Expediters Going Hungry, For Real

[x06col]

But Diva, How's your math? And is NYC in your comfort zone? Do you figgure into the grand scheme of things what you rate was going to a location? Then jes maybe you'll be OK. Ya never know tho, ya may have a brain fart someday, an blame everyone but you. Thennn.. the world will be cold again. But, pull the blankee up snuggle in, an start over. It's easy. HOOAHH!

 

[Paul56]

I know it seems a bit out of place for me to say this when I've been here only a little while, but why is everyone so negative towards ATeam? Am I missing some posts of him insulting everyone's mom or something?

I met Phil and Diane last week in person, they are genuinely nice folks with a desire to help others succeed at this business. They were more than happy to take some time and show me and my girlfriend around their truck, answer any questions and offered me their phone number so I could call them if I needed any more advice. They are genuinely proud of what you guys all do for a living and it shows.

They are successful, hard-working, happy and friendly people with opinions like everyone else has here, but they always seem to be skewered on the spit when they post something. There's a lot of negative posts towards them that feels a little out of place...unless I'm completely missing something...is it just good-natured poking-fun?

Am I?

Discussion, disagreement and more discussion will happen anytime two or more people gather for an exchange. This is a very healthy activity.

It can sometimes get out of hand when comments turn obnoxiously personal rather than an exchange based on the ideas being discussed.

The idea that was being discussed in this thread was the difficult times expediters may or are facing so lets not turn it into something personal.

 

[greg334]

Discussion, disagreement and more discussion will happen anytime two or more people gather for an exchange. This is a very healthy activity.

It can sometimes get out of hand when comments turn obnoxiously personal rather than an exchange based on the ideas being discussed.

The idea that was being discussed in this thread was the difficult times expediters may or are facing so lets not turn it into something personal.

Nothing personal on my end, can't say that about a few out there in EO land.

My questions are legit, my curiosity is legit. I just wish they be answered.

 

[x06col]

If Paul, it's directed to me by chance, believe me no thing personal. I simply typed how different folk look at tings. Half full or half empty? dat be da question. An if'n it's half empty, how can they get it half full? Someday. I don't know. But I can suggest I been try'in to help folks get their glass half full for a good number years now, an i'm all done wiff em.

 

[davekc]

I would agree. I think Moot addressed those Ateam issues appropriately.

PJJJJJ

In response to your question, there is some luck involved contrary to the belief of a few. One can minimize some of the issues,
But..........

It is still luck that one is in the right place
It is still luck that ones health remains intact.
It is still luck that your spouses health remain intact.
It is still luck that one isn't involved in a accident whether at fault or not.
It is still luck that the right load is sent to you, or one that you find.
It is still luck that your truck didn't break down.
I could go on.

Any successful business has a degree of luck to it. Only the fool would think otherwise.

 

[x06col]

Yepper, i'd rather be lucky than good any old day. But remember , most of the time, "luck" is when preparation meets opportunity.

 

[davekc]

Exactly. Sometimes you have to tilt those odds alittle in your favor with alittle effort.
Sometimes you can, and sometimes you can't
Have to admit though, I been pretty blessed and lucky.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

But Diva, How's your math? And is NYC in your comfort zone? Do you figgure into the grand scheme of things what you rate was going to a location? Then jes maybe you'll be OK. Ya never know tho, ya may have a brain fart someday, an blame everyone but you. Thennn.. the world will be cold again. But, pull the blankee up snuggle in, an start over. It's easy. HOOAHH!

Col... better check your own skivies before you air laundry. You seem obsessed about one run to the Bronx. Yes, you would've made money on the run. And Jay and I would've made around $210 a piece. To us, that was not enough to drive 1400 miles and deliver to one of the boroughs.

Just because a run meets Larry Foster's criteria doesn't mean it meets mine or any of the other "useless" contractors you've parted ways with. You wanna talk blame? Try the man in the mirror for once.

And get over it! It was ONE run.

 

[x06col]

Wuz yer choice. Aino problem with me. Just hoping some may think about locations and other considerations before they commit to ya or na. If it wasn't worth a hunnerd a day for ya to get outa Lousiana, then it was not. Das right, get over it. And, if you want your laundry up, jes let me know! I will wave it for you.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

And I for you.

 

[greg334]

I guess Phil..... If you got to repeat yourself again........

 

[x06col]

Jes how ya wanna start it there bud?

 

[Tennesseahawk]

Col... what's your motive for bringing this one run up? To use me as a teaching tool? I have no fear of my undies swingin in the breeze. My ducks are in a row. I don't have a problem with you. And I fail to see what grudge you have with me.

 

[Critter Truckin]

Here's one way to look at this one run... for a few months before coming back out, I was a soccer referee. There were a few days where I worked something like 8 games and made $144 (8x18=144... and look Ma, no spreadsheet!!!). With that math being used, I did better in two days than the run to the Bronx. And nothing is more in my comfort zone than running around a soccer field for eight hours.

