Experienced courier, but green at expediting.

Shiano · Nov 6, 2010

This is my 'Hello' thread as well as an inquisitive thread.

Hello.

Now that that's out of the way, lol.

I'm wanting to get into expediting so I would like to know
what bs those of you who recently have joined the field
had to endure and what bs those of you with more experience
have seen/endured/heard of when it comes to starting out.

I'm not sure if I'll go Cargo Van or Semi but I'm starting to lean
more toward the latter. I know I'd rather be Regional than
OTR but I also know that as a rookie or someone who's the
"new guy" I may not have that much say in the matter at first.

Thanks in advance for all your insight.

fastman_1 · Nov 6, 2010

I've been in and out of expediting the last few years due to health reasons,when I was out I was working for a local courier service, I run a cargovan, with courier work you run a lot of miles for about 1/2 the pay of expedite,courier you hand load the freight much more than expedite, for no pay,most expedite will pay to fingerprint the load.courier your home most everynight expedite not so much,I sleep in my bed maybe 3 times a week.most van guys stay out for weeks. now if you jump in with a van,thats about what you can expect.as for a semi you would be better off to find a small fleet owner to drive for to learn the ropes,then if you survive you can invest in a truck.

Shiano · Nov 6, 2010

One of the drivers that was in line behind me at the local truck stop (where I was looking for informational material) overheard me explaining to the (not too bright) girl behind the register that I was looking for material on becoming an expediter and told me about the path he took to get his CDLs.

He works for CRST (I'm not sure on their reputation) and apparently they have a CDL program where you can earn your CDL training through them with no out of pocket cost as long as you work for them for a set period (I think he said 8 months). lol, he told me how a good bit of their drivers simply stay on long enough to finish up the CDL "payback" and head elsewhere.

cheri1122 · Nov 6, 2010

CRST may say 'expedited' on their trucks, but they are not expedite as we do it: exclusive use, time sensitive, door to door service.
Yes, they [and others] will train you, and then they will own you, and they will expect that you drive your allotted 70 hrs every week, wherever they send you [ie NYC, mountains in January, etc] even as the newest rookie.
Been there, done that.
If that's what you want, this is the wrong place. If expediting [cargo van, Sprinter, straight truck, or tractot trailer] is what interests you, this is the right place - but you need to do a lot of reading [esp the Newbies forum] to figure it out.
Good luck, and happy reading!

Shiano · Nov 7, 2010

lol. Oh I know. I was just using them as a reference.
But yeah, what I'm looking for is a company in the Georgia area (or surrounding states) that does the following:

- No cost training*
- No "we own you" mentality
- No seriously-wtf?! type deliveries
- Not gone for a week at a time. A couple of days away from home is ok, I'm just not a nomad lol.
- Decent, respectable pay. I don't want to feel like I'm back working for the big D delivering pizza.

And yeah, I know I definitely have a bit of reading to do. I call this the Homework phase.

xiggi · Nov 7, 2010

Shiano said:
lol. Oh I know. I was just using them as a reference.
But yeah, what I'm looking for is a company in the Georgia area (or surrounding states) that does the following:

- No cost training*
- No "we own you" mentality
- No seriously-wtf?! type deliveries
- Not gone for a week at a time. A couple of days away from home is ok, I'm just not a nomad lol.
- Decent, respectable pay. I don't want to feel like I'm back working for the big D delivering pizza.

And yeah, I know I definitely have a bit of reading to do. I call this the Homework phase.

Reading your list of requirements I would have to say your chances of filling them is almost 0.

ebsprintin · Nov 7, 2010

In this business, nomads measure time in months not weeks.

I take it you don't have a cdl yet? Most of the carriers that are called "training companies" are not expedite.

eb

DannyD · Nov 7, 2010

I've done both. For what you seem to be looking for, a courier would probably be a better fit.

In terms of $$$$$, when the going is good expediting is probably better than being a courier. A good week expediting can be $2,000+. A good week at a courier might be $800-1000. There's trade offs though. One of the main ones is you're going to be gone a lot.

The flip side is that the lows of being a courier aren't as low as that of an expediter. The $$ is probably more consistant (not $1,000 every week, but at least $4-600 or so) where as in expediting you can be out on the road sitting, making nothing or even losing $$ if ya figure in expenses.

There's things you're going to have to put up with in both expediting & courier that you're probably not going to like. From what I can gather, you'd probably enjoy being a courier more than an expediter.

If ya want more details ya can PM me your & I'll answer any specific Q's ya may have.

Take care & good luck

Crazynuff · Nov 7, 2010

Shiano said:
lol. Oh I know. I was just using them as a reference.
But yeah, what I'm looking for is a company in the Georgia area (or surrounding states) that does the following:

- No cost training*
- No "we own you" mentality
- No seriously-wtf?! type deliveries
- Not gone for a week at a time. A couple of days away from home is ok, I'm just not a nomad lol.
- Decent, respectable pay. I don't want to feel like I'm back working for the big D delivering pizza.

And yeah, I know I definitely have a bit of reading to do. I call this the Homework phase.

