Expedite Solutions

[pelicn]

In my poking around on the net, I came across this site for "training"

http://www.expeditesolutions.com/
In looking at the FAQ's on the site, this was one of the questions:

"How is the truck revenue figured?"

The truck is paid a per mile rate based on the contract agreement with the carrier. This mileage rate is then multiplied times the number of loaded miles to determine the pay for each trip. That revenue is then split with you, the contractor and Expedite Solutions. You will receive 49% of the overall load and accessorial pays an additional. 3% is contributed into your contractor savings plan.

This doesn't sound like much when it also says:

As a contractor you are responsible for your fuel, your pager cost, and Work Accident insurance policy.

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of this place?

 

[Weave]

Expedite Solutions looks like it might worthwhile opportunity for husband and wife teams looking to break ground in the industry, if they are totally clueless and don't own a calculator. Might want to negotiate a bit more than the 49% of gross if paying for fuel. I checked into the CDL school I went to, and the class B heavy driver course is still under $1500, so over the course of a one year contract the newbie would be better off (1500x2=$3000) paying for the schooling themselves, then entering the industry for a fleet owner who pays the industry standard 60% gross with drivers paying for fuel.
Calculate it on these figures:

Team annual miles= 120,000
Mileage pay= 1.20/mile
Fuel- same variable regardless of situation

Expedite solutions will gross team $70,560

On your own with 60% of gross: $86,400 minus $3000 for CDL training=
$83,400

Is that "training" worth almost $13,000? And Expedite Solutions wants you to pay for pager and workman's comp on top of that? Get real. Plus that additional 3% into what is an escrow account that they make money off of?
Just be sure to ask all of your shippers and consignees "Do you want fries with that?" And that one generous once a month wash voucher to take care of THEIR equipment? And the only "benefit" they offer the companies they lease the trucks to is high turnaround green-pea drivers?

If you are under the impression that I do not like rip-off fleet operations, you are dead right :+
-Weave-

 

[teacel]

I agree with you 100% Weave! Seams like this Expedite Solutions, is yet another one cashing in on the good old American trucking industry. You got-a love the name!!! Like they’re the best thing to white on rice. Sounds to me like they are taking advantage of the people that don't know very much about our industry. Though This may be good for some, but not for most, BUT!!! then who mants to be on the road with someone who can't?

I must say to you newbie’s, if you have no self-esteem, and you don't have the ability to do your own research, and can't find an owner of a truck to lease on with, then you may want this company. Then if that is the case you shouldn't be in trucking. Getting a "B" CDL is almost as easy as going to the DMV and changing your address. Most importantly the schooling will train you, and as Weave stated for only 12 to 15 hundred. Do the math!!!

 

[pelicn]

I'd been looking at different avenues of schooling (my husband is already an OTR driver) After reading the information found on EO this place just sounded like a rip off to me.
I'm attending school here: http://www.johnstoncc.edu/academics/tdt/tdt.html
I have the luxury (thanks to my hubby) of being able to attend a community college full time to get my CDL, and the rate for "in-state" students is less than 600.00 :7
The one drawback, is a 40+ mile one way trip to class each day, but what the heck, driving will be my job soon anyway! :7

Thanks guys! :*

 

[redytrk]

You have chosen the path to Cdl I would have taken. These Community colleges seem to a better job than the rip-off 4 to 6 week private schools. If Your school is any thing like the Fox Valley Vocational school in WI.,you are much better off. As to the 80 mi comute, its well worth it to follow your dream. Also remember you have saved a
bout $4400.00 over what the rip off schools would have charged.
BEST OF LUCK!!!

 

[guest]

I had wanted to comment on this, but felt like some of the experinced drivers would get a hold of it sooner or later..lol..Looks like you have . I looked at the website myself after seeing their booth at MATS. They are obviously recruiting teams, but I read through their website anyway. What always amazes me is that alot of rip-offs like this one will actually get enough people signed up to stay in business. If they don't, they will just sweeten the pot just up to the point that they can sign on a few drivers. I guess it's all business, but I just don't care for it.

