Hi I have been lingering around the site for some time and have been debating if this line of work is for me so i keep asking question every once in a while to get a feel for this lifestyle. My question today is the Frieght getting any better or is it still slow as I have read on here many a times? I am just tying to figure out when (if any) is a good time to jump in if I decide that this Lifestlye is for me. Any comments,or input is welcome.
loads? getting better?
- Thread starter Chip
- Start date
Still slow: fuel prices and overall economy conditions probably combining for a hard time for expeditors. I think field is over-crowded now. Many new mom & pop outfits, also help to drive down freight rates. NLM runs & spot bidding on the cheap... When things slow in manufacturing, the more diversified the expeditor co. the better off. I am sure in auto, suppliers use big trucks when they practically can, and expedites only when absolutely necessary. Good luck
DannyD
Veteran Expediter
> Hi I have been lingering around the site for some time and
>have been debating if this line of work is for me so i keep
>asking question every once in a while to get a feel for this
>lifestyle. My question today is the Frieght getting any
>better or is it still slow as I have read on here many a
>times? I am just tying to figure out when (if any) is a good
>time to jump in if I decide that this Lifestlye is for me.
>Any comments,or input is welcome.
I've been busy as a dog this past week. Went from Toronto to Belvidere, Ill. Got stuck in a traffic jam (2 hours, went less than one mile). Went up to Milwaukee & delivered to a city by Niagra Falls. Next day I loaded up near Toronto & went to Mishawaka, Ind. From there I picked up in Holland, Michigan & delivered to Alliston, Ontario. No sooner had I dropped off there & got a run from Concord, Ont. to Shelby/Saline/Grand Rapids, Michigan. 3 drop offs for one pick up.
As for the lifestyle of all this, I sure didn't get much sleep. One of those days I got in a good nite's sleep, can't recall which one though. What ya get in terms of sleep is an hour here, 2 hours there, etc.
The week before was pretty similar. I really enjoy it. Ironically, I get more stuff done around the house here when I have weeks like that than I do when I sit around w/ no runs. That might be because I anticipate another run & know I probably won't be able to "do it tomorrow."
Another phenomina I've noticed is that when I don't have a run for awhile, I'll decline runs/go out of service more often. I've thought about a part time job & some of the other things ya think about when ya aren't working.
When we're busy I'm more apt to take something offered, even if it's not the best of runs. Ya'd think ya could be more choosy when loads are being offered left & right, but I guess it's a mindset or something. I probably should have declined this last load & waited for one the next day, because I was already tired, but figured I'd sneak in a nap here/nap there if I had to. As it turned out, the pick up was delayed an hour (thank god) & I got some more rest the next morning too because the place didn't open until 6AM & I got there at around 3. After the last drop, I intended come home, mow my lawn, & then take another run, but by then I was beyond a "little" tired & felt I was "unsafe" tired.
I guess what I'm trying to articulate here is that you can get caught up in both the momentum of being busy & the momentum of sitting.
If you do decide to do this, make sure you take any profitable run while you can get it. You'll have plenty of time to sit, even when you'd rather be running.
Good luck to ya,
Danny
>have been debating if this line of work is for me so i keep
>asking question every once in a while to get a feel for this
>lifestyle. My question today is the Frieght getting any
>better or is it still slow as I have read on here many a
>times? I am just tying to figure out when (if any) is a good
>time to jump in if I decide that this Lifestlye is for me.
>Any comments,or input is welcome.
I've been busy as a dog this past week. Went from Toronto to Belvidere, Ill. Got stuck in a traffic jam (2 hours, went less than one mile). Went up to Milwaukee & delivered to a city by Niagra Falls. Next day I loaded up near Toronto & went to Mishawaka, Ind. From there I picked up in Holland, Michigan & delivered to Alliston, Ontario. No sooner had I dropped off there & got a run from Concord, Ont. to Shelby/Saline/Grand Rapids, Michigan. 3 drop offs for one pick up.
As for the lifestyle of all this, I sure didn't get much sleep. One of those days I got in a good nite's sleep, can't recall which one though. What ya get in terms of sleep is an hour here, 2 hours there, etc.
The week before was pretty similar. I really enjoy it. Ironically, I get more stuff done around the house here when I have weeks like that than I do when I sit around w/ no runs. That might be because I anticipate another run & know I probably won't be able to "do it tomorrow."
Another phenomina I've noticed is that when I don't have a run for awhile, I'll decline runs/go out of service more often. I've thought about a part time job & some of the other things ya think about when ya aren't working.
When we're busy I'm more apt to take something offered, even if it's not the best of runs. Ya'd think ya could be more choosy when loads are being offered left & right, but I guess it's a mindset or something. I probably should have declined this last load & waited for one the next day, because I was already tired, but figured I'd sneak in a nap here/nap there if I had to. As it turned out, the pick up was delayed an hour (thank god) & I got some more rest the next morning too because the place didn't open until 6AM & I got there at around 3. After the last drop, I intended come home, mow my lawn, & then take another run, but by then I was beyond a "little" tired & felt I was "unsafe" tired.
I guess what I'm trying to articulate here is that you can get caught up in both the momentum of being busy & the momentum of sitting.
If you do decide to do this, make sure you take any profitable run while you can get it. You'll have plenty of time to sit, even when you'd rather be running.
Good luck to ya,
Danny
I just came off the best week I've had all year.I ran 7 loads in 5 days.5 good loads and 2 minis. seen more B Units moving than sitting I hope the Slow Trend has finally came to a end.
Owner/Operator since 1979
Expediter since 1997
B Unit
Somedays are Diamonds and Somedays are Stones
Owner/Operator since 1979
Expediter since 1997
B Unit
Somedays are Diamonds and Somedays are Stones
I Sure hope we can catch up with Danny and Fastman. I've been as slow as ever one run offer this past week, plus a dry run, and two the week before. Getting a lot done around the house but need to get out to pay for some more supplies.
Glad you guys are dooing well.
Terry
Glad you guys are dooing well.
Terry
1997 Dodge Ram 3500 with 12' cube. Dock high with jackstands. 5.9L Cummins Turbo Diesel.
I also have been busier than a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest this past month. After a terrible month of May, June is looking pretty good so far. But I am not getting too excited as I know the first two weeks in July are fastly approaching.
I also have been busier than a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest this past month. After a terrible month of May, June is looking pretty good so far. But I am not getting too excited as I know the first two weeks in July are fastly approaching.