bummed

[TJ959]

Well folks I just did a stupid thing. I know it's my own fault but it stll bumms me out. I just deadheaded back to Michigan from Memphis and deadheaded back from Orlando three weeks ago. (yes I know Orlando can be a bad spot) Got tired of sitting and came home. A lot of this business depends on luck or the right place at the right time. I just don't seem to have the gift and I don't like to turn down loads. ( yes I should sometimes) Anyway my company is great. I just needed to whine a little. Maybe I can get a dedicated run or become a greeter at Walmart.
So what do you do when you get bored and the old temper kicks in ... to keep your temper or your ego from costing you money?

 

[Glen Rice]

Patience is a virtue! Gotta stop listening to everyone else and sit tight. This is probably the hardest part of expediting. Good luck.

 

[woobergoober]

Well, here is my strategy with running freight: after I unload, I call in the information, and ask for my dispatchers opinion on whether or not to sit tight, or move.

He will have been watching the boards, and let me know if he is seeing freight in the area, or if not, a good place to go.

If I stay in the same spot, I will generally wait 24 hours, and then begin moving again. I just keep in touch with dispatch, and they let me know what they are seeing.

Now, if I am within 500 miles of home, after sitting for 24 hours, I will begin moving back, and keep dispatch informed of my location every major city I am approaching and leaving, hoping they can get me something on the fly. If not, then I will be back home by the end of the day, and ready to re-load out of Detroit the next day.

Now, I am in a little different situation, as I have a day cab only, so I have a couple other factors that affect my decision, ie, no sleeper, money for motel, comfort, etc.

I will tell you though, I am probably not going to drive back if I am more than 500 miles out, as you are going to be cutting into profit big time.

Even a whole weekend setting and waiting for a load is cheaper, if you are out in the middle of BFE and come back empty.

Scott

 

[TJ959]

Thanks guys. I usually hang out at least 24 hours and then take short hopps to find freight. I just lost my temper with this particular situation.

 

[davekc]

I usually hang out at least 24 hours and then take short hopps to find freight

I think you answered your own question with the best response.
Orlando is a tough spot for many carriers. Once you know where your companies freight lanes are at, it becomes much easier to make those calls.
Davekc

 

[Broompilot]

Pray, seriously. I was not going to go into the last month of my travels but here I go.

Picked up a load Indy, three days to Edmunton, Alberta. Yeah, opps A Canada. Was pretty sure I would be DH so after 24 hours moved to Seattle. After four days (Easter Holiday) my discouragement level was rising. Patience I kept telling myself patience. Well had to make a deciion four days even though it included the weekend I could not stand it anymore and to top that off the Pro Heat was acting up so I was not going to shut it down. Had that sick feeling (what have I gotten myself into).

Monday evening 7:00 PST was told go ahead and move to Portland. I decided I am going to wait until 3:00AM because it wont make any diff. as long as I have my ten hours past me come 3-4 the next day right? Set the alarm for 3:00 PCF and guess what yep that phone woke me out of a deep sleep. Get to Seattle Airport and go to LAX NOW.

I had in all of my spare time added up what it would cost me to move to MN or even Chicago ALOT. Since it was Easter weekend some of these prayers paid off.

The nice thing I have a great photo albulm now and I was not rushed through the Canadian Rockies what a sight WOW when the bride gets back home I will ask her to post some of the photos for you all to see. An expierence I guess I had to endure, some parts were absolutely miserable and now that I did them will not make some of the mistakes over again. Plan ahead I completely forgot about Good Friday, but I did run into a snow storm and that threw me into more down time than I ever thought possible. There was a load for me but I could not get to it on time. Follow the freight trail I kept telling myself and it all worked out well. My patience something I honestly need more of paid off and paid off well.

 

[TJ959]

My deal was similar just not as far. I took a multiple drop load that ended up in Orlando just before Easter. My family asked if I could get back by Easter for a get together and I was leaning that way. Then dispatch called and said the shipper liked my truck and wanted me back again on tuesday (in Toledo). Ok I went home to michigan and got there early Easter morning. Picked up the load tuesday and headed back down to Orlando. Emptied out thursday morning and went to the nearest decent truck stop. Sat until friday evening and started back in 200 mile jumps. Got to Corbin KY and was offered a load to Memphis TN (tuesday afternoon). I should have headed another 200 miles and said no. I never ever get anything back from anywhere within 100 miles of Memphis. The place is a black hole for me. I took it. I got there, got empy, waited 10 hours and said ok idiot deadhead home. It was my own fault. I shouldn't have gone back to Orlando and I shouldn't have run out of patience so quickly in Memphis. You're right though prayer helps a bunch and a bad temper helps not at all

 

[LDB]

I have a subscription to getloaded.com to avoid just that. It's gotten me out of places before when there's no company work. It's also gotten me home making a few cents a mile rather than d/h and every mile costing. It's more than paid for itself. If you have a laptop with wifi or an aircard it's highly recommended.

