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Veteran Expediter Survival Tips for Newbies

When husband and wife team Rodney and Mary Dodd took on their first load in January 2014, they didn’t realize just how different the expedite lifestyle would be. Both came from 9-to-5 office jobs – Rodney, an insurance agent for 24 years, and Mary, a banker. They were very involved with their local church, where Rodney had served as deacon for nearly 30 years.

“Our biggest challenge starting out was homesickness,” says Rodney. “We were used to a short commute, coming home every evening. Our lives had centered around serving in our church, and now we were unable to go as often."

But over time, the Dodds have made the adjustment and have started to enjoy the benefits of being an expediter – the freedom to call their own shots, ability to earn good money, and opportunity to travel the country. They credit mentors, like veteran expediters Bob and Linda Caffee, who have provided support and advice to help them acclimate to the expediter life and business.

ExpeditersOnline.com spoke with Linda Caffee to get her take on the kind of advice she typically shares with new expediters. Here are some of her tips to help you not only survive but thrive in your new career.


1. Make quality sleep a top priority.

Try to sleep during night hours, if you can make it happen. “If you’re operating as a team, the first thing you need to figure out is a workable sleep schedule,” advises Caffee. “If one of you is a morning person, and the other is a night person, see if you can switch off between 2am-4am. This way, both of you will get some sleep while it is dark and there is not a lot of outside activity that can disrupt your sleep.”

Another key factor to quality sleep is comfort. “If you don't have a really good mattress, invest in a memory foam topper. This will keep you from bouncing. It’s really hard to sleep if you’re bouncing down the road,” says Caffee.  

2. Don’t speed.

“If the speed limit is 70 mph, you don't have to run 70 mph. If you slow down, you will save yourself a lot of stress and get better fuel mileage,” says Caffee.

How does speeding impact fuel economy? Consider this: each 5 mph you drive over 50 mph can lower fuel economy by 7-percent or more, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s FuelEconomy.gov.  

So, what speed do the Caffees recommend? “We typically run just under 60 mpg. That way, you can stay in the right lane, and you’re not so stressed out. It's amazing how much more relaxed you are when you’re not constantly having to put on the brakes and maneuver around the vehicles in front of you,” says Caffee.

3. Dress appropriately.

“Remember: It's a business, not a vacation. So, dress as you would to meet another business person,” Caffee advises. “As an expediter, you’re typically dealing with high-value freight. You want to instill confidence in the customer that you are a businessperson who is going to take pride in what they put on your truck and that you're going to take great care of it.”

4. Keep up with changes in rules and regulations.  

“Get involved with industry organizations because there are a lot of rules you need to stay on top of,” says Caffee.

That way, you can also discern fact from fiction. “Everything you hear is not gospel,” says Caffee. “If someone tells you about a rule that doesn't make sense, verify it with your carrier or industry association (such as OOIDA [Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association] or Women In Trucking).”

What’s an example?

“One of the goofy ‘rules’ that new people get hit with is, ‘You have to have white sheets on your bed.’ That one has been around for a while. Nobody can say where that rumor ever got started, or verify that it was ever a rule,” Caffee says.  

5. Surround yourself with support.

“If you ever get down, make sure you have a network of people you can call,” says Caffee. “When things aren’t going right, a lot of people get that ‘Chicken Little’ view that the world is caving in. Those are the times you need to get out of that area or talk to somebody.”

Your support network can also help you with the practical day-to-day aspects of expediting. One example is getting ideas for securing loads, says Caffee. “The best way we learned was talking with other drivers on how they secure freight. We would get some valuable ideas that way.”

What were some of those ideas?

“When we first started, a big thing we learned from one driver is the importance of using corner protectors so the straps don't crush the box,” Caffee says. “We also talked to drivers about how to secure freight in the middle of the truck. Normally we try to secure everything against the wall. But there is some freight that has to go in the middle [of the cargo area] so that cool air can circulate all the way around the freight.”  

What are Your Greatest Challenges as an Expediter?

If you have specific questions or challenges you’re dealing with, chances are there are other expediters who have gone through the same thing – and found solutions that have worked for them. Try ExpeditersOnline.com’s Open Forum to seek the answers and support you need to succeed.