New drivers just saying hello!!

pIIdrivers · May 26, 2004

Hello all. We are a team b-unit out of the Louisville, KY area and just wanted to say hello and thanks.
We have been reading this forum for some time (lurkers you may say lol) and really appreciate all the help and knowledge available here.
We drive a Dodge Ram 2500 and despite all we have read here it has been an excellent truck for us. We haven't turned down any loads because they wouldn't go through the door or any such nonsense. We did however buy the truck used ( we are both former mid-level managers in our respective fields) as we wanted to test the proverbial waters. After 4 months of extensive testing we have concluded that this may well be for us.

We do agree however with the majority here in testing this theory very well before buying a truck however big or small. We do have a laptop and use DeLorme Street Atlas 2004 (now with Canada) and like it for the most part. The lady ( as we call her ) can occasionally get us in a bit of a bind but nothing major so far.

We drive for Panther and as far as we can tell they are at least as bad as everyone else. Though we are certain that all companies have thier up's and down's. We are happily running about 2400 loaded miles a week when dispatch doesn't send us to a load that is not rated for our truck. lol. So the freedom it allows us is certainly better than we had with out so called 9-5 office lives. <----- more like 9-9 lol.

So just saying hey and hope that all potential expy's hang in there and listen to these folks. This is perhaps the most valuable tool you can put in your arsenal.

Thanks a bunch from me...

ATeam · May 26, 2004

Thank you for introducing yourselves and sharing your positive view of expediting. I believe the industry will see many more teams like you (white collar workers becoming expediters) in the near and long term future. My wife and I entered the field from white collar professions with no previous truck driving experience. Like you, we've decided to make a long term go of it. I recently told my Doctor about our career change, and our work, earnings, experiences on the road. She said only half kidding, "If you don't see me here when you come back next year, it will be bacause we've (husband and her) quit our jobs to do the same thing."

I love your words, "We drive for Panther and as far as we can tell they are at least as bad as everyone else."

Great humor! Great attitude!

Glen Rice · May 26, 2004

Welcome to our world! Glad you made the switch to absoulte freedom! Life is pretty good. As far as thinking you are with a company that may not be "The Best". You make it what it is. I think no matter where you go, if you have the drive and determination you will be happy. My mental outlook is far more important than what people say about "my company". I hope that makes sense. I love driving and feeling like I'm actually contributing to the economy and sucess of another business! I always felt good about myself, and I hope you do to! Best of luck and let us know how things are going for you.

pIIdrivers · May 26, 2004

Thanks for the reply. It is awesome to hear from other divers who gave up their wonderful ( lol kinda doubt it ) office lives to enjoy themselves. We have never been happier ( as a couple or single ). For some reason it just makes sense to us to make our own rules not to mention hours. We have vastly more freedom, and suddenly no need to plan a vacation. If we choose to stop well whatta ya know we do lol.
We wish everyone here the best of luck and best wishes.

Thanks a lot us...

terryandrene · May 28, 2004

Here's about two cents worth: Rene' and I also gave up a rather comfortable life and lifestyle to enter the wonderful world of expediting, truck stops, the open road and the scenic byways. We learned early-on that it was real easy to allow our personal lives to interfere with our new professional lives. After a few squabbles, spats, tiffs and fist fights we realized that in the very close van environment, we had best define and then separate the personal attitudes from the business. It then became OK to quarrel about a personal issue but as soon as the Qualcomm beeped or the company fone rang we had to put on our game faces and make our business decisions based on the good of the business.
We've travelled nearly one and a half million miles in our expediter vans and still have a happy, healthy relationship despite the closed environment of a one-ton van. Best wishes for your continued enjoyment.

Tony · May 29, 2004

There seem to be a lot of us former middle management people driving now. Is this a sign of the new economy? YES! Would I change it, NO!

Stand up for what you believe in, don't do something just because everyone else is!

davekc · May 29, 2004

It is good to see someone starting out and doing well. You will see over time that the longer you are in expediting, the easier it will get. You will know where the freight lanes are and what loads will make you money and the ones that won't. We are with Panther as well, and run a straight truck.

