Countdown to the Expo

transporter

Expert Expediter
Load willing I'll be there. Be careful about what you ask for enregards to dunking Ken. I hear he is looking to show off his new thong.
 

Dabus1952

Seasoned Expediter
I cant wait to be there 1 week from tommorow (friday) I figure if I leave Kenosha Wi at 4am .I should be there by noon.Taking grandson with. Have to make potty stops, Breakfast stop.Should still have few hours to spend there friday.Plus all day saturday.Will go to seminar as well. Hope to meet some of you there.
 

cheri1122

Veteran Expediter
Driver
I'm on my way to Texas, so GottaGo has given me the very important job of picking up preseasoned chicken for fajitas. [I bet the number of folks hoping I get to Wilmington just increased exponentially, lol, like from 2 to 20]
But in case the travel agents fail to pull any rabbits from their hats and I don't get to Ohio in time, anyone else who might be able to replace me on this ultra-important mission should please let me or GottaGo/Jeanie know, ok?
The fajitas are worth the trip, trust me! :D
 

TeamCaffee

Administrator
Staff member
Owner/Operator
Awesome Cheri! Great job you will be picking that up! I am going to be bring pulled pork from our local BBQ guy who is just awesome! I do not think we will go hungry.

I think I will also be bringing fruit for a fruit salad.

4 more days and we are there!
 

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
"I think I will also be bringing fruit for a fruit salad."

It wouldn't be fruit salad if you brought pasta now would it..?:rolleyes::D
 

disabled

Seasoned Expediter
is it really that good,

because I was planning on calling a lot of these companies. And if the expo will offer me the opportunity to make progress or is better, well I will wait and borrow to get there for the weekend.

and I read all your great post and appreciate them very much.
 

TeamCaffee

Administrator
Staff member
Owner/Operator
is it really that good,

because I was planning on calling a lot of these companies. And if the expo will offer me the opportunity to make progress or is better, well I will wait and borrow to get there for the weekend.

and I read all your great post and appreciate them very much.

Yes it is that "GOOD" You have access to not only recruiters but you have access to the drivers for all of these companies.

One way to prepare for the Expo would be to call some of the companies you have in mind and ask them if they will be at the Expo as you would like to talk to them there.

Having access to the drivers to us when we attended our first Expo was the best bonus of all. I would much rather talk to as many drivers as I could then to very many recruiters.
 

ATeam

Senior Member
Retired Expediter
is it really that good,

because I was planning on calling a lot of these companies. And if the expo will offer me the opportunity to make progress or is better, well I will wait and borrow to get there for the weekend.

and I read all your great post and appreciate them very much.

Linda is right. The show really is that good. However, if you have to borrow money to get to the show, it would be wise to seriously consider whether expediting is the right opportunity for you before going into debt to attend an industry trade show.

Expediters here in the open forum continually advise people to have some reserve funds in the bank before getting into this business. It is good advice. You simply can't enter this business without reserves and expect to last long.

At one time, the freight might have been good enough to allow someone to enter the business, live hand to mouth, and build reserves to a comfortable level. If that was ever the case before, it is not the case now.

The Toledo/Chicago scenario you gave in one of your other posts is an example. What if you are out here with no money and you don't get the return run you speak about, or a run in any direction before you need to pay for your next meal or tank of fuel? See: Expediters Going Hungry for Real.

Yes, the Expedite Expo really is that good and the last thing I want to do is discourage someone from attending. But if you are planning to enter the business with no reserves, borrowing money to get to the show will do you little good. Nothing you learn, see or do at the show will serve as a substitute for the capital (financial reserves) you will need to succeed in this business.

If you lack the capital to enter the business and sustain yourself through periods of slow freight, borrowing money to attend the show is not something I would recommend.
 

disabled

Seasoned Expediter
Linda is right. The show really is that good. However, if you have to borrow money to get to the show, it would be wise to seriously consider whether expediting is the right opportunity for you before going into debt to attend an industry trade show.

Expediters here in the open forum continually advise people to have some reserve funds in the bank before getting into this business. It is good advice. You simply can't enter this business without reserves and expect to last long.

....

Yes, the Expedite Expo really is that good and the last thing I want to do is discourage someone from attending. But if you are planning to enter the business with no reserves, borrowing money to get to the show will do you little good. Nothing you learn, see or do at the show will serve as a substitute for the capital (financial reserves) you will need to succeed in this business.

If you lack the capital to enter the business and sustain yourself through periods of slow freight, borrowing money to attend the show is not something I would recommend.

well thank you very much,

please don't get angry with me but,

my wife has the money, and I have to borrow the money from her in order to go to events or like learning of any kind. It has to be totally justified, because she is very much tight-wad.:D Now this may sound awkward, but after seeing how she saves money in the many years we are married, I had to let her save.

as for reserves, I have the ability to meet the harshest circumstances. My wife has a very good job too.

I just love driving and I used to drive many destinations in a van and sometimes rented trucks. I used to sleep in truck rest areas when traveling too. So I have the feel for it.

in any event I greatly appreciate the time you all spend on here and inform those who are interested.
 

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
Then crack the vault and come to the show...you'll actually SAVE money by coming...by not having to travel around to individual offices/recruiters..one stop shopping per say....it is very economical this way.:D
 

piper1

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
If you do make it to the show, make sure if nothing else, that you attend the 11am Friday workshop by John Mueller of PTL. The workshop will give you the very basics you need to decide if this is the direction for you. Having a love of driving is surely one aspect of doing this but there is an awful lot more that may surprise you. Attend as many seminars as you can but hit that one for sure.

As noted above, talk to current expediters if you can. Most will be pretty honest with you about what this business is and what kind of shape it is in right now and the kinds of things that it is forcing some people to do.

Go in with an open mind, there is a lot of great info, just check your dreams at the door so they don't get in the way of hearing the realities. Its pretty easy to get carried away by the shiny new equipment and the promises of the recruiters.

Be positive, have fun and learn!!
 
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OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
I've spent this weekend in eastern Ohio....doesn't bode well for making it back this way in the next 5 days...:eek:
 

greg334

Veteran Expediter
my wife has the money, and I have to borrow the money from her in order to go to events or like learning of any kind. It has to be totally justified, because she is very much tight-wad.:D Now this may sound awkward, but after seeing how she saves money in the many years we are married, I had to let her save.

Actually that sounds good.....
 
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