Somehow its all comming back to me.

[Tennesseahawk]

This is all what this post means. Whether you know it or not, Ateam, showing off your outstanding gains does not impress us. It does, however, impress newbies. And those newbies would rather listen to "How we made a fortune in expediting" than "Here's reality in expediting".

Don't you get it? You, and a few others on here, are painting a rosey picture rarely seen. Whether you make that money or not isn't the point. The point is, you're convincing ppl to follow in your footsteps, and it's IMPROBABLE that they'll succeed doing it!

If Chris Moneymaker told me how he won the 2003 WSOP Main Event (World Series of Poker), and that was to sell his house and put everything on one game, then said, "Well, you can do it too, Larry", I'd be a fool to follow. But many others would. Are they naive? Yes. Is he wrong for telling a story like that to would-be poker newbies? Damm straight he is (no pun intended)! ;-)

Take it for face value, Ateam. I'm not trying to be personal here. Your story is an exception to the rule, and pretty dangerous to naive newbs.

And that's all I got ta say bout that.

As it is, I'm happy here in my full house with my two pairs of cats, my queen of hearts, duece of diamonds, and a dog that'll send me up the river. All puns intended :7

 

[RichM]

Excellent reply Gregg but sadly due to individuals constantly boasting about their exploits,the FDX W/G fleet is becoming saturated , along with other companies trying to chip away at their customer base. Some people do not know how to keep quiet which results in fewer opportunities for others.

 

[dhalltoyo]

Wow! I was having some reservations about entering the wonderful world of expedited freight and trying to eek out a fair living with a "B" unit, but after reading this entire post I am definitely convinced that I should run out a buy that new van tomorrow!

If there are that many disgruntled folks on the road today, I should have ample opportunity to transport the excess freight that will be available after they have moved on.

I certainly appreciate everyone's restraint in their posts, but the implications were fairly obvious.

I have a Christian brother that attends my church and he works for a fairly well known expediting company. He started out with a "D" unit and made a decent living. He recently switched to a different unit against the advice of his fellow drivers and corporate management.

Please keep in mind that mine and Rogers's real boss is a Jewish carpenter from Nazareth; therefore, we seek a different venue for our guidance. In fact, Roger just told me today that he got another run although he was third on the board. Strangely enough, the others were not available for dispatch. Roger told me that happens to him all the time.

The Bible says, "Am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?" My post may sound a little fluffy, but it is the truth! Frankly, I am always encouraged when I hear about positive things happening. And, according to the scriptures, we are to esteem others more than ourselves. I say give em' a big Amen for doing well.

PS. If someone makes a major financial decision without ample consideration....well, somebody probably has a nice little tract of beach front property in Nevada they will be able to unload. You can sell some of the people all of the time. That is just the nature of our flesh.

 

[ATeam]

How pray tell is a newbie without a financial
>background supposed to reproduce your results?

Excellent question!

Short answer:

First, note that the results I posted are TEAM results. Solo driving is an entirely different world. Do not think you can divide team results in half to predict solo results. It does not work that way.

For teams:

1. Get a CDL with air brake and hazmat endorsements.

2. Find a fleet owner, preferably a good one, that will take newbies on.

3. Produce a good set of numbers for several months (acceptance, availability, safety, etc.).

4. Talk to the expediters and carrier officials you meet. Ask to hear success stories. Identify and contact the people that run the business models you wish for yourself. Network with these people and make them your friends.

5. Evaluate your fleet owner relationship and fleet owner skills. Stay with him or her if he or she is giving you the support, coaching, compensation and reliable equipment you need. Interview other fleet owners and make a change if necessary.

6. Live within your means. Manage your money and business well. Build a reserve to carry you through lean times. If you do not know how to live within your means, set goals, or manage a one-truck expediting business, set the goal to learn how. Be patient with yourself if you do not now have management skills. They can be learned but learning takes study and time. Keep leaning into it, but also give yourself the time you need.

7. Consider becomming an owner-operator but don't rush into it. Fully research that path before buying a truck.

>No one, not even the best and most
>successful expediter can anticipate every variable in this
>segment of the industry and to say they can is only fooling
>themselves.

