whats left

[mypie]

My heart and prayers go out to you and your family. Just remember that this too will pass. Hang in there, if you can. There is nothing better out there in the "real world", still a lot of people unemployed and others still loosing their homes. So, if you don't have to, try to stick with it. Your chances of survival as I see it are better right where you are.

 

[ATeam]

I suppose the term "preparedness" would include up to total truck wipeout/destruction? But how can one estimate the degree of preparedness..that some things are beyond ones control?

You are exactly right. Life itself is a terminal condition. People who make a living in the safety of their home office drop dead there too. One minimizes the physical risks in an expediting business by operating safely, but the risks remain. One minimizes the financial risks in an expediting business by managing the business well, and especially by maintaining a strong capital base. Yet physically and financially, random events lurk out there that can wipe you out.

How safe is too safe? How much capital is too much? I don't think there is a one-size-fits-all answer. I do think it is essential for every expediter to consider and establish safety and capital practices before entering the business. If you enter the business with little capital, it should be a top priority to build your capital as quickly as you can.

 

[ATeam]

I pray that someone learns from this. As for me, I will do what it takes.

Anyone paying attention can learn from this thread. You make it clear that: (1) truck damage can be sustained that will take you out of the business for a time, (2) full compensation for down time is not readily available, and (3) vendors cannot be counted upon to do what they say will do.

It is a good scenario for any expediter to think through. What if your truck or van was damaged such that it could not be used to generate income until it was repaired? What if it took three months to get the repair done? What if any claim you made for damages was denied outright or delayed such that the only way to get the repair done is to pay for it yourself and fight for the claim later?

 

[layoutshooter]

Anyone paying attention can learn from this thread. You make it clear that: (1) truck damage can be sustained that will take you out of the business for a time, (2) full compensation for down time is not readily available, and (3) vendors cannot be counted upon to do what they say will do.

It is a good scenario for any expediter to think through. What if your truck or van was damaged such that it could not be used to generate income until it was repaired? What if it took three months to get the repair done? What if any claim you made for damages was denied outright or delayed such that the only way to get the repair done is to pay for it yourself and fight for the claim later?

That was the point I was trying to make, that even IF you plan and save anything can happen to anyone at anytime. It IS possible for bad things to happen to good people REGUARDLESS of planning. The idea is to minimize the risk as much as possible.

That is why we will NO LONGER take a CDC/FEMA load that REQIURES us to give up control of our vehical. I will retain that right. If that means that loads go un-covered, so be it. That is GOOD business sense for US.

 

[wellarmed]

What? Sink or swim,wheelchairs and veterans. What does that have to do with the price of tea in China? Expediting is a business each truck is your competitor,the less competitors the better your business. The demand is down and the supply is to great, the supply is getting smaller day after day week after week and month after month,the demand could possibly return before the economy bounces back,at least to a sustainable level do to the smaller supply. I'm not trying to be cold hearted I am seeing good friends fall out. The fact remains this is a business not a swimming pool,not a home for the handicap and not veterans affairs and again don't get me wrong I have a soft spot for veterans and the handicapped and if you can't swim stay away from the water. OH, I almost forgot the prisoners,if you can't do the time than don't do the crime. There are teachers and books and the opportunity is there in prison with them,they should take advantage of it letting them out because the poor little criminal that stole your freight or raped your daughter or killed your son that just returned home from two tours of duty defending the rights of all of us,because he can't read. Give me a frickin break!!!!!!!!!!!! They have three hots and a cot let them rot,they have more than our guys at war.

 

[layoutshooter]

My heart and prayers go out to you and your family. Just remember that this too will pass. Hang in there, if you can. There is nothing better out there in the "real world", still a lot of people unemployed and others still loosing their homes. So, if you don't have to, try to stick with it. Your chances of survival as I see it are better right where you are.

WE are plugging along and thank you SO much for your prayers. WE never have enough of those.

 

[ATeam]

wellarmed,

The non-swimmers who are also non-sinkers have nothing at all to do with the price of tea in China. I mentioned them in reponse to Ark's comment about Washington. As to more about them, that is better debated in the Soapbox.

