RLENT
Veteran Expediter
Clearly it does .... and if anyone thinks that it doesn't, just keep that in mind the next time you step on a steaming buffalo chip out on some lonely road, on a cold, dark night ....
West side story?
- Thread starter WestSide
- Start date
See now if you eastuhnoors ran a few more runs out heuh, you'd know that if'n it's freshly laid it's still a pie...less'n it froze so quick to becuhm a chip so faaaaast.
Since I am the poster quoted in the original thread I would like to clarify what I said concerning lift gates and reefers. We have been to California about 12 times in the last 2 1/2 years. Some as a fully qualified TVAL truck and some in our surface expedite truck.
While sitting there for 8 days last week we watched as numerous lift gate or reefer trucks came and went while we sat waiting for a load opp. The majority of loads being offered were for liftgate or reefer equipped trucks. The loads we were offered were low paying B rate loads. We did a <75 run to try to gain an advantage but that did not work out for us either.
If we were driving a TVAL truck I believe we would have gotten a decent paying load in a relatively short time. But, on this trip there was not much need for our dry van.
While sitting there for 8 days last week we watched as numerous lift gate or reefer trucks came and went while we sat waiting for a load opp. The majority of loads being offered were for liftgate or reefer equipped trucks. The loads we were offered were low paying B rate loads. We did a <75 run to try to gain an advantage but that did not work out for us either.
If we were driving a TVAL truck I believe we would have gotten a decent paying load in a relatively short time. But, on this trip there was not much need for our dry van.
You had 11 other loads in some bad economic times, and kept going back. The West seems to offer some opportunity for dry, no-lift loads...
You had 11 other loads in some bad economic times, and kept going back. The West seems to offer some opportunity for dry, no-lift loads...
The first 7 times we were in a TVAL truck. Very little problem getting out. The last 5 were in our dry van surface expedite truck. (We went from contract drivers to owner operators a year ago when we purchased our own truck) Of the last five trips west, four times it took an average of 4 days to get out. This last time we were there for 8 days before planning relocated us to Dallas.
I am not saying there are no opps for a dry van without lift gate. But for us the chances of sitting there for days on end are too great to take that chance again for awhile. Having one $300 paying run in 10 days is not a profitable way to run a business.
I also believe if a carrier is going to send you somewhere they should attempt to get you a load back into the freight lanes so that you can continue to be productive. I am well aware that the customer needs to be serviced but carriers need to be aware that sitting for 10 days in service is unacceptable.
Now that's interesting, and validates an MB dealership's move here in Arizona that has a number of new Sprinters with reefers and lightweight insulation installed on 3500s. They installed the bulkhead mid-van to provide forward living space. As it is, you couldn't fit a standard pallet in the back due to the dually's. (You DO use standard pallets in reefers, yes?). With a $16k upfit cost, these units ain't cheap. Not sure if they could quality as TVALs.
My conclusion: One would have a tough go at making a profit in the 11 west states alone. A reefer might get you loads, but you'll have to stay busy to offset the added overhead.
How well or poorly you do out west is largely dependent on your carrier. Apparently, FECC leans towards TVAL freight when trying to find loads, and will let a dry van sit. For my carrier, that's not the case. It's clearly not the case with vans.
I've been out west many times, and have no problems taking a load out there. I've gone out there and then gotten loaded back to the Midwest within a few days, and I've gone out there and spent weeks or months. One time I was out there for three weeks total and did really badly. I think it was something on the order of 900 loaded miles for the three week period. All the other times I've done fine. I spent the last two weeks of March, all of April and half of May out west of the Rockies. There were times I'd sit for 3, 4 or 5 days, and then get two or three 700-900 mile runs back to back. Overall I was averaging more than 2000 miles a week. Back in the middle of September I took a load to Mesa, AZ (where it was 112 degrees, sheesh) but the next day got loaded back out to El Paso, and the day after that delivered another one in San Antonio. I have an aunt in Green Valley who was not pleased with me getting loaded back out so soon, tho.
