Newbie Needs Advice

[Monty]

Hello Everyone!

My name is Monty and I will be joining you shortly in this wacky world of LTL Expedited Transportation.
I will be running as an Owner/Operator(leased with FXCC)in a new
D-Unit, solo for the first month and then will team with my father this summer.
I am new to this business and wondered if you experienced professionals could give me some heads up on common newbie mistakes.
I look forward to this new adventure in my life and would very much like to have the opportunity to earn your respect.

Long time reader, first time poster
Thanks in advance

 

[Tennesseahawk]

First mistake... running solo for FXCC.

 

[greg334]

>First mistake... running solo for FXCC.

Come on - it isn't all that bad.

 

[LDB]

I'll start the list off with logbook errors. At the end of the day check it carefully. The next morning check the previous day carefully again. Did you write 24 below the row totals? Did you double check the time in each row and that the totals actually do add up to 24? If you fueled is it clearly marked? Is the vehicle inspection portion filled out? Logbook errors are fairly common and you will get notes from your carrier on a reguler basis if you don't double check them at least a couple of times. Good luck to you.

Leo Bricker, owner trucks 4958, 5447
OOIDA 677319
73's K5LDB
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

Greg... just going with what I've heard. FXCC is known to be a team company, probably moreso than Panther. And I've driven solo with Panther, and barely made the truck payments.

 

[redytrk]

Would someone please explain to me exactly why Co A would be better for a "Solo"than co B?

It seems to me the limitations for a solo is strictly in abiding with the rules of service. Are you saying co A will dispatch a driver that would have to run illegal?

 

[Tennesseahawk]

I can only speak of my experience with Panther. When I was solo, a lot of my hours were used to dh. That limited my loaded miles. Granted, I was solo during Feb/March, but I barely squeeked out my truck payments for those two months. When I teamed with my nephew, we still ran mostly solo runs. But with the dh in there, it pushed them up to team. Plus, we wouldn't sit too long, most of the time, since we always had our hours up. Then we'd do another solo run.

The thing I saw with Panther was that as a solo you had no way to fudge with your logbook. If you were stuck in traffic for two hours, and only went 15 miles, that two hours went in your logs. The qualcomm alerts them when you're nearing your 11 or 14.

Also, I felt shafted with some of the loads I got. Unless I was the only one in the area, I felt like I got passed over, especially in the South. I did in fact catch them one time, but I doubt anything was done about it. As a solo (and sometimes as a team) I felt stuck with loads that paid little to the truck, since I didn't want to drop to the bottom of the list. As a team, we'd just dh to another area.

 

[greg334]

>Greg... just going with what I've heard. FXCC is known to be
>a team company, probably moreso than Panther. And I've
>driven solo with Panther, and barely made the truck
>payments.

I know Larry, I just saw the door open threw my comment in.

I didn't do too bad this week - made the truck payment, but could be better - a lot better.

but I was thinking about it, I run into teams around 1 in 15 when I meet other FedEx CC drivers - all b/c/d units. Yesterday was something odd, I rolled into a pilot and there were 8 b/d units all in one area, not one team.

 

[Monty]

>I'll start the list off with logbook errors. At the end of
>the day check it carefully. The next morning check the
>previous day carefully again. Did you write 24 below the row
>totals? Did you double check the time in each row and that
>the totals actually do add up to 24? If you fueled is it
>clearly marked? Is the vehicle inspection portion filled
>out? Logbook errors are fairly common and you will get notes
>from your carrier on a reguler basis if you don't double
>check them at least a couple of times. Good luck to you..........


Thank You Mr. Bricker,
I downloaded the Driver's Daily Log today on their 60 day free trial.
Ran through many senerios to get the feel for its use. I particularly lke the possible violations warnings that appear when you near a violation. That should take care of any possible mistakes in calculations.

And thanks to you all for your posts. Still open for more suggestions!

Monty

 

[Busin4fun]

i love ddl works great... good luck


Just Do What Needs To Be Done and Ask Questions Later.. If you really need to know.. Be Safe:+

 

[theoldprof]

A common Newbie mistake, and one I have made more than once, is to look at a load offer and think, Wow, XXX hundred miles. Only problem being is that at the other end of XXX hundred miles is Nofreight City, and you have to sit forever, or deadhead to a better area. :+ :+

 

[dieselphreak2K]

And on the same note, saying "that load's only XX miles, I won't take it" and you are sitting in nofreight city, usa.