Anyone else in a van stuck in Chicago?

[BadLuckChuck]

The wife and I are new to expediting. We're in a van and delivered our first load in Chicago this past Monday morning. We've been waiting in Chicago ever since (It's now almost 8pm EST Thursday). Anyone else in a van been stuck in Chicago all week?

 

[aristotle]

Being it's your very first expedite load, make sure your carrier doesn't show you as out-of-service. Sometimes, that's an oversight.

 

[BadLuckChuck]

We've called our carrier twice a day since Monday so no chance of an oversight this time. Is it pretty rare to sit this long in Chicago?

 

[DST001]

The first question I have for you is what company did you get on with ? Every time I have gone to the Chicago area I think I have gotten maybe 2 or 3 loads out of there the 20/30 times I have been But I'm a Canadian Expeditor I would imagine Us drivers have more loads kicking around than canadian freight ? Also its the slow time of the year after christmas and new years alot of companys are shut down or don't need any Expedited right now If I was in your shoes I would def ask for a dead head out of there to a better place where your company gets freight. Also don't get depressed or ****ed off this is the Expedite business some times you sit a couple days and other days all you do is run you butt off . And be carefull of what part of Chicago you stay in can be hairy sometimes

 

[runrunner]

The wife and I are new to expediting. We're in a van and delivered our first load in Chicago this past Monday morning. We've been waiting in Chicago ever since (It's now almost 8pm EST Thursday). Anyone else in a van been stuck in Chicago all week?

I'm a little late with this hope you are out of there already,but here goes. Chicago has mostly been one of the best places to be,but I guess the Carrier you are contracted with could make a difference . I have been off for 6 months but my experience Chicago was great but a lot of Trucks there and you have to wait out all the little short offers. I never spent more than 24 hrs there.

 

[mjmsprt40]

Standing by in Chicago is my usual condition. Depending on how busy things are, it can be hours or days before you move again. I've never seen it go a full week without getting something.

I live here, so for me to stand by near Chicago is-- well, I'm home anyway. How many vehicles of your size does your carrier have ahead of you, and how dependable have you shown yourself to be? It can be important, while there's not supposed to be favoritism I can answer that I've benefited from it when dispatch chose me because I had shown myself dependable, and had skipped over a fellow who had a hard time finding his way home from his left elbow.

 

[blizzard2014]

Hmm. Doesn't the name "BadLuckChuck" sound like you know who is back? I guess freight must be slow for people to come in here and whine about Chicago. lol.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Hmm. Doesn't the name "BadLuckChuck" sound like you know who is back? I guess freight must be slow for people to come in here and whine about Chicago. lol.

well...we don't necessary whine....LOL But Chicago SUCKS...big time for Load 1 as you know we don't do the cheap thang...and Chicago is loaded with the yellow Penske fellows...ya know I was at a receiver yesterday in central Ohio and he even knows about the Chicago bunch....they can't speak American and dumb as dirt...
you wanna run for .90? you can live with .90 go for it, no problems.....be my guest and have it all, run your butt off....I chose to wait for my rate...

 

[BadLuckChuck]

Thanks to everyone for your responses. I don't want to disclose who my carrier is quite yet but I will after I get some responses on my next question. That question is, do you think this is a case of dispatch favoritism, supernatural forces, or just bad luck at the most grotesque level?

So we delivered our load in Chicago last Monday morning (01/07). Dispatch said we were 5th out so our fleet owner advised that we park in Joliet. The next morning I called dispatch and they said we're 3rd out. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday I am told the same thing by dispatch...we're still 3rd out. Our fleet owner is perplexed by the situation. He has 4 sprinters and 6 straight trucks leased on with this carrier and had never seen one of his vehicles sit in Chicago for a week. He tells us to deadhead to back to the carrier because we can use the free showers and driver's lounge. So we leave Chicago around 2030 Friday night and arrive at the carrier a few hours later. Now here's where it gets interesting. Around 1300 yesterday (Monday) my fleet owner texts me and says, "This is going to blow your mind but another husband/wife team that drives another sprinter of mine delivered in Chicago this morning at 0800 and was dispatched out by 1200."

