I will be starting in to the biz next year and looking to contract with FEDEX CC, CON-WAY or LANDSTAR. I am planning on buying a truck and contracting the operators. Optimally I'll be looking for one dedicated team per truck that will be able to accept at least 60% of the loads offered to them. However I've been approached by friends and family members that are interest in doing this on a bi-weekly basis. Has anyone out there had any success with this type of schedule?
7 ON 7 OFF
- Thread starter BIG D
- Start date
That would only give you 50% availability which many carriers will not accept. The rule of thumb is generally aminimum of 60% availability plus your drivers may have long trips to get home for their week off, which will cost you revenue.
I don't know your relationship with your friends or relatives but I have always followed this axiom. You don't hire relatives and you don't loan them money. Relationships can sour real fast when $ are involved.
Good luck and welcome to EO. Lots of useful information here.
I don't know your relationship with your friends or relatives but I have always followed this axiom. You don't hire relatives and you don't loan them money. Relationships can sour real fast when $ are involved.
Good luck and welcome to EO. Lots of useful information here.
I agree with rich on the money/job issue.
Expediting is generally not conducive to a fixed schedule, particularly with the three companies that interest you. If your team A gets a load to California from NYC on the morning they are scheduled to go home to be relieved by team B, what should they do?
If they take the load, should they deadhead back home or wait a day for their next load to some other location far from home?
Are you willing to pay team B while they wait for the truck to come home? Will you fly them to the truck location to effect a relief?
I don't think it will work to your benefit unless you lease to a carrier that can get you a dedicated run with a predictable truck location.
Expediting is generally not conducive to a fixed schedule, particularly with the three companies that interest you. If your team A gets a load to California from NYC on the morning they are scheduled to go home to be relieved by team B, what should they do?
If they take the load, should they deadhead back home or wait a day for their next load to some other location far from home?
Are you willing to pay team B while they wait for the truck to come home? Will you fly them to the truck location to effect a relief?
I don't think it will work to your benefit unless you lease to a carrier that can get you a dedicated run with a predictable truck location.
arkjarhead
Veteran Expediter
Well if you were working at an office could you make a living working half the month? It would be hard. But in expedite you have good weeks and bad weeks. If a team's week is a bad week, and the next week they are on the truck is a bad one as well they are screwed. If you can't stay out on the road for 2-3 weeks at least in this game you won't win. the easiest way to handle home time is to go home when you get close enough to go. That helps keep the dead head down.If you are paying for the fuel, You might want to tell your operaters you need to be within x amount of miles of home before going home. Where they live should depend on how you fill in that x. If they live in say toledo,oh or detroit, mi area they could just about get a load within 10-30 miles of home easy. If they live in the boonies like me you have to extend the range some but put a time on it. If they are paying for fuel I'd just put a time on it, and they can determine how close is close enough to go home since it's on their dime. Just a thought. that's my 2 cents.
greg334
Veteran Expediter
Well here is a comment from an experinced person who had to deal with people as a manager in a department that shared vehicles.
Don't expect to have a smooth time with this - especially with people who are related to you or freinds. It may seem to go smooth for a number of weeks, even a few months but you will end up being a mediator, a referee and the bad guy when dealing with relatives. Unless there is a clear objective, like a common goal or a clear understanding that is spelled out and throughly discussed, don't expect people to know what you intend or how this will benefit everyone.
Also another thing as I am thinking about it, don't make this a company where you have employees unless the only purpose is to employ people to help them.
The last thing that comes to mind is basically what others have said, logistics are going to be a nightmare. Truck in CA and team here in Deroit waiting for the truck. Decision - dead head the truck 2500 miles to rotate the teams or let the team in Detroit wait for the truck to return underload. At these fuel prices I would venture to bet dead heading the truck is not the wisest choice - (2500 Miles/10MPG)X 3.00gal = $750.
Don't expect to have a smooth time with this - especially with people who are related to you or freinds. It may seem to go smooth for a number of weeks, even a few months but you will end up being a mediator, a referee and the bad guy when dealing with relatives. Unless there is a clear objective, like a common goal or a clear understanding that is spelled out and throughly discussed, don't expect people to know what you intend or how this will benefit everyone.
Also another thing as I am thinking about it, don't make this a company where you have employees unless the only purpose is to employ people to help them.
The last thing that comes to mind is basically what others have said, logistics are going to be a nightmare. Truck in CA and team here in Deroit waiting for the truck. Decision - dead head the truck 2500 miles to rotate the teams or let the team in Detroit wait for the truck to return underload. At these fuel prices I would venture to bet dead heading the truck is not the wisest choice - (2500 Miles/10MPG)X 3.00gal = $750.
Thanks,
There are alot of tough decisions to make. Primarily figuring out a way to keep quality people by providing a fair pay scale and getting them home on a regular basis. 7 and 7 may not be the answer. Per my original post ideally I would prefer a dedicated team for my future trucks, but I was hoping some one out there had success with teams driving on opposite schedules with the same truck. As far as working with friends and family I've seen it go very well and very badly. The key is laying everything on the table.
There are alot of tough decisions to make. Primarily figuring out a way to keep quality people by providing a fair pay scale and getting them home on a regular basis. 7 and 7 may not be the answer. Per my original post ideally I would prefer a dedicated team for my future trucks, but I was hoping some one out there had success with teams driving on opposite schedules with the same truck. As far as working with friends and family I've seen it go very well and very badly. The key is laying everything on the table.
targuard86
Expert Expediter
I wonder why you want into this business and what you expect out of it? Most fleet owners have been drivers and either expand to more than one truck or have to get out of the driving part for one reason or the other and find someone to drive for them.