BigBusBob · Jun 4, 2004

Hi guys, fellow PII driver here as well. I've been with them for a few months now and it's gradually gotten better (my miles that is). I'm concerned though at times with the fact that my truck owner has no true "commercial driving experience" and have to wonder if I will pay for it in the long run-which is why I'm considering on venturing out on my own later this summer and becoming an O/O myself. I've been on the road commercial driving for 6 years and nearly 600,000 commercially driven miles-accident and ticket free. I've yet to refuse any loads, though there's been times I've wanted to. The only problem I have with Panther is when it comes time for me to get home as I live in north central FL. Though I've been able to get loads out, getting loads in is another story. I've been thru 43 states and 2 Canadian provinces in my driving carreer-before driving I was in construction work-carpentry and heavy equipment operator respectably.
The thing I like about Panther is that they are (or atleast make you think they are) safety conscious and they think of you as more than just a number. No, They think of you as a truck number, Smile! LOL There's been a number of times on runs where I QC that I'm tired and am taking a 15 min. break and tell them to wake me and they do. They sometimes give me 30 min., and then QC or call me. Sometimes they ask if I need a wake-up call. Believe it or not I've even had dispatchers even call me to ask how I'm doing too-and I'm running on time too when they do that. They'll do that it seems in the wee hours of the morning when your more likely to get sleepy at the wheel. As you can tell I run solo-but I run hard-yet I do run safe and legal-don't we all? Smile! I used to drive busses, so I am extremely safety conscious. I don't think I'm making the money I could be though-solo-which is why I'm considering on becoming an O/O myself. Having been on the road 6 years and doing extensive research and talking with many drivers I feel I'm about ready to take the plunge into my dream rig-something with a 100" custom sleeper-nothing larger though-really that's plenty big enough-and watertight tool boxes. Well, that's my 2 cents here....Hope all is well, Later, Bob.

davekc · Jun 4, 2004

You say that you live in Northern Florida. What part? We live in Flagler Beach. We probably have that part a little easier as we are a team. Sometimes getting out of FL is harder than getting in. The sure fire loads are in SC if we want to head north quickly ect. If you are new, it does seem that they start you out kinda slow and then it picks up. We have worked with other companies and would have to say that they have probably the best dispatch system. Only flaw I have noticed is when several dispatchers are involved on the same load. Left is not always sure what the right one is doing.

ATeam · Jun 5, 2004

---snip---After a few squabbles, spats, tiffs and
>fist fights we realized that in the very close van
>environment, we had best define and then separate the
>personal attitudes from the business---snip---

Outstanding post that brings out important info for newbies. My wife and I thought we had a good relationship when we started expediting. Nine months later, we still do. But we would not want to relive our first thirty days in the truck again. Whoa! What a trial it was!

While people can share their own experiences, I don't think anyone can offer advice on how to survive your first thirty days as a driving team. People are unique and every relationship is different. There is simply no telling what will work and what won't for each couple. One team we met told us of a technique they developed. When tensions build to the boiling point, one goes back in the sleeper. The other stays up front. They close the curtain, raise their voices, and let the profanity fly! That's not our style, but it works for them.

The good news is many couples find their way through their first thirty days and live happily together on the road year after year. You'll find some of the most in-love couples on earth living together in trucks.

It would be really hard for my wife and I to go back to our old jobs. We'd miss each other as we spent 11 hours a day (including commute) apart at two different offices.

BigBusBob · Jun 6, 2004

yes, well, my girlfriend said it best, she says PII dispatchers are Swift rejects. lol. I've actually hung up on dispatchers when they ask stupid questions... like when I'm in chicago at 6:30 pm and tell them there's traffic and they call me and ask if it's construction or an accident?! I had to laugh when they told us they hired 60 new dispatchers, I thought to myself... why? when the 30 they got can hardly do the job?! lol. I thought I hope the current dispatchers aren't training the new ones. lol. I think they hired 60 and after 7 days tossed 30 back to Swift or Schnieder. Dispatchers and I don't always agree, they said to me once "well it's not a dispatch error when dispatch gets bad directions from the customer", I said the customer moved 3 years ago! I know now that anytime the QC says "hot load" or "3rd party, don't be late!" I take a deep breath. Those loads are what I call "Loads from hell". Those loads are the ones where you run up to the consignee out of breath at 7am and they calmly tell you "wow, you're early, we weren't expecting you until 10 or 11am". My record on one run in 8 hours was 10 different dispatchers-so far. I once had 6 dispatchers in one hour.
I can't have a dull day, I've tried. lol, anyways, hope you got some laughs, Later All, Bob.

davekc · Jun 6, 2004

I know what you mean. We had a delivery in Laredo and wound up sitting all weekend because we were at the wrong address. They kept trying to find the broker who didn't arrive until Monday at another address. On the upside, we got detention and layover pay. That was about three weeks ago. I don't blame Panther on this as they were going by were the customer wanted it delivered.
Kinda your situation, if we are one on one with a dispatcher, we seldom have a problem. However, when several are involved it can get crazy sometimes.