Slow?

[red rover]

Wow, you guys that turn nothing down and still earn a living must not run with my co.(Tri-State) I think I turn down as many load offers as I take. They seem to push the loads that I just cant believe thay even bid for. Why bother with them.(the loads they get off the internet im talking about) Just last week I got into it with them about a load picking up in pa. going to ny. At the time I was the only unit (D) in cleveland ( a hot spot for us) why should I leave there for it I asked. It goes to tim-buck-too, Ill have to deadhead back to ohio for the next load, not to mention the deadhead to pickup in PA! Opps Im getting ahead of my self, let me tell you what my last week was like.
I picked up friday afternoon near Sait louis Mo. with a load going to Concord NH. Unloaded monday morning, sat there at there request untill tuesday night. then bonused to Rochester NY. Sat there untill
wensday night, then sent to cleveland OH. Sat there #1 on the board untill thursday evening when we got in a fight over three crapy loads that i refused( one to ONT. one to SC. one to NY.) becouse single driver allmost never get freight out of these places. Called It quits Before I blewup and said somthing I shouldnt and came home to Ft. Wayne empty.
Now before you blow up at me and tell me everything Im doing wrong, let me say this.
Been driving for 11 years for tri-state. After nearly going belly up doing things there way, I changed my bussness stratigy. Now I rarely run south of ohio river, west of mississippi river, or east of ohio/PA. line.
This last tax year I ran the exact same days out, very nearly the same miles driven, and grossed to the truck $16000 more money. (thats right i said sixteen thousand)
OK let me have it.

 

[raceman]

I hear what you are saying. I used to run for TS and know what can go on there.
I am in a little different situation now than I was when running with TS or E1. My loads are still expedite but I run out of a home base. I go hard one way then come back at a decent pace. I can come back empty if I want or sometimes there will already be a return load planned and sometimes the load I take out gets looked at and then comes right back. Those are ship tests and they are looking for shipping miles on the product to determine what happenes to it. I am just in a deal here where I simply turn nothing down.

When I was with TS I at times would turn things down. Deadhead 150 miles to PU an 80 mile run. NOPE. It depends on what you are actually doing. There is good reason for me to turn nothing down in my current deal. I am not sure I could have said that a year ago. Depends on the goal and the situation.


Raceman
OTR O/O

 

[kg]

i understand that there are times a truck must accept the poor runs to move closer home, better location, or just to break the dry spell.

however to accept all runs short in length or low in pay, or a size or two down in class for your vehicle is short sighted.

i feel that this encourages companies to over contract the number of specific class vehicles because they realize there are too many units and the trucks will readily haul any size loads.

yes, we must survive and make a living, but what a wasteful industry epedited trucking has become.

the move to bigger trucks to haul the same light frieght is like killing an insect using a sledge hammer.

just my opinion.

 

[poopookitty]

Great point KG! Another thing to remember is you are doing a disservice to yourself and all owner/operators in the freight industry by taking every crappy load you are offered. First and foremost your business can't stay profitable for very long.

Generally, in any industry when your operating costs go up (such as fuel, especially since it is our largest expense) so does the cost of the product. I'm guessing that this is probably true for the expediting industry as well, but the increase may not be passed down to the driver. Come on we have been dealing with the fuel increase for over a year now. Surely, the expediting industry has started to adjust. I'm sure some of you have considered this.

Say no to cheap freight!


Have A Poopy Day!

 

[davekc]

There is always a fine line between servicing the customer, and turning a profit. As operating and fuel costs keep climbing, the savvy driver has to determine where that line is.
It starts with knowing what it costs to run your truck. Short loads can be great if they keep you in the freight lanes or move you towards a better location.
Excessive deadhead and taking all runs at all cost is a recipe for disaster. There was a time were it would kinda balance out. With the costs I mentioned and stagnant freight rates, it is not profitable to continue with that kind of practice.
I don't think it is a crisis to take a unprofitable load, but it can't be all the time.
All too often some get blinded by a initial long milage run. Don't go to the west coast only to sit there a week, and then deadhead back. If your carrier has no freight there, don't go.Everytime I go out there, I see many folks complaining when they are out there. Your company has no cost in whether you return or not. At best, a few dollars for fuel.
The answer again is to find a company in which you can find your own loads, or don't get out of their freight lanes, or you will suffer.
Remember, "businessman first, driver second"
Davekc
owner
20 years

 

[guest]

I have been very busy lately, and all of our loads are automotive.
Ford has been keeping us rolling and looks like this will continue for some time to come.