan POD to Landstar via Transflo App
Follow the Trip Plan as assigned
Fuel...your #1 expense
Work to maintain the Fuel Mileage standard of 7.0 + MPG
Manage HOS, ELD, time management, preserve the ability to “split” break
Scan receipts for fuel and repairs, etc. into Dropbox IMMEDIATELY upon receipt
Achieve 75% minimum ($6000) of target gross revenue/week
Phase II Operating within the Landstar System (6 weeks)
Phase II Topics:
Now that you’ve advanced to Phase II, you’ll start to assume the tasks and responsibilities that the Management Team provided you during Phase I. Primarily, you will be transitioning to preparing your own trip plans, routing decisions, fuel purchasing decisions, etc.
while continuing to practice the good habits you established in Phase I. By now you should be getting acclimated to the Landstar as well as the Blue Ribbon way of doing business. Remember, our Management Team is always available to coach and advise you on any aspect of your daily challenges.
Along with the list in Phase I, these are the points of emphasis in Phase II:
Assuming responsibility of creating your own trip plan
Choosing the most efficient routing
Making decisions on where/when to purchase fuel
Continuing to manage your HOS, ELD, time management
Continuing to be a Master Communicator with Agents and customers
Starting to develop relationships with Agents through your professionalism
Learning to “listen” to your truck and getting familiar with its maintenance needs
Getting more familiar with the “Lunatic” truck modifications and their maintenanc
Constantly paying attention to your fuel mileage and using the scan gauge to help
Keep your dispatcher/manager informed at all times any issues
Introduction to Landstar Online Staff Account and Landstar One app
Phase III Owner-Operator/BCO Training (24 weeks)
Phase III Topics:
Review of Phases I & II
Review of driver logs and trip plans from Phase II
Advanced Trip Planning with the goal of reaching maximum revenue
Advanced Hours of Service Strategies with the goal of reaching maximum revenue
Recovering from unexpected disruptions to your original trip plan, problem solving
Familiarization with Landstar Online, Load Board, Load Alerts
Dispatch procedures and booking loads, load selection strategies
Review of Landstar Corporate Organization & Departments
Introduction to Workflow procedures
Phase IV Perfecting the “Lunatic” Business Model (42 weeks)
Phase IV Topics:
You’ve survived the first 3 Phases! Now it’s time to get down to “business” ...literally. You’ve finished the weekly tuition deductions and now have $2400 waiting for you when you complete your apprenticeship. Adding that to your “Truck Savings Account” should get you much closer to the cash you need to buy your first truck.
Just like at the beginning of Phases I and III, Phase IV starts out with your final Session in Hurricane, WV. Again, you’ll be routed there under a load and take your 34 hour reset while attending this final class. Once again, a hotel room is your option (at our discounted rate) or parking the truck at the hotel and staying in it is available for you, too.
Phase IV list of subjects that you need to master in order to complete your apprenticeship:
Becoming a Lunatic & perfecting your skills
Lunatic business model
Change your identity
Philosophical principles
Controlling costs
CPM, what is it?
The Lunatic ‘s secret handshake, password, super-secret freight
BCO Responsibilities
120 Inspections/maintenance reports
Compliance – Operator or Equipment
2290 FHUT
IFTA/fuel tax reports
Understanding settlements/card activity statements
The remainder of the Landstar Online resources
Advanced truck maintenance
Regular interval maintenance schedule
What is an “Overhead” and when is it?
Advanced Lunatic modifications, more in-depth study
Understanding basic truck systems – brakes, suspension, engine, fuel, tires
Bookkeeping, record keeping, data tracking
Hiring a CPA, tax filing, LLC, and more