Prime Time

[ATeam]

While we can debate the specific start dates of the busy season, I believe it is fair to say we are in it now. Allowing, of course, for vital family events and health issues, this is the season to optimize your time out on the road, in service time, and to haul as much freight as you can. In other words, make hay while the sun shines.

I just looked at our year-to-date numbers. While we can afford to stop running now and take the rest of the year off (a decision many expediters make at various points as the holidays get closer), we choose instead to maximize our revenue by continuing to haul freight well into December.

Partly in response to talcall101's post about a FedEx e-mail message he received, let me say that already in 2007, our gross revenue has topped that of some of our previous full, 12-month years. Higher fuel prices and surcharges account for part of the revenue increase, but so do increases in freight rates and the ongoing good business opportunities FedEx has provided.

We are not fleet owners like tallcall101 was, so we are free of those issues, challenges and potential rewards). As one-truck owner-operators and FedEx Custom Critical contractors, we belive that business is good and this is prime money-making time. We believe a recession is coming and it is more important than ever to maximize revenue and build financial reserves.

 

[arkjarhead]

Phil,
I'm glad to hear you are having a good year. How is the new truck floor working out so far? I didn't mean that in any sarcastic manner just wondering.

 

[ATeam]

No sarcasm taken. Overall, we are very pleased with the truck. 175,000 miles, 15 months old. We have been down for maintenance and repairs some, but less than any other truck we have driven; which is to be expected as ours is a new truck. Some of that was not for repairs but additions like tool boxs and chicken lights. All repairs have been covered by warranty. 9 - 10 mpg, depending on speed; plenty of power for mountains, more maneuverable than any truck we previously drove.

I think we have a keeper in this truck. We hope to drive it for ten years. If we had it to do over again, we would build pretty-much the same truck.

For more, see "What We Like and Don't Like About Our Truck" on my web site at:

http://www.successfulexpediters.com/Madsen/MadsenStory011.htm

 

[ATeam]

Oops! I just reread your post. You were asking about the truck FLOOR, not the truck. Sorry for the misread. Too late to edit my reply.

The floor is fine. Like new. No problems. We will have to wait a year or more to see if the condition redevelops. I doubt that it will. Floor is sealed again with Key Polymer Floor Restore, exactly like the previous floor was.

It's a Kidron truck body and I can tell you this. The first place I will go to buy a reefer body for our next truck is Kidron. I doubt I will even shop around. While there was a fluke failure in the floor the first time around, they took care of us without hesitation or cost.

Back when we had odd reefer troubles that Carrier sent two engineers out to troubleshoot, they brought a very high-end infrared camera with them to examine the reefer body. The body was built well. No insulation voids were found or leaks to the outside. When the body was delivered, it was found to be built exactly as spec'ed the first time; a refreshing change from what we had received from some vendors. It was also deliverd on time, another refreshing change.

The reefer body is in good shape. The floor is fixed. The customer is happy. The down time for the repair was no fun. We arrived late Friday and they got us in first thing Monday. We had to pass two days of non-productive time in an RV park and one day at the shop, but what can you do?

 

[arkjarhead]

The reason I know about the floor is from reading your blog. I didn't want you thinking I was saying Oh you had a good year, so what was that floor thing about. So do you think you'll get another truck? In one of your blogs it sounded like the truck you have now you plan on running for 10 years and then moving into the house you all plan on building in northern minnesota. Or did I read that wrong? I just wish my grandpaw never wouldv'e said he was buying his last truck when he got his last one. I was about 12 when he got it and he was about 61. I told him he would get 5 more new ones, but he died when that one was 5 years old. Guess he knew what he was talking about.

 

[ATeam]

It's nice to have you as a blog reader.

Our plan is to haul expedited freight for as long as our health allows. We hope that will be 15 to 20 years; after which we plan to build a house and retire in it. Like the truck, we will be build that house many times in our minds before we build it for real. We hope to get 10 years or more out of our present truck and plan to pay cash for the next one when that time comes.

Your story, your Grandfather's and those of others like Glen and Janice Rice are not lost on us. While we have a nice plan, lots of hope, and good progress so far, we know it all can be snatched away in an instant. It really is a bummer that the expediting opportunity is only as good as your health, and that life itself is a terminal condition.

Reminds me of a tombstone. "Here lies an athiest. All dressed up and no place to go."