Why does it work for some?

[OntarioVanMan]

As I look around our fine membership. How is it some can run just fine with their respective carriers? And the we read posts of disgruntled drivers bad mouthing the very same carriers and some even leaving the biz, claiming they can't make it.

We have:

Turtle and Moot...long time Panther van operators doing just fine and coping.

There is Dreamer and Piper...doing just great with the Feds.

There is Eddie and myself at E-1 chugging along.

At Tri State we have the Enemy and Jennie just movin right along...

There is Chef and Rlent at Bolt.

oh and ziggi as well at Blair.

all the above are vans and sprinters.

All seemingly content and have learned how to work their respective carriers system and eck out a living.

What is the common denominator all of the above have?

 

[Doggie Daddy]

all the above are vans and sprinters.

All seemingly content and have learned how to work their respective carriers system and eck out a living.

What is the common denominator all of the above have?

They are all bald. Oh wait,I have met Dreamer and he isn't bald.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

They are all bald. Oh wait,I have met Dreamer and he isn't bald.

There ya go...*LOL*

I mean even you guys...look at all the crap you've endured at the Fed...and you are still here....Why??

 

[moose]

i once found a fortune cookie telling me something like :
"happiness is the search for happiness despite being happy"

during my first Minnesota winter , i asked an old guy , why on earth he chosen to live in Minnesota ? , his respond : it keeps all the whiney's peoples to the south ...


(i might come with a useful respond ...next time,,,)

 

[greg334]

OVM,
All except one has been in this business a while.

The one thing I noticed is goals and needs (oh and attitude) are a lot different with that group than it is with a lot of the complainers and newbies. It maybe me but those you list, except one, seems to be looking at things a lot different and don't fall for the "make a lot of money here" or "You Bored? Get into expediting" crap.

Things have changes sine a few of these people got into this, people no longer have an easy time out there and even the successful expediter(s) seem to struggle a bit through the bad economy but those who are patient and adaptable seem to be doing well.

 

[Dakota]

Positive attitude and knowing how to run their business

 

[moose]

...look at all the crap you've endured at the Fed... ....Why??

good point , no chance you will find a good answer .
heres why ,
if you look on trucking , there are many trucker that work for large outfits doing flatbed ,reefers ,bulk ,tanks ,Ext. ...
those are all considered to be harder work then dry van .
yet , they dont get home more often , don't have a better lifestyle , and not making more money , then dry van .
how can they fill up those trucks ? ,no good answer , just peoples choices .

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Flexiblity...learning that everything is not so black and white..there is a lot of gray out here....there is a balance of taking and giving...

 

[OntarioVanMan]

OVM,
All except one has been in this business a while.

The one thing I noticed is goals and needs (oh and attitude) are a lot different with that group than it is with a lot of the complainers and newbies. It maybe me but those you list, except one, seems to be looking at things a lot different and don't fall for the "make a lot of money here" or "You Bored? Get into expediting" crap.

Things have changes sine a few of these people got into this, people no longer have an easy time out there and even the successful expediter(s) seem to struggle a bit through the bad economy but those who are patient and adaptable seem to be doing well.

"patient and adaptable"
Very good Greg...very good traits...

 

[TheOGExpediterGuy]

Its because all of the above that you mentioned know how to work the system...Know where their companies freight lanes are...Are good people....Know how to work the Dispatchers, and are hard runners...Always on-time, and just are plain GOOD PEOPLE...Good things come to those who are GOOD....lol

 

[Bruno]

Very good subject OVM.

 

[jjoerger]

We are doing fine at FedEx. Been at it for 19 months now, 5 months as O/O's of a D unit. Still learning everyday and still making mistakes but making money and paying the bills. Still learning where to sit and where not to go unless it pays really well.
I think a lot of people give up and quit because they don't take enough time to learn the business. We make our mistakes, lick our wounds and move on to the next load.

 

[cheri1122]

One common denominator all [that were listed] have in common is a sense of humor
Maybe it's an attitude of deciding to want what you have, rather than vice versa....

 

[Steady Eddie]

They are all bald. Oh wait,I have met Dreamer and he isn't bald.

hey...hey, I'm not bald! Better to turn gray than turn loose.....

 

[Steady Eddie]

Willing to adapt to change. Every week is different in some ways.

Some will drop and stop, and sit there day after day waiting for a load, (Toad Suck, AR), or there are 20 units in their aera. Then start complaining about no runs.

If you are on a ship at sea and it's on fire. You can stay or you can change where you are by jumping in the water adapting to change from a burning ship. I go with change....(not Barry's change BTW).

I'm 5the out 13th out overall, I can stay here and wait or go 68 miles south and be number 1 out....I'm going to adapt to change and move south.

 

[Turtle]

First and foremost, you have to understand the business, and understand your place within it. Don't devalue yourself, nor inflate your importance. Don't sweat the small stuff, attitude is critical. Maintain an even keel, don't get too exuberant or too down. It's all good. Learn from your mistakes, then move on. It's not just a job, it's an adventure, and every day brings a new adventure.

I think all of the people above do these things well, and any of them would do well at all of the carriers mentioned.

 

[chefdennis]

The Attuitude for Business is what i see from those listed above..I think any of those people could make in in most any business they decided to go into. They understood the need to "know the business", set themselves up properly to succeed from the beginning, as Turtle said they "understand their position in the business", and they have the ability to communicate with those they deal with daily. From dispatchers, to the dock workers, to the shipping and receiving office people the attitude you present to all of them is so very important.

For me it was setting goals and working within my expectations of the business. We each have different wants and needs, and the expectations we set need to be flexible but still be workable to maintain the ability to achieve what you want from the business.

One thing that i see the most from those that do the complaining is that they haven't seperated the fact that while they are leased to a carrier, they are NOT employees....they fail to understand that they are "Self Employed"......Once you understand you are working for yourself and that you are your boss....things take on a different perspective

And by all mean, Turtle said it best, "learn from your mistake"....

 

[ebsprintin]

There is the expectation factor too. What does one expect from their carrier, themself, and life in general? Those who's expectation is out of whack with reality are more likely to be unprepared for what happens when they get cornered by that wall of reality. Or when they slam into the wall head on. Those with good business and survival instincts are also those more likely to have a good overall perspective of their surroundings.

eb

P.S. Looks like cd and I were on the same line of thinking at the same time.

 

[Doggie Daddy]

There ya go...*LOL*

I mean even you guys...look at all the crap you've endured at the Fed...and you are still here....Why??

We are gluttons for punishment...LOL.

 

[Turtle]

One thing that i see the most from those that do the complaining is that they haven't seperated the fact that while they are leased to a carrier, they are NOT employees....they fail to understand that they are "Self Employed"......Once you understand you are working for yourself and that you are your boss....things take on a different perspective

Yeah, we see it all the time, where people have that employee mentality. That's what I meant by devaluing yourself. On the other hand, some inflate their importance too far in the other direction, and forget that they are in a cooperative partnership with their carrier, and while you are your own boss and have the final say, and you must act in your own self interests, the carrier's input is important and should be weighted accordingly. If you can't strike the proper balance in the cooperative partnership, then you will fail utterly, or you'll have your own authority and do just fine.