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Sorry...... another Newbie with ?'s

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w8tamin

Expert Expediter
Howdy

I apologize for the following novel but like every other new guy I have a lot of ?'s...although I think I will ask them in multiple posts...thanks in advance for you replies

It appears to the utrained eye that most expeditors/drivers and the carriers operate out of a very narrow section of the country..ie east of the miss. in the what I guess you would call the east/midwest. I was wondering why that is so if it is?

If so, does that prevent someone like me who lives in New England to be successful in this business without relocating? Time away from home is not a big issue but just because I say that I'm afraid I wouldn't be seriously consideredbecause of geographic location.

I have a CDL-A with all the endorsements although I got it in 93 after trucking school, but never drove because of too many young kids at home at the time.

I have driven under it delivering medical oxygen for a year and running a passenger van from southern NH into Bostons Logan Airport
also for a year.

MVR is clean.....work history is mostly self-employment for the last five years as a handyman...getting too old to be lugging sheetrock up three flights of stairs.....so I'm looking for something as a driver

I looked at OTR but everyone keeps telling me that there is much more money in expediting....also considered RV Delivery but again that industry looks like a deadend money wise

Thanks

mick
 
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vernon946

Veteran Expediter
Charter Member
I like that! You joined with us and started asking questions the same day. I'll see if I can get you started and hopefully some other folks will join in.

>most expeditors/drivers and the carriers operate out of a very narrow section of the country..ie east of the miss.
Expeditors operate where the work is. I am leased to FedEx CC, and find our truck running Texas to Illinois on some trips and Kentucky to Mass on other trips. New England is a good area as we can always get a good run out of there. Your location is fine, as many of us live in a lot worse areas.

>I have a CDL-A with all the endorsements although I got it in 93 after trucking school
Most companies require you to have at least 6 months commercial experience within the past year, unless you're going to be a co-driver with someone already experienced. I suspect that will be your biggest hurdle.

I agree with the sheetrock, although I am not qualified to haul 3 sheets at a time unless its on a truck. Gotta draw the line somewhere

Vernon
 
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w8tamin

Expert Expediter
Shhhh Lawrence

I don't want a bunch of groupies to be flooding your site asking if you guys really know me and then it will be autograph's and dates...you know all that celebrity stuff....

BTW

An old friend....... Jim B from Toronto/Ontario told me about your site, he ran his own tonner from 97 to 02. I guess you guys new each other when you were a "tonner" with Fedex or something........

I'm a Vietnam Vet so I know all about working in the trenches....in fact I delivered newspapers seven days/nights a week for years although I know I was home everyday too....

Looking to start at the bottom and pay my dues....never had much trouble proving my worth and moving up after learning the ropes....

I've read through all the newbie posts back to the beginning so I'll try not to be redundent in the questions I ask....

Just want to thank everyone who maintains this site and contributes.....I've spent a lot of time on OTR trucking sites, trucking & RV Delivery newsgroups, etc etc. and this one looks like it has a good group of helpful members who are really interested in improving their industry....including and especially $$$$ for effort

I try to research any major decisions very thoroughly before I make it ........cuts down on the whining afterwards which I hate

Looks like from what I've read this is a slow period of the year so that's good it'll give me time to get a little more up to speed and decide where is the best place for me to enter the industry

Looks like the bottom rung involves driving a one ton for somebody else....and that's fine with me.....I have enough capital to survive on slim pickings for around six months while I learn the ropes

Thanks in advance for everyones consideration with my ?'s and for the immediate replies already this am

thanks again, hope to be expediting soon
mick
 
louixo

louixo

Veteran Expediter
Charter Member
Mick...the mother load of truckng in general is east of the Mississippi, because that´s where the lions share of industry and population is in the USA. To answer all your newbie questions, just go to the bottom of the page on the main page of the NEWBIES PARADISE FORUM and start clicking thru the archives. You´ll find out everything you want to know about expediting. Then keep in mind that you have just as good a shot as anyone else in making a living at it. Good luck!
 
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w8tamin

Expert Expediter
Thanks Lou

Spending the weekend every free minute reviewing the archives....sure is a lot to learn. One thing I really can't find a lot of info. on is "getting your own authority" someone says it will cost $300 but I didn't know if that was a month a year or what? In fact I really don't even know what that means?

1. Is it the commercial interstate license you need to go across each state line with commercial cargo?

2. Do you need to buy that authority from each state individually or I read where someone said they got it a weigh station when they entered each state although that seems like it would really slow you down?

3. Also seems like most recommend a diesel and do you need fuel stickers or something for a van for every state?

4. Is it true you do not need to log if driving a van? I thought if you are driving under a CDL you need to log, obey the new HOS rules etc etc. I don't know very confused...

5. If I do this I will definetely try to hook up with a o/o, company or something...I sent in a feeler to Panther and they emailed a app back right away although I think these recruiters are just salesman working a numbers game ie the more people they can get to come to a dog & pony show at the company the better chance someone will sign on and I assume only if & when that happens is when they get paid....There is an expense for me to drive a thousand miles and food, lodging, fuel etc. and not knowing if you have a guaranteed job before you get there seems a little bit of a crap shoot?

6. Someone did a great job of posting a "Interview 101 guidebook" but if I had to go through all that I think I should be qualified to drive the space shuttle instead of a expedited cargo van........I was hoping this career would get me away from all the beaurocracy but it sounds like there is a lot of hoops to jump through doinig this as well?

Anyway this is one of the most informative sites with a great deal of helpful input from the staff and members....Ive spent a lot of time on OTR trucking forums and it's mostly arrogant super trucker
 
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RichM

Veteran Expediter
Charter Member
Mick, I will try to answer some of your questions.
Having your own authority means you are a registered cariier with the US Dot and can transport regulated shipments on an interstate basis. No responsible shipper will give you freight unless you can prove that you have US Dot authority.This means you must meet certain guidelines set by the Dot. It is not that expensive to apply and receive the authority but the insurance that you must carry is very steep.You must have cargo and public liability insurance with a minimum of $750K for the public part of it. This insurance does not come cheap.
You can find agents that will assist you (for a fee) to get your own authority and insurance in any of the major trucking publications.But a good one would be to join the Owner Operators Association and work through them.
To the best of my knowledge operating a van with a diesel vs gas does not require an IFTA permit.
If your total GVW weight of the van is under 10,000 pounds you do not need to log hours. However some companies will have a mileage limitation on the maximum that they will let you run on an individual trip.
New England is not a bad spot for expediting,lots of van freight goes to JFK Airport in Long Island etc.

Iwould invest the time and bucks to go to the Panther orientation,if your license is clean,you have an OK vehicle and can pass a drug test,chances are you will be signed on.
 
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w8tamin

Expert Expediter
Rich

That's great info. thanks for taking the time to respond...still doing my homework....450+ posts in the archives.....I'm going to check out the O/O authority website now

mick
 
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