If your simply looking to make a few dollars there are many more ways out there for someone with no experience and a pocket full of money to earn a precentage point or two.
The best way to make a million dollars in the trucking business is to start with two million.
If your simply looking to make a few dollars there are many more ways out there for someone with no experience and a pocket full of money to earn a precentage point or two.
The best way to make a million dollars in the trucking business is to start with two million.
RE: I wonder why you want into this business and what you expect out of it? Most fleet owners have been drivers and either expand to more than one truck or have to get out of the driving part for one reason or the other and find someone to drive for them.
If your simply looking to make a few dollars there are many more ways out there for someone with no experience and a pocket full of money to earn a precentage point or two.
The best way to make a million dollars in the trucking business is to start with two million.
Good question. I am currently in the Army and still have a couple of years to retirement. I would like to plant the seed in to a business that I am interested in now so it will be in full swing when I retire and step in to travel the country. If I can put 10k-20k a year, per truck, in my pocket after paying my bills and paying my drivers well, that's fine. I intially don't plan this to be my primary source of income for 3 to 4 years. Thanks
If your simply looking to make a few dollars there are many more ways out there for someone with no experience and a pocket full of money to earn a precentage point or two.
The best way to make a million dollars in the trucking business is to start with two million.
Good question. I am currently in the Army and still have a couple of years to retirement. I would like to plant the seed in to a business that I am interested in now so it will be in full swing when I retire and step in to travel the country. If I can put 10k-20k a year, per truck, in my pocket after paying my bills and paying my drivers well, that's fine. I intially don't plan this to be my primary source of income for 3 to 4 years. ThanksWell from one Army grunt to another here is another scenario that could create problems.
Lets say team A is finishing up their week and they are close to home but the truck suffers a breakdown. Now it takes 5-6 days to fix the problem so Team B does nothing for the week. The truck comes back repaired but it's time for Team A to go back out. I could see some big headaches coming form this dual team concept.
Lets say team A is finishing up their week and they are close to home but the truck suffers a breakdown. Now it takes 5-6 days to fix the problem so Team B does nothing for the week. The truck comes back repaired but it's time for Team A to go back out. I could see some big headaches coming form this dual team concept.
Great feedback!! It looks like I won't be able to define an on/off work schedule. for you long time veterans out there what keeps quality people driving for a company, besides great pay? Are there plenty people out there that are willing to be on the road 21 days a pop and then home for 4 only to go again for 21 days? Most of the OTR guys I know crave local runs.
From one old soldier to another reasonably young one, welcome to this crazy world of expediting. I believe however, you may be looking at this thru the ole rose colored glasses. Why don't you give the old Colonel a call at 812 663 6834 I'll help you sift thru the 
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No, it won't work. End of story.
Now that the chase is cut, the problems mentioned are going to get you either sequentially or concurrently. You can not make enough money to support 2 different teams running 50% maximum time from one truck. As mentioned, the scenario will go something like this A-1682mi, B-3283mi, A-837mi/breakdown, B-3741mi, A-time to drive and truck is 1700 miles away, lose 2 days, etc. etc. etc. until it all goes bust. Your plan of paying a quarterly bonus to make up for bad times has a big flaw in sourcing the funds. If you are paying the drivers on the common 60/40 system you'll be bonusing away most of what's left of your 40 after repairs/maint/plate/etc. so you won't make any money. The only realistic way to make expediting work is to have a team per truck running at least 75% availability and 75% acceptance.
Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5507, 5508, 5509
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
Now that the chase is cut, the problems mentioned are going to get you either sequentially or concurrently. You can not make enough money to support 2 different teams running 50% maximum time from one truck. As mentioned, the scenario will go something like this A-1682mi, B-3283mi, A-837mi/breakdown, B-3741mi, A-time to drive and truck is 1700 miles away, lose 2 days, etc. etc. etc. until it all goes bust. Your plan of paying a quarterly bonus to make up for bad times has a big flaw in sourcing the funds. If you are paying the drivers on the common 60/40 system you'll be bonusing away most of what's left of your 40 after repairs/maint/plate/etc. so you won't make any money. The only realistic way to make expediting work is to have a team per truck running at least 75% availability and 75% acceptance.
Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5507, 5508, 5509
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
Your right the BS is thick and it's hard to sift to the truth. I do take to heart the consensus that 7 and 7 will not work. I will continue my homework. It looks like this business is a money maker for both the driver and owner if it's managed properly.
Darrell
A young CW4
Darrell
A young CW4
I've never heard of 7/7 being even tried by two teams, let alone tried successfully. Expediitng has been around for 25+ years. Thousands of teams and solo drivers have entered and exited the trade in that time. The fact that 7/7 has never risen as a successful business model should tell you something.
One possibilty that might work is have 3 drivers assigned to the truck. That way one of them is always off and you keep a team running 100% of the time minus layovers and breakdowns. Home time for the drivers would have to be erratic based on the trucks locations. Splitting the revenue 3 ways might work if all of the drivers like each other.
There was a family in South Carolina that worked with the Husband and Wife plus their son. One of them was always home and the revenue stayed with the same family. Guess they worked out a amaiable split.
There was a family in South Carolina that worked with the Husband and Wife plus their son. One of them was always home and the revenue stayed with the same family. Guess they worked out a amaiable split.
B.S. statement , no malice inteaded, was just in response to x06col. I am actually sifting through the majority of the of the postings on this sight making sure I understand the poster's point of view, agenda if any, and the experience level of driving and managing in this biz. With some exception I find the majority of the postings very helpful.
