Thinking of buying a van

**chris314** · 02-14-2010, 04:28 PM

Im a new driver. I have been driving a semi for about 3 months now. Not making enough money with the company I am with. Bad equipment and so on. Has anyone heard about cookie monster expediting or know of any good companies in the akron canton area.....hell even fort wyane. I just wanna make sure I look at all the options, and how all this works. Any feedback would be appreciated. Really excited about this but still tryin to figure out how it works. No qualcoms.......can't stand them. thanks

**chefdennis** · 02-14-2010, 09:43 PM

Ok, i am not a recruiterm but i am a CV driver....you have been doing this (expedite i assume, but then we all know what "assuming is about") so you have a understanding that where home is really doesn't make a differencem you are all over the country and can be in any city thousands of miles from home at any given time, so what difference does it make where the compnay you least with is located!?!? I mean if you want to stay within a certain mile radius of the companies home base, while i only see that as income limiting, then i understand and i wouldn't personally recommend this business....but thats just me and my thoughts....we each have our reasons for doing what we do, so more power to you...

as for Midwest.....read back in the past post and i am sure you will gather the needed info to make a good "business" decision....

**greg334** · 02-14-2010, 10:23 PM

If you are in a truck and only been in it for three months, why not change companies? You will make more money there and if you stick it out for a year or better, you may get to drive for one of the 'expediting' owners and get into the business that way.

**Jack_Berry** · 02-15-2010, 06:33 PM

use the search and look under "midwest expediting" for some eyeopening info. most every has a qc to track the shipments. jung doesn't but they are in mke.

**Turtle** · 02-15-2010, 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by chefdennis

...so you have a understanding that where home is really doesn't make a differencem you are all over the country and can be in any city thousands of miles from home at any given time, so what difference does it make where the compnay you least with is located!?!?

My sentiments exactly. When people ask that question it's obvious they don't know what expediting is. I know people (well, one person, anyway) who has been with Panther for at least three years, and he's never been to the office. Ever.

**chris314** · 02-16-2010, 11:43 AM

Thanks for the info. I guess I am not understanding what expediting is.... Don't you have to go to an office. Pass a drug test and all that jazz, like filling out an application for employment. Just like with a trucking company???? Anyway, I like truckin, but I think in driving a van you have more freedom of where to stop for the night, if you stop at all. No log books, etc. I could deal with a qc, for a good oppertunity. Traveling is no big deal for as I am a navy vet of 5 years. The economy forced me out of work, so like many others I went and got a cdl, I will continue trucking for a year, but I am really interested in becoming an owner operator driving either a sprinter or a cargo van for a good company. Just looking for a good buisness formula I guess. Expences, health ins, for a family, average miles and fuel costs. People do it and make a profit, I am just trying to follow in some good footsteps. Not create my own.
Yeah and mid west looks like a bad idea......any others?

Thank in advance.......

**LDB** · 02-16-2010, 12:56 PM

Before you enter a career in expediting you need education just as you would to enter a career in mechanics or accounting. You should spend many many hours in the classroom, i.e. the general, newbies and recruiter forums on EO. You need to read back a couple of years in all 3. That doesn't mean every word of every post. That means reading every word of those threads that appear to apply to you and your situation. That will answer many of your questions and will also create some new ones from things you learn from your reading.

With any reputable company you'll do applications, drug tests, go to their facility for orientation and after that possibly never go to the office again. You'll also be welcome to stop by as often as you like. There are many great companies that are part of the EO community. That said, every one of them has warts as well. The key is finding the company with the warts most compatible to you. Among the suspects, in no particular order and not a complete list are, Fedex, Panther, Express-1, Landstar, Tri-State, PTL, TST and Bolt.

Take good notes as you read, just as you would for any college course. Build your "suspect" list as you go along and when you've completed your "basic degree", reading back at least one full year, then put your list into a preliminary order and continue working on your "advanced degree", reading back the second year. When that's complete take the list of questions you've compiled in your notes and contact the companies to fill in the remaining details and to confirm all the answers you believe you got in your reading. Good luck.