changing carriers

nightcreacher · Nov 1, 2009

Just 1 thing,those that have been changing companies,is the grass really greener?

fastrod · Nov 1, 2009

Yes it is. I changed from being leased to having my own authority and it is the best move I ever made. The grass is very green when you become a carrier.

fastman_1 · Nov 1, 2009

Nope it's just grass that you haven't walked on before.

LDB · Nov 1, 2009

If the grass is greener it's sometimes because there are more piles of fertilizer in the other field. It's sometimes because from a distance you can't see all the gaps in the green, just the false appearance of a solid cover of green. It's sometimes better only in that the problem areas are not in the portion of the field you primarily frequent. Sometimes it's because you are in a greener more lush field, but often it's just an optical illusion prior to making a move.

wallytrucker1 · Nov 1, 2009

Leo, now that was deep, I think.

Yesteryear · Nov 1, 2009

Let's put it like this . . . Day after day I go out'n my yard and start plucking out the weeds and a puttin out the sprinklers and workin my hinny off trying to get me a lush green lawn. Day after day I look over ta my neighbor and thar she lays on a lounge chair on her soooo peerfect lawn. I work and toil and just can't see how her lawn is sooooo perfect when I never see her a workin at all. Now here I am workin my fingers raw tryin ta have that same peerfect lawn and it just ain't a happenin! So's I say ta meself, I'm a gonna just go over thar and ask her how she keeps her lawn sooooo peerfect and . . . .and . . . and . . .

HOLY ASTROTRUFF. . .

Yesteryear · Nov 1, 2009

Ya know nightcreacher what I really think is this. . . there are going to be those of us that think Panther is the best carrier, there are going to be those of us that think Tri-State is the best carrier, there are going to be those of us that think Express-1 is the best carrier, or Bolt, or Xpress or Tryhours and so on and so on. Truth is each carrier has their good points and not so good points. Each carrier meets a certain drivers needs. They are a fit for someone and not a fit for someone else. See it isn't really "is the grass greener", the question is "does the grass fit the drivers yard"? What is a good fit for some drivers is not always the best fit for another driver.
Sometimes a driver may have to try a time or two before they find the carrier that fits their particular needs. Doesn't mean there is anything wrong with the carrier being left behind, just means it just didn't fit that driver.

OntarioVanMan · Nov 1, 2009

Yesteryear said:
Ya know nightcreacher what I really think is this. . . there are going to be those of us that think Panther is the best carrier, there are going to be those of us that think Tri-State is the best carrier, there are going to be those of us that think Express-1 is the best carrier, or Bolt, or Xpress or Tryhours and so on and so on. Truth is each carrier has their good points and not so good points. Each carrier meets a certain drivers needs. They are a fit for someone and not a fit for someone else. See it isn't really "is the grass greener", the question is "does the grass fit the drivers yard"? What is a good fit for some drivers is not always the best fit for another driver.
Sometimes a driver may have to try a time or two before they find the carrier that fits their particular needs. Doesn't mean there is anything wrong with the carrier being left behind, just means it just didn't fit that driver.

And that nails it....

guido4475 · Nov 2, 2009

As far as youre lawn goes, use Chemlawn, or Barefoot grass. 4 applications a year, and you'll have a perfect carpet of grass.$40.00 per application, depending on the yard size.

As far as carriers go, I really believe I made a positive move.Alot more professional and agressive and on top of things versus my old carrier.Alot more peace of mind.But it is too early to tell what the results will be.

redytrk · Nov 2, 2009

Sometimes the grass only appears to be greener. Back in my days in the paint business, we sold a lot of "Grass Green" paint to the strip mining company's to make the bare soil look better.

Bruno · Nov 2, 2009

Some ask if the grass is greener on the other side. It all depends on who is watering the lawn on the other side. The grass may be greener but lawn still needs mowed. To be honest it's where ever your happy working at. It's not about if the grass is greener, it's about what works for you. Some say Panther is the best others say FedEx Custom Critical is the best. To me they are all great places to work at. I have had trucks lease on to Roberts Express, FedEx Custom Critical, Tri-State, TST Expedited, and Panther Expedited. They are all great companys and I enjoyed my time with all of them.

jelliott · Nov 2, 2009

Bottom line is changing carriers costs time and time is money. Do your homework!!!! Jumping from carrier to carrier will never make you more money. Look for long term relationships. The good carriers are all relatively competitive. Many times it comes down to relationship and a feeling of security.

RELATIONSHIP
RELATIONSHIP
RELATIONSHIP

greg334 · Nov 3, 2009

Relationship?

I do agree to a point that relationships are important but in many cases it takes a long time to build any sort of relationship with some of these carriers Some no matter what you do or how good you are, you can't begin to build a meaningful relationship because of the practices within the company themselves limit that sort of access. I can see the typical cheer leader, the one who always shows up to the company picnic even though they are 2300 miles away, who seem to build the relationship quickly.

Jefferson3000 · Nov 3, 2009

jelliott said:
Bottom line is changing carriers costs time and time is money. Do your homework!!!! Jumping from carrier to carrier will never make you more money. Look for long term relationships. The good carriers are all relatively competitive. Many times it comes down to relationship and a feeling of security.

RELATIONSHIP
RELATIONSHIP
RELATIONSHIP

Very true. And yes, it is hard to build relationships when you keep changing. Any good relationship takes time and trust.

Steady Eddie · Nov 3, 2009

LDB said:
If the grass is greener it's sometimes because there are more piles of fertilizer in the other field. It's sometimes because from a distance you can't see all the gaps in the green, just the false appearance of a solid cover of green. It's sometimes better only in that the problem areas are not in the portion of the field you primarily frequent. Sometimes it's because you are in a greener more lush field, but often it's just an optical illusion prior to making a move.

And to add to that... when you get over there and look down all you see is the dirt.....due to the optical illusion.

LeoZaphagg · Nov 3, 2009

I agree, only jump ship if you have researched your landing well.

DannyD · Nov 4, 2009

with 4 runs in 2 months, I can't see a change of carriers being any worse. They've told me that I'm not on anyone's S-List, just that nothing originates from Michigan. I dunno though, something tells me somewhere I must have messed up somewhere. At first I thought it was because I was w/ 2 companies, being out of service a lot when on a load from the other company.

That changed though when I told em I left the other & was only w/ them now. They told me to get a 2nd company again. I think I'd rather go w/ just 1 though.

I'd like to think that perfect fit is out there. Yeesh, my next company doesn't even have to have green grass. If it's quasi brown it'll be better than where I'm at now.

OntarioVanMan · Nov 4, 2009

You've gotta be kidding me Eh? Michigan has been hot for loads...Michigan is just flying...There is a mind set to escape Detroit as quick as possible and no one stays, but for real, there are loads out....

You NEED a different carrier

TJ959 · Nov 4, 2009

I changed carriers once because of family pressures . They wanted me to be home more so I switched to a local courier. It was a big mistake. I changed once because I really liked the people who ran the company but the operations manager didn't seem to like me much so that was a mistake too. I found a carrier where I fit in and they kept me busy. Three other guys who tried this company on my recomendation didn't do as well there. It was a good fit for me and my truck, and they way I like to run but it was not a good fit for those other guys.
I have said this before but......... we are often our own worst enemies. We get tired and grumpy or someone else seems to be getting better loads than us. There's plenty of time on one of those long layovers to start feeling sorry for ourselves and stew on our problems. Finally, we move on to some other company when maybe we should have stayed where we were.