Remember when

aristotle · Jul 21, 2010

Remember when pulling into just about any Flying J meant there would be several expedite trucks and vans coming and going in the course of a day? The attrition in this industry has been such that nowadays I don't see nearly the numbers that once existed. Used to be the case, on any given day, one could pull into the Flying J in Waddy, KY or Knoxville or Gary, IN and see multiple expediters. I think the reductions in numbers have been a positive consequence of the long recession.

Carriers adding on too many trucks destroyed the hopes and dreams of many a trucker. Let's hope things stay streamlined for a good, long while.

layoutshooter · Jul 21, 2010

OntarioVanMan said:
I am wondering when the first carrier will "break" from policy and let older trucks/van sign on....and the flimsy excuse they'll front with....

I see a lot of junk out there now, OVM. Good morning!! Going to Expo?

layoutshooter · Jul 21, 2010

OntarioVanMan said:
I just got a short load in Clyde Oh...going to Marion Ohio....I may take the rest of the week off...

Yeah, good idea. Guys your age need a LOT of REST!!!

We will arrive Friday morning sometime. See you there!!!

ATeam · Jul 21, 2010

aristotle said:
Carriers adding on too many trucks destroyed the hopes and dreams of many a trucker. Let's hope things stay streamlined for a good, long while.

Truckers who run on hopes and dreams are the first to be forced out of the industry when business slows down. Success in this business is a function of one's accurate perception of it and one's choices, far more than it is a function of a carrier's fleet count.

If the recession has taught us anything, it teaches that a driver's hopes and dreams count as nothing in a carrier's eyes, and mean nothing on the driver's financial results.

Expediting is a business. Those who approach it as such tend to do better than those who merely hope and dream.

aristotle · Jul 21, 2010

ATeam said:
Truckers who run on hopes and dreams are the first to be forced out of the industry when business slows down. Success in this business is a function of one's accurate perception of it and one's choices, far more than it is a function of a carrier's fleet count.

If the recession has taught us anything, it teaches that a driver's hopes and dreams count as nothing in a carrier's eyes, and mean nothing on the driver's financial results.

Expediting is a business. Those who approach it as such tend to do better than those who merely hope and dream.

There is perception, then there is reality. It is a fact that bloated fleet counts diminsh opportunity for owner-operators.

ATeam · Jul 21, 2010

aristotle said:
There is perception, then there is reality. It is a fact that bloated fleet counts diminsh opportunity for owner-operators.

You are exactly right, but the smart business people know this risk going in and are prepared to deal with it.

guido4475 · Jul 21, 2010

Remember when we could pull into the FlyingJ in perrysburg and there would be 30 s/t's in the front, and we would not have a woory about getting a load that day? we would be barbecueing up fornt, playing frisbee in the parking lot?Having a good time?Every weekend we could find someone having a barbecue and join in with our barbecue?Why not now?

aristotle · Jul 21, 2010

ATeam said:
You are exactly right, but the smart business people know this risk going in and are prepared to deal with it.

I was speaking of the average Joe Trucker who enters the business misunderstanding the hyper-competitive nature of what we do.

Moot · Jul 21, 2010

aristotle said:
Used to be the case, on any given day, one could pull into the Flying J in Waddy, KY or Knoxville or Gary, IN and see multiple expediters.

When I see multiple expediters in a truck stop, especially ones flying my company's colors, I move on down the line.

aristotle · Jul 21, 2010

Moot said:
When I see multiple expediters in a truck stop, especially ones flying my company's colors, I move on down the line.

That's why you're still in the biz.

layoutshooter · Jul 21, 2010

Sometimes we move on if there are a lot of our companies trucks in an area, sometimes we stay. It depends on the area. Some areas are so good it makes little difference how many trucks are there. It also makes a difference on what kind of trucks are there. I find that there is no hard fast rule when it comes on staying in an area.

chefdennis · Jul 21, 2010

I wasn't around back in the Ole Days, but i am with Moot, when I see multiple CV's sitting, I am moving on down the raod also...seems when there are more then a few in the same place...the freight that comes over is at a lower rate.....

Lawrence · Jul 21, 2010

ATeam said:
Truckers who run on hopes and dreams are the first to be forced out of the industry when business slows down. Success in this business is a function of one's accurate perception of it and one's choices, far more than it is a function of a carrier's fleet count.

If the recession has taught us anything, it teaches that a driver's hopes and dreams count as nothing in a carrier's eyes, and mean nothing on the driver's financial results.

Expediting is a business. Those who approach it as such tend to do better than those who merely hope and dream.

Well said Phil.

greg334 · Jul 21, 2010

Sorry but I don't see the correlation on fleet size and the how much work is there.

However I see some companies are not aggressive in keeping their fleet moving and use the hit and miss technique of revenue generation.

You are a resource that is under utilized, face it if they can't stay on top of the work to keep you moving, then there is a problem.

The biggest falsehood seems to be the idea that you can plan your business around the company and make it, the company can make and break you for a number of reasons. It isn't your planning that gets you that work, it is far more complicated than that.

Out of the three majors, one can keep every truck in their fleet moving, without a doubt but doesn't.

Places like Chicago and other major cities should be a hot bed of activity but I hear some who sit for days without any offers.

OVM, there is a carrier out there that does not care about the age of the vehicle - Landstar.

davekc · Jul 21, 2010

And all of these posts are the exact reason I would never drive for a carrier where I couldn't book my own freight.
If the carrier controls everything, then they generally control your success or lack there of.

skyraider · Jul 21, 2010

davekc said:
And all of these posts are the exact reason I would never drive for a carrier where I couldn't book my own freight.
If the carrier controls everything, then they generally control your success or lack there of.

I havent been out here that long, but Im leaning toward the above statement, but Im still learning and watching.