I don't believe I have ever said one can anticipate every variable. No one can in any industry. It's not about knowing the future, it's about being prepared for it. Maintaining a cash reserve and having contingency plans in place will help. Whether it's a broken leg, a broken truck, or broken carrier, the result will be the same; down time for you. Worry less about preparing for the future. Worry more about preparing for down time.


>I strongly feel that this is all about luck more than skill,
>especially when you are talking about FedEx CC WG. This
>stuff with FedEx CC WG is not the bid on/hope to get a load
>scenario but specialized service to the point that there is
>little or no outside competition and the branding of the
>service for most customers has already taken place long
>before the need to move something is created. You are not
>given these loads because of your skill or special
>knowledge; you are just a truck that fits specific criteria
>that is requested by a company to move something, nothing
>more. If I am wrong, please show me some proof.

You are not wrong, especially in your perception that WG offers a specialized service that few can compete with. That's precicely why shippers hire WG trucks and drivers. They want the services and equipment we proudly offer.

Luck has nothing to do with it. Early in our industry research, we determined that FedEx WG is a highly successful sector of the expediting industry, if not the most successful. Once we figured that much out, we configured ourselves to be part of the WG team and interviewed only the fleet owners that run WG trucks.

I will argue (respectfully) with you just a bit about the skill or special knowledge point you made. It is true, as you say, that WG trucks are hired because of the equipment they carry and capabilities the trucks themselves have. But that does not mean that any truck driver can be a WG driver. A clean record is a must. Security clearances help. Professionalism when interacting with customers is the icing on the cake.

For example, tomorrow morning we pick up a WG load in Texas to deliver to Washington DC. It is a reefer load. The reefer brought the truck into the picture. It is an art load (must be kept at room temperature) with a courrier (must also be kept at room temperature;-) . The courrier brings the drivers into the picture.

Along with the freight, we'll have a passenger in the truck on this overnight run. In this situation, it is vital that our passenger/courrier/customer be satisfied. The poor guy will be forced to sit in the passenger seat the whole trip, since Diane and I need to alternate between driving and sleeping shifts. The truck is a Western Star with a flat roof in the cab and 70-some-inch sleeper. We'll remain in uniform the whole trip. We'll make sure his food, drink, and bathroom needs are met. We'll use our best human relations and customer service skills to accomodate this man. His report figures into deciding who gets the next art load his museum ships.

We're up to that task and have successfully done it before. We don't have a customer service endorsement on our CDL, but because we're good with courriers, FedEx is pleased to give us WG courrier loads. In fact, we enjoy courrier loads. Art courriers are eager to talk about art. We get them talking and enjoy a bit of personal growth as we learn more about the arts and art history.

There are a number of reasons we get to be WG drivers beyond the truck and beyond our license.

Another example would be what we wear and how we look when we're asked to walk into a hospital operating room to pick up, wrap, secure, and deliver to another operating room in another hospital a piece of medical equipment that will be used in surgery the next day. We show up clean and in uniform. We are courteous at the counter when no one knows why we are there. We are patient and polite with the security guards that try to run our truck off the lot. When hospital staff people see that, they know to call FedEx the next time they have equipment to move. When FedEx gets customer feedback about us, they know to keep us in the WG fleet. It's not about luck. It's about professionalism.

Another thing we like about WG is that we're not alone. Time and time again, highly-skilled dispatchers have backed us up when we found ourselves in a pickle. The FedEx sales force has people nationwide telling the exact same WG story you told, Greg. That keeps the loads coming.

"WG is not the bid on/hope to get a load
>scenario but specialized service to the point that there is
>little or no outside competition and the branding of the
>service for most customers has already taken place long
>before the need to move something is created."

When we discovered WG, we knew it was for us. With a brand like FedEx on your truck and a dispatch and sales team like FedEx behind you, it's easy to do your part; and profitable too.

