A Slow Start This Year

[chefdennis]

Originally Posted by AMonger

Took me from the 26th to the 5th to get out of the Chicago area. Looked on the Alliance board while there and there were 96 CV and Sprinters within 50 miles, not to mention the ST who would be willing to grab a CV load to get moving. Things had better get better, fast. I've been doing this since 99 (though only a couple years in a CV) and I've never been this slow even at this time of the year. Sad when Chicago resembles Laredo or El Paso, freight-wise.

Hmmm I and another LOAD 1 Sprinter both dropped in Chicago within hours of each other on Weds..we were both loaded Thursday morning heading to the Indy area him with over 2000 lbs, me with 3400 lbs both load from the same shipper both going to the same location and both paying over $1.35 a mile all in.....Oh and the shpper is a Regular CLIENT of LOAD 1...no freight in Chicago??? Too many Trucks??..sitting too long??? Sounds like a "Carrier" issue to me....

 

[AMonger]

Originally Posted by AMonger


Hmmm I and another LOAD 1 Sprinter both dropped in Chicago within hours of each other on Weds..we were both loaded Thursday morning heading to the Indy area him with over 2000 lbs, me with 3400 lbs both load from the same shipper both going to the same location and both paying over $1.35 a mile all in.....Oh and the shpper is a Regular CLIENT of LOAD 1...no freight in Chicago??? Too many Trucks??..sitting too long??? Sounds like a "Carrier" issue to me....

Well, that they were regular clients is telling. We take loads of a load boards, and I think that many carriers were handling their own freight and not much was making it to the load boards. There normally aren't 96 vehicles on the board there. But after a while, I was ready to call in and say, "WTH? We can't win a bid anymore?" We bid on several loads a day, just didn't win any.

One of my companies, I don't hear from for 3 weeks at a time aside from check calls, and then all of a sudden, they run my @$$ off for a week, then I don't hear from them again. I have no idea what's going on with them. They used to comprise 80 percent of my business.

--

You know the problem with bad cops? They make the other 5% look bad.

 

[chefdennis]

Amonger wrote:

Well, that they were regular clients is telling. We take loads of a load boards, and I think that many carriers were handling their own freight and not much was making it to the load boards. There normally aren't 96 vehicles on the board there. But after a while, I was ready to call in and say, "WTH? We can't win a bid anymore?" We bid on several loads a day, just didn't win any.

One of my companies, I don't hear from for 3 weeks at a time aside from check calls, and then all of a sudden, they run my @$$ off for a week, then I don't hear from them again. I have no idea what's going on with them. They used to comprise 80 percent of my business.

As i said, "it sounds like a "Carrier" issue".... and not an "industry issue..when the carrier works to increase their "Client" base and not relay on load boards for the bulk of their operations, it makes a difference...

So again, it sounds a "Carrier" issue...

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Naturally..if a carrier can cover their own loads, they don't make the load boards the pickins are slim and those that rely 100% on them boards have a bidding war...and that is NOT a good thing either for an O/O....Good Luck Al...

 

[chefdennis]

I believe LOAD 1 just ADDED to our SALES STAFF with the addition of a few really good and "connected" people to improve our "customer base"...

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10150566555586019&set=o.72940366653&type=1&theater

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10150566264551019&set=o.72940366653&type=1&theater

Thanks John!! 2012 is looking to be "stronger" then 2011..

 

[highway star]

Hmmm I and another LOAD 1 Sprinter both dropped in Chicago within hours of each other on Weds..we were both loaded Thursday morning heading to the Indy area him with over 2000 lbs, me with 3400 lbs both load from the same shipper both going to the same location and both paying over $1.35 a mile all in.....Oh and the shpper is a Regular CLIENT of LOAD 1...no freight in Chicago??? Too many Trucks??..sitting too long??? Sounds like a "Carrier" issue to me....

You wonder why shippers do the things they do sometimes. There must be a reason these weren't on one straight truck.

 

[chefdennis]

Highway wrote:

You wonder why shippers do the things they do sometimes. There must be a reason these weren't on one straight truck.

Well, several reasons i can think of ..Load 1 doesn't broker out as much freight as others if there is anyway to keep it in house...We had 2 vans sitting there that could handle it ..or we didn't have a ST that was there sitting as long as the 2 vans...

