The Better Companies To Work For Starting Out
- Thread starter Robert
- Start date
Robert, your question is far too open ended. It's like asking what's the best vehicle for me. That can't be answered without knowing things like married/single, family and if so how many, job required or not, towing or not, funds available toward purchase and other things. A Miata and a Grand Caravan will both do the same thing in general but not at all the same in specifics.
What company to choose depends on things like where one lives (to a small degree), hazmat or not, prior experience or not, type vehicle you are willing to drive or not, etc.
There are many good threads on this. Work your way back through the threads and/or do a search. You'll find plenty on this subject.
Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5507, 5508, 5509
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
What company to choose depends on things like where one lives (to a small degree), hazmat or not, prior experience or not, type vehicle you are willing to drive or not, etc.
There are many good threads on this. Work your way back through the threads and/or do a search. You'll find plenty on this subject.
Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5507, 5508, 5509
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
mrgoodtude
Not a Member
Fill er up eh?
Ok for once I would like to help a newbie like we were helped but I need something to work with here. Each company is diffrent so I am gonna need some more info from you....
1.Driver or owner operator?
2.Solo or team?
3.Region of country? (home)
4.Whatcha driving or aspire to drive?
5.Ever drove?
6.Hometime expectations?
7.Revenue expectations?
I won't have all the answers you seek as I have only worked for 2 companies but providing this info will help alot of veteran expediters steer you in the right direction.
Mike and Cyn
Ok for once I would like to help a newbie like we were helped but I need something to work with here. Each company is diffrent so I am gonna need some more info from you....
1.Driver or owner operator?
2.Solo or team?
3.Region of country? (home)
4.Whatcha driving or aspire to drive?
5.Ever drove?
6.Hometime expectations?
7.Revenue expectations?
I won't have all the answers you seek as I have only worked for 2 companies but providing this info will help alot of veteran expediters steer you in the right direction.
Mike and Cyn
letzrockexpress
Veteran Expediter
This might sound a little primitive but If you ask me just pick one carrier and try it .. you'll learn more that way, (and a lot faster)than reading what people here have to say about it. If you took all the information you could gather on this subject from this site and then tried to decypher it,you would be more confused than when you started. Sometimes you just have to jump in. For every good story there is a bad one...One man's trash is another man's treasure, etc.
I DROVE A TRUCK FOR ABOUT 6 YEARS LOCAL AND THEN DECIDED TO TRY EXPEDITE IN A CLASS 7 TRUCK. I HAD NO EXPERIENCE, NO TRUCK, JUST SICK AND TIED OF KILLING MYSELF HAND UPLOADING A TRUCK FOR PEANUTS. I HAVE NOW BEEN DOING THIS FOR 6 MONTHS AND I AM HAPPY I TOOK THE CHANCE. IT TOOK ME 2 MONTHS TO LEARN THE GAME OF WHAT TO TAKE AND WHAT TO SAY HELL NO TO, BUT ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THE COMPANY I AM WITH DOES NOT REALLY HAVE ENOUGH GOOD DRIVERS TO PENTALIZE ME REAL BAD FOR THE TURN DOWNS. THE BIGGER THE COMPANY THE MORE THEY CAN HURT YOU, THE SMALLER THE COMPANY THE FEWER RUN THEY CAN GET YOU(UNLESS THEY ARE TRYING VERY HARD TO GET BIG), TRY TO STAY WITH A COMPANY WITH AROUND 100 TRUCKS. I WILL NOT NAME COMPANYS BECAUSE I AM STILL NEW TO THIS, BUT IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT COMPANY I DRIVE FOR EMAIL ME.
Diver, there is nothing magical about a company with 100 units. There are people with small companies who do well and would'nt have it any other way. The same can be said for the large carriers. It's more about the driver and how that driver adapts to a particular company. So, in conclusion, as a painfully average caucasion male it is my opinion that size does'nt matter.
THE POINT I WAS MAKING ABOUT SIZE IS THE MORE DRIVERS A COMPANY HAS THE MORE DIFFICULT IT IS TO GET A LOAD AFTER REFUSSING A LOAD. I HAVE TALKED TO MANY DRIVERS THAT HAVE SIT FOR DAYS AFTER REFUSSING A LOAD. FOR THE SMALLER COMPANYS, AS LONG AS THEY CARE ABOUT GROWING THE WILL DO GOOD FOR A DRIVER, FIND A DISPATCHER WHO IS UNHAPPY, WELL WE ALL KNOW. THE WHOLE POINT OF IT WAS FOR AN IDEA OF THE BEST, WHICH IN THE REAL WORLD IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE DRIVER AND DISPATCHER RELATIONS. I DO FINE WHERE I AM AT AND WILL PROBALLY DO FINE AT ANY COMPANY, BUT SOME DRIVERS WILL NOT DO GOOD ANYPLACE BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE. IF YOU ARE DOING GOOD, I AM HAPPY FOR YOU BUT IF NOT CONTACT ME.
