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The Quiet Exodus

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alwaysontime

Seasoned Expediter


This has been the worse year for the expedite industry. Yet it appears as if some carriers still can't manage to retain thair fleets, Now tell me this! Why would any carrier be taking on more sprinter vans when they can barely keep the ones they currently have moving? I thought E-1 was the best company out there, but they appear to be just another recruiting machine during a bad economic time.

Here is the ad that E-1 posted in in the driver wanted section of EO.

Tremendous income opportunity. Express-1 freight levels have significantly increased and we have a strong need for trucks. Express-1 is looking for experienced Local and Regional Sprinter, Straight truck and Tractor Trailer Owner Operators in the Toledo, OH and Detroit MI areas to run Emergency freight long haul, medium range and local. Drivers must be at least 23 years old and possess a commercial license. Day cab straights are accepted. If you own your own truck and would like to learn more about this tremendous opportunity please call Express-1 recruiting for details. 866-857-4546 or go to our website and fill out the online application for consideration. Expedited Trucking - ground and air freight shipping from Express-1
 
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alwaysontime

Seasoned Expediter
Also, I have called Bolt quite a few times over the past few weeks and they are still saying that things are slow and that they have no need for cargo vans or sprinters. Why is Express-1 going on a hiring frenzy during a horrible economic downtrun?
 
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alwaysontime

Seasoned Expediter
Here is a post from OVM from his carriers forum!!!

Larry L. is adding safety to his portfolio...

didn't say anything about # of units...

While July was the best July ever according to our Prez Mr Curry....

NLM is now less then 20% of our business.

While volume is picking up load board prices still dictate 70 cent loads...as the marketplace improves and capacity drops....the .80 and 1.05 are still suspended BUT not gone...

Oh and the bug..that there can be multiple #1's is going to be investigated with the IT dept.

(I guess E-1 is also paying sub-par rates just like the rest of the cut throat carriers who recruit on this site).
 
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FIS53

Veteran Expediter
We'll have to suffer the lower prices as it is a shippers choice out there. This does mean there should be a thinning of the ranks and supposedly this will help us to do more (at lower pricing). However many companies seem to have the thought of keeping as many buggies available as possible to cover calls in good time so as to maintain a higher service level than some of the competition. Only problem is we all suffer with fewer calls. While I'm doing a fewer calls per week the company is maintaining number of calls average per week. But of course they have hired to replace fleet losses and prepare for the expected increase in business.

All of them are similar in hiring to replace those who have left although not all are hiring as many as have left for the moment. Our problem is to hang on with lower pricing and low volumes. It will get better guys but I think the industry is in for a few changes and some many of us won't like.
Rob
 
davekc

davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
The reality is most carriers make money just having a vehicle put on. Everything from QC fees to insurance programs are a revenue generator for many carriers.
Same thing with rates. Some loads bid cheaper, but quite a few don't. Many loads are paying more now, than they did a year ago. The problem is, there are fewer of them. Since there is less freight, carriers are pulling a larger percentage from each load to keep their profit margins up. For many, it is a matter of whether they can keep the lights on.
 
OntarioVanMan

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
To answer....

Yes..E-1 is putting on Sprinters and C/V's at a slow and deliberate rate..in line with demand...due to people leaving for a variety of reasons...We have been busy and actually are running at peak levels due to increased business volume. July is on record as the busiest July in the last 9 years...hence the recruiting.....Our rates have NOT dropped..a sprinter load still gets you the $1.00 per mile + the FSC. To E-1's credit I have never been asked to take a sprinter load for less then the buck...
E-1 in the past had the foresight to "sell" the virtues of the sprinter whereas other carriers have taken advantage of the sprinter and not passed on the higher rate that they charge to the owners/drivers. Our customers "request" sprinters and are quite familiar with what we can handle.

To clarify...C/V's always had 2 rates....70 for NLM/major customers and .80 for the rest....for now .70 is the norm.
Sprinters get $1.00 and $1.05 for a sprinter type load...the $1.05 has been suspended.
On a sub-note if a C/V takes a sprinter type load they also get the dollar/mile.
 
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greg334

greg334

Veteran Expediter
But do they still define a sprinter load as something oversized (or three pieces) or is it something that weighs X amount of lbs?
 
OntarioVanMan

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
greg334 said:
But do they still define a sprinter load as something oversized (or three pieces) or is it something that weighs X amount of lbs?
Click to expand...

Height 48" and higher...3 pieces and/or combo of 10 feet or longer...and anything over 2,000 lbs...
 
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FIS53

Veteran Expediter
Not actually Greg. I quite often get loads over 2000lbs in my Sprinter as half the vans in our fleet can't handle that weight. The Sprinter can handle it easily and of course we have a few customers who are terrible at weight guessing (yes guessing not actual). So the Sprinter gets sent in and of course scores the higher rate. Unfortunately they don't surcharge all the calls the Sprinter is requested (some dumb problem with management). Since I've removed the bed and other gear the Sprinter handles loads up to and slightly over 3000lbs.
Rob
 
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FIS53

Veteran Expediter
Let's see... guys with 150s instead of 250 or 350, guys with too much gear in the buggy such as large bulkhead, bed, fridge, inverters, extra batteries and the list goes on. Unfortunately not all vans are equal. I agree that most should handle the weight but there are some that won't.
Rob
 
hondaking38

hondaking38

Veteran Expediter
used to get quite a few loads at $1.00 a mile with my old sprinter at panther...now you couldnt get a dollar a mile with a sprinter, if you were hauling gold......sorry its not worked into it.....not enough money from the load.....geesh what bs..
 
jujubeans

jujubeans

OVM Project Manager
hondaking38 said:
used to get quite a few loads at $1.00 a mile with my old sprinter at panther...now you couldnt get a dollar a mile with a sprinter, if you were hauling gold......sorry its not worked into it.....not enough money from the load.....geesh what bs..
Click to expand...

Honda...I agree about the BS in some cases...some carriers are robbing Peter to pay Paul to balance the books....and guess who Peter is? :eek:
 
60MPH

60MPH

Expert Expediter
FIS53 said:
Since I've removed the bed and other gear the Sprinter handles loads up to and slightly over 3000lbs.
Rob
Click to expand...
Wow you must have it stripped down to nothing cause doesn't the 2500 ext have a curb weight of something like 5400 lbs right of the assembly line?? with a gross of 8550. thats only 3150 cargo cap. If we throw you in and your clothes in there I would think it would be hard to legally scale 3000 lbs. Now it you have the 3500 Sprinter then I could clearly see you getting well over the 3000 lbs legally. I am using 5400 lbs as a est. I took a 2007 long and tall to a scale with a full tank of fuel, wright of the used car lot no extra stuff installed completely stock and it came in @ 5589 with no driver in it. I don't know how people are hauling 3000 + lbs. in these things legally with a 2500 chassis.
 
RLENT

RLENT

Veteran Expediter
hondaking38 said:
used to get quite a few loads at $1.00 a mile with my old sprinter at panther ... now you couldnt get a dollar a mile with a sprinter, if you were hauling gold ..... sorry its not worked into it ..... not enough money from the load .....
Click to expand...
Not necessarily always the case .... particularly at your carrier, as I know several who do it ($1.00 or more) on a not rare basis ...... and these aren't necessarily real short loads either ......

But ya gotta be willing to run where they want ya to go ... :rolleyes:
 
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