Your Thoughts About Going to California?

ATeam

Senior Member
Retired Expediter
Why so gloom and doom about California?

It's not gloom. It's frustration over the lack of competency in leadership that could have foreseen and prevented the financial crisis; especially visible now in California but true in many states and at the federal level. It is also the felt need to continue to prosper by protecting one's profit margin.

Next time, get in there and get away from the truck for awhile.
Enjoy the lifestyle you have sacrificed so much for.

We do that as a matter of course. This weekend at Petro is an example. About the "sacrifice," we don't feel like we have sacrificed a thing. We got rid of the house, cars and goods not because we had to, but because we wanted to. Sale proceeds went in the bank, not into the truck. The truck paid its own way. We did not sacrifice our goods. We freed ourselves from them.

It is not all about business and profit.

True, but when I see my business and profit threatened, that tends to get my attention and I tend to react. If the profits cease, then it quickly becomes all about business and profit. You can only enjoy the camping trip after the money is made.

You aren't getting burnt out are you ATeam?

Not even close. We love the life and work as much as ever. But with the recession going on, it is also true that we are making less money than we did before (still well in the black).

A couple days ago, I listened to an expediter talk about how she might lose her house because a carrier has failed to pay money properly earned and now overdue. We need go no further than this Open Forum to hear people say they are hanging it up.

Economic conditions have not bottomed. They continue to deteriorate. This is not a bump in the road that will be gone tomorrow. This is serious business that is forcing people out of their trucks and homes.

Yes, we love the life and work as much as ever, and we have no doubt whatsoever that we will make it through the recession intact. But with what we see going on around us and on our income statement, we are also more somber and less care-free than before. It hurts to see people wash out of the business. I don't like thinking twice before buying a new floor mat for the truck, but thinking twice I am. A year ago, I would have picked up that tab at that Petro meal. Now we are tighter with our cash.

Diane and I are still at the prom, but forgive us if we feel less like dancing than before.

You don't know this but you are one of the reasons Kathy and I are doing this (3 month newbies).
We would read your post's and felt if you could do it we could.

Thank you, I think.

You are right in saying that if we can do it, you can do it. We are doing nothing that others cannot also do.

(Though things have changed since we entered the business. Access to White Glove Services is less available. General economic conditions have deteriorated. New truck prices have skyrocketed. The money is not there like it was before. I expect that to change for the better when the recession gives way to recovery.)
 
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FIS53

Veteran Expediter
It appears that at least someone is enterprising enough to take the cal freight from those who don't want to go that far (few of us). The canadian freight reference is another factor as dynamex, adco, k-dac, roaring express etc will gladly haul it across the border for you and make something on it returning to canada. During these slow times it is incumbent upon all of us to cater to the customer (not our carrier) as they are the ones giving us the freight (profitable or not). While I agree low priced frieght is not to our benefit we must also look at the current environment which is at a shippers adavantage and not ours. I do not like the current deal making being done and the low dollar per mile per call but unfortunately I'm one of the few getting prices after the fact and not before so I have to suffer sometimes. It all comes out in the wash so to speak as we weather hard times.
So california has more strigent rules for pollution and idling etc. Most of us have made moves to offset idling so this is a moot point for the most part. Freight goes all over and while some areas suffer with low output we must endure.
Rob
 

davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
I don't think it is as much as a case of refusing to go to a particular area, as it has to do with price.
We will go anywhere, just can't do it for a break even number or less. This is why some of the budget carriers are getting into trouble. They are losing their coverage ability as their fleet goes broke.
 

Planner

Seasoned Expediter
Simple. Just don't take freight to and from California. Just remember that there are somewhere between 11 and 13 states that have been emulating the CARB standards. You can fight that political fight if you choose to do so. Personally I think the original posting was a cheap shot at California. But then Minnesota had "the Body" and California has the "Gropenator."

