Credibility

[Streakn1]

A question that I have is why did they give up a home, cars, and furniture to go into an un-stable industry such as this? Being economy driven as expediting is, on any given day the stock markets can crash throwing the country into an economic tailspin. Granted, thats a bit extreme but my point is until one is well established and has survived the highs and lows of this industry I for one would have kept what they gave up. At least if the career in expediting failed we would be able to go home and start over.We rarely see our home or get to enjoy it as much as we would like, but its nice to know its there when we need it.I'm not bashing here, just sharing an opinion.

To say its the industry is correct.It doesn't matter if your an expediter or drive an 18-wheeler hauling other goods you will have bounty months/years and you will have months/years that you barely get by. Its the nature of the industry and has little to do with the driver(s).Hang in there, better times are coming!

 

[davekc]

You are coorect in that there is that third group that can combine both tasks. The ones that have over a extended period of time seem to be in the minority. That is however typical of alot of industries.
As far as surviving downturns, there are numerous posts in the archives with how this has been dealt with. Most that went under in 2000 were upside down or over financed on equipment. And of course, some were operating pay period to pay period.
Some entered at the wrong time, and some failed to save enough in the previous years to endure a long term slowdown.
Sometimes you have to adapt. I was on a spiral heading south like many and that is why I bought numerous expediters and converted them to flatbeds and hauled oil rigging equipment between FL and TX.
I was also taking some of these repo trucks and converting them, and reselling them down south as flatbeds.
I also had the luxury of being in another industry at the time which helped cushion the blow
Sometimes you have to create your own opportunities when a good one dries up. Roberts was the gravy train for many years.

Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[Broompilot]

Streaken, and everyone else reading or posting on this. We all have different situations. If two people married, living together are going into this WHY SHOULD THEY KEEP EVERYTHING? More Expenses= More Revenue needed to Generate.

I am afraid that possibly, Mike Cyn. have run into something else that was not foreseen, add in a slow market, and something that none of us see here and this is the result. We all look thru a different set of lens so for us to judge?

The whole story being told I doubt it, but to ALL OF THE REST OF US, Life happens things change, unforesable problems come up. With reading the posts of late (last two months) many if not most of us are not prepared for an unoforeseable $ robbing incident, example illness, broken leg, or to rescue ones child from a poor decision that would take time and $.

I have done my best to post regarding financing and other money issues to only see the post dissipear in a matter of hours. I read how BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE, possible but more likely its POOR PLANNING, for the things that happen in life. I do not believe in that statment Bad things happen, as most of the bad things that happen, well from my view of most people it is over extended, poor planning and plain just sticking ones head in the sand with hope's that everything will some how work out. = No plan, like the WHAT IFS ARE NOT GONA AFFECT ME. This is the nicest way I can put it with out insulting ones intellegance for lack of planning.

I read on here how some of you are so upset about expecting the Fuel Sir Charge to pay for 100% of your fuel and repairs (exagurating a little here on my part to make a point). But I have never heard any one you posting about how much the bank or lease is charging you in intrest or fees, just the payment amount, and than bragg about not the dollar amount but I NEED A TAX DEDUCTION. Is it wise to pay a bank $100 a month in finance charges to recoup $33 from ones income tax? I think your now beginning to see the point I am trying to convey. PS thats = 67 dollars more in your pocket for every 100 that bank taxes you for loaning you money.

Mike and Cyn, plan is not working. I hope things will change for them and change fast, my very best to the both of them and my wish for the remainder us is that people will begin to understand that the difference between success and failure is not working harder, but planning in advance for the unforesable events that WILL COME ALL OF OUR WAY's.

 

[dhalltoyo]

I never read one post about any O/O expecting the FSC to cover 100% of the cost for fuel.

I do remember many O/O's expecting the carrier to pass along 100% of the FSC that is collected from the shipper.

The carrier is not fueling anything. It is the O/O that is pulling up to the pumps.

Yes, I will agree that it is a very cyclic businees and one needs to be able to adapt; therefore, if a carrier changes the game plan and decides to start keeping a percentage of the FSC, but you had previously calculated your bottom line based upon receiving 100% of the collected FSC then don't wait until you can't pay your bills. Immediately, seek out a carrier that fits your business needs.

There are plenty of carriers from which to choose.

 

[mrgoodtude]

Thank's to all for responding.
Let me start by saying it has been worth it, Cynthia and I have been on a 2 year vacation and we have enjoyed the hell out of it! In as much as we are happy on the road the making sense comes down to reality.
Driving is not for everyone, sacrifices such as leaving your family to live in a box, wait all day for a good run while scratching your athletes foot you picked up at the "J"....
While we embrace this life (Cynthia's feet are better by the way) we want to make good money to justify the sacrifice.
Honestly my expectations may be too high but we expected to make 45k a year a piece and while we are able to sustain on what we are making now we are not where we need to be at this time of year.
I expect us to be full bore till late Jan and what I am seeing is cheap freight rates and lack of freight, at least to me the $$$ aren't flowing I do not blame our carrier as I have every confidence they are doing as well as can be done in this day and the people I have contact with are professionals. My lack of confidence is in the very need for niche freight services in general. Dave made a reference to powers that be resting on their laurels and I agree, expedite may someday be merely another option offered by truckload and Ltl that rarely is needed.
I could be wrong but feel confident enough in my judgement not to run out and pay 180k for a "special" truck, better to buy 2 used tractors and haul flowers cross country for the moonies.
Mike and Cyn

 

[TeamCaffee]

The funny thing about this situation is not 2 monthes ago most FedEx contracters did not care about the FSC because you only looked at the load offer and made a choice to take it or refuse the load. Some loads had a FSC and other didnt it and you did not know unless you asked or when you got the settlement sheet. For some reason now the bottom line on the dispatch offer doesnt mean as much now that we know we are not getting 100% of the FSC. It seems to me that the bottom line still means the same thing you either take the load offer or you refuse it.

 

[Broompilot]

My hats off Team Caffee to you. Yes there was crying over the FSC of late. Not all companies do it the same, but the $ should be explained to you up front or you should demand it. If not than do not cry here about it. If the load pays X than thats what you should get is X figure your own costs before taking the run if it does not meet your standards or exceeds it than decide yes, no its your call.

This is what I mean in my post, We complaine about all the little things but when a bank loans you $ its just accepted. I SAY *%## NO ITS NOT acceptable so whats my alternative? Pay it off and put that $67 back in my pocket WHERE IT BELONGS....