Please Help

[Looney2]

Well I really liked what I read about Express-1. Seems like they are doing very well and on their way up. They didnt require any experience and they were willing to take me on with a cargo van. Seems like alot of the other company's either required experience, which as a plumber I have none except driving a cargo van for the last 8 years which doesn't count, or required at least a straight truck which I couldnt see buying as a single driver. Everyone at E-1 was very helpfull and want you to succeed.

 

[letzrockexpress]

Ontario Van man, I wasn't necessarily disagreeing with you...I just thought the 2 cents joke was funny...sorry if I offended you.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

It was humourous..I endure many a crack Canada vs U.S. Thats life.
I suspect some of you's that dislike hyphenated Americans...You could say I'am now an Ameri-Can???? Humour guys humour with a U!!!!

 

[highway star]

OVM, if you're gonna be an American you need to drop the u when you spell humor, eh?

 

[arkjarhead]

i know this is of subject but my funny story about canada is when i first started driving alone. get into canada and the speed limit was like 120. didn't pay attention to the km/h not mp/h. i hit about 80,85 get pulled over. the officer takes my cdl checks me out and comes back to the truck. he said is this your first time in canada? i said yes sir what's wrong? he said the speed limit is 120 kmh and you were driving like 147 kmh. i looked at him kinda funny and asked him what a km was. he said just watch the small numbers on your speedometer. then he said "how aboot you slow it down, eh?" i said yes sir. and he let me go with an oral warning. got real lucky.

 

[Looney2]

What kind of hoops do you have to jump thru these days for an U.S citizen to get into Canada? Passport? birth certificate? Is it worth the extra .08 cents/mile as far as pay is concerned???

 

[cheri1122]

We can currently get across with a certified copy of birth certificate. The law requiring a passport is scheduled to take effect next January 1, I believe, but is subject to change before then.
As for the question of whether it's worth it, I like Canada. It's the US Customs I could do without, but a polite reply to whatever questions they're in the mood to ask is enough to get by.

 

[RichM]

There are two people you don't lie to. Your Doctor and a Customs Inspector,nuff said.

 

[Broompilot]

The post reads Please help, I honestly think if you read this from start to finish you will see the points very clearly.

One you started this with no $ in reserves (Advances were mentioned) Strike One, No Sleeping arrangments and ideling your profits Strike Two, Now the bad luck hits and you lose a load cause of a malfunction with did I read right another one waiting (all of our dreams a waiting load) Strike Three.

In the game of life you have failed miserably in the Expediting Industry. The one saving grace on your next at bat, save your $ first and have some reserves. I wish you will this post was depressing to read.

 

[Looney2]

Broompilot- Your right about me not having much luck to start out with. I pretty much thaught that I was going to jump right in and do well. I usually gotta learn the hard way. Fortunately expediting is just filling in for plumbing as Iam a licensed master plumbing contractor, and own my own plumbing company. I really do like expediting but it is much harder to make a buck then fixing plumbing. No doubt expediters work hard for their money. Unfortunately my truck is still in the shop, but I got several great paying plumbing jobs while I was at home, and have a few more on the way. Should make enough off the jobs in the next few days to have a couple months of expediting savings. No more Comdata advances for sure. Refuse to stay in hotels cause its too much money. Ill just squeeze in with the big trucks at the truck stops and crawl in back of van. Hopefully some day I can look back on my expediting adventures and tell my kids that I might not have made much money, but at least I got to get outta Michigan and see the world for awhile. I have been reading alot of posts and learning alot. Thaught my apprentice days were over,but Iam learning alot from everybody. Thanks all. See ya out there in the middle.

 

[Broompilot]

Join OOIDA, I have a membership with major hotel/motels accross the country. The charge is only like $5.00 a year, I believe its called Check in Card.

Anyway a $80.00 room I can usually get for the mid $30s.

You have to have a credit card that they will bill once a month with all of your charges, so you do not present Visa etc.. at the check in only the CC membership card.

I use it very little but it is sure nice to save that kina $ when I do.

Just Google OOIDA.

 

[Looney2]

Thanks Broom, thats a great idea. Thanks for the info.

 

[cheri1122]

Here's another tip: check the "Have you seen this expediter" thread in the Layover Lounge forum, and make note of the drivers you'd especially like to talk to, or avoid, lol, if you ever find yourself parked at the same place. Wouldn't it be a bite to spend a day in a truckstop, bored to tears, because you didn't know that someone you'd love to meet is parked a few spaces down?
Also, if you get to the MAT show in a few weeks, don't be shy, introduce yourself to the folks at the EO booth, ok?

 

[Looney2]

Thanks I will do that. About this MAT show...Where can I find info on it????

 

[jaminjim]

http://truckingshow.com/

 

[nightcreacher]

ok my 2 cents for what ever its worth
the check inn card chrges you 4.95 everytime you use it,but yes the rates are great,most motels take it,im in a $100 room at holiday inn right now,paid 57 bucks for 2 of us,with 2 beds
and the other problems you had,meet mr murphy,not just in expedite,but trucking in its self,never ever say things cant get
worst,you will find out they can

 

[Looney2]

Thanks again to everyone. I really appreciate all the great tips. Hopefully I can make it to the truck show coming up and meet some other expediters. Murphy sure can make things worse, but I always keep a positive attitude, and know that eventually things can get better. I dont give up easily and know that eventually I will learn the good freight lanes and what loads to turn down. I get paid deadhead after the first 100 miles and Iam guessing that if I go 110 miles deadhead that I only get paid for the 10 extra miles and not 110. That kinda stinks but if I have to burn $15.00 in gas to get a good paying load then I guess its worth it..Van should be out of the shop sometime this coming week, I have my CDL B road test on wednsday so I gotta study that pre-trip inspection stuff for the next couple of days. Thanks again for all the positive info. Looney

 

[nightcreacher]

didnt notice if your running with your wife in van,but do yourself a favor,get you wife a b cdl also,and if not married,find a wife.this life is much easier if your with your wife,and shes behind the wheel,beside all income into 1 house much better than,2 houses,sometime wish i had a wife,but not going into that in this forum

 

[Looney2]

Nightcreacher...lol. Sometimes those wives are more troble than they are worth..I know it gets kinda lonely out on the road but a good dog can keep ya company although they cant drive very well..My wife is busy taking care of my 9 month old daughter, but if she wasn't, I dont think I could sleep knowing that she is driving..She can't drive a stick first of all. I know they have automatics out these days, but she freaked me out when we owned a full size conversion van..Guess I will have to wait about 18 years to find out..By then maybe they will have straight trucks that have GPS autopilot and drive themselves..lol. Iam just wondering if everyone thinks that I can make more or less in a straight truck as a single driver, being that I will have to log hours and all that good stuff. I know Iam limited in the amount of cargo I can carry in a cargo van however I dont have to log hours and I can drive until I start to go crosseyed. Would like to hear from some previous cargo van drivers that went to straight truck as a single driver...Maybe at the truck show..Anyhow we'll see you out there..Thanks. Looney

 

[michdpm]

Hey Looney,

Sorry to hear bad luck is riding with you right now.

Remember that you can call Bill Welch at E-1 and he can
help set you on the better routes. Don't give up.

You know me because I am the one that gave you your road
test when you started with E-1.

Check back often, take care.

Michigan D P M