What bothers me the most about them is that ConwayNow has recently popped up to the one of the top 3 on my list of carriers and this Expedite Solutions booth was set up right in front of a ConwayNow truck at the show. The Conway booth was seperate by a few feet, but it looked as if they were trying to show some sort of relationship between the companies. Does anyone know anything about that? I really hope ConwayNow has nothing to do with this company.

Hope everyone has a great week ,

 

[mcbride]

>I'd been looking at different avenues of schooling (my
>husband is already an OTR driver)

My husband has a Class A and he trained me. We knew someone that had a 33,000# gvw truck and I practiced in it with him and my permit license before I took my road test. I have heard of other people in NY just renting a truck and having others with CDL's teach them too. You can get a book on everything you need to know right at the DMV. I got my CDL in NY so I don't know the rules for other states but in NY all I had to do was take the written tests, and pass a road test. (naturally the truck had to have air brakes, manual trans., etc) The whole time it took me from start to finish was a month to get my CDL. It cost me about about $100 tops.

mcbride-
--What goes around comes around--

 

[mcbride]

Hey Arky,

>What bothers me the most about them is that ConwayNow has
>recently popped up to the one of the top 3 on my list of
>carriers and this Expedite Solutions booth was set up right
>in front of a ConwayNow truck at the show. The Conway booth
>was seperate by a few feet, but it looked as if they were
>trying to show some sort of relationship between the
>companies. Does anyone know anything about that? I really
>hope ConwayNow has nothing to do with this company.

As you already know, we drive for Con-Way and have been talking with other owner/operators that do too...and this very topic is currently being discussed among us. We were at the truck show and saw the booth set up and it did appear as though they were connected somehow. We spoke briefly with the Expedite Solutions people, frankly, because we thought they were part of the Con-Way Now booth. It wasn’t until we started talking with them that we realized they were representatives of the Expedite Solutions. They told us that they had intentions of leasing with several expediting companies not just Con-Way.

Will let you know what we hear and come up with....


mcbride-
--What goes around comes around--

 

[pelicn]

>My husband has a Class A and he trained me. We knew someone
>that had a 33,000# gvw truck and I practiced in it with him
>and my permit license before I took my road test. >mcbride-


I don't think I'd be quite that brave! :+
I would like it if hubby could be my "on the road" trainer! That's what we both hope can happen. Nothing really rattles him, and we've always worked great together.

Shoot, they say if you can stay married through the remodeling of an old house you can do anything...and we did! :7 :7

 

[Weave]

In many states (including NY amazingly) if you lose your job and are on unemployment, the state will pick up the cost of a truck driver training school free to you as "job retraining." Check with your state and if they offer this and you want free CDL training, all you have to do is get yourself fired from your current job :7 :7 :7
(This isn't really a GOOD idea and I wouldn't try it, but it is an option if you are currently unemployed )
-Weave-

 

[Weave]

There has been a thing about small fleets who lease trucks to companies that has always been a concern of mine throughout my time in this industry, and I personally don't care for small fleet owners because of this, or companies who lease on too many of one fleet owner's trucks. This DOES happen because I was once a driver for one myself, and I'm sure every fleet owner has pulled this stunt at one time or another. It's a simple scenario:

Joe Trucker is a driver for Mr. Ripoff, who has 6 trucks leased to SchlockCo Trucking. Joe has been sitting in Hooterville waiting for a load for a long time, and is getting antsy. Joe calls Mr. Ripoff and asks him to call SchlockCo and see what the deal is. Mr Ripoff does just that, and tells SchlockCo if they don't get Joe moving really fast, he will take his truck fleet elsewhere. No big deal, right? Except for the fact there are two trucks sitting in Hooterville, and Bill Bozo unloaded first and is ahead of Joe on the dispatch board. Bill is the O/O of his truck only, and is not noted for being a whiner. Who do you think SchlockCo is going to dispatch first when a load comes up?
-Weave-

 

[guest]

Weave, you just hit on the reason why I'm just kinda draggin along with my truck..lol. I just keep hoping for the layoff..lol. As an update, a crew of the "higher ups" just returned from Hong Kong where they were looking for quotes to do their work for them. I was about to give up on getting laid off, but seems that there might be a chance yet . If I get laid off, chances are, I may do the stretch myself, and for sure I'll have plenty of time to do the classes (maybe even get them paid for).