BY THE WAY, SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE I WILL PROBALLY HAVE MY OWN EXPEDITE COMPANY AND I PLAN TO FIX ALL THE LITTLE AND MAJOR PROBLEMS I HAVE BEEN BEING EDUCATED AND THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED ABOUT THIS JOB. THIS CAREER WILL NEVER BE PERFECT, BUT IT COULD BE BETTER. UNLESS I FIND A COMPANY THAT HAS THE SAME IDEAS ON HOW TO MAKE IT BETTER, IF I DO EVERYONE ON EO WILL KNOW.
BY THE WAY, SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE I WILL PROBALLY HAVE MY OWN EXPEDITE COMPANY AND I PLAN TO FIX ALL THE LITTLE AND MAJOR PROBLEMS I HAVE BEEN BEING EDUCATED AND THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED ABOUT THIS JOB. THIS CAREER WILL NEVER BE PERFECT, BUT IT COULD BE BETTER. UNLESS I FIND A COMPANY THAT HAS THE SAME IDEAS ON HOW TO MAKE IT BETTER, IF I DO EVERYONE ON EO WILL KNOW.
DannyD
Veteran Expediter
>Lets get this going!.Who is the best'Company To Start With..
> Come on fill this one up! Give Your Thoughts''
I would think the best company to start w/ would also be the best one to simply work for whether you're starting or have been around for awhile. Having said that, the answer is going to be different for different people. I personally like EGL, but the local delivery aspect of it would drive some people on here batty.
So before that question can really be answered, ya'd have to know what you want out of this industry.
Take care,
Danny
> Come on fill this one up! Give Your Thoughts''
I would think the best company to start w/ would also be the best one to simply work for whether you're starting or have been around for awhile. Having said that, the answer is going to be different for different people. I personally like EGL, but the local delivery aspect of it would drive some people on here batty.
So before that question can really be answered, ya'd have to know what you want out of this industry.
Take care,
Danny
Hi everyone. I don't think I have ever posted in here and forgot you were actually here until I got the newsletter about the Expo and the invite to breakfast. In order to qualify for the free breakfast I thought I would come post something. (kidding)
We were leased on to CTX out of dearborn MI for several years and circumstances made it possible for us to go out on our own (48' Van). We now are independent and loving it. It's HARD but worth it to be our own boss. We went the first two years with just the one truck and have added on an Owner Operator this year with another 48' Van. So far, so good. I would love to add more trucks but I am SO darn particular about who I would risk my livlihood on that I have only found the one. It doesn't take many failures in this business to get blackballed and I'm not willing to risk it.
I would suggest signing on with any of the big named expedite companies for at least a couple of years and learn the ropes.
I now do dispatching services for 2 other small independent companies that run expedite also. They are happy not to have to have an office and concentrate on running while I sit in front of this computer all day and bid loads for them. That is working out well also.
Nice to meet you all. Hope to see you more often and get to know you guys.
We were leased on to CTX out of dearborn MI for several years and circumstances made it possible for us to go out on our own (48' Van). We now are independent and loving it. It's HARD but worth it to be our own boss. We went the first two years with just the one truck and have added on an Owner Operator this year with another 48' Van. So far, so good. I would love to add more trucks but I am SO darn particular about who I would risk my livlihood on that I have only found the one. It doesn't take many failures in this business to get blackballed and I'm not willing to risk it.
I would suggest signing on with any of the big named expedite companies for at least a couple of years and learn the ropes.
I now do dispatching services for 2 other small independent companies that run expedite also. They are happy not to have to have an office and concentrate on running while I sit in front of this computer all day and bid loads for them. That is working out well also.
Nice to meet you all. Hope to see you more often and get to know you guys.
Robert,
You might as well ask, "What is the best casino to walk into?" Success in expediting is not a matter of picking the best company. It's a matter of picking the best company FOR YOU.
There are many ways to run an expediting business. Successful expediters are not employees asking, "What is the best company to work for?" They are self-employed professionals who know what they are doing in the industry and why they are doing it.
Instead of asking, What company is best?" ask two questions instead:
1. What kind of expediter do I want to be?
2. Which company can best fill my needs?
You might as well ask, "What is the best casino to walk into?" Success in expediting is not a matter of picking the best company. It's a matter of picking the best company FOR YOU.
There are many ways to run an expediting business. Successful expediters are not employees asking, "What is the best company to work for?" They are self-employed professionals who know what they are doing in the industry and why they are doing it.
Instead of asking, What company is best?" ask two questions instead:
1. What kind of expediter do I want to be?
2. Which company can best fill my needs?