Regards, Planner, California
 

mrgoodtude

Not a Member
This seems easy enough..
Just lay off the California air resources board and we all win.
I love going to California and I love leaving so maybe I could give em all a ride to say Georgia, NY?
I can easily accommodate 11 dumbasses that believe the homeless need cleaner air to breath.
When is the last time you stayed a weekend in Frisco?
Do you think they give a ****?
Curious to know the percentage of the nations mortgage crisis that resides in California.
Using your house for a ATM while grown America bales to greener pastures and a reasonable existence.
I love CA always have the climate is second to none but the politics leave me a little queasy.
And people like the Mendozas live in the pit of political bile while the better side champions the better life based on census.
This is real California.. A family of 7 living in a motel after breathing cleaner air.
Picasa Web Albums - MIke - 2009-02-08
Maybe we should ALL move to California lose our home and learn graffiti, breath well and talk about the good ole days.
Not bagging on anyone here but come on!
This isn't a Cali sucks thread.. It is a Expedite sucks in Calif thread.
Not our fault.
The crown jewel for me has always been a Calif run but your State Govt is messing up my deal..
Just saying
 

inkasnana

Expert Expediter
We have no problem with taking a load to CA as long as our generator is working. (It's not working atm for some reason and hoping we can get it fixed tomorrow, so we are idling.) The only place(s) we won't go is in and around NYC area and Long Island. Too much of a headache to bother with.
 

blizzard2014

Veteran Expediter
Driver
I drive a cargo van. I'm going to work for an owner who is letting me run the van like it ismy own. I also live in California. I have been to California "with three different carriers" in a cargo van and have gotten loaded 7 out of seven times with 1k miles loads. I am going to come here when things are slow and wait 7 days for my nice 1500 mile run.

But, then again, I have a competitive edge over the other cargo van drivers who come out this way. I can sit at my house and enjoy some nice cable television while I am waiting for a decent load. While the rest of the drivers are suffering over at the Travel center of America in Ontario. And believe me, I feel for you people. I once had to spend 5 hours there and it was awful.

But good old Panther has bought out "Elite Forwarding" a very well established air-freight forwarding company out here in California and they are increasing their presence out west. I am going to take advantage of that seeing that I live 50 miles from downtown Los Angeles, 45 miles from Fontana "Panther has a huge account with UPS there" and 120 miles from San Diego "a lot of automotive stuff comes across the border there!" So all y'all California haters, please stay up north!! lol
 
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nightcreacher

Veteran Expediter
I walk thru truck stops everywhere,temps are in the 40 to 50 degree range,and guys are idleing their trucks.What a waiste.At 50 degrees we can sleep with the windows down,but as stated many times,we dont usually sleep in the truck ,except when its moving.With the corporate lodging card,I can sleep in a motel cheaper than I can run my tuck over night if its cold enough I need to idle.Now in the summer time,when its 100 degrees,this is a different story.We hope to stay very busy so we dont have to idle,or stay in motels during the week
 

Yesteryear

Expert Expediter
We did find that once again the CARB folks spent all day at the TA (Ontario) writing tickets for idling trucks. Didn't say anything about our gen running. It is a rigmaster which isn't compliant.
I am sure that is coming though.

Is it true you can idle if you have pets in the truck? We have heard this but never knew if it was true or a 'wives tale'. :eek:
 

Yesteryear

Expert Expediter
Before I stoped driving for the Person I had driven for, for the last 3 1/2 Years. I just want to say thank all of you that didn't want to do the CA Runs, as it made me a paycheck. 55mph in CA don't bother me. (It's a Living)

I hope the spelling was correct, along with the proper grammer usage as well.

By the way I worked out Yesterday, and also went Running, ran about 4 miles and some change.

I'm up here in the Petro at the 178B off of 81 in PA.
Dupont, Avoca Pa what ever U want to call it.

I'm bored to tears So any one that don't want to go to CA or VEGAS I'LL GO!! I'LL GO!! I'LL GO!!

Happy Presidents DAY.


Naw, not all the spellin and puncuuation it corect. but thats ok causen we all don't mind. we ain't here for the spellin lesson's. :D
 

Yesteryear

Expert Expediter
why would you go there ?
what's go's in Vegas - staye's in Vegas
how do you expect to get a load out ?



Moose.

Ahhhh! our friends just got a load out of Vegas. Vegas to Pittsburg PA. Good miles, yep, ya'll don't want to go? Let me! Yessiree I'll go! :D
 

Scuba

Veteran Expediter
Dave you can run any genset as long as the trucks engine isnt an ulsf engine carb approved the rigmaster and several others before the ulsf came into being. So if you have a 2007 or newer engine then you can't run the genset. The reason being is that carb has refused to test them with ulsf hence you cant use them. Look i say turn cal into another mexico and drop loads in AZ and let the locals make the final drop. Cal doesn't want us there we should stay out. Cat engines have pulled out of the truck market because of cal every time they make a carb compliant engine carb changes the specs. I think cal is going to keep doing this until it gets to the point no one can comply so they can charge you a trip permit to enter the state it's all about $$$$$$$$$$$$$
 

davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
Ok...good to know. Our trucks have 06 engines or older. Even our 07's have 06 engines in them. So far, no problems out there.
I could see the day they will let trucks in with a fee permit.
Just for the privilege:rolleyes:
 

Scuba

Veteran Expediter
Don't park next to me and tell me you got a cal load ill cut your tires and take it from you lol. I havent ever had a hard time getting out of cal the few times i have been lucky enough to get out there.
 