Back in August my AC compressor went bad. Works while I'm driving, but not so much when parked or even at a stop light. Figured, well, we've about got Summer knocked out, I'll replace that in the Spring. Since then I've spent one day in Indianapolis and 6 hours in Appleton, WI, and all the rest of the time I've been in places like South Carolina, south GA and AL, Tulsa, OK City, New Orleans, Miami, Houston, San Antonio, Laredo, Kingsville, Victoria, Brownsville, Uvalde, Del Rio, El Paso, Phoenix, Nogales... many of these several times... give me a break. It's really nice here in San Antonio now, finally. Low 70's for the high today and tomorrow, mid 40's overnight. But I could use a little Coeur d'Alene or Provo right about now.
I've been out west many times, and have no problems taking a load out there. I've gone out there and then gotten loaded back to the Midwest within a few days, and I've gone out there and spent weeks or months. One time I was out there for three weeks total and did really badly. I think it was something on the order of 900 loaded miles for the three week period. All the other times I've done fine. I spent the last two weeks of March, all of April and half of May out west of the Rockies. There were times I'd sit for 3, 4 or 5 days, and then get two or three 700-900 mile runs back to back. Overall I was averaging more than 2000 miles a week. Back in the middle of September I took a load to Mesa, AZ (where it was 112 degrees, sheesh) but the next day got loaded back out to El Paso, and the day after that delivered another one in San Antonio. I have an aunt in Green Valley who was not pleased with me getting loaded back out so soon, tho.
Back in August my AC compressor went bad. Works while I'm driving, but not so much when parked or even at a stop light. Figured, well, we've about got Summer knocked out, I'll replace that in the Spring. Since then I've spent one day in Indianapolis and 6 hours in Appleton, WI, and all the rest of the time I've been in places like South Carolina, south GA and AL, Tulsa, OK City, New Orleans, Miami, Houston, San Antonio, Laredo, Kingsville, Victoria, Brownsville, Uvalde, Del Rio, El Paso, Phoenix, Nogales... many of these several times... give me a break. It's really nice here in San Antonio now, finally. Low 70's for the high today and tomorrow, mid 40's overnight. But I could use a little Coeur d'Alene or Provo right about now.
September was our hottest on record. With a reefer, you can chill in the back! Not sure the Sprinters like to idle for long periods, though. Sales guy says it's okay with an idle-up adjustment.
greg334
Veteran Expediter
Why not?
Temperature Validation is a simple system for testing the unit, nothing complicated or really unique. A lot of people here and at a few carriers make such a BFD over it, it is sometimes just too funny.
My truck as old as it is, just misses the mark to qualify under FedEx rules but it does under GmP standards.
Absolutely correct.
You want to idle in a Sprinter at a relatively high idle, in order to keep enough pressure in the EGR valve. Otherwise you end up having to replace the EGR vavle sooner than normal.September was our hottest on record. With a reefer, you can chill in the back! Not sure the Sprinters like to idle for long periods, though. Sales guy says it's okay with an idle-up adjustment.
I idle to recharge batteries, and when it's 112 degrees, except that it wouldn't have mattered in Mesa (actually, the Love's in Phoenix is where I was, I think there was a casino across the street) because the AC wasn't working, anyway. It was 112 degrees, abundant sunshine (meaning not a cloud in the sky), with zero wind, and the humidity was about the same as the wind. Not even humid enough for you to sweat so that a breeze would cool you off. Sweat evaporates as it comes out of the pores. An iron box sitting on black asphalt. Easy Bake Oven.
I think it is a little bit of a stretch to say getting out of the west coast is dependant on a reefer or lift gate. That may be the case with the Fed, but hardly applies anywhere else.
We go out west pretty regularly with a dry van, and seldom give up more than a day or so at the most.
We just feel lucky
We go out west pretty regularly with a dry van, and seldom give up more than a day or so at the most.
We just feel lucky
Another advantage of windows...you can see if your pie has turned to chips.
Sort of kidding about slipping in the back to enjoy the reefer, though that's about what it takes to survive summer in the streets of the Valley of Hell. Day or night.
Our most recent series of runs that took us to the West Coast and back will conclude on Friday with a delivery east. Details here.