please don't slam me for being a dum
- Thread starter macmov
- Start date
Typicaly, a C truck is about a 14' box with a weight capacity of a minimum of 5000Lbs, A D is a 22' - 24' box with up to 13,000 Lb capacity
Aside from tractor loads, A D unit will afford you the most expediting opportunities. I 'spect any carrier would be anxious to talk to you about leasing on a D truck, particularly if you are a team operation.
Being new at this, would I be better off leasing on as a owner operator and buy my own truck or drive as a company driver? I will refresh your memory, I have been hauling antiques in a duelly and 40' cargo trailer for 10 years now, however I really want somewhat of a change. What I think I would like to do is keep my business for occational back hauls and odd jobs, while expediting for others and using expediting as my main source of income. Is this something that can be accomplished without to much hassle?
Mac - expediting requires 100% commitment. I don't want to sound hard-nosed here, but it is very difficult to do ANYTHING else part-time and still make a good living as an expediter. Something will end up getting the short end of the stick. Others may disagree, but I had to weigh in here with what I have seen in the past.
Also, when you sign a lease with a major expediter it is an exclusive contract. All the freight that you put on that vehicle will be run under the authority of your carrier - you cannot use your own authority independently for backhauls. You can find your own loads, but they must be booked through your carriers operations people. each carrier will take a different percent of the load as a processing fee.
Expediting is an "all the way in" kind of vocation. It is truly a lifestyle - and you can't have a part time lifestyle.
I hope this sheds a little light.
Scott
Also, when you sign a lease with a major expediter it is an exclusive contract. All the freight that you put on that vehicle will be run under the authority of your carrier - you cannot use your own authority independently for backhauls. You can find your own loads, but they must be booked through your carriers operations people. each carrier will take a different percent of the load as a processing fee.
Expediting is an "all the way in" kind of vocation. It is truly a lifestyle - and you can't have a part time lifestyle.
I hope this sheds a little light.
Scott
i appriciate the insight. I wouldn't be teribbly hurt by giving up what I'm doing now, I'm just trying to bridge the gap so I don't go broke. What would be my best bet in breaking into this? Also does home location play a roll in expediting, I live in Kingman Arizona on i-40 pretty much in the middle of nowhere.
easyrider2697
Expert Expediter
>i appriciate the insight. I wouldn't be teribbly hurt by
>giving up what I'm doing now, I'm just trying to bridge the
>gap so I don't go broke. What would be my best bet in
>breaking into this? Also does home location play a roll in
>expediting, I live in Kingman Arizona on i-40 pretty much in
>the middle of nowhere.
In my opinion, location of home plays a large part in it....for example, I live 40 south of Atlanta, and I have had no problems getting home (more than I would like sometimes) or getting loads leaving, But when I lived in Alabama (little town in middle of nowhere) always had to dh home and dh out to larger market such as Atlanta.....hence the move. Now I get all the home time I need or want and have not had to ask for it and had to backhaul it 1 time in the last 5 months........so to answer your question I do believe where you live plays a big part in it..
>giving up what I'm doing now, I'm just trying to bridge the
>gap so I don't go broke. What would be my best bet in
>breaking into this? Also does home location play a roll in
>expediting, I live in Kingman Arizona on i-40 pretty much in
>the middle of nowhere.
In my opinion, location of home plays a large part in it....for example, I live 40 south of Atlanta, and I have had no problems getting home (more than I would like sometimes) or getting loads leaving, But when I lived in Alabama (little town in middle of nowhere) always had to dh home and dh out to larger market such as Atlanta.....hence the move. Now I get all the home time I need or want and have not had to ask for it and had to backhaul it 1 time in the last 5 months........so to answer your question I do believe where you live plays a big part in it..
If you are running as a solo operatuon you willbe severly handicapped trying to run in the west. The distances between major population centers are generally too long for a siolo driver to operate legally. Example Fededxcc limits single drivers to a maximum straight through run inclduding deadhead to the pickup of 550 miles.
So keeping that in mind LA would probably fit better then Phoenix.
From LA you can run up and down the coast,go to Las Vegas,Reno,Phoenix etc.
So keeping that in mind LA would probably fit better then Phoenix.
From LA you can run up and down the coast,go to Las Vegas,Reno,Phoenix etc.
jaminjim
Veteran Expediter
If you want to get home a couple of times a year as a single, your home 20 means very little. If you run as a team and want to get home 4 or 5 times a year it means nothing. Any more than that and it would be a major problem with most companies. Most companies can not keep you busy out west.
It might help if you read somewhere around 6 months of posts on the general, truck, and newbe forums. this will help you formulate a better picture of what we do.
It might help if you read somewhere around 6 months of posts on the general, truck, and newbe forums. this will help you formulate a better picture of what we do.