Getting Outf Dallas

Wingnut · Mar 28, 2008

Anyone else having trouble getting out of Dallas this week? I have a team truck that's been there since Wednesday morning. They have a high acceptance rate and don't just sit around waiting for the "cherry" loads. I realize that we're in a slow time but I find this a little ridiculous. It's not like Dallas isn't a great area to get a load out of. Yes, I called our CC and dispatch but got nowhere. I don't normally gripe on this site but I'm real frustrated, as well as the team, and was wondering if anyone else is experiencing the same in this area.

jaminjim · Mar 28, 2008

48 hours is a long time, but it's not a crazy amount of time for a mid week delivery, or am I just crazy?

iceroadtrucker · Mar 28, 2008

SO ya got a team in Dallas
dont feel bad about 2wk ago I delivered on a thur and Sat from Friday till Monday for a load that pick up in Houston Texas on Tuesday south of Dallas. Hey Hey and I had no Offers all Weekend to boot sounds like Dallas isnt so hot as the TV Show was. Houston is the better Choice for a Tractor Trailer.

No Chains Allowed
ICEROAD TRUCKER
Ridge Runner

OntarioVanMan · Mar 28, 2008

Re: Getting Out of Dallas

Texas has died for Fedex....know quite a few Feds that it takes awhile..not like in the olden days...

Jack_Berry · Mar 28, 2008

couple weeks ago i was in waco from mon-wed then moved to denton. got a load out of wichita falls friday.

funny guy in wf. he asked what kind of truck i had. i said expedite, 40', um straight truck, sleeper..... it didn't ring a bell with him. he took a look and declared it a bob tail.

Jefferson3000 · Mar 28, 2008

Jack_Berry said:
couple weeks ago i was in waco from mon-wed then moved to denton. got a load out of wichita falls friday.

funny guy in wf. he asked what kind of truck i had. i said expedite, 40', um straight truck, sleeper..... it didn't ring a bell with him. he took a look and declared it a bob tail.

It's funny. On the east coast, a bobtail is a tractor w/o a trailer attached. On the west coast, (as well as Texas it seems), a bobtail is a box truck. DOH!!

nightcreacher · Mar 29, 2008

Loaded Los Angeles tuesday the 25th delivered arlington texas the 27th loaded dallas the 27th dlivered chicago the 28th,loaded chicago the 28th delivering ohio on the 31st,home for the week end
is dallas slow,wow glad i left

layoutshooter · Mar 29, 2008

The last few times we went to Dallas we got right out. Not great runs but not bad either. Layoutshooter

davekc · Mar 29, 2008

I find this post interesting in that their are opportunities even on the cheapest of load boards. The one in this post is Getloaded and the other looks to be internet truck stop.
But, a short hop to Houston with the Laport load would get you 2.50 to 3.00 per mile. Just the one load is $500 by itself.

Or....the Augusta load could be combined with something else assuming a straight or tractor to get one in the 2.00 per mile range. Several other options as well within that 50 mile radius.

This is the reason I advocate running for a carrier that lets you obtain your own freight, or run under your own authority. If that option isn't there, you are just sitting waiting on the carrier.

nightcreacher · Mar 29, 2008

you will find,if they are sitting they are turning loads down,i was in dallas just 6 hours,4 trucks got loaded before i did,and numerous 20 footers got out before me too

Wingnut · Mar 29, 2008

Nightcreacher: maybe it's different for a straight truck than for a tractor, I don't know. All I know is that my team straight truck sat for 2 days in Dallas without a single load offer. Dispatch & CC's kept saying that it was really slow, which I find kinda hard to believe.

Anyway, they got an ok one outta there last night but I'm still frustrated. All of my trucks have high acceptances yet, they all have run really lousy the past 8 weeks. Waaaaaay too much sitting in good areas, and it's NOT because they're turning down loads or are too far from the call centers. We keep being told that it's "really slow today". We've been expediting for over 10 yrs, so I'm very familiar with the "slow" times and the "bad/cold" areas but I'm really starting to question quite alot of things with this company right now.