 

[Weave]

I'l tell you, with all the loads I take into and out of the shores of TX, that just about all of the auto parts manufacturing is going to Mexico. You might not have too long a wait, as just about all manufacturing is going to Mexico or China. I was saddened to hear last week when Radio Flyer, maker of the little red wagon in Chicago, decided to close up shop in the USA and have all its products made in China. In another 10 years or so the US will consist of nothing but service oriented industry if this keeps up.
-Weave-

 

[guest]

That is true to an extent. As you might guess, we talk about it quite a bit at work. My personal opinion is this. These countries are paying very low wages and the manufacturing industry is obviously taking advantage of that. But, it is a global economy now. I believe that over time, their wages will rise..in turn, the average American's wages may drop or become stagnant for a time, but sooner or later, there should come a time when their wages plus the cost of transportation causes their products to cost just as much as domestic made products. I think this may take 8-10 years and I have no idea where things will go during that time, but in the end after everyone adjusts to the changes, I think we'll make it just fine. As one fo the "higher ups" in our company wrote in a company news letter, "with some pain" we'll see better days..lol. It's just a shame they don't have to endure a little more of that pain than the typical worker..lol.

In the mean time, I feel like one of the few areas that should benefit from this is the transportation industry. You might guess that is one fo the reasons I've decided trucking would be a good choice for my next career. That and the fact that I have been interested in it for the last few years anyway .

I actually have no problem with it if I do get laid off here, I'm ready for a change anyway, but some of those folks have some serious concerns and with good reason. There are re-training programs available, and one can only hope that they will be able to find an even better job than they have now. It is possible!

BTW Weave, I sent you a private msg, I talked to a guy today about stretching the truck, didn't want to start a new thread on that so I just emailed you some thoughts on the subject. I'll probably start another thread once things get rolling...one day

Sorry for venturing off-topic

Have a good day everyone!!

 

[Angela]

That is a common question I get from many people who call me up! My name is Angela and I work at Expedite Solutions. I will try to explain it the best that I can and if you want to call me you can also at 877-230-1442. even if this isnt a good fit for you I like getting the info out there.

We are a fleet management company based out of Indianapolis IN. We currently have a fleet of 32 trucks growing strong. We hire experienced driving teams and also offer training for teams or partners. We lease our vehicles onto some of the best Carriers in the industry (I prefer not to mention the names at this time) they pay our trucks standrad per mile rate for all loaded miles. As you complete each weekly runs you will call them into me and I pay you the following week 50% of the total ruck revenue. An additional 2% will be deposited into a Contractors Savings Plan that will incur intrest as you work. The driver is responsible for their fuel & tolls. Howevever we do forward any & all fuel credit or surcharge back to the driver, we do not consider this truck revenue. In addition we pay out a monthly performance bonus on the 15th of each month, if the truck revenue is $10,000 or more you will get an additional 2% of that revenue paid out to you. If you continue your relationship with us for your 1 year contract wach 3 months you get an addtional 1% added to the 50%. We have a 4 bay shop and maintain all of our equipment, we offer roadside breakdown service and pay for the Trip Pak services, insurance and truck washes.

We are trying to set the "Fleet Management" bar a little higher. If you would like more info call me anytime, or if you are out and see white straight trucks with Expedite Solutions mud flaps...thats our teams. Ask them what they think. But be prepared they'll give you an ear full! thanks for your interest, hope I helped out.