Leo
truck 4958

Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[RobA]

RE: Edmonton

I'm surprised you couldn't get out of Edmonton with something.
It's big big oil country up there and there's always equipment moving back and forth.
I did post on this site about Good Friday, I guess I should[ve posted it sooner.

 

[TJ959]

I carry a laptop but I don't access the internet when I'm on the road. That's why I'm not on here much. I guess it's time to go WIFI. I've been thinking about procrastinating about it for quite a while.

 

[Broompilot]

Guys you know me better than this. My company allows me to find my own freight first, second my best friend is a Terminal Manager/Owner of the Charlotte office for Universal Am Cam-Division of Central Transport CTX. So load boards is only a 800 number away for me.


Any way no luck all full truck loads no Expedited or LTL loads out of there at that time. I even called two agents that looked promising but it turned out to be truck loads.

 

[DannyD]

TJ,

I'm w/ you on being bored waiting. Like many others, I love to drive but I don't care so much for sitting. Actually, to be more blunt I go flippin bananas if I sit to long in that friggen truck!! =)

The above was said w/ a smile & it's an awesome truck when I'm driving it, but a #@%$ truck if I'm sitting in it for too long. Make sense?

Anyways, I'm fortunate to have what might be considered a quasi dedicated run. I'm relatively sure I'm going to the Toronto area when I leave Michigan, though from Toronto ya can get sent to who knows where.

What I've done is get an apt. in a town outside of Toronto. I'm fine if I'm sitting at home, I just don't like sitting in the truck. The apt. is expensive, but if I didn't have it I'd be doing a lot more one way runs due to not being willing to sit & wait for days on end in a cargo van. In the winter my Ford E-250 transforms itself into an Icebox-250 & there's nothing like a cozy bed over a freezing truck.

Add to that my cell phone for some reason doesn't work in various places in Canada & I'd have missed a few runs w/out a landline phone for my company to call. So for me the apt. makes sense.

I've also found a poker game to play in if I ever go to Dayton, Ohio. So that at least gives me something to do in those two cities.

Having said that, not to long ago I was going to get a weekend job to balance out the slow times. Things have picked up some though. Possibly like yourself my mind has been "all over" in terms of what I think of this industry. I've thought it's great to frustrating to it being just ok. In the end though, I love to drive so I'm going to stick with it.

I guess if I was in your shoes, I'd start only accepting runs to places where you knew you could get another run out of. With gas prices being what they are, to much deadheading will have us broke. You'd have to do your own numbers, but how much are ya really making on a one way trip to Florida? I took one of those not to long ago & while the total dollar amount was more, the per hour & per mile profit was well below what I would have made on a Michigan to Toronto run.

Best of luck to ya,
Danny

 

[miko]

Sounds like you have your regular home paid off, since you can afford an extra apt.in another town/country???

 

[DannyD]

It's not quite paid off, but my house was only 29K to begin with. So the payment isn't very much. The house/apt. together is less than what a lot of payments on just a home might be.

By the way, I haven't had a run in 10 days. Last week it was on me because I had things I needed to do. This week I've been in service since Monday (today is Wed). So it's times like this when I ask "is it worth it?" My answer is still a def. "YES!!" W/out a place out there, I'm not so sure I'd wanna do this job at all.

I still don't mind if I don't get called while I'm at my home. I mean that w/in reason. If they don't call me for another 2 months that's a different story. It would also be a different story if I only got called once or twice a week every single week of the year.

I'd be going totally whacko if I was out sitting in my truck waiting for a run. By now I would have turned around, deadheaded home, & made very little money on both an hourly basis & milage basis. As long as I have a home base I'm fine.

Yes, I'd like to be running. But if I'm not gonna be running I'd rather be in a home than in a truck.