With all that being said, a lot of the things that the Colonel says are true... the best things that I've heard have to do with 'gittin er dun' and so forth. If you aren't doing it, then you aren't going to make a crapload of nothing. However, one thing that will never change is that if you pay your people sub-industry money to do an industry job... then you will say adieu, more often than not. The only way I see it, if your drivers don't "need" to make more than 30% to do whatever you need them to do, then your load doesn't "need" to make it to the friggin Bronx.

PS-- speaking of bad decisions, today is Rosie O'Donnel's birthday!!!

 

[x06col]

Yessir, I understand. However, our memorys get short sometimes. As a way to reinforce to the folks that you have to know where you been, to maybe understand where you wanna go, i did a little checking into how we got to that no no load.

Lafayette, IN to Dallas, tx 968 mi @$1700 or $.26 per driver per mi
Dallas, Tx to LA 443 mi @ $800 or $. 27 per driver per mi

Average for the three including the no no could have been $.23 per driver per mile.

So... all i'm saying to folks is, maybe you should start averaging things out, steada being so jumpy about what you are looking at, at the moment. Jumping round, costs everyone.

And I sincerely hope you are doing better, these days, that'd be good.

 

[TwoMotherTrkrs]

"luck" is when preparation meets opportunity.

How true, Colonel!

 

[nightcreacher]

Contrairy to belief,expedite isnt rocket science.It doesnt take an Einstein to figure it out.Just common scense.There has been a list of things you need to know to sUrvive,but in reality,this is it in a nutshell.Ist and formost,you must have a positive attitude,the glass is half full,if not then add something to make it half full.Second is patience,dont be in a hurry to run to another company,or be in a hurry to stay loaded.If you can,take what is offered,when you get right down to it,4 short loads will make you more money than one long one.For example,I just did 8000 bucks this week,now im in Los Angeles,probably wont get loaded til mondAy and best i can see is about 4000 bucks for this next week,thats 6000 buck average for 2 weeks,great right,nope I usually do the same revenue,running many less miles,staying on the east coast.Now that third thing to keep you in the bucks,some call it luck,others say there is no such thing as luck,well I believe you make your own luck,you do this with the knowledge you have learned by your mistakes.Never make a mistake,you must be perfect,and you shouldnt be reading this.My father always told me the day I stop learning is the day I died.You really want to know what I love about expediting.you never stop learning,about the time you get it figured out,the game changes.
So you all,stay positive,have patience,and keep a diary on the things you've done right,but most of all,the things you shouldnt have done.
one last thing,SLOW DOWN,SPEED WILL EAT INTO YOUR PROFITS

 

[Critter Truckin]

And I sincerely hope you are doing better, these days, that'd be good.

FYI, I am doing a lot better. Driving for a different company and for a good owner. Having someone with me in the truck that loves doing it with me helps too. Also helps that she looks better than the last driver I had (no offense, Larry... or Colonel). And all this took was a little trial and error. If anyone ever said that this business isn't about making and learning from mistakes obviously started off rich for their own good, or just got fed up with it way too soon.

 

[nightcreacher]

Yessir, I understand. However, our memorys get short sometimes. As a way to reinforce to the folks that you have to know where you been, to maybe understand where you wanna go, i did a little checking into how we got to that no no load.

Lafayette, IN to Dallas, tx 968 mi @$1700 or $.26 per driver per mi
Dallas, Tx to LA 443 mi @ $800 or $. 27 per driver per mi

Average for the three including the no no could have been $.23 per driver per mile.

So... all i'm saying to folks is, maybe you should start averaging things out, steada being so jumpy about what you are looking at, at the moment. Jumping round, costs everyone.

And I sincerely hope you are doing better, these days, that'd be good.

were you running team and each making 15% or single and getting 15%,you sure were working cheap,either way,I must be paying to much

 

[x06col]

Maybe. But to continue the no no load saga.

To Drivers: We all wanna start out with the top dollah. But, with any new association we anticipate it aint gonna happen. Takes time. More than 3-4 weeks to show you can take care of equipment, play well with others, be profitable, etc. When given the option of different pay programs, weigh each in depth. In this case (starting out) 30% with the owner paying for operating, or, 60% with drivers paying for operating, was a no brainer. However, if you are of the mindset that you ain't never gonna put fuel in someone elses equipment, it may have a bad effect on your outcome. When it is time, more than 3-4 weeks to ask for an increase, do so, don't just pout, park the truck downtown, and faid into the sunset

To owners: When contemplating hiring drivers, and when presented with a long list of associations, in a short period of time, and the individual appears to have it ALL figgured out, and knows how it's gonna be. And don't want a contract. I suggest you rathole that resume, and keep looking. Seems they are just looking for chump change, and the association will be short. Additionally, Those of you contemplating getting involved with an individual who's ink is barely dry on the CDL, and allow them to learn on your dime, don't. Your continuing education bill, will be sizable.

I know it's highly suggested on this site, but many of the fleet owners advocating it, won't practice it. Why, I dunno?

In closing this verse, we all need to know what our interpretation of "good" is. And i'm sure critters new owner after a couple weeks placed the team and equipment out of service, footed the motel bill for a couple days, so he could visit family.

Can't do anything about the more or less attractive part. Sorry

There truly is "different strokes, for different folks.