 

[mrgoodtude]

Awe come on Broom it's been a great year, we have been so busy we haven't even had a chance to catch up on the forum. Ms Puss and I grossed $736,000 with our D unit working 6 mos. Hell we even made $1300.00 a day on location in New Orleans with a load of ice in our dry box. My fuel surcharge average has been $1.78 a mile for "all" miles and we have never sat more than 30 min waiting for our next load, (##### it's January I better get a shower). I just paid cash for 5 NEW Kw 900"s with 36' temp control boxes that are decked out with waterbeds, plasma screens (4ea), nex rad radar, flex capacitors, hydraulics and of course liftgate and although I am not happy with the fact they only achieve 14 mpg on the highway each truck grosses 10k a week in revenue and am confident that if I watch my bottom line I can still turn a small profit. Teams Call me all the time looking of a job so please if you are looking for a driving position leave me an e-mail and I will respond should the need ever arise. Well I've wasted 5 of my 30 min gotta go get that shower and water my co-driver...er houseplant.

 

[RichM]

Wow poverty reins for Mr Goodtube,only $736,000 for 6 months. You must be living wrong,are your uniforms clean? Perhaps you need to develop more customer service skills.

 

[x06col]

I dunno if it is fluff or what. From what I look at each day on the road there is nothing for sure for success. However, when I see the average cargo van type guy thinking about the buisiness generally in the back of their mind is "screwing the pooch" meaning they want to do it easy ie. no scales, no logs, be home most of the time, etc. etc. Another step up the food chain would be the clown that purchases a truck with a 200 inch sleeper and a 12 foot cargo body. Where they get these ideas, and make them stick is beyond me. Next are the folks that start out with a extremely high dollar easy street
toy 32,000 lb toy truck. (The operative words "extremely high dollar)
Next would be the folks that purchase a good working, comfortable, not too high dollar, desireable (24 ft box, tandem, liftgate) truck
and sign on with a carrier that does not have the finesse or desire to use the trucks assets. Next would be the folks that purchase the above type truck sign with a carrier that uses the trucks assets. Fluff? Maybe. Maybe not. These are the recipies I observe out there, which one do you want to cook with?

 

[Broompilot]

For that job I am available feel free to contact me right here on this site or private E-mail on the EO I have a second driver maybee two depending on where our teams meet if they do.

As for A-Team I truley believe you but its still bragging. My biggest load was not far behind yours and as for runs 122 last year with 5 cancels so 127 not bad for a first year rookie do not care to Post #s on an open forum but I am very comfortable and can manage $.

Anyone who knows me including you knows I am not average. How many people start off the blocks the way I did and make it even after getting knocked to the ground and kicked. Like T-Cell said on rating page here on the E/O I got up dusted myself off and did what I had to do to make this a success.

Am I the best Solo driver out there I doubt it, am I in the top #10% safest, highest producers in my company feel free to call my company. I just do not care to lead newbees down a path of self destruction if they are not prepared for the pitfalls, even though that should be of no concern to me but it is.

A few months ago a I heard of a couple that walked up to one of the Moderators here asking him how is success was achieved, when he inquired about why they were asking they spilled the beans, someone told them to go buy a truck refere, straps, load bars, liftgate, they listened to the advice. Two weeks later that truck was listed here on the E/O FOR SALE take over note. It is not achieveable to everyone, but for people with work ethics such as yours and mine than yes it is but thats the key work ethic and many poeple are not disiplined enough to make a business work let alone this one. Thats my point but your posts make it sound all so easy and for you and me, it is, but not for everyone.

 

[greg334]

Bravo ATeam, great post.

But you missed my point.

 

[davekc]

It is the puffery and flowery attributes that draw many unsuspecting people in.
Many only see part of the picture rather than all of it.
Or just what they choose to see.
Simular to the business model that Amway uses.

The biggest difference here is that the risks personally and financially are much greater than a case of cleaning supplies.
Strikingly simular is the use of self promotion to address a seperate agenda.












Davekc
owner
21 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[Tennesseahawk]

Either a moderator needs to close this thread, or Ateam needs to put their books on cassette.

 

[bryan]

HI
The problem I'm finding with newbees is when I bring up the downside of this business they say that I'm just being negative and drive away.
To back up Terry and Rene I averaged $316.00 gross per load as a single in a van.But understand I didn't get a load everyday that I was available to work.So far this year I've had 2 loads for 9 days.Definatly a slow start.Just never in the right place at the right time.Will it get better?Absolutly!Is it driving me nuts?Absolutly!

 

[davekc]

>Either a moderator needs to close this thread, or Ateam
>needs to put their books on cassette.