Be well,
Danny

 

[TJ959]

Hey Danny D, Sounds like you are as patient as I am. A guy once told me if I was a vulture I'd go out and kill things instead of waiting around. I can sit in my truck about 24 hours and then I start to take it apart for something to do.

This work requires us to be away from home but it's hard to justify to the family when you're just sitting in a truck stop. I'm really not complaining but I need to find a hobby or something.

Sometimes we become our own worst enemies when we sit with plenty of time to think and feel sorry for ourselves. Next thing you know the grass starts lookin greener at some other company but usually it's the same or worse.

 

[simon says]

I have lately been in the "do I hang or go mode" at least twice and I drive a D' unit. Danny, I DH'd home from GA for Easter just because... I also just DH'd from NJ near Philly to MI. Sometimes, in my opinion, since it's your truck, it's Fri. and the phone is quiet, if you need to go home, you go. During the week, I sit no more than 24 hrs. and do short hops like someone else said. If I had delivered Fri. in NJ, I would have probably sat there, and gone to Philly for a meal/night out. If you need to worry about every drop of fuel and you drive a Van, you should try a D'...
By the way, I cannot understand why you van guys don't get a Webasto Ailrtop heater. Installation and costs, including a 2500W inverter, all hidden nice in compartment of sleeper, was appr. $1800. Turn on the switch/temp. setting, and heat pours out in two minutes. I stay warm in 63" sleeper, and fuel cost is negligible. Stock truck with 3 batteries, and I added a fourth. In the summer, turn on a rotating fan, get a roof fan, etc. If 90 and muggy, motor goes on...

 

[DannyD]

>I would have probably sat there, and gone to Philly for a
>meal/night out. If you need to worry about every drop of
>fuel and you drive a Van, you should try a D'...
>By the way, I cannot understand why you van guys don't get a
>Webasto Ailrtop heater. Installation and costs, including a
>2500W inverter, all hidden nice in compartment of sleeper,
>was appr. $1800. Turn on the switch/temp. setting, and heat
>pours out in two minutes. I stay warm in 63" sleeper, and
>fuel cost is negligible. Stock truck with 3 batteries, and I
>added a fourth. In the summer, turn on a rotating fan, get a
>roof fan, etc. If 90 and muggy, motor goes on...

Hiya Simon,

I can relate to the "hang or go" mode. I def. don't like being stuck somewhere if I have to be in my truck. I'm not so sure a D unit would fit my needs, but I appreciate the thought. I looked into an Espar heater & figured I'd take that money & rent an apartment in Toronto w/ it. I get a room, cable tv, computer, & friends to hang out w/ all in one shot.

It sounds like you have the right setup for your situation. When I go to places outside of Michigan or Ontario, I wish I had your setup rather than mine. I'm not sure I do that enough to justify the cost though. Still, I think you're on the right track w/ how you've done things.

Best of luck to ya,
Danny

 

[DannyD]

>Hey Danny D, Sounds like you are as patient as I am. A guy
>once told me if I was a vulture I'd go out and kill things
>instead of waiting around. I can sit in my truck about 24
>hours and then I start to take it apart for something to do.
>
>This work requires us to be away from home but it's hard to
>justify to the family when you're just sitting in a truck
>stop. I'm really not complaining but I need to find a hobby
>or something.
>
>Sometimes we become our own worst enemies when we sit with
>plenty of time to think and feel sorry for ourselves. Next
>thing you know the grass starts lookin greener at some other
>company but usually it's the same or worse.

LOL!! I had to laugh at that vulture analogy. They say that patience is a virtue. Apparently we're not virtious people.

If you can sit in your truck 24 hours you're a lil more patient than I am. I like to be moving. I don't mind sleeping in my truck in the least. I actually enjoy that aspect of it. I often tell people I sleep at the finest hotels in the country because of my job. I just don't tell em I sleep out in the parking lot in my van. =)

I just don't care for living in the truck. I agree on the hobby comment. I'm reasonably decent at poker & have found a game in Dayton. So I've got it covered for something to do when I'm in Michigan, Ontario, & southern Ohio. Now I just need something to do in other parts of the country.

Until I find something, when I'm in those other parts of the country I'll wait a few hours & then deadhead back to where there's something to do. All in all this is a great job for a single guy. It's not perfect for sure, but it's a fun challenge to try & perfect the imperfect aspects of it.

Take care & good luck to ya,
Danny