Looking to get in the business.

ogun67 · Jul 15, 2005

Hello
Been reading the form for about a week now, and thinking very serious about trying expediting. So, I will be having questions about the business, so please bear with me. I guess my first question is, living in St. Louis, MO how are the lanes in this area for work? Also been thinking about talking to Con Way Now about finding someone that will let me get my feet wet. Can anyone tell me about con way.

Thank you
Keep up the good work on E/O

terryandrene · Jul 15, 2005

St Louis is a relatively active area for many of the major expedite carriers. During any weekday morning, you are likely to see two or three expedite vans and straight trucks in the front parking lot of the Flying J travel plaza at exit 6 on I 270, Pontoon Beach, Il. During late afternoon most, if not all, will have been dispatched. I'd bet that any of the drivers of those vehicles would be pleased to talk with you about expediting or the carriers to which they are leased.

You haven't mentioned your trucking background or exposure to expediting other than thru the EO fora. What size truck did you have in mind? Team or Solo? Do you have a CDL; Class A,B,C? Keep your questions coming and someone on here will have answers for you. By the way, why did you choose ConWay?

Terry

guest · Jul 15, 2005

I think Con Way is a little more flexibe on equipment age and pays a little quicker than some of the other companies. I have also heard that solos run a little better at Con Way, but I'm sure there are plenty of solos who are happy with how they are running at all of the companies.

TJ959 · Jul 15, 2005

If I were you I'd talk to as many drivers from as many different companies as you can. Bear in mind that many of us may be having a bad day and may not speak kindly of our company. Take what you hear with a grain of salt and make your decision carefully. Pontoon Beach in IL. is a perfect place to do the research.

terryandrene · Jul 15, 2005

...and the next best place to go is:

http://www.expediteexpo.com

ogun67 · Jul 15, 2005

Thanks for the responce so far, I have had class A CDLs with Hazmat for years but never put them to use. I had worked in the telecommunications for a few years and after getting laid off me and the wife moved to St. Louis. I'm just trying to find something I can do and make a decent living, and though it was about time I try to put these CDLs to work. I was thinking about a 24ft straight truck because I like the idea of a smaller truck than a 48 or a 52ft. I was thinking about Con Way because I seen out at there web site they try to hook up drivers with other O/O. Right now looking to team for a while as I get my feet wet and then go solo.

Thanks for the input

Tennesseahawk · Jul 15, 2005

Just for your concideration: Con-way pays $1.07 (I hope I'm right on this), and several others are in the $1.15-$1.30 area.

Broompilot · Jul 16, 2005

Do you really have a Passion for this? If not than do not do this. It is not as easy as it sounds. Example no load for two days its gona be in the mid 90s for the next three days with PM showers. You are loosing $ by the hour sitting in the hot sun, smells like urine because drivers walk to the rears of there trucks at 5 am to piss. Thats part of the downside.

Upside is the excitement of getting the loads, doing a great job and with a little luck being told to go pu another. Does not always work that way. But if you have a Passion for this than its much more posotive and fun.

Ran into a team yesterday, all they could do is bicth about dispatch, bicth about the low pay, bicth about the price of fuel. All I was thinking is (I do not care) I like what I am doing ( your burned out) so thats whats gona probably happen to you if you do not get a Passion for this. In my short time in this business I have had quite a few drivers tell me I will not make it. No they cannot make it because they do not like this its a, job that they hate. To to me its not a job because I get up everyday looking forward to whats ahead and try to put anything bad behind me or deal with it if its still at my side.

ATeam · Jul 17, 2005

In my
>short time in this business I have had quite a few drivers
>tell me I will not make it.

Ha! It seems the more you like the business, the more of that one gets! It is curious, is it not, that people will take it upon themselves to neutralize the belief you have in yourself? Reminds me of the union workers years ago that told me to slow down and do a lesser job because I'd make them look bad working so hard.

mcbride · Jul 17, 2005

>Just for your concideration: Con-way pays $1.07 (I hope I'm
>right on this), and several others are in the $1.15-$1.30
>area.

We run for Con-Way Now and would be happy to answer any questions we know the answer to. We have been with them for over 4 years now...BTW, they use a flat rate now: $1.15 for D Units.

mcbride

davekc · Jul 17, 2005

Ran into a team yesterday, all they could do is bicth about dispatch, bicth about the low pay, bicth about the price of fuel. All I was thinking is (I do not care) I like what I am doing ( your burned out) so thats whats gona probably happen to you if you do not get a Passion for this. In my short time in this business I have had quite a few drivers tell me I will not make it. No they cannot make it because they do not like this its a, job that they hate. To to me its not a job because I get up everyday looking forward to whats ahead and try to put anything bad behind me or deal with it if its still at my side.

You will always have people that :censoredsign:

and complain. You only have to worry about confusing someone being negative verses reality.
Expediting is more of a lifestyle than a job. If you can embrace that concept, your half way there.
The rest is planning, capital, research, and gaining experience.

Good luck on your new adventure. As mentioned, the expo in August can bring you a wealth of valuable information.

Davekc
owner
21 years

ATeam · Jul 18, 2005

I was thinking
>about Con Way because I seen out at there web site they try
>to hook up drivers with other O/O.

Be sure to check out the Drivers Wanted section in EO's Free Classifieds. See the Free Classifieds link at top of this page. Go to school on the EO site. The more hours you invest here, the better off you will be. Read the foum posts going back at least one year. Read the carrier profiles and driver lifestyle articles. Doing so will help you ask well-informed questions when you interview recruiters and owner/operators.