Whats the longest you've ever sat?? And where was it???

[BigWill29]

In Canton, MS.

Not by choice, of course. My owner didn't want his truck to move any more than 75 miles deadhead without pay... Needless to say I'm no longer with him. We sat a week 'til Panther started hurtin in another area and gave us an empty move. The other guy was right, when ever u sit that long u lose way more money than if u just would've eaten the fuel and moved to a better area. You gotta look after urself because the company doesn't give a **** 'til they need you again.

 

[Dynamite 1]

tjpohio, well whats the story. several have ask, so spill it. why so long and who are you with? as for me the longest was aug, 07, spent 7 days in dallas with tstate. was sorta hangin out w/friends and didnt stay on them but i was still there. i have been other places longer but it was of my choice only.

 

[jaminjim]

Hopefully he can't answer because of a multiple stop 6000 mile load at full price and 30 cent Fuel Surcharge.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

If you're out of money, then I understand. If you have money, there's no reason not to dh to Dallas or Memphis.

Bout 5 days is the most I'll wait. WA, Houston, New England. I did stay a week in Laredo, tho. I liked the Family Gardens too much!

 

[x06col]

7 days in West Memphis back in 1995 when I 1st started with Roberts Express. I was running solo. Sat number 1 as a C unit and number 1, one size down. Only Roberts Express vets know what I'm talking about.

Back in the ealy days of fedup, I sat in Dayton, OH amongst a glut of trucks for 5 days. After I had clawed my way to #1, the message came that I was out of service until I sent a recert of my blood pressure (seems the long sheet was blurred and they couldn't read it)

Needless to say, that was the last company I ever contracted to.

 

[bobwg]

I sat almost 2 weeks in a Sprinter in Grand Rapids MI. last Thanksgiving brand new to the biz at the time. What is the saying "live and learn"

 

[Dakota]

Call me impatient, but I wouldn't sit anywhere for more then a week

 

[guido4475]

It don't matter if I was or not.

If you sit for more than a few days and have a van - M O V E

If your company tells you don't move and you listen to them and still haven't gotten anything - change companies.

It is not like they shut down the border or freight is frozen across the country.

This is a business, right Guido?

It is always a person;s perogative to move or sit:This is the nice thing about our business, it is our choice to do what we want, no one else's.

But to change companies because one may sit too long? Right now, with the way the economy is, being the first quarter of a new year,it is traditionally slower than other quarters.I don't care who you are leased to, it is slow.Not in all areas, but a majority of them.Look at the amount of trucks available in Laredo.I refused a load going down there for that reason.(No offense, TJP)So a person gets ****ed off and changes companies because he is sitting along with the others.Paperwork and orientation will take a week, and by the time that person gets to learning the new companies freight lanes,way they operate, so he can become at 100% productivity level, that may take another couple of months.So where is he farther ahead to change companies, Gregg???This is not the time of year to be playing carrier hopscotch.

And who said anything about the border being shut down or freight being frozen? LOL.

 

[layoutshooter]

Slow? We don't see it being slow. We have had two slow days due to a over population of trucks in L.A. This year has been good for us so far. I guess it is a matter of perspective.

 

[guido4475]

Maybe I should of worded that differently.Yes, there are some that are moving and doing quite well. Take OVM,for example.The freightmaster.I guess it is all where you may land and who is there.

 

[TheOGExpediterGuy]

Lawrence yes im still down here and I am now back in Edinburg...Hopin for somethin outta here...I have had 1 shorty in 20 days and spend last weekend at south padre island...but was still in service...that is the whole story...Everytime I go to Dallas I sit for retarded amounts of time, and lately it has been really slow down here in Laredo...The load comming down to laredo was a double load P/U in McElhatten, PA...and en route I picked up another load comming down here to Laredo in Urbana, OH...So I was double loaded for 1450 miles, and on the 26th of this month I ran one from McAllen, TX to Laredo, TX sat there for 3 days than came back down here...I am stubborn I guess cuz everyday is a new day and Im always number 1 cuz im with a small company...So I keep thinkin well today is the day Ill get outta here??? But whatever...

 

[layoutshooter]

Yes, OVM is the "FreightMaster" without a doubt. Often it seems to be luck, and sometimes is. In most cases when we sit it is because we made a mistake. Going to a slow area etc.

 

[guido4475]

Lawrence yes im still down here and I am now back in Edinburg...Hopin for somethin outta here...I have had 1 shorty in 20 days and spend last weekend at south padre island...but was still in service...that is the whole story...Everytime I go to Dallas I sit for retarded amounts of time, and lately it has been really slow down here in Laredo...The load comming down to laredo was a double load P/U in McElhatten, PA...and en route I picked up another load comming down here to Laredo in Urbana, OH...So I was double loaded for 1450 miles, and on the 26th of this month I ran one from McAllen, TX to Laredo, TX sat there for 3 days than came back down here...I am stubborn I guess cuz everyday is a new day and Im always number 1 cuz im with a small company...So I keep thinkin well today is the day Ill get outta here??? But whatever...

I give you credit and respect for your positive attitude through all of this you have been through. Awesome.And, of course, youre young, and enjoying yourself, and having a good time.Absolutely nothing wrong with that at all.Enjoy yourself !!! Live life to the fullest.

 

[Humble2drive]

I give you credit and respect for your positive attitude through all of this you have been through. Awesome.And, of course, youre young, and enjoying yourself, and having a good time.Absolutely nothing wrong with that at all.Enjoy yourself !!! Live life to the fullest.

I think that sums it up.

 

[greg334]

Guido,
Hey I understand what you're getting at.

But it seems to me when someone comes here and asked the question, it worries me that they don't get this is a business first and not a vacation. It doesn't matter if he is young, I know a lot of very young people who know how to run things to make money. Neither can I applaud him for having a positive attitude and don't intend to beat up on the OP, he doesn't deserve that. But I do give him credit about asking, now it matters if he takes the advice and learns.

I would venture to guess that if a company gives such poor service to the contractor, they may be giving equally poor service to the customer and it is time to move on. Maybe it is the reason he is sitting, the company itself is a problem in as much as that their hopes are pinned on bidding on loads to get him out while trying to maintain a margin they feel they have to have at the same time but losing out of a chance to move the guy. That is poor management regardless how you cut it, the contractor is an asset, a tool that you use and the contractor may need to be moved at a loss to create more revenue - understand?

Telling him to look at other companies is not telling him to play company hopscotch but rather looking at it in a more practical way to run a business other than screaming "We have the FREEDOM to sit if we like to".

 

[x06col]

Greg, there are many that I categoy as "too flexable or extremely inflexable" that are no longer in the business. BamaMule comes to mind in the inflexable column. The bright spot is....that the flexible still have the ability to learn. If they are about to.

 

[TheOGExpediterGuy]

Put it this way...Greg...I am very informed about how/where to run...trust me...I am in a tight spot with my owner right now...But he treats me very well...I know that right now usually is a slow period...People that know me out there know that I understand the business I have been doing this for a little over 3 years now, and have been with Good and Bad Companies...All I wanted to get outta this was to compare my worst time as an expediter to other peoples rough times...THANX

 

[jaminjim]

Do I understand it correctly, Van, Fleet owners vehicle?

 

[TheOGExpediterGuy]

Yes Sir thats correct

 

[EdwinDavis]

I sat for 3 weeks last year at home in service waiting for that magical ring.