So in an entire week, we sat in Chicago and only moved up 2 places in the line-up of first in/first out. When we left Chicago late Friday night, there were still 2 vans ahead of us in the line-up and I have no idea how many were behind us. First thing Monday morning, another Sprinter team delivers, the line of first in/first out is completely gone and they get dispatched within 4 hours of their delivery.

So what do you think? Favoritism? Magic? or the most horribly bad luck imaginable?

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Are the two sprinters exactly the same?....
Could you have handled the load?...
was it going to a destination you had previously turned down?....
Could you have made the pick up time?....as in the other unit was an hour closer then you...(remember an hour consists of 50 minutes)
Do you have a history of running late or behind?....
Does that unit have a history of breakdowns?...

 

[scottm4211]

Hopefully your fleet owner is trying to get answers to these questions.

 

[mjmsprt40]

I live here. Villa Park is a Western suburb of Chicago, so I can say---- it happens.

There's quite a bit of variable here. I've been number 1 and sat for three days-- I've been number 4 and got called before 10:00 in the morning (I call dispatch every day about 8:30 or so).

When it's slow it can be dreadful, the flip side is that I've gotten called out again before I got home some trips.

So, reading that you're 5th down and sat for a week--- hey, it happens.

 

[mjmsprt40]

Are the two sprinters exactly the same?....
Could you have handled the load?...
was it going to a destination you had previously turned down?....
Could you have made the pick up time?....as in the other unit was an hour closer then you...(remember an hour consists of 50 minutes)
Do you have a history of running late or behind?....
Does that unit have a history of breakdowns?...

Chicago being what it is: Position can be vital. This guy was in Joliet. That puts him in a bad spot if the pickup is in Kenosha and the "other guy" is in Skokie. I'm thinking here of that hour of time difference.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Chicago being what it is: Position can be vital. This guy was in Joliet. That puts him in a bad spot if the pickup is in Kenosha and the "other guy" is in Skokie. I'm thinking here of that hour of time difference.

Or especially the airport area at rush hour or actually anytime...Joliet won't get you many Chicago loads unless they have 3-4 hours till pick up time....then there is the DH matter....
Elk Grove, Randall Rd area is a long haul at times...

 

[BadLuckChuck]

Thanks for all the great info everyone! When you're waiting in the Chicago area, where do you go? We won't be doing Joliet again.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Actually there are a few truck friendly Walmarts and shopping centers around...
Experience will be your greatest asset...next time you deliver or you have time do some seeking out...Joliet is not bad, depending on the location of pick up....you could move elsewhere and still get into the situation again...

 

[skyraider]

You may be bringing yourself bad luck , maybe change your name to GoodluckChuck and be positive on all your loads, sounds weird, but it works. well that was my 2 cents worth..the best to you all.

 

[Falligator]

Thanks for all the great info everyone! When you're waiting in the Chicago area, where do you go? We won't be doing Joliet again.

I recommend the TA off of I 80 exit 112 in Morris, IL. They have a great restaurant there called "R Place". Great food!!

 

[mjmsprt40]

I recommend the TA off of I 80 exit 112 in Morris, IL. They have a great restaurant there called "R Place". Great food!!

If Joliet is far away, Morris is beyond the edge of the Earth. Not bad for a quickie stop, but I wouldn't want to stand by there waiting for something out of Chicago.

I'll second OVM's suggestion about the Wal-Marts. One that comes to mind is near Lake St (US 20) and Interstate 355 in Addison. You're right near the junction of 355, 290 and I-90 there, near Elk Grove Village, Schaumburg and Addison-- a good bit of van freight comes out of these towns and you're not too far from other Chicago-area freight hotbeds either.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

If Joliet is far away, Morris is beyond the edge of the Earth. Not bad for a quickie stop, but I wouldn't want to stand by there waiting for something out of Chicago.

I'll second OVM's suggestion about the Wal-Marts. One that comes to mind is near Lake St (US 20) and Interstate 355 in Addison. You're right near the junction of 355, 290 and I-90 there, near Elk Grove Village, Schaumburg and Addison-- a good bit of van freight comes out of these towns and you're not too far from other Chicago-area freight hotbeds either.

Also there is a Cabella's off 90 northside I think Randall Rd exit up near Elgin...freight outta there as well...