Back to expediting, you are exactly right. "Expediting is a business each truck is your competitor,the less competitors the better your business. The demand is down and the supply is to great, the supply is getting smaller day after day week after week and month after month,the demand could possibly return before the economy bounces back,at least to a sustainable level do to the smaller supply."

Add to this the fact that the supply of freight is declining ahead of the supply of trucks. It's not that freight levels are stable and an excess of trucks needs to be squeezed out. It's that an excess of trucks continues even as the number of trucks decline. Freight levels must stabalize before a truck excess can even begin to be worked out.

If there are 1,000 loads to haul and 1,200 trucks to haul them, you have an excess of 200 trucks. If the excess 200 go under but the number of loads drops to 800, you still have an excess of 200 trucks.

 

[piper1]

Hang in there Layout, this industry needs folks like you!

 

[inkasnana]

I'm sorry to hear of your predicament layout. I really hope things work out well for you and your wife, on what ever path the future holds for you. Remember to lean on each other. You're stronger that way and you can hold each other up (although I wouldn't blame your wife one bit if she quickly stepped away if you start to make unsightly bodily noises and smells ).

 

[wellarmed]

ATeam I don't want you to get me wrong,I seem to have a problem expressing my whole self in type rather than conversation and may "seem" to be a loose cannon.

The fact is I always respect your post,I don't always agree but I do respect. In this instance I may have misunderstood.

As we both agree the supply is dropping by day,week and month and I would think the midyear and end of year gross will maybe accelerate the decline of trucks. Hopefully by the first of the year or near that time we can see some increase in shipping do to low reserves of manufacturers. I guess it's only my hope and it's not realy backed by facts or numbers but it has to give soon or we are going to start seeing more victims rather than failures,meaning we will see a lot of well run business lost versus, well I'm sure you know what I'm not wanting to say.

 

[greg334]

Mypie,
The comment was about the callousness of the first sentence, nothing else. I thought is was unprofessional. I won't go into the decorum/professionalism thing, its not worth the effort here anymore.

 

[layoutshooter]

Mypie,
The comment was about the callousness of the first sentence, nothing else. I thought is was unprofessional. I won't go into the decorum/professionalism thing, its not worth the effort here anymore.

I want to thank those who expressed their good wishes and prayers. It means much to us. Mrs. Layoutshooter and I are tough people. We have seen tough times before. We will get by one way or another.

Please look at your own situations. Be as careful as you can and as prepared as possible. Many in here came into this business to try to make it on their own. Times were hard, still are. I appauld their efforts. They at least try. They might no do it right but it is better to put forth an effort than sit on welfare. Good luck to all. We shall keep plugging away.

 

[mypie]

Mypie,
The comment was about the callousness of the first sentence, nothing else. I thought is was unprofessional. I won't go into the decorum/professionalism thing, its not worth the effort here anymore.

I don't know who you think you are to critique anyone on professionalism. I have never read anything to indicate any professionalism in your posts. The attacks you make against everyone else, with special emphasis on A Team is disgraceful. Normally, I see something that you posted and have learned to pass it by because it has nothing valuable to offer. But, I have just gotten sick of it. And, I would bet that there are a few others here on EO that feel the same way, but feel it is not worth their time to give you a clue. Is it at all possible that you can treat your fellow posters with the same respect that you demand? Remotely possible? Does it really make you feel more important, more of a man, to continually put others down? That's the way it seems. I would take a little time to internalize that if I were you. Get that mirror out!

 

[iceroadtrucker]

I don't know who you think you are to critique anyone on professionalism. I have never read anything to indicate any professionalism in your posts. The attacks you make against everyone else, with special emphasis on A Team is disgraceful. Normally, I see something that you posted and have learned to pass it by because it has nothing valuable to offer. But, I have just gotten sick of it. And, I would bet that there are a few others here on EO that feel the same way, but feel it is not worth their time to give you a clue. Is it at all possible that you can treat your fellow posters with the same respect that you demand? Remotely possible? Does it really make you feel more important, more of a man, to continually put others down? That's the way it seems. I would take a little time to internalize that if I were you. Get that mirror out!