A cassette doesn't contain enough space

Davekc
owner
21 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[highway star]

Kudos Broompiolt. This was a very interesting read. Newbees should read this with a very open mind. This next is probably a bit of stating the obvious.

You newbees need to take the spirit of this thread with you as you talk to drivers on the road. As Bryan said, some don't want to hear the downside and walk away. Conversly, they will eat up the stories about those great runs and great weeks. Don't be afraid to listen to half and believe a quarter if your instinct says you are dealing with a bovine excrement specalist. Fluff is everywhere.

Bryan, you're being driven crazy? Sounds like not much more than a local.

 

[kg]

i think most here would agree that eo forum is a tool used by the professional expeditor, and that aspiring newcomers read these pages to HELP them make a business decision.

what i do not understand is the constant drumbeat against positive posts,as it relates to people researching this business. why would you feel sorry for someone that invests a big chunk of change based solely on something he or she read on the internet? if a website claimed you could make $300,000 a year and all you had to do was to buy a dinghy and sign up with a fishery, would you all run out and do that?

the mis-informed,ill prepared,unqualified, and unsuited prospective business owners have always been around. if business ownership and success was easy,as they say we would all be rich and famous.

lets try to help when we can but lets tell it like it is whether that is success or failure.

there has got to be high spots as well as lows in any venture.

gross exagerations will be seen as they are by most clear thinking people. very gullible people should probably not use their computers to browse the internet.

just my opinion

 

[Tennesseahawk]

kg, I think you're mistaking things. The "drumbeat against positive posts" in this case is really a warning against unreasonable expectations. Regardless of most ppl being able to differentiate between the improbable and common, there are some who come in here with a clear mind and get lured by fantastic numbers. Those numbers don't happen normally, and are usually out of reach by most in this business. If they were normal, everyone on here would have them. Do they?

The occasional post of an exceptional week, month, year, whatever, is fine. But in this case, it's treated as if anyone can do it. That is dangerous when ppl put everything on the line to attempt expediting, and expecting those kind of numbers. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE ONE TOUTING THAT ACHIEVEMENT HAS NOTHING VESTED THEMSELVES.

Now ya get it? Most of us post our positives AND negatives on here. Tho an ego rears its ugly head here and there, it's usually not dangerous. What is dangerous is a cockiness that distorts the facts, and creates a false normalcy. One with multi-thousand dollar loads as the norm, $175,000/year as an average, and the dream of doing it all with your life savings and the right company.

 

[Packmule]

Sometimes it just seems to boil down to the old adage "It's not what you say...but how you say it".
I see nothing wrong with being proud of success that you have worked hard to achieve, but when you flont it in the face of others over and over it becomes hard to applaud that persons pride.
By the same token any person researching this industry and basis his decisions on the post of one person weather it relates to positive or negative posts, will probly not be successful in this or any business.
I really like this business and plan to continue several more years. I didn't get rich my first year, but I came out in the Black at the end of the year. For this I am proud. It could have gone the other way with 1 or 2 Major break downs, or health problems or any number of varibles that exist in this business.
It's more than a roll of the dice but not much more than an educated guess!!

Dan

 

[ATeam]

Tennesseahawk wrote:

>Don't you get it? You, and a few others on here, are
>painting a rosey picture rarely seen. Whether you make that
>money or not isn't the point. The point is, you're
>convincing ppl to follow in your footsteps, and it's
>IMPROBABLE that they'll succeed doing it!
>
>If Chris Moneymaker told me how he won the 2003 WSOP Main
>Event (World Series of Poker), and that was to sell his
>house and put everything on one game, then said, "Well, you
>can do it too, Larry", I'd be a fool to follow. But many
>others would. Are they naive? Yes. Is he wrong for telling a
>story like that to would-be poker newbies? Damm straight he
>is (no pun intended)! ;-)
>
>Take it for face value, Ateam. I'm not trying to be personal
>here. Your story is an exception to the rule, and pretty
>dangerous to naive newbs.
>
>And that's all I got ta say bout that.


Is it that I don't get it, or that you are not being fair?

As a freelance writer, I have written a fair amount here at EO and in other venues about expediting; both about the industry itself and our personal experiences in it. It is simply not true that I tell only the rosy side of the picture.

