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Having only been in the business 3.5 years, and that after cell phones and the internet were invented, only four changes of consequence come to mind. (1) Fuel prices rose from about $1.25 per gallon to levels sometimes over $3.00. (2) Hours of Service rules changed (twice). (3) Panther...

Waitresses/Waiters get $3.00 or 15%, whichever is greater unless bad service is provided. Then they get zero and I tell the manager why. In truck washes where one or two people are brush-washing the entire truck, $5.00 or $10.00 tips are given to each, depending on my mood. In truck washes...

For detailed answers to your questions, see: http://www.successfulexpediters.com/Madsen/MadsenTruckSpecs.htm

When Diane and I planned out our CR unit, numerous drivers provided helpful input. In the spirit of giving back, I have published our truck specs online. This is not truck building advice. It is simply a primer for anyone considering a custom-built truck. See...

See also: http://www.twna.org/trucking_terms.htm#e

Leo, I appreciate your efforts to educate people about fuel tax and I am sure many others do too. But as others have reported, the numbers make my head spin too. Unless you are a numbers-oriented person, it is hard work to disect the large amounts of information presented. I'm wondering if you...

In this case, fuel tax management is trumped by sleep management and next-run opportunities. Chicago to Syracuse is about 675 miles. One team member can drive the whole run, giving the other team member a nice block of uninterrupted sleep time (assuming this is an overnight run as many are). A...

Many Open Forum readers know Glen and Janice Rice and about the accident that ended their expediting careers. While the Rices continue to struggle with the injuries and aftermath of the accident, a new challenge has risen. On Tuesday, doctors will do major surgery on Glen to remove and examine...

In the past, I have taken breaks from Open Forum participation to focus on other items. It is time to do so once again. I'm going "off-forum" until March 1. The time I would have put into the Open Forum will be focused on our business and a couple personal projects instead. This month FedEx...

I agree, Mudflap. Having already done the research you mentioned, I also wanted to ask for input here, just to be sure I have not overlooked anything or missed a point of view. The decision is now made. We will be doing extended-interval oil changes combined with OEM filters (to keep warranty...

>U guys have any problem getting loaded to come back east >from cali? Typically, when we deliver in California we will run freight out west for a while until an eastbound load pops up. This time, the very next load was back east. Unless there is a non-freight reason (Christmas, training...

1. Each other, without whom we would not have a team business and be out on the road. 2. The "truck wallet" which contains our CDLs, passports, insurance cards, medical cards, fuel cards, etc. 3. A well-defined set of goals that focus our efforts and explain why we are out there in the first...

Our experience is similar to CoCo's. We've been as busy as we can be. When we finish our current load, we may have to go out of service to because we may be out of hours and will have to reset. When people talk about how slow or busy they are, or how much sitting or running they are doing, it...

My wife and co-driver Diane. Without her we would not have the business we have. If she wasn't out on the road, I would not be either.

Thanks for bringing up the topic. My thoughts too were with expediters of all stripes as this killer storm passed. Diane and I got lucky. On Friday, we picked up a load in Philadelphia to deliver in California on Monday. It rained all the way to Nebraska but we saw only couple short stretches...

It is smart to plan ahead for the Louisville truck show. Hotels and reserved parking spots fill up early for this spectacular event. It pains me to say it, but I don't think Diane and I will be attending this year. Having attended every year since 2003, we have gained much from the show in...

Jeff Jensen did a nice piece entitled, "Drivers From a Fleet Owner Perspective." It can be read at: http://www.expeditersonline.com/artman/publish/expeditedtruckers-fleetowners.html For first-time drivers looking for fleet owners, this is a good piece to read. If you are a prospective driver...

>I don't expect that we can all remember each and every one >of your posts going back at least 2 years and to also try >avoid making comments in new threads that you will perceive >as "shots" on any comment you have ever posted here. :+ That is a fair point. As I said above, "Before...

>Geez... I honestly am glad you are all busy. I don't hold >any animosity that you are but for heaven sakes don't >criticize someone about something you know absolutely >nothing about. There was absolutely no criticism intended or expressed in what I posted, and I have never once claimed to...