Good Golly ya just drove that spike all the way through with one big wack.

 

[kg]

I don't know who you think you are to critique anyone on professionalism. I have never read anything to indicate any professionalism in your posts. The attacks you make against everyone else, with special emphasis on A Team is disgraceful. Normally, I see something that you posted and have learned to pass it by because it has nothing valuable to offer. But, I have just gotten sick of it. And, I would bet that there are a few others here on EO that feel the same way, but feel it is not worth their time to give you a clue. Is it at all possible that you can treat your fellow posters with the same respect that you demand? Remotely possible? Does it really make you feel more important, more of a man, to continually put others down? That's the way it seems. I would take a little time to internalize that if I were you. Get that mirror out!

The pot calls the kettle black, round and round we go.

 

[chefdennis]

Wow Greg!! I guess all ove those that asked you to come back ( i was not one of them) and those that sent you Private e-mails asking you to comeback (again i wasn't one of them) after you decided to take a while away from here just don't have a clue!!

Well I'll say it, post away Greg!! Don't change a thing and continue to do as you do, more then not enjoy your post....

PS: Your thing with Phil, well i simply take it with a grain of salt...i guess we all need to "vent" from time to time!! LOL!!

 

[x06col]

Actually, the long and short of this thread is the fact way too many people "wait" for something to happen rather than "causing" something to happen. Myself if I were in that predicament, i'd of spent my reserves to git myself back on the road rather than "waiting" for someone else to drive the train. Or, get in someone elses truck while repairs were being done. SOMETHING productive rather than fishing and hunting. Bottom line is... the insurance companies, equipment manufacturers, and carriers DON'T have your best interests at heart. You have to.

 

[davekc]

Actually, the long and short of this thread is the fact way too many people "wait" for something to happen rather than "causing" something to happen. Myself if I were in that predicament, i'd of spent my reserves to git myself back on the road rather than "waiting" for someone else to drive the train. Or, get in someone elses truck while repairs were being done. SOMETHING productive rather than fishing and hunting. Bottom line is... the insurance companies, equipment manufacturers, and carriers DON'T have your best interests at heart. You have to.

This indeed is the post in this thread that actually makes some sense. Wheelchairs, goofy math equations (as if no one could figure them out), or anything else boils down to the col's post.
No need to complicate the simple.

 

[moose]

Here we go again , just incase you mist it .
a Quote from another thread :

"just lost are truck an jobs july 3rd owner with express-1 has us an some other teams returning the trucks friday july 10 if any knows of a sprinter or a nice stright needing a team with express-1 u can find me at..."

wonder what the story behind this owner ...

 

[layoutshooter]

Actually, the long and short of this thread is the fact way too many people "wait" for something to happen rather than "causing" something to happen. Myself if I were in that predicament, i'd of spent my reserves to git myself back on the road rather than "waiting" for someone else to drive the train. Or, get in someone elses truck while repairs were being done. SOMETHING productive rather than fishing and hunting. Bottom line is... the insurance companies, equipment manufacturers, and carriers DON'T have your best interests at heart. You have to.

I would have LOVED to have been able to get into someone elses truck while mine was down for repairs. I was at the repair shop for this reason or that sometimes 2 or 3 days a week during most of the time. This was a comedy of errors that I only posted more about to try to HELP others to NOT get into this kind of mess.

As to hunting and fishing, I was out about 14 days spread out over the 3 months. That WAS productive time. I spent most those days with my dad. He is 86 and I have few seasons left with him.

You are correct about insurance companies, carriers AND the government, NONE of these have any interest in your sucess. In our case we had NO problem with our carrier OR the insurance company. We did and still do have a problem with the Feds. We have writen our Representitive, John Dingell, several times and have never recieved even a "Stick it in your ear" letter.

Nothing is as easy as it seems from the outside. There will be things happen to others everyday that, for the most part, is beyond their control. I feel for them. Stuff happens. All you can do is try to stay out of the way.