looking at going with expediter services in one of their trucks. Have asked alot of questions of them and also FedEx CC but still unable to find out how often we could get to the northwest (i.e,every three weeks,once every two months or never?), seeing as that's where we (wife & I) live, would like to know before we commit and find out no one services this area. Can you people help in this area with answers?
Seattle,Wa. and Portland,Or.
- Thread starter cliff
- Start date
Dakota
Veteran Expediter
The bad news is alot of the expedited freight is in the Midwest
The good news is that alot of expeditors don't like going to the west coast which would allow you more of a chance to get there, but there is no guarantee in this business on which direction you will be going.
The good news is that alot of expeditors don't like going to the west coast which would allow you more of a chance to get there, but there is no guarantee in this business on which direction you will be going.
You will be waiting a long time for a definitive answer, Cliff. You may get a load to the NW area several weeks in a row, and then not for 8 months - no one can predict it. Perhaps you could ask potential carriers how far it is to the nearest area where they see a fair amount of loads, and decide whether you're willing to DH that far, on your preferred hometime schedule.
Exactly Cheri.
FedEx Custom Critical has freight in that area and Settle is an Express Center. You could also stop by the Flying J in Tacoma and talk to drivers to see how often they get out to that area.
The freight is hit and miss and this year we have not had a load to that area. Last year we had several loads to the north west.
We know a few people from that area and if they need to be home they often have to dead head a long ways away. They tend to stay out longer and then stay home longer when they do get home.
I'd look at a smaller regional carrier that is based in that area if you need/want to be home more often.
idtrans
Expert Expediter
I did a round trip from Chicago to Seattle a few weeks ago 
that was a nice weeks work. Didn't hear me complain at all. Best part 20 pounds of freight each way, and $1.10 cpm I was Like mr broker sir do you have anymore of these runs PLEASE !!!
Later every now and then you hit the lil jackpots like that.
But getting to your ? yes you should be able to get home like once a month especially if your in a straight truck. Sometimes it's a little harder to get the freight out that way with so many low bidding bottom feeders out here in CV.
that was a nice weeks work. Didn't hear me complain at all. Best part 20 pounds of freight each way, and $1.10 cpm I was Like mr broker sir do you have anymore of these runs PLEASE !!! Later every now and then you hit the lil jackpots like that.
But getting to your ? yes you should be able to get home like once a month especially if your in a straight truck. Sometimes it's a little harder to get the freight out that way with so many low bidding bottom feeders out here in CV.
idtrans
Expert Expediter
You should go you will love the views of the Columbia river it is spectacular.
Columbia River - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Sierra Nevada Mountains are also fantastic area to see.
Sierra Nevada (U.S.) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I won't lie either places can suck in winter you will have to have tire chains or cables with you because of the snow LOL. But I always found it worth it to chain up and that was in my semi.
nightcreacher
Veteran Expediter
living in the north west will be a disadvantage in expediting.1st it is hard to get there,second even harder getting out of there. Welcome to EO,Good luck.In my last 9 months,Last month I did a round trip tp Oregon and the next week a round trip to Washington,only two offers in 9 months.Form 2005 to 2010 been north west 1 time other than last month
MissKat
Expert Expediter
We live in Oregon on the Coast. Drove for the Fed WG for almost a year. Went home 3 times, never closer than Portland either in or out.
Had to deadhead to Sacramento to get a load to start moving. Once had a slot machine load out of Mount Hood area.
Since the West Coast doesn't seem to have many expedite knowledgeable customers, it was difficult even once dispatched on a load out of there to actually consummate the load. Seems the shippers cancel quite often.
We had to deadhead pnce from Montana to Reno to Sac before an offer came. The last time we went home, we deadheaded from Great Falls MT. The load out of Oregon (Eugene) came after 8 days of being in service waiting for an offer and cancelled on the way to pick up.
We had ONE load in that year out of Seattle. None in Portland itself. One delivery in Newburg.
We stayed out an average of 4 months at a time, however an E unit we know did very well and lived in Portland, so maybe more chance with truckload freight in the NW.
Had to deadhead to Sacramento to get a load to start moving. Once had a slot machine load out of Mount Hood area.
Since the West Coast doesn't seem to have many expedite knowledgeable customers, it was difficult even once dispatched on a load out of there to actually consummate the load. Seems the shippers cancel quite often.
We had to deadhead pnce from Montana to Reno to Sac before an offer came. The last time we went home, we deadheaded from Great Falls MT. The load out of Oregon (Eugene) came after 8 days of being in service waiting for an offer and cancelled on the way to pick up.
We had ONE load in that year out of Seattle. None in Portland itself. One delivery in Newburg.
We stayed out an average of 4 months at a time, however an E unit we know did very well and lived in Portland, so maybe more chance with truckload freight in the NW.
We have been a FedEx CC for 2 1/2 years. Never been to Oregon or Washington. I think we had 2 load offers there in that time period.
TeamCozumel
Seasoned Expediter
We are from the Portland area and we drive for FedexCC. We are in a C unit with Tval, hazard, and a couple other tags. Getting home every 3 to 4 weeks is pretty optimistic. We asked the same questions you're asking when we first started (1.5 years ago) and decided we needed to plan on being away from home 8-12 weeks at a time. That's proven to be fairly accurate based on our experience.
When we are home, we end up getting frequent (often daily) load offers for short local stuff (pdx and seattle). We also get offers picking up in Spokane and delivering to other areas in Washington. These offers can be positive or negative depending on how much of a hurry you're in to get out of the northwest.
PM us if we can be more helpful or answer any other questions.
When we are home, we end up getting frequent (often daily) load offers for short local stuff (pdx and seattle). We also get offers picking up in Spokane and delivering to other areas in Washington. These offers can be positive or negative depending on how much of a hurry you're in to get out of the northwest.
PM us if we can be more helpful or answer any other questions.