Hey everyone, me and my team driver are currently looking around for a possible contractor change. We are o/o of a cargo van and are not getting anywhere near the miles promised by our current contractor, ( in the last 3 weeks we have gotten 300 miles total) any advice on what company to contact where we could at least get some decent miles to survive during the slow time?
Where to go?
- Thread starter Fender39
- Start date
We would rather not say who we are with at this time, we have been with them for a month and have dead headed where ever they told us to and have gotten 300 miles total. We have told the we are willing to go anywhere and will dead head on our own to get to a load, have been sitting now for over a week with no calls.
You say they promised you a certain number of miles, but really, did they? I bet if you think really hard, you know they did not promise any thing, actually. Except to try, which is all they can do. 300 miles in 3 weeks sure sounds like someone's not trying too hard, though.
What you can do, [and it's best done before you sign on the dotted line], is talk to some current O/Os there, and compare their version to the recruiter's. You know: trust, but verify.
And take what DaveKC says seriously: you won't make bank driving a cargo van today, no matter which carrier you choose, while supply is far beyond demand.
Thank you Cheri for the Incite we appreciate it, at this point we aren't looking to make bank, just pay the bills. We have talked to some other o/o that work with the company some are getting loads left and right running 2300 a week, where as some are just sitting there just like we are ( dead heading all over in hopes to get a load) . To us it seems like a case of dispatchers picking favorites ( I hate to say it). We understand completely that it is slow, just seems fishy and we would hoe to get an equal chance at loads just like everyone else. Just wanted to know if 300 miles in 3 weeks is normal in a slow time or if maybe we are being looked over.... Considering we are in the Chicago area, it really shouldn't be this hard to get out, even for a short run... Anything ......7 days is just way too long to sit in Chicago.
We are using our communication devices correctly. We have even gone as far as to call dispatch to make sure we are showing in service. All they say is that we are and have been in service since we arrived in Chicago and to just "sit tight" that there is no good place to go within 400 miles. Called today to tell them we will take anything..... Next Wednesday will be 2 weeks no loads, I am aware that we don't consider weekends as days sitting..... But that doesn't stop the bills from coming. We just wanted to see if anyone was happy with their contractor or could recommend one that could get us moving.
I feel for you, but it's tough to make any suggestions when we don't know which carrier you're with - someone might suggest them, lol.
Sorry, I know how the sense of humor gets ragged at a time like this. I'd suggest you talk to the main carriers who use cargo vans, like Panther, Bolt, TriState, Nations Express - I think any of them would be better than where you are.
Sorry, I know how the sense of humor gets ragged at a time like this. I'd suggest you talk to the main carriers who use cargo vans, like Panther, Bolt, TriState, Nations Express - I think any of them would be better than where you are.
Yea, you gotta watch out for Cheri, she's a real trouble maker.
2 days waiting in Chicago for a load is way too long! Call your carrier and make sure you aren't out of service.
The problem is, in your efforts not to bad-mouth your carrier, you are also reluctant to name them honestly. Oftentimes, if the carrier is known, we can make better suggestions on how to deal with problems at that carrier, instead of guessing. You're asking for generic help for what is often a specific issue with a specific remedy. So, you know, you're only going to get out of this what you're willing to put into it.
Nothing good for 400 miles? You are sitting on a hotbed for expedite freight being in Chicago. A 400 mile radius of Chicago includes but not limited to Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland, Lexington, Louisville, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Kansas City, Des Moines and Minneapolis. Something ain't right if you can't get loaded.
Jeez -if he'd said up front who let him sit for two weeks [in Chicago!], I wouldn't have suggested Nations Express!