Terminology and other things

[dletheridge]

I've started going through the old posts and like any other industry - expediting has it own set of buzz words.

Is there any place where I can find dictionary of such things.

My wife and I are team drivers with an OTR company, and we are tossing around the idea of changing over to expediting with straight trucks.

Also been trying to find information on what the differences are between OTR and expediting, but with limited success - can somebody help.

 

[ATeam]

It does not include a glossary but this may help: Introduction to Expediting.

If you make a list of words and phrases you want explained and post them in this thread, I believe people will provide the answers you seek.

Truck Writers of North America has a trucking terms glossary on its web site. It does not pertain directly to expediting but may be helpful.

 

[TeamCozumel]

I've started going through the old posts and like any other industry - expediting has it own set of buzz words.

Is there any place where I can find dictionary of such things.

My wife and I are team drivers with an OTR company, and we are tossing around the idea of changing over to expediting with straight trucks.

Also been trying to find information on what the differences are between OTR and expediting, but with limited success - can somebody help.

I ran across the thread that Ateam mentioned so I can testify to its existence. It should not take long to find. But I'm really curious about that cool signature deal you're using with the nifty clock. Where can a guy find one of those links?

 

[cheri1122]

If you do a Google search for "countdown clocks", you'll get lots of those links.

 

[Moot]

I need some help from some of you long time expediters, former proof readers, former ad agency schmucks and anyone who has used corporate speak in a former life to explain the following excerpts from an ad copy/quasi article to me. My IRT decoder ring went into meltdown mode on this one!

The expansion of services will allow **** ******* to accommodate a full range of transportation requirements for their customers with mode-specific diversity, geographical coverage and freight management capabilities which will bring increased value propositions to the customers' supply chain distribution needs.

As a result of this expansion of business units and in order to support the new infrastructure required to service the variety of transportation services, **** ******* just recently completed an addition to their headquarters which has more tha doubled the size of their facility. The expansion includes a new state-of-the-art operations center designed to optimize the mode selection, dispatch process and shipment management efficiencies. **** ******* and it (sic) Enterprise of Transportation Services is now positioned as a multi-functional Transportation Solutions Provider to a diverse business segment and geographically located customer base.

Wow "mode-specific diversity, geographical coverage and geographically located customer base." What a mind blowing concept! Sure wish my carrier offered all this super cool stuff.

 

[EagleRiverWI]

I sure wish **** ******* had that when I worked there

 

[highway star]

Wow. That's a lot of fancy words to say, "we've got a big building with lots of people and we can move your freight." Did you write that, Phil?

 

[cheri1122]

Maybe they need to add on to house the planes, trains, & automobiles.....

 

[Crazynuff]

I've started going through the old posts and like any other industry - expediting has it own set of buzz words.

Is there any place where I can find dictionary of such things.

My wife and I are team drivers with an OTR company, and we are tossing around the idea of changing over to expediting with straight trucks.

Also been trying to find information on what the differences are between OTR and expediting, but with limited success - can somebody help.

The main difference between OTR and expediting is most OTR companies have repeated truckloads to the same customers and scheduling isn't that tight . Expediting is irregular and time sensitive . The customer needs something moved ASAP and it is usually much less than a truckload .
With OTR carriers have loads scheduled a few days in advance and can find another load for the truck to pick up when empty . There is no advance planning for expedite loads so preplanning your next load isn't possible unless a load in your area happens to turn up immediately before you deliver . So expediters have longer waits between loads . In the past higher rates compensated for this but lately lower rates and longer waits have factored in .

 

[nightcreacher]

Crazy,in a nut shell,you have figured it out.In the beginning,expedite carries were non existant,except Roberts Express.I can remember when the economy would slow,Roberts would raise their rates,funny thing,we would get busier.Now there is so much competition,Its turned into a cut throat business.If a company needs a product moved,and it has to be there A S A P then they should have to pay top dollar for that move,and until the companies that we all lease to, realize that,our rates will get lowered

 

[iceroadtrucker]

Crazy,in a nut shell,you have figured it out.In the beginning,expedite carries were non existant,except Roberts Express.I can remember when the economy would slow,Roberts would raise their rates,funny thing,we would get busier.Now there is so much competition,Its turned into a cut throat business.If a company needs a product moved,and it has to be there A S A P then they should have to pay top dollar for that move,and until the companies that we all lease to, realize that,our rates will get lowered

Yup Ur right.
But then again I cant believe its gotten so bad that A companys Top Exec on Sal get 20% Chop Lower Execs on sal get 10% chop then the People paid by the Hour get Reduced to 36 hours a week for a big company thats not good. That was in the News I bout fell outa the truck when I herd it on Fox news Radio. I was DH outa Saint Lous when I herd it that was right before I talked to you.

