Dedicated Expedite?

[NoProblem]

Hi all, I've landed what I think might be one great run but would like to know how typical this is in expediting. Dedicated runs in OTR are pretty common.

The shipper where I pick up my load is about 30 min. from home, I run about 550 miles to consignee, 12 hrs later the same place I dropped my load, re-loads me and I head 550 miles back to the house. I make two of these a week for 2200 miles in 4 days and am only gone from home for 2 nights a week. Next week will be the third full week of this same run.

Are these dedicated types of runs rare or might they becoming a little more common?

 

[JeffJensen]

No problem,

Sounds like you've got a good one!

I believe that true dedicated runs in expediting are indeed rare, at least those routes that are priced at typical expediting tariffs.

I know that Teacel has had a few regular routes similar to yours,
only with multiple stops. I interviewed a cargo van driver about a year ago or so who had a Tri-State dedicated run, but that has since been discontinued.

I could be mistaken about the availability of expedited dedicated, I just haven't heard of many.

Anyway, congratulations

 

[davekc]

As Jeff mentioned, they are out there but usually they are offered at a reduced rate. We have been approached in the past with these type runs but rate was too low. If you got one with a decent rate, I would go with it.
Davekc

 

[NoProblem]

Hmm, well I guess I'm glad then - but I was also kinda hoping that there would be more opportunities in expediting like this, once this one ended.

I just talked to my dispatcher a few minutes ago and he tells me that this run is scheduled for me for another 5 or 6 weeks - or until someone notices the freight bill LOL.

Thanks for the replies!

 

[Lawrence]

Well, for what it's worth - Con-Way NOW will be announcing some dedicated runs that they are rolling out. Watch the HotShot e-Newsletter for more information.

Lawrence,
Expediters Online.com


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[ATeam]

This thread brings a question to mind that I've had since I started researching the industry. The answer is not all that important. It won't make any difference in how any of us operates our business. It's more an item of curiosity.

The question is, what is expediting?

The run NoProblem describes sounds like an ordinary freight run. There is no emergency associated with the freight. The trips are made on a set schedule which is known well in advance. No mention of special handling of high value freight is made. It's a good run, but how does it also come to be known as an expedited run?

My wife and I call ourselves expediters but we sometimes haul freight that is as predictable and scheduled as NoProblem's load. Are we expediters most days but not when we have that freight on board?

What about special-handling or high-value frieght? We've hauled some pretty fancy freight but there was no hurry to get it there. Why is high-value freight hauled by expediters? I've met truckers that haul the exact same kind of freight from the exact same shippers. They don't call themselves expediters.

I could go on, but I think the point is made. Just what is it that makes an expediter an expediter?

 

[Dreamer]

>I could go on, but I think the point is made. Just what is
>it that makes an expediter an expediter?

(I'm writing this with the idea newbies as well as experienced are reading, so forgive me if I'm over simplifying)

I think a big part of Expediting is,of course the 'emergency' freight.. "Somebody screwed up, get it there now".. we've all had those runs....

Another big reason people use Expediters is the 'On Call' availiblity. Today, many companies can't, or don't want to keep inventory on hand, so therefore, many times, companies can't wait to schedule a pick up with a regular OTR company. They want to call when the load is ready, and have you come get it NOW.

While this may change, as more trucking companies are trying to go to 'Just In Time' deliveries, many companies require several days, or even weeks notice to schedule a pick up. Even then, the delivery has to be worked around THEIR schedule.

Then, there's the personal touch reasoning...

I remember one pickup I made at an electronics firm years ago. I'll never forget the very nervous engineer who oversaw the equipment being loaded. Forget a dock hand.. this was the engineer who built the equipment. He stood and explained to me how this item would be near impossible for him to replace. It could have went on any truck, but the reason he called an Expediter, was because he liked the idea that he could tell ME what I had, the importance of it, special handling of it, etc. He watched as I placed the load bars, and straps, and even asked if he could check the tightness of the straps himself. He was an older gentleman, and seemed to get a lot of comfort from my promise that I would be careful, and the knowledge that I would deliver it myself, straight thru. They had used regular companies in the past, and his nightmare was that this delicate equipment would be shuffled from truck to truck, bumped around on forklifts, and sitting in a warehouse somewhere waiting for a truck going the right way.

