Is this time of the year always this slow?

zorry · Apr 28, 2013

I ran solo D. Liftgate. Tandem. You got to be sharp. Learn the split logbook rule.
Learn the better solo areas.
If you can team up, it'll get much easier.
A solo can do it, but not as easily.
IAC a must !

1expeditor · Apr 28, 2013

ATeam said:
That's one of the things Diane and I have come to enjoy about Landstar Express America. After you deliver a load, it is entirely up to you what you do next and you have full freedom to do it.

There are no express centers, dwell time, time since last dispatch, distance to next pick up, less-than-75 status, and other such things. If you are empty and available, you show up on the board as such, and that's pretty much it.

It's peaceful.

I always enjoyed reading your daily blog a very good read
hope all is well in your new venture.

spwohl · Apr 28, 2013

EASYTRADER said:
Yes its slow this time of year.

You know, if one was to search back over the years, one could find this comment nearly every single month. It's much too simplistic. I do feel, however, relating to other comments, that the industry is getting crowded.
Steve

Monty · Apr 28, 2013

That's one of the things Diane and I have come to enjoy about Landstar Express America. After you deliver a load, it is entirely up to you what you do next and you have full freedom to do it.

There are no express centers, dwell time, time since last dispatch, distance to next pick up, less-than-75 status, and other such things. If you are empty and available, you show up on the board as such, and that's pretty much it.

It's peaceful.

Told ya!

ATeam · Apr 28, 2013

spwohl said:
You know, if one was to search back over the years, one could find this comment nearly every single month.

That's a good point, and true.

xiggi · Apr 28, 2013

spwohl said:
You know, if one was to search back over the years, one could find this comment nearly every single month. It's much too simplistic. I do feel, however, relating to other comments, that the industry is getting crowded.
Steve

There is no doubt its more crowded than say in the 90s. Now is it more crowded than five years ago i don't know.

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T270_Dreamin · Apr 29, 2013

Mike99 said:
Same as now or slower. More trucks than 10 years ago and less freight....

I don't know why I'm staying busy these last 2 weeks I should have been sitting or is it luck on my side...

When you see like 18 panther cargo vans in Atlanta at one time you know it's getting crowded... when I was at orientation fleet owners were there studying the way they could put more of those cargo vans you can't even stand up in on the road... that get 15 mpg... the drivers going in these things full time must be nuts

xiggi · Apr 29, 2013

T270_Dreamin said:
I don't know why I'm staying busy these last 2 weeks I should have been sitting or is it luck on my side...

When you see like 18 panther cargo vans in Atlanta at one time you know it's getting crowded... when I was at orientation fleet owners were there studying the way they could put more of those cargo vans you can't even stand up in on the road... that get 15 mpg... the drivers going in these things full time must be nuts

Two weeks is nothing to judge by. Im not sure why fleet owners would be in orientation. 15 miles per gallon is no problem when you consider the cost and patience difference compared to a splinter. Also pa.term pays no more for for a splinter than a van. From a fleet owners bottom line regular vans are probably a good idea.

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jamom123 · Apr 29, 2013

Maybe there are too many vehicles out here now maybe the markets becoming flooded, maybe people like me new signing on is the problem. I don't know but I do know I hate sitting all weekend at a truck stop 800 miles away from home when I could be home with my family.

OntarioVanMan · Apr 29, 2013

jamom123 said:
Maybe there are too many vehicles out here now maybe the markets becoming flooded, maybe people like me new signing on is the problem. I don't know but I do know I hate sitting all weekend at a truck stop 800 miles away from home when I could be home with my family.

Too many factors to nail down a cause... Better get used to it.....

jay1966 · Apr 29, 2013

This is a job where you have to be flexible ,
Sometimes I'm a truck driver who occasionally camps out,
Other times I suspect I'm really just a camper who occasionally hauls freight. : )

zorry · Apr 29, 2013

If you were fairly busy in Feb and really busy in March I'd say it's working.
Where do you live ?

tenntrucker · Apr 29, 2013

jay1966 said:
This is a job where you have to be flexible ,
Sometimes I'm a truck driver who occasionally camps out,
Other times I suspect I'm really just a camper who occasionally hauls freight. : )

I prefer to go by a paid tourist who sometimes hauls freight to pay the way...

sent from my Galaxy Tab2

jamom123 · Apr 29, 2013

I live in Georgia.

jjoerger · Apr 29, 2013

Plenty of solo freight around GA, SC, NC and VA. Are you IAC qualified? All solos should be. Good paying short runs especially if you have a lift gate.

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jamom123 · Apr 29, 2013

No I don't have my iac yet in the process of getting it. Everytime I go home I don't have a problem getting freight but then they bring right back up north and I will sit. Not everytime but sometimes. So I don't understand if the freight is good where I live why do they keep bringing me north?

layoutshooter · Apr 29, 2013

jamom123 said:
No I don't have my iac yet in the process of getting it. Everytime I go home I don't have a problem getting freight but then they bring right back up north and I will sit. Not everytime but sometimes. So I don't understand if the freight is good where I live why do they keep bringing me north?

They are not 'bringing' you up north. They have a run that heads up that way, they send it out as an offer and you accepted it. If you are not finding work in certain areas, don't take runs that go there.

We have a good set of records of places that we see a lot of freight coming out of. We also know where we are likely to get stuck. IF we take a load to a less than ideal area we make sure it pays enough to cover a long dead head to a better area if need be.

Once you are in the business a while you will start to see trends that work for you truck. The key is very good record keeping.

jamom123 · Apr 29, 2013

Yea, that makes sense thanks for the info.

layoutshooter · Apr 29, 2013

Hang in there. Try to talk with some other FedEx solo drivers. They may be able to help you out more. We are a team and also TVAL so I can't help you much more since our business is much different than yours and our freight often comes out of different areas.