I shake my head in disbelief.

Now I here Bush has done an emergency Bail out of the Auto Industry and with a package as well for Moving the goods.
I wonder on that one. Interesting isnt it. All this started with the Over Price of Barel of OIL.

what your take? If any? Just wondering????

 

[Jack_Berry]

http://www.expeditersonline.com/forum/newbies-faq/29850-trucker-slang-revised-1-2008-a.html


found this link from terryandrtene about trucking terms in general but not necessarily expedite specific.

 

[x06col]

I'd say terms'll be bout the same. It's too far. Not far nuff. Tooo cold. Too hot. Not nuff FSC. Fuel's too high. Don't wanna. you know.

 

[dletheridge]

Ok, In my readings so far I have come across that it is recommended that a new person first find a fleet owner to gain experience - what I have not been able to find yet is things like.

Is driving for a fleet owner somewhat similar to being a company driver or is it somewhere between being a company driver and an O/O (I realize that there could be as many different answers as there are fleet owners)?

Who should a new person contact first - the carriers recruiters or the fleet owner's?

I know what kinds of questions to ask an OTR company recruiter, but what kind of differences are there for the carriers, fleet owners?

 

[nightcreacher]

Ok 1st,driving for a fleet owner can become 1 of 2 ways.If they tell you where and what to do,micro manage, and they pay expenses,then your a company driver.The second way,your contract labor, you pay for the fuel,and you say what loads you do or dont do.Which ever way you decide to do this,I recomend starting out running with an owner as his co driver,and seeing the ins and outs,to make sure this is for you.What ever you have learned about trucking,you need to forget,as expedite is in a league of its own.In the free ads,there are many owners looking for people to drive their trucks.Expedite has a large turn over as most drivers dont understand this industry.

 

[mjolnir131]

well there is a 3rd you pay fuel get a 60 -62/ 40 -38 split you get the higher number it's very close to being an O/O well half there you don't know the matinace ,taxes and fees headache

 

[dletheridge]

I'm not sure how to word this, so excuse my bluntness.

You folks that are responding back to me, were you in OTR before coming to expediting? If so, how long ago?

It's been my experience that I haven't gone back to the same customers over and over, I realize that overall this may be the case, but I just haven't.

So what about my question about which recruiter to contact first.

 

[highway star]

So what about my question about which recruiter to contact first.

That's a tough call for the members here to make, based on the very little bit we know about you. I think it would be best for you to contact several companies, listen to the sales pitches and narrow it down from there. That, combined with researching back in the forums here should help you make a choice.

 

[dletheridge]

Ooops I guess that would help.

Early 50's Married with 3 kids 19,20 and 23. I spent almost 30 years as a computer programmer/analyst. I have a CDL-A with doubles and tankers endorsement (don't intend to ever use them but to graduate from the school I went to we had to have at least one endorsement). I have driven 48 states and Canada, pulling dry and reefers 48',53' and 57'. Started with SRT (Southern Refrigerated Transport), then Werner and now I'm with Swift (all of it T/T) for about 2 years total experience.

My wife and I are teaming now, since September.

 

[Tempest]

Ok, as stated above, you need to first check out the forums. Most recomend the last year in newbies and I think that is the best place to begin. Then contact several companies for the pitch. just as swift and werner are different so are the fed, the cat, and tristate ect. But it doesnt stop there. There are as many different pay scales as there are trucking companies. Dont make a commitment to anyone until you have talked to atleast a dozen owners. being new to expedite what you may call a good deal could be one of the worst out there. One of me best teams worked for .46 per mile paid to the team. Sound good? what about .55 per mile? .60??? With todays fuel prices they split about .66 after fuel. They thought the had a great deal and now laugh at anyone offering them .46 with the owner buying the fuel. Bottom line here is lots of homework!!!!! Good luck to you both. You found the most valuable tool out there when you found E/O. Make good use of it before jumpiong into this business