The Rule of Halves

[ATeam]

I learned this at an American Truck Business Services seminar given at the Mid-America Trucking Show in 2003, back when we were researching the industry and before we began our expediting career. It is something I thought most expediters knew but I have met many that do not, so I am sharing it here.

Take it for what is worth. To us, it has been worth a great deal. It helps us plan our off time and optimize our freight-getting opportunities. The Rule of Halves seems especially applicable to expediting since a lot of expediting freight is booked at the last minute before week-end, month-end, quarter-end and year-end shipper deadlines come into play.

The Rule of Halves

More freight is shipped in the last half of the week than the first half of the week.

More freight is shipped in the last half of the month than the first half of the month.

More freight is shipped in the last half of the quarter than the first half of the quarter.

More freight is shipped in the last half of the year than the first half of the year.

On the ground, this means doing things like taking Monday off instead of Friday, taking the first week of the month off instead of the last week of the month, and taking vacations in the Spring instead of the Autumn.

 

[easyrider2697]

I never heard the seminar, but looking back on it this seems to be the case a lot of the time, but for those that have not already figured it out here is something to think about....try to plan you off time also based on your companies cut off date for payroll, so you don’t work yourself into going without a check. What I mean by this is, plan 2 weeks in advance( for payroll sake) and do your best to have something turned in every week, don’t have to be much but at least enuff to cover the deductions coming out your check. If possible, I try to hold back a smaller run off every week and turn it in the next just for the sake of payroll but it don’t always work that way..

 

[nightcreacher]

I find it to be the last two days of the week,and last week of the month,you never want to be home then, and your really busy that last quarter of the year,especially nov and dec