why the doom and gloom

[nightcreacher]

I go away for a week or so and find the same posts as when I left home.So much negativity.My run count is better this November and now December than last year,but there is one difference,I'm doing loads I may have not done if the company was busier.To sit and complain about not having work.How many times have you said quietly to yourself,"boy I should have taken that load"and the next day your still in the same place as you were the day before.To make out when times are tough,you just have to change your routine.This is a business,if you loose that positive attitude,you may as well sell out.You keep thinking on the negative side,you will never get ahead,and thats for any business.As bad as times are,they will get better,they always have,they always will.There are so many posts on here complaining about the companies they are leased to,instead of crying on here,go to management and tell them the problem,if they give you a deaf ear,then its time to go elseware.I dont know how many owners and drivers came into expedite for a quick get rich scheme,but it has never been that way and never will.What it is is a way to make a living with out running yourself to death.You van operators complaining of your mileage pay,check out what the average company is paying a tractor owner,before their surcharge,and as you know it cost a lot more to run a tractor than your van.Most of the D units make more than the average tractor trailer too.The glass really is half full,if you think different,well your probably,and thats a very negative word,one of the cryers.

 

[Bruno]

Good post Steve. I had a truck on with TST that got .80 a mile for all U.S. miles, .90 a mile for loads going in and out of Canada. I ran alot more miles, but I still made money. Things will get better. Steve you remember how 1995 was?

 

[jaminjim]

Good points, But I think the biggest reason that our pay is higher than the rest of trucking is primarily because of the lack of miles compared to the T/L sector.

 

[TeamCaffee]

I believe the common saying in Expediting is less miles more money!!

That though is subject to change to get us through some tough times. The question is once we through these tough times will it go back? Probably not keep your eye to the future and adjust with the times.

Change is a way of life so just roll with it and make the best of it you can. Steve brings up a good point look at the advertisements for big trucks and their great starting pay!

 

[jaminjim]

I believe the common saying in Expediting is less miles more money!!

That though is subject to change to get us through some tough times. The question is once we through these tough times will it go back? Probably not keep your eye to the future and adjust with the times.

Change is a way of life so just roll with it and make the best of it you can. Steve brings up a good point look at the advertisements for big trucks and their great starting pay!

Has anyone ever seen rates go back up? They may figure that if you can run for less during the hard times than you can still do it when times are good.

 

[chefdennis]

Good Post Steve!!

 

[ATeam]

The question is once we through these tough times will it go back? Probably not keep your eye to the future and adjust with the times.

I believe rates will go up when the economic recovery begins. Trucking industry economists and analysts are all talking about the truck capacity crunch that will develop when the economy picks up. This will shift the balance of pricing power from the shippers to the truckers. As general freight rates rise, so too will expediting rates, I belive.

 

[moose]

As shippers willing to pay more to move the freight , the middle man will make more money , that's the Broker , truckers will still move the freight for less...

as to the D&G... there is a rezone ,not everyone can afford to rain it up , some Expediters actually loosing everything...
what do you do if rates are so low , and so is capacity ??? ,
you drive less , and when you do , you get payed less , yet we see more drivers coming into orientations ,
this site is about Information , it is our job to let the newbee's to be , what is going on ,
yes WG & Elite are doing great ,
well , not everyone can drive a 250,000 truck as a certified team for 5 years or more...for the rest of us Epeditors ,we have very little options ,we need either millage or pay or both , right now it is neither .




Moose.

 

[TeamCaffee]

In the future I cannot see the industry playing today’s games with yesterday’s rules so the face of expediting is going to change with the economic times.

I agree rates will go up as the economic recovery begins as there will be fewer trucks to haul the freight, we will just be hauling the freight a little different then we are now. Meaning we will be a leaner tighter fighting machine on our budgets and so will the companies we are leased to.

Yesterday as the good old day is gone but the future looks really bright!

 

[iceroadtrucker]

I go away for a week or so and find the same posts as when I left home.So much negativity.My run count is better this November and now December than last year,but there is one difference,I'm doing loads I may have not done if the company was busier.To sit and complain about not having work.How many times have you said quietly to yourself,"boy I should have taken that load"and the next day your still in the same place as you were the day before.To make out when times are tough,you just have to change your routine.This is a business,if you loose that positive attitude,you may as well sell out.You keep thinking on the negative side,you will never get ahead,and thats for any business.As bad as times are,they will get better,they always have,they always will.There are so many posts on here complaining about the companies they are leased to,instead of crying on here,go to management and tell them the problem,if they give you a deaf ear,then its time to go elseware.I dont know how many owners and drivers came into expedite for a quick get rich scheme,but it has never been that way and never will.What it is is a way to make a living with out running yourself to death.You van operators complaining of your mileage pay,check out what the average company is paying a tractor owner,before their surcharge,and as you know it cost a lot more to run a tractor than your van.Most of the D units make more than the average tractor trailer too.The glass really is half full,if you think different,well your probably,and thats a very negative word,one of the cryers.

DOOM and Gloom Here is DOOM and GLoom

Do You Kow what the (GOV'T Company Black List) is?

The Gov't Black List is a name of companies that can no longer have any affilation with the GOVT or contracts ect
it involves People as well. So that being said if a person name is on the GOVT Black list guess they cant work for any Company or contact or sub contract for any company with a Govt contract.

By the way Nightcreature thanks.

 

[cheri1122]

Great post, Steve - good perspective, and good advice. As usual.

 

[nightcreacher]

If you let the rates drop,they are going to stay low.Rate structure is based on supply and demand.In expedite,the customer needs his or her load picked up and delivered on time.He is useing an expedite carrier 'cause there was a problem,and this load wasnt ready to ship by his normal carrier,in the normal time frame. If this load isnt at destination,the receiving company may have to shut its machines down and that is very very costly,thus Roberts Express,( FedEx Custom Critical )became the go to company.Since the beginning, more and more expediters,or so called expediters have emerged,and the rates have fallen.
When in the produce business,you would find the brokers early in the morning,driving thru the truck stops to see how many reefer trucks were there,rates will be low if parking lot is full.Supply and demand.So here is what I'm saying.The only way the rates will ever go up,is when all the expedite companies,quit trying to under sell each other, and does anyone really think that will happen?

 

[pelicn]

The only way the rates will ever go up,is when all the expedite companies,quit trying to under sell each other

Many expedite companies popped up when rates were good and customers were plenty, just as many came into this industry thinking that the gravy would always be here. That being said, when the rates drop and the demand isn't as great, many of these companies will fall by the wayside just as many of the people that came in will also fall by the wayside.
This is a niche industry, it will grow and change but I don't think it will ever go away or drop to the point that a business person can't make a living doing it.