On a positive note: spring is just around the corner and things are bound to get better eventually! One more positive note: my mom just had heart surgery yesterday and came thru it with flying colors. We are very thankful to be able to have her with us for awhile longer.

davekc · Mar 29, 2008

I do think it is different to some extend with a tractor. Quite a few more opportunities. But, as this example shows, there are plenty of ways to keep moving.
Running under your own authority is fine but be aware of the costs. Load insurance is a biggie for certain types of loads, and it isn't cheap. Truck insurance by itself isn't cheap either.
For that reason, we find it a better way (for us) to pay the 15 pecent to the carrier so we can use all of their discount insurance programs, and not have to deal with collections. Factoring companies charge 1 to 5 percent depending on the amounts. We get the largest amount when we deliver. When we had our own authority, it wasn't uncommon to have recievables in the 20k to 30k. Don't have to fool with that now. We do carry some seperate liability policy but it is inexpensive. It provides some additional coverage that a standard policy lacks.

Probably should add also, one doesn't have to endure DOT audits, DOT drug screening , paperwork, and additional legal costs.
That 15 percent is worth every penny in my opinion.

nightcreacher · Mar 29, 2008

Wingnut said:
Nightcreacher: maybe it's different for a straight truck than for a tractor, I don't know. All I know is that my team straight truck sat for 2 days in Dallas without a single load offer. Dispatch & CC's kept saying that it was really slow, which I find kinda hard to believe.

Anyway, they got an ok one outta there last night but I'm still frustrated. All of my trucks have high acceptances yet, they all have run really lousy the past 8 weeks. Waaaaaay too much sitting in good areas, and it's NOT because they're turning down loads or are too far from the call centers. We keep being told that it's "really slow today". We've been expediting for over 10 yrs, so I'm very familiar with the "slow" times and the "bad/cold" areas but I'm really starting to question quite alot of things with this company right now.

On a positive note: spring is just around the corner and things are bound to get better eventually! One more positive note: my mom just had heart surgery yesterday and came thru it with flying colors. We are very thankful to be able to have her with us for awhile longer.

wing when we showed our layover,there were 8 d trucks,that was 0800 thursday morning,by noon that was down to 4 d trucks,and we left at 1600,there were 2 d's there,and both were w/g,1 tractor there,he too was w/g.we had chance to go,took it to elk grove village,then were pre dispatched home from chicago.

TJ959 · Mar 30, 2008

Anywhere in Texas has been bad for me lately.............

OntarioVanMan · Mar 30, 2008

ThibodeauxBayou do you ever see many cargo van loads on there?

OntarioVanMan · Mar 30, 2008

ThibodeauxBayou said:
Unfortunatly my Friend....... NADA

I even ran DAT along with my other boards , and it ain't pretty for Vans.

Sorry

Hey thats ok...I did one of them free trials and same result..IF there was a load I'd be in Baltimore and load was in Omaha!!!
Not worth the money.

kangar0085 · Mar 30, 2008

People like NightCreature and DaveKC give me so much confidence and I'd like to thank them both. I choose to listen to the ones that succeed in this business and ignore the ones who cry.

OntarioVanMan · Mar 30, 2008

A positive attitude....now thats a GOOD thing!!! Feeling positive, being positive and surround yourself with positive people....nothin good comes from negative...but failure almost everytime.

davekc · Mar 30, 2008

A positive attitude is certainly a must in this business. There are a couple of members that have from time to time thought I was being too negative on a certain subject. Sometimes the line between something negative and what is actual reality can be soboring for some.
With that said, I like many others stay very positive about expediting and our other endeavors. We have been at it long enough, that if we didn't like the industry, we wouldn't still be doing it.
As TB mentioned, it totally amazes me as well of the many opportunities out there, and many just don't take advantage of them.
Short of a handful of places, there are loads pretty much everywhere.
BTW...Kang.......thanks for the plug. I'm glad I can help. That is what we are all here for.