August in Load One Nation

[Steady Eddie]

Every merger has always had growing pains. Add in a startup in the slowest month, well you can guess how some may think this is not going well.

This week: 210 miles and 115 miles. The last one paid around 2.91 a mile..... Yes, wished it was 1,115 miles.
I've been getting a lot of calls from the Tennessee office, so they are active, and doing well.
I don't know what the sales team is doing or not doing. When I can't get out after a few days it's easy to think they are not doing their job. But if nothing is being shipped, then no sales team can overcome that. I'm all for selling service over cheap rates. Remember the bottom feeders, rate over service.

I don't want to put words in John's mouth..... I think he would say- " I got this guys..."

 

[flattop40]

If it were me and I delivered to NB I would have immediately done a 19 for Laredo, and if it were backed up there I would have then done 1 for Dallas and Houston and if push came to shove then El Paso. Those are the only places to sit in Texas and have a realistic shot at loads. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Turtle]

... dispatch felt they had a better chance of getting us out today. Well they haven't

I hate to be the one to break this to you, but dispatch can only make educated guesses, they don't have a crystal ball, and, I can't emphasize this enough, they can't crap emergency freight on demand.

So we will now move at our own expense and have to flip the coin again with getting a load out of here.

At your own expense? OMG! An independent contractor having to relocate at his own expense in order to better position himself for a load opportunity? That's outrageous!

You've just learned why most drivers will just turn down loads to Texas. The carrier didn't "send you there," they offered you a load going there and you took it.

Expedite is about being in the right place at the right time. It's about luck. You can devise all kinds of schemes to kid yourself into thinking you're smart, but in the end it's nothing more than the luck of being in the right place at the right time. For most drivers, Texas is neither. If you accept a load to Texas, or to a gold mine in Nevada, or the northernmost city in Maine, your better be prepared to sit and wait a while for a load, or to deadhead to where you have a better chance of getting loaded.

 

[Rick007]

I hate to be the one to break this to you, but dispatch can only make educated guesses, they don't have a crystal ball, and, I can't emphasize this enough, they can't crap emergency freight on demand.

At your own expense? OMG! An independent contractor having to relocate at his own expense in order to better position himself for a load opportunity? That's outrageous!

You've just learned why most drivers will just turn down loads to Texas. The carrier didn't "send you there," they offered you a load going there and you took it.

Expedite is about being in the right place at the right time. It's about luck. You can devise all kinds of schemes to kid yourself into thinking you're smart, but in the end it's nothing more than the luck of being in the right place at the right time. For most drivers, Texas is neither. If you accept a load to Texas, or to a gold mine in Nevada, or the northernmost city in Maine, your better be prepared to sit and wait a while for a load, or to deadhead to where you have a better chance of getting loaded.

Thank you for the great feedback my friend.

Drive safe.....

 

[Dynamite 1]

As far as patience goes, there is no limit. The EM on the other hand has to be done when Joe is there and if you think you should be moved then don't let dispatch talk you out of it. Tell them it's been long enough and even though they feel good about it you would still rather they move you. They are sharing the pain even though it may not seem like it. If you are not moving they are losing money also on your truck. They have costs on your truck everyday just as you do. It can be frustrating at times but as you said, it is what it is.

 

[flattop40]

I just had a weekend load deliver on Monday morning to Williston, ND. When I accepted the load I KNEW there were no loads in the area and I would have to DH out on my own dime. After I delivered I waited 34 hours to reset my 70 hour clock then took off for Minneapolis. I also made dispatch aware of my move and low and behold they got me a load yesterday that picks up here in Minneapolis today and goes to Tennessee. Dispatch can NOT magically make loads come together you have to go to where there is a higher probability of loads. It's all part of learning the game of Expediting.

 

[jelliott]

Actually the merging of Nations operations into ours is going GREAT! Delivering on a Saturday to Texas is always a bit of a gamble, heck Texas is always a gamble. That is a bit of the nature of the business that we are in. It does cost us when our units sit, and things like layover pay only directly show my belief in shared pain, shared gain. But on the good side I see you are loaded and rolling. Might have empty moved you somewhere else and sat for a day or two. It is a tough business and we are all making the best educated GUESSES that we can. I have said it before and I will say it again this business is like a casino.

 

[danthewolf00]

In gainsville, ga back in service

 

[scottm4211]

Will a $3.99 buffet be offered at The Yard™ ?

 

[xiggi]

The great bread and butter buffet.

 

[Dynamite 1]

The amazing 34' bread and butter buffet !!!

 

[jelliott]

God knows I love carbs!

Ok, looking for some feedback and input. What are some really cool things that you have seen done for National Truck Driver Appreciation Week? We are planning for this year and just trying to come up with more great ideas to make it the best one yet!

 

[xiggi]

Not an idea but more of a challenge that I don't know the answer to. Try to come up with an idea that includes all those drivers who are not able to make it to Taylor.

 

[jelliott]

Not an idea but more of a challenge that I don't know the answer to. Try to come up with an idea that includes all those drivers who are not able to make it to Taylor.

That is always a challenge, that is why we did shirts and the raffle last year to try include as many as possible.

 

[westmicher]

Our experience with the former Nation's dispatchers has been very good! They have clearly increased our load opportunities, especially south of the Mason - Dixon line!

 

[Dynamite 1]

Don't have any off the top. You already do a great job but yes keep doing something for the ones who are not at the yard for sure.

 

[scottm4211]

Raffle for Blue Beacon voucher for trucks away from yard?

 

[Dynamite 1]

That's another good idea !!

 

[Rick007]

Guys thanks for all the comments, I do need to take more time and get a better sense for straight truck expediting, it is very different from driving 18 wheelers for a national carrier. I enjoy it more and it is better in a lot of ways....especially parking (wink).

Anyway a suggestion for trucker appreciation week that everyone can enjoy? What about a photo contest/drawing. Everyone has smart phones so you don't have to be in Taylor to participare, you know in case your stuck in Tx.....Doh.

Would need some rules. Maybe weird or unusual pics from the road, interesting stuff..ect. Nothing staged or harmful and of course politically correct.

Ex: Here's a con for anti collision devices based on radar, like that of a bat!

I guess that mirror support arm coming at him at 64mph didn't show up on his scope!....result = ex bat

Just a thought....

Drive safe...

 

[jelliott]

Some days just are one of those days. Today would be one of them.