Even in this thread I talked about our ten worst loads and losing a full three months of the year to unanticipated down time. I've writen an EO article called the Five Challenges of Expediting that tells newbies what to be ready for. (http://www.expeditersonline.com/artman/publish/article_001719.html)
I've written posts here on EO about having to change fleet owners because one did not maintain his trucks. I've written stories about us being dry ran and forced to wait a day in subzero weather. In the Expedite Now magazine I have a story that talks about being too sick to drive and being sick in the truck at a truck stop (great joy those days! yuk!). It would take some time, but I could go back through my writings and produce a fairly long list of horror stories about things that went wrong for us as expediters.

Let's be fair, shall we? Before you criticize me for presenting only the rosy side, read all I write about expediting and please give equal weight to the good and bad that I talk about. A recent piece I wrote in another venue is entitled "Introduction to Expediting." So you and others will know the balanced story I tell, I've posted it in the Newbies section of the open forum. Click here to read it:

http://www.expeditersonline.com/dcforum/DCForumID2/1716.html

In this thread, I emblished nothing. I posted our numbers only and talked about the negative parts of our year. You need to understand Tennesseahawk that there are numerous epediters that made more money than we did in 2005. Our story is not as excpetional as you think.

Tennesseahawk, you are a capable writer. You have proven that by your posts in the forum. Instead of tearing down one man's REAL WORLD experiences and results, why not take a more positive approach and present your own. Write your own introduction to expediting and post it in the newbie fourm.

Our (Diane and me) life and times on the road as expediters are what they are. I'm not going to lie about my experiences or results simply because we are having the time of our lives out here and making good money. Our path is not unique. Others are doing the same thing we are and are making more money than us.

At the same time, other expediters are going bankrupt when general economic conditions and general industry conditions are favorable. If there are things you feel newbies should know that I am not telling, please, Tennesseahawk, get busy and write your own introduction to expediting.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

Thanx for your encouragement, Ateam. I have no intention of writing an introduction to expediting, as I don't have a writer's patience or knack for finding the right words. I sometimes start a thread using my experiences, good or bad, and see where it leads. I also try to answer questions from newbs and vets with my opinion. My only hope is that I don't put anyone to sleep doing it LOL

That's great that you post your 10 smallest runs. It's good that you warn ppl that bankruptcy can and does happen. I guess the point is, you encourage ppl to throw caution to the wind. The "you can buy a $100,000 truck and make your fortune in expediting" persuasion you have used has caused controversy among EO contributers. Especially, when you take into account, you don't have that vested yourself. I've seen you argue that point when others in the same thread were trying to reason that driving for someone first was the best way to go. You're pushing a point of view you have no experience in. You act like you have the knowledge of the ages with only a couple of years experience. To me, that reeks of narcissism.

Fact is, I doubt this post will change anything. Your actions will prove me right or wrong. Unless you take a good look at what you write and say, and how it ultimately affects your readers, you're not being objective as a writer, nor wise as a teacher.

 

[ATeam]

Tennesseahawk wrote,

">That's great that you post your 10 smallest runs. It's good
>that you warn ppl that bankruptcy can and does happen. I
>guess the point is, you encourage ppl to throw caution to
>the wind. The "you can buy a $100,000 truck and make your
>fortune in expediting" persuasion you have used has caused
>controversy among EO contributers.

That it has caused conrroversy is clear. But the perception that I'm telling people to throw caution to the winds is flat out wrong. It comes from an unbalanced reading and reporting of what I write. I have NEVER ONCE IN MY LIFE, in person or in writing, advised someone to purchase a truck of any kind. I have often encouraged people to drive for fleet owners first. In fact, I've referred several people to good fleet owners I know. I've never once referred an expediter to as truck salesperson. If you review my writings, you'll see me many times advising people to do their research before jumping in. NOTHING in my writings can be FAIRLY construed as saying to throw caution to the winds, if my words are taken in the context of the entire piece.

No, I don't have the experience many other expediters have. So what? I've never written anything that is factually inaccurate or that cannot be substiantiated. If you can find quotes from my works that prove otherwise, be my guest and please post them here.