A .- No cost training*
B- No "we own you" mentality
C- No seriously-wtf?! type deliveries
D- Not gone for a week at a time. A couple of days away from home is ok, I'm just not a nomad lol.
E.- Decent, respectable pay. I don't want to feel like I'm back working for the big D delivering pizza.
If you get "A " , you can forget B , C, D , and E .
The odds of someone with a new CDL getting home weekly anywhere in the industry being home are very slim . You have tens of thousand unemployed experienced drivers you'll be competing with along with thousands of your newbie peers .
Do a google on trucking forums and see how many of the drivers that took "no cost" training failed to complete their training and were billed thousands of dollars by the carrier .
There aren't really many new jobs in the trucking industry . Most carriers have reduced their fleets . The few carriers that are increasing their fleets are doing so because they cut the rate of a decent paying fleet and put them out of business . Most of the jobs today's newbies take are to fill the seats abandoned by yesterday's newbies due to low pay and poor working conditions .
Good opportunities for those wanting to enter the industry are rare .

jjoerger · Nov 7, 2010

IMO,
Paid training from a trucking company equals a contract for involuntary servitude. Try to get out of the contract and they will sue you.
If you want a CDL A go to a good school and pay for it yourself. Sallie Mae has loans for it.
If you want a CDL B you can try the self taught and study route that some have done such as the A Team. You can rent a U Haul for driving practice.

highway star · Nov 7, 2010

Shiano said:
- Not gone for a week at a time. A couple of days away from home is ok, I'm just not a nomad lol.

If you're really set on that, then there's no point continuing your education here. It just won't work. The only folks I've heard of that come close to something like this have their own authority and their own customers. They return home after every run. That's not something an inexperienced newb is probably going to be able to put together.

BillChaffey · Nov 7, 2010

You can go to your nearest Truck stop and a find car load of magazines on trucking. All most all will be filled with adds for drivers, experienced & other wise. Most that train you will expect a year from you. If you sign a contract honor it. Then you won't worry about being sued.

Crazynuff · Nov 7, 2010

BillChaffey said:
You can go to your nearest Truck stop and a find car load of magazines on trucking. All most all will be filled with adds for drivers, experienced & other wise. Most that train you will expect a year from you. If you sign a contract honor it. Then you won't worry about being sued.

Honoring the contract isn't that simple . Many carriers will terminate for the smallest incident . Have any type of accident and you're gone . Can you foresee no disabling injuries or prolonged illness ? Don't look for sympathy . The forums I suggested finding are filled with horror stories of trainers from Hell . Want to spend 8 weeks in close quarters with a psychopath that doesn't bathe , uses a WalMart bag for a portapottie and uses whiteout to "correct " your logs ? Trainees have experienced all that .
Then ask why these magazines have all these ads for drivers when freight isn't really picking up .
The main reason these carriers run teams is they got tired of flying people all over the country to recover abandoned trucks . Now they will have a solo in the truck until they get a replacement driver .

DannyD · Nov 7, 2010

jjoerger said:
IMO,
Paid training from a trucking company equals a contract for involuntary servitude. Try to get out of the contract and they will sue you.
If you want a CDL A go to a good school and pay for it yourself. Sallie Mae has loans for it.
If you want a CDL B you can try the self taught and study route that some have done such as the A Team. You can rent a U Haul for driving practice.

This is very well stated. I have no interest in a CDL A, but at one time I did & looked into it. From friends who have one, this is the way to go. Pay for your own & you're not committed to anyone except yourself. He's also right in that there's student loans if ya so desire. Good post here.

BillChaffey · Nov 7, 2010

Who's looking for sympathy? If you have no intention of honoring a contract don't sign it. These Forums have just as much B.S. as they do horror stories.

roadeyes · Nov 7, 2010

With no disrespect intended to the advertisers here on EO, if you are reading the trucking magazines, most of the recruiting ads you are reading are there not because they have been "awarded new business" as they would love to have you believe, they are there because they have a very high driver turnover rate. Some of them have a yearly advertising contract with the magazines and as a result you will always see their ads month after month.

It has been my experience that the companies that don't need to constantly advertise, are the better companies to work for as there is a reason that their turnover rate tends to be much lower.

DannyD · Nov 8, 2010

Along these lines, when I've hit the truck stops & talk to the truckers on their computers, one thing has stuck out. The most common thing these guys are looking for on the internet isn't porn, but looking for other jobs. A lot of truckers out there aren't happy campers.

JarHeadJon · Nov 8, 2010

roadeyes said:
With no disrespect intended to the advertisers here on EO, if you are reading the trucking magazines, most of the recruiting ads you are reading are there not because they have been "awarded new business" as they would love to have you believe, they are there because they have a very high driver turnover rate. Some of them have a yearly advertising contract with the magazines and as a result you will always see their ads month after month.

It has been my experience that the companies that don't need to constantly advertise, are the better companies to work for as there is a reason that their turnover rate tends to be much lower.

Totally Agree Roadeyes!!

My carrier never advertises. All word of mouth, and a waiting list for drivers wanting to come on board...But ya gotta be a T/T driver.

I'm ready to downsize, not because I am unhappy with my carrier as much as I am frustrated with the industry....but when I see what expediters make...it is eye opening, I really thought it was alot more!