ATeam

Senior Member
Retired Expediter
Don't park next to me and tell me you got a cal load ill cut your tires and take it from you lol. I havent ever had a hard time getting out of cal the few times i have been lucky enough to get out there.

For people new the Open Forum and considering a career move into expediting, the above comment illustrates a hazard to avoid. That is the hazard of using past results to form future expectations.

In the past, I have butted heads with people here on the Open Forum regarding taking freight to the West Coast. Some claimed it was an area to avoid. I argued -- using our actual, real-world run numbers -- that the West Coast is a good freight area. Of course, much depends on your carrier and how much West Coast coverage your carrier has.

A new reader can look back at some of my old posts and learn that California has provided us with more pickups and deliveries than any other state, and that our willingness to go here has been a major financial plus.

That was then. This is now.

The last time we were in California we were in the Los Angeles area, which is one of the best places to be, based on our history. We were shocked by the length of time we sat with no offers. Since then, we have kept a closer eye on truck levels there. We have never before seen the number of trucks stacking up in California than we have now.

Freight has slowed. An offer to California no longer receives an automatic yes from us. With dozens of trucks stacked up ahead of us, adding ourselves to the mix with an inbound California load may not be the best choice.

I'm not saying we won't go. But we will think twice before saying yes.

Recently, we have declined two cross-country loads that would have delivered in California. We did so because the pay per mile to go out there was lower than it used to be and too low for us to profitably haul the freight.

In those cases, we did not have to think twice about declining the California loads. The price made the decision for us. But if the money was good, we would still think twice about accepting the offer.

If you want to hang out in good weather, go to the beach and enjoy good Mexican food for a while, California may be a good place to go. If you want to make money, I'm not so sure any more.

My advice: Don't rule out cross-country loads that take you to the West Coast, but think twice before saying yes.
 

Doggie Daddy

Veteran Expediter
We were out in Socal about a week ago,and we too were shocked to find 22 D units in the LA and Ontario express centers ahead of us. Needless to say, when they offered us the cheap paying relocation back east we jumped on it just to get back to the freight lanes.:(
 

Hyperdrive

Seasoned Expediter
Owner/Operator
We have been here a week now and finally getting a load from Las Vegas not Los Angeles. While here we had a chance to talk to a CHP officer ,who was escorting the Idle Nazis around the Pilot parking lot, about the 55 mph speed limit for trucks. 2 axle trucks can drive at the auto speed limit and in auto lanes throughout CA. He also told us as long as there were two of us in the truck we could drive in the HOV lane but expect to be pulled by some of the younger officers who you would have to explain the axle exemption.
 

broker

Seasoned Expediter
You know, this is a forum full of opinions. You could give any situation to each one of us, on any given day and we all would have a different result in someway.
All you have to do is read this topic and the replies.
Everyone has had a little different result going to California.
One thing for certain, no two days are the same.
California is not in a world of its own, when talking about expediting loads going in or out.

Let me give an example of another state.
TEXAS
We have gone here several times. Once we went in and brought out a very good load in a day or two.
Another time we went into the same area and was offered to relocate 1,OOO miles as frieght was so slow in Texas.
Still another time we sat for 5 days before getting a load out. Parked with us, were no less than 20 other Expedite trucks.
All this has happened over a 1 month period.
Kind of sound like California at times?
Now, should I be telling everyone to stay out of Texas, NO.
If anything stays the same in Expdediting, it is that nothing stays the same.
One mans gold mine, could be anothers treasure, depending on the day of the week.

I am sorry to hear some have had bad times going to California, just like I am happy that some are having good times.

Will either have any bearing on weather I refuse the next load to California. Nope and it shouldn't.
After all, it would be another day and nothing will be same today, as it was yesterday.

To tell others they should or should not take a load to a certain state, is not the thing to do.
However, to give opinions and share our experiences with each other, is food for thought.

BIG JOHN
 
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