John can tell you where and how long every unit in the fleet has been sitting at anytime of the day and he is constantly looking at it...(and i am not just talking about the expedite divison, i am talking about EVERY TRUCK in the fleet) while dispatch is also aware, they also have other things to deal with, so they are often asked to "get those units moving'...remember load 1 pays us to sit..and we do work on a pretty good 1st in 1st out basis whenever possible and if that means "spiltting a ST load to load 2 vans, it is done often...OVM and I did this a few months ago out of TN going to Ky if my memory is right...its not unusal at all...

 

[highway star]

Ahhh... It sounded like maybe the shipper had paid for 2 trucks when they didn't need to. And, I have seen that happen.

 

[chefdennis]

The "Shipper" is a long time good customer...I can promise you he was given every consideration when the load was quoted and he got the best value for his money and will continue to....

Beyond this particular situation, Load 1 is not run like most others in the expedite business contractors be they O/O's or drivers are given great consideration in situations where most companies don't even think about them....Load 1's "cutomers" are not just those that ship freight...the contractors are also looked at as "customers" and doing whats best for "All" customers comes before the bottom line of the company....Don't get me wrong, Load 1 and John are certainly in business to make money, but not at the expense of the "customers" taking it in the shorts... Why do you think you seelong time expediters with other companies moving to Load 1? They are moving there because it has been shown that as O/O's or Drivers, the Company is always working to keep them/us moving and making money....

 

[davekc]

Actually kinda thought it might start a little slow. Doesn't seem to be the case. Been busy coming right out of the gate. A little less freight, but seems to be less trucks out as well.
Have to see how this week goes.

 

[Zoli]

Took me from the 26th to the 5th to get out of the Chicago area. Looked on the Alliance board while there and there were 96 CV and Sprinters within 50 miles, not to mention the ST who would be willing to grab a CV load to get moving. Things had better get better, fast. I've been doing this since 99 (though only a couple years in a CV) and I've never been this slow even at this time of the year. Sad when Chicago resembles Laredo or El Paso, freight-wise.

--

You know the problem with bad cops? They make the other 5% look bad.

What is the '' Alliance board''?

 

[davekc]

What is the '' Alliance board''?

Here you go.

Sylectus

 

[Moot]

I'm having a good week. Had a 527 mile load to start the year on Tuesday. Did a 662 miler Wednesday and am currently on an 846 mile load that delivers Sunday night.

My luck ran out. I just delivered and I'm number 16 on a 4 a day board.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

My luck ran out. I just delivered and I'm number 16 on a 4 a day board.

So spend 25 bucks and get outta there....gee whiz...

 

[jjoerger]

We dh to Atlanta and got a load to Texas at 0800. 1294 miles.

Posted with my Droid EO Forum App

 

[Moot]

So spend 25 bucks and get outta there....gee whiz...

Don't you gee whiz me! I can't afford to move. I lost almost all of my money at that crappy casino in Smut last week. My credit cards are maxed out from Christmas shopping, my sleeping bag is leaking feathers and I just gave my last $2.38 to a destitute dude here at the truck stop to polish and Armor All my wheelchock. He did a mighty fine job!

 

[jaminjim]

Don't you gee whiz me! I can't afford to move. I lost almost all of my money at that crappy casino in Smut last week. My credit cards are maxed out from Christmas shopping, my sleeping bag is leaking feathers and I just gave my last $2.38 to a destitute dude here at the truck stop to polish and Armor All my wheelchock. He did a mighty fine job!

So roll up one of those chinchillas and stuff it into the hole! Since you no longer sell them to get more wheel chocks for your collection I would think that they are near record numbers. Gee Whizz is right.

 

[Moot]

Jim, I got rid of all my chinchillas years ago. Sure wish I had a couple right now though. One to plug the hole in the sleeping bag and one to put between my last two crusts of bread.

 

[osumike33]

It sure was a slow first week of the month.
We went back in service Tuesday, not really expecting to get anything out of Florida. And our expectations held true.
We are heading north on Sunday to get back in the freight lanes.
Anyone else slow or moving well?

Slow is a good word for it, I guess. One truck with one 600 mile load (TN to MI); one in a bit different situation, but running little loads in/out of Peoria area for most of last week. And this involves two companies, so not just one company with no freight. Hopefully this week will be better, but as of 6pm EST, not yet!

 

[cheri1122]

Jim, I got rid of all my chinchillas years ago. Sure wish I had a couple right now though. One to plug the hole in the sleeping bag and one to put between my last two crusts of bread.

You're not fixing to head for that overpass you plan to retire to just yet, I hope - we want to have a going away party for you! Everyone can bring a big [empty] box, and you can have as many rooms as you want, or become a slum landlord - this is America, you can choose!
Just remember to save me the spot next door, lol.