His reason for calling FedExCC then, was the same reason these people probably have on a dedicated run.. they like the idea of 'One truck, one load' freight handling.

I've read, and used the analogy before.. it's the difference of mailing a letter with a First Class STamp, or using a courier. When you want to know exactly when it's going to get there, and that the same guy who picks it up is going to deliver it.. you use an Expediter.

I guess I'm rambling on here... but I guess I would sum it up as an Expediter is not just used for 'Emergency' freight, but on any shipment that the customer wants that extra personal touch and attention to his shipment.

It's that old 'Perceived Value' standby once again... they pay for Peace of Mind.

Just my thoughts anyway....


Dreamer

 

[davekc]

The above are great answers. I would add also that alot of companies are not retaining drivers and or equipment and can't always service their accounts. They can rely on the expedite carriers to fill that void. We haul quite a few loads for other carriers that can't cover their deliveries. Alot of the time as well it winds up being just regular freight with no special handling ect.
Davekc

 

[redytrk]

I think Lawrence would agree that the lines are really blurred on just what the term Expediting means. It seems every freight salesman wants to call their operation Expedite.It has become a catch word that is sometimes far from the concept that Roberts Express invented in 1976.Leagly there is nothing to prevent these interlopers from doing this.

 

[teacel]

I think you are right on the money Redytrk.

Let me add this:

EXPEDITER =
1: to execute promptly
2: to accelerate the process or progress of: speed up
3: ISSUE, DISPATCH! ISSUE, = 1 plural: proceeds from a source of revenue (as an estate)
2: the action of going, coming, or flowing out 3: a means or place of going out 4 a: the act of publishing or officially giving out or making available <the next issue of commemorative stamps> <issue of supplies by the quartermaster> b: the thing or the whole quantity of things given out at one time <read the latest issue>
DISPATCH, = 1: to send off or away with promptness or speed; especially: to send off on official business
2 a: to kill with quick efficiency b obsolete: deprive
3: to dispose of (as a task) rapidly or efficiently

Expediter – Courier – Carrier. I don’t see very much difference TODAY. When expediting first came into play many moons ago it was indeed designed to do exactly that (EXPEDITE). Move freight at a very fast pace. Today and because most companies have to keep driver availability for those times when an emergency does arise they take on any other type of freight hauling to keep the drivers busy or they will loose those driver. So many different scenarios have come into play that it would take a week or two to write about it all.

This would no doubt make a very interesting story for us readers. Jeff is it possible to do a story on this subject, or maybe you already did one and I over looked it?

 

[ATeam]

>I think Lawrence would agree that the lines are really
>blurred on just what the term Expediting means. It seems
>every freight salesman wants to call their operation
>Expedite.It has become a catch word that is sometimes far
>from the concept that Roberts Express invented in
>1976.Leagly there is nothing to prevent these interlopers
>from doing this.

That's part of what prompted my question (what is an expediter?). I've noticed several big companies like Schneider and Old Dominion promoting their expediting services or divisions. I wonder what they really are? I wonder if they get an expedite order, do they simply broker it out to one of the established expedited carriers?

The word "interloper" caught my eye. I'd guess the word was used by Roberts folks when Panther started up. It was probably used by all expediing companies any time a new competitor emerged. It was probably used by FedEx Express when UPS came out with it's overnight letter services.

Every day is a new day in expediting. We have to stay on our toes.

 

[mcbride]

>Well, for what it's worth - Con-Way NOW will be announcing
>some dedicated runs that they are rolling out. Watch the
>HotShot e-Newsletter for more information.

Hi Lawrence,

Once again, you have information that Con-Way's o/o don't even know about... As we spoke of before, the lack of communication is one of the frustrating things about Con-Way Now.

For what it is worth, the dedicated loads will most likely be tractor or van routes. We inquired specifically about them having dedicated routes and they as much as said we (straight trucks) would not be considered.

In addition, the idea of "dedicated expedited" routes really
seems like an oxymoron to me.

mcbride-
--What goes around comes around--