 

[mcbride]

>Joe Trucker is a driver for Mr. Ripoff, who has 6 trucks
>leased to SchlockCo Trucking. Joe has been sitting in
>Hooterville waiting for a load for a long time, and is
>getting antsy. Joe calls Mr. Ripoff and asks him to call
>SchlockCo and see what the deal is. Mr Ripoff does just
>that, and tells SchlockCo if they don't get Joe moving
>really fast, he will take his truck fleet elsewhere. No big
>deal, right? Except for the fact there are two trucks
>sitting in Hooterville, and Bill Bozo unloaded first and is
>ahead of Joe on the dispatch board. Bill is the O/O of his
>truck only, and is not noted for being a whiner. Who do you
>think SchlockCo is going to dispatch first when a load comes
>up?
>-Weave-


B-I-N-G-O. You hit the concerns of the single truck owner/operator right on the head.

mcbride-
--What goes around comes around--

 

[teacel]

How good can this be when most owners pay 60% to the drivers that have to pay fuel and tolls? This is going to be brought up so maybe you can explain it now so the newbie’s have an understanding of the 8% difference. We do know 2% is in the savings account.

 

[Weave]

I just want to say that I had to get my foot in the door like everyone else, yet it cost me hardly a dime and I do not consider myself to be a very "smart" person by any means. Persistency, consistency, and perspiration are my strong points, and posting to EO actually taught me how to write
I will say this with all honesty to any newbie: Driving the truck and doing this job is not difficult at all if you are a safe person with a good work ethic. I'll openly admit driving for a decent fleet owner is the best way to enter this business rather than going out and buying a truck you can't afford and don't know how to properly operate. Most fleet owners I know, including the one I started out with, will tell you what you'll need to know for free, and many will encourage you to call them any time night or day if you encounter any problems. Once out in the truck for six months or so, you'll get the gist of what it will take to be an owner operator, and if that is the right direction for you. Many fleet owners will expect their better drivers to become owner opertors. The fleet owner I was with even sold me the truck I was driving for him at a very fair price.
The deal I had with my fleet owner was 30% of gross, he paid for EVERYTHING else, including not only a pager, but a cell phone too, along with fuel, tolls, and workmans comp., and did not deduct an escrow from me. BTW, a physical and drug screen only come to about $120 for both, my owner paid for those too.
I think if the newbie shops around, which they should, deals like this and even better are available. Keep in mind I was a solo driver also.
-Weave-

 

[penngarr]

Weave, I agree with you. Expedite Solutions sounds like a middleman that you don't really need to get into the business. My husband and I got into expediting after we were both in Law Enforcement for several years. We were lucky enough to start out with owner-operators that showed us the ropes and were always there with information and advice, when needed. We got our CDL class B's on our own (no school, just written test and driving test through the State Patrol) and went straight to driving. We drove for our owner-ops for 6 months, then decided to buy our own truck (with their encouragement-they hated to lose us, but were pleased we were doing so well!) Now, after 2 years, we're building our own small fleet of trucks and are looking for teams. I was so impressed with the owner-operators that we started with that I plan to do just like they did - be there for my drivers and help in any way I can. They were fair and honest with us upfront - they told us the good and the bad about expediting, never lied to us and always paid promptly. I feel because we did find such great owner-ops to start out with is why we did as well as we did and decided to continue and expand in the expediting business.

 

[Angela]

The first 3 mos the team will be paid the following:
50% weekly settlment (truck revenue) 100% fuel credit & toll reimbursement
2% safety fund escrow
2% monthly bonus
after 3 mos a 1% raise
after 6 mos another 1% raise
after 9 mos another 1% raise
anytime the team feels ready they can turn their savings plan money into a down payment on a lease purchase option to purchase a new truck regardless of their credit history.

Our company offers weekly pay and a dependable, reputable organization that doesnt take advantage of people but gives them the opportunity to learn and grow with no up front cost or expenses. Our company works with people, we do many extras that are unheard of by fleet owners. Im not saying that this is the best program for everyone, which is why we spend alot of time on the phone with people when they call telling them the good, bad & ugly of espedite. We do not heistate to tell them to weigh all their options and to talk to other fleet owners. It does us no good to mislead anyone and have an unhappy couple in a truck feeling bad about this decision. That honestly is not what we are about. I personally feel bad that so many people have been taken advantage of by other companies and hope that someday our name will be synonamous with good experiences & a positive career move for those that fit. I dont mean to caryy on so about it, guess Im passionate. Our pay is not the highest but it definately compensates our teams well and with the other benefits that we offer I think it weighs out. But Im not the driver so I would probably say they would have the final word on what they think is truely fair.