wants vs needs

[bryan]

Hi
How do you decide between what is a want and what is a need? Like specing a truck I want power mirrors but, I need cruise control.I want a big bunk but, I need atleast 8.5 feet of cargo space.I want Streets and Trips with voice command but, I need Quantro Pro.
What have you bought because you though you couldn't live without it and then found it a year later in your basement? For me it was a 12 volt cooler. I bought it to replace a old fashion cooler (add ice)I now have the old fashion one back in the truck because it holds more and makes a great desk.
Thanks have a good one.

 

[theend]

> Hi
>How do you decide between what is a want and what is a need?
>Like specing a truck I want power mirrors but, I need cruise
>control.I want a big bunk but, I need atleast 8.5 feet of
>cargo space.I want Streets and Trips with voice command but,
>I need Quantro Pro.
>What have you bought because you though you couldn't live
>without it and then found it a year later in your basement?
>For me it was a 12 volt cooler. I bought it to replace a old
>fashion cooler (add ice)I now have the old fashion one back
>in the truck because it holds more and makes a great desk.
>Thanks have a good one.

You NEED a roof over your head; food in your belly; clothes; and peaceful sleep. I remember this when I'm stressed.
A ROOF:
the most profitable vehicle for the job.
Power AND heated mirrors!
cruise control a must for me!
Very good AC and heating system.
Comfortable seat/s.
Minimum RMcN. map. Max., your choice.
Already posted how I would make up a bed and storage in van. Minimum space under a run for YOU + cargo, and maximum use of space on LO so you don't feel cramped.
Van should be as long as possible so you can allow for permanent bed space. Unless you can be comfortable sitting up and sleeping or able to rig up the seats and still store stuff.
FOOD:
Always feel secure that you won't pass out because you don't have any.
I was thinking on a 12 volt cooler instead of an ice cooler. hmmm.
CLOTHES:
Enough for the time you intend to be out + detergent.
Super warm sleeping bag for winter. Light for summer.
Jacket, hat, gloves, shoes for winter.
PEACEFUL SLEEP:
Well maintained vehicle.
Cash available.
Good business sense.
Cash available.
10 years exp before starting. [Know and understand everything on this Whole site Plus.]
Cash available.
Entertainment/hobbies.
Cash available.
Time to sleep.
Staying on the pavement is the most important need of all!
So, comfort is a must. What makes you feel comfortable today may not tomorrow. But, I guess with these hurricanes we can better adjust our priorities.
I no longer want, aside from these 4 things. I want to be able to give on a moment's notice. So if I have something I no longer want or need, even if I bought it yesterday, it's better for someone else to have it instead of my shed. How much of your stored stuff you use, I guess determines need vs. want.
I'm so glad you asked. Brought a smile to my face, which I hope you needed.

 

[highway star]

Bryan, what is Quantro Pro?
theend, 10 years experience before you start? Is time travel involved?

Wants are many for most, but needs should be few. Another thread discusses what a newbie might need. Of all things, a GPS unit was the first thing mentioned! Now, I am a bit old school, but one of these things is way far down on my want list. I'm not sure I can even see it down there. I have these old fashioned tools called a pen and notebook. (Notebook is optional as scraps of paper can be used.) I write down the directions and go there.

I do think GPS is a neat thing for someone who is financially healthy and choses to spend their money that way. But, the average newbie may not be flush with cash or may not stay in the business. If they don't stay, they're stuck with this 5-900 dollar toy.

I think my next "want" purchase is going to be satilite radio.

 

[Broompilot]

Fact, People give wrong or bad directions, second fact you will spend more $ on cell phone than what the payments would be on a GPS system, third fact how much fuel will you waste on those bad directions or your wrong turn, forth fact it is well known that a large portion of accidents happen when unfamilar areas looking for a street sign etc... Not paying attention to your actual driving.

One cannot afford to be in this business of looking for a new address on every run without the help of a GPS.

 

[highway star]

Yes, I do sometimes get bad directions. The vast majority of the time it is easily figured out. I'm not sure about the cell phone connection, I don't think anyone would get rid of their phone because they got a GPS. I've never spent an extra penny on my phone bill because of making calls to sort out directions. Even with the GPS telling you what to do, I would think being in a strange area would still require you to pay extra attention to what is around you.

I think the GPS is pretty neat. I've only talked about it because I think it's not the first thing to tell a newbie to spend his or her money on, unless money is not a problem at all. For me, I'm doing just fine without it. Yes, sometimes there is a problem. But from what I've seen on here, the GPS isn't snafu free.

 

[geo]

one thing to remember have the unit ready to go as it is hard to
stop and add things that you found you need to do good luck

 

[ATeam]

Before you can know either what you want or what you need, you must know WHY you are doing what you are doing, and HOW you intend to accomplish it.

1. Why are you an expediter and not something else?

2. What goals do you have as an expediter?

A retired couple that wants to get paid to see the country does not need a high income, so a B-unit may do. A retired couple that wants to get paid to see the country while living in style may NEED a full-featured sleeper on a higher-income truck so revenue may be generated to pay for the truck while their pension provides for their other needs.

A solo driver running for a fleet owner may have the goal of becomming an owner operator, getting married, and driving team with his bride until they become millionaires. He needs a reliable fleet owner that provides reliable equipment. He may want very little at present since he's saving money for a truck of his own. He and his bride may need little more than a basic D-unit with a porta-pody inside, since their's is a financial goal, not a living in style goal.

A driving team may be looking to become fleet owners with a fleet of say 5 E-units. Such a goal would make it wise for them to run in an E-unit of their own as they prepare to become fleet owners. Presuably, they would both want and need an E-unit configured such that the truck itself would strike the balance between reasonable cost and being full-featured enough to attract and retain high-quaity drivers.

Write down for yourself a statement that describes the kind of expediting business YOU are in and states your business goals. With such a statement in hand, you will be well equipped to answer the highly individualized want/need question you are asking.

Regarding the cooler, don't sweat the small stuff. You'll likely make a lot of similar mistakes and turn them into a learning experience. If it turns out that you bought the wrong CB radio, microwave oven, set of hand tools, brand of gloves, style of oil funnel, etc.; throw/give/sell it away and buy the right one the next time around.

With a clear set of goals in mind, each future purchase can be preceeded with the question, "Will spending this money for this item move me closer to or further away from achieving my goals?"

 

[theoldprof]

If you are specing a truck, and I assume a cargo van because of the 8-1/2 ft of cargo space, I suggest you spec and price out a minimum goodie model, and then price out the loaded model. How much difference is there in the price. How much more will it cost you each month for the payment. Remember, this is your office, your business, and your home for days at a time. When you wake up in your frozen truck on a cold morning, the last thing you want to do is get out of the slooooly warming truck and scrape mirrors. Someone else also posted that some goodies are difficult and more expensive to add later. I remember several years ago my father-in-law and I both bought new S-10 pick em up trucks. His auto trans was going to cost him $600. He was miserly cheap. He got a stick. My auto trans cost me $2 or $3.00 per week payroll deduction at the credit union.
Good luck. :+ :+

 

[C5BILL]

I found that the temperature and compass feature on my rear view mirror to be of great value. E-trac on floor is a must feature in a van!

PS:

I have never found the need for a GPS system. Qualcom + compass + state maps + hi-intensity light + local input have always been sufficient. Everyone seems to want to help the lost FedEx guy.