[dhalltoyo]

Generally speaking, many trucks sitting everywhere.

Last week, a friend allowed me to sit and look at load boards with him. We studied the idle times and the number of units in each area. I was shocked at the number of available units. Worse yet, 70% of the trucks on the boards we reviewed had been sitting longer than 24 hours. He told me that 2 years ago his staff booked 300 loads per day. This week they had not even booked 150 loads; that is for the whole week!

I told him about the offers I had one day last week:

Get an offer to drive 350 miles to a board that hasn't moved a van in 24 hours and when I get there it would make me number 12.

Get another offer to Canada that would require a 150 mile deadhead to a dead board or a 250 mile deadhead to a decent board. Moreover, the FSC was 60% less than the standard rate. That means my loaded mile rate drops by 14 cpm, because I have to borrow from the loaded mile profit to cover the fuel. Hmmm. That particular carrier publicly touts, "We never pay less than the loaded mile rate." Great advertisement, but not truthful. Do the math.

Get another offer to drive 50 miles to P/U, then only 100 miles to consignee and end up on another dead board.

The broker asked, "So what did you do?" "I sat still'" was my response. He said, "Wise decision."

So here I sit at the house. Why? A couple of reasons come to mind.

1. It gives me the opportunity to spend quality time with my wife. That alone is worth a pound of gold.

2. I was able to do some maintenance around the house, and to the truck, that I would have probably paid someone else to do.

3. It keeps me from racking up wasted mileage.

Wasted mileage? I know that sounds a little crazy, but the current decline in available freight has caused me to become very cautious.

Basically, it costs me more to live out on the road than it does at home and I do have the opportunity to make few bucks via a local courier service. Additionally, I have been able to generate a little income with the computer.

But my thoughts have turned toward the ever-increasing number of trucks showing up in the classifieds and on lots; trucks for sale or repossessed trucks. There is a truck dealer just north of Wapakoneta on I-75 that has a huge lot. He only deals in used trucks. Last year he may have had 1-2 expediter type trucks on his lot; now he has 20 or more.

As I sat awaiting GM to service my truck, I began to think, "Gee, what if it got so bad I was forced to sell my truck too!" Hmmmm. It might be more prudent for me to reduce the number of marginally profitable loads and keep those miles off the odometer...should I be forced to sell my truck.

Moreover, every mile puts me closer to a tire repalcement, wheel alignment, oil and oil filter replacement, air filter replacement, spark plug replacement, transmission fluid replacement, differential lubrication replacement, chassis lubrication, etc...ad infinitum, or even [gulp] a catastrophic engine/transmission failure.

[hondaking38]

your right it is much cheaper to be at home,then to be out here on the road sitting idle...just paid $3.79 for a thermos of coffee at am best outside of albany...i havent felt that raped since my sprinter went into the shop last january....

[x06col]

Yea I know. Jes keep loving them truckstops. They WILL make your life wunnerful.

Pound of gold?? My sons and I did a bit of gold panning last week NE of Fairbanks. Sold what we had accumulated before I left. Wonson recieved a check for $805.14 for a couple days horsing around. Better check the price of gold.

So. Everyone is sitting? I'd maybe be thinking further outside the box than "everyone" then. Must be something cooking, somewhere. May be better off doing that than reinforceing 'everyones" woes in your mind. If you don't you'll most likely join em sing'in them woes. Spose?

[dhalltoyo]

Uh, what part of changing the way I do business did not you not perceive as "thinkin' outside da box?"

No woes here!

Just planning for all possibilities.

Having a great time grilling out today.

Had a nice 2 mile walk around the track with mamasan just a 1/4 mile from the hooch.

Looking forward to church tonight.

Might cut the lawn tomorrow and stain the deck too.

Glad to hear the boys had fun panning for gold.

[fastrod]

Is that your new truck advertized for sale in the classifieds Dave?

[dhalltoyo]

Yes sir.

I have built 3 trucks in the past two and a half years.

I have put every truck up for sale within a few months after putting them into service.

Why?

As a ordained minister, I get folks asking me to candidate for the pastorate of their church. Sad to say that so many churches across this land need pastors.

It is my desire to always be ready to help any church in need.

I sold my first truck and drove between Dayton and Pioneer for about a year to help a church that needed a pastor.

Interesting...the day after I signed for this new truck, I was contacted about a church in Columbus that was in need of a pastor. I replied, "If God wants me there...He will find a buyer for this truck."

It is similar to Gideon's methadology (Judges 6:36-40) as he sought to know the will of God for his life.

[Jefferson3000]

I'm sittin' at home in Orlando today. Fay's raining on my parade. It looks as though she will be for a few days. I wanted to stick around with the family till the initial passing. I did a good day run yeaterday down to Pompano beach for a nice chunk of change. I'll get outs here again in the next day or two. I do agree that if you're sitting, I prefer to sit at home.

[mcclain]

Sitting beats running down the road for little or no money.

If you can't make what you say you have to make then why turn the key on to make less.

Make your rate or turn it down!

[aristotle]

If your home area is an historically good area for freight, then sitting at home is clearly better than waiting for loads offers from a truckstop. There's nothing charming or magical about truckstops. Most are dreadful. Waiting from home is plain common sense IF you're in a good area.

[dhalltoyo]

Thank you gentleman.

I appreciate your kind words.

I might add this...the professional advice from my friend who owns his brokerage was also a blessing. Why do I also value his input?

One huge difference between his operation as compared to a carrier's dispatching department lies in the fact that every person in his organization his owned or driven a commercial truck in an expediting capacity.

It makes this business so much easier when everyone involved in the process really understands what is actually going on out here.

I understand that they have a job to do, but they cross the line when they attempt to tell me how to run my business.

For example, once I had logged available on the QC at 8am, got a run at 10am, drove an hour to pick it up and then another 6 hours to the delivery. Informed them I was moving another 40 miles to a truck stop. The QC tracks all movement. After getting something to eat and taking a shower and before retiring I also send a message that I am going to sleep at 11pm.

At 2am the phone rings. They are asking me to drive 2.5 hours to P/U a load going 645 miles. I said, "I am out of hours." The dispatcher says, "But you are a van." I reply, "No, I am a human being and I know my limitations."

If I am holding up my end..it is reasonable to expect the other should do likewise.

[OntarioVanMan]

David, David....if you had no intention of running a load you shoulda been OOS and not occupying a board space...You were the one not fufilling your obligation...they thought you were available....by my calculations of your post you were at the stop and showering about 6-7pm and you didn't go to sleep till 11pm?

Its slow out here and your playing around? You should really put more effort into this expediting....your not taking this serious enough to make money....you've changed carriers what 3 times in 3 years and changed trucks just as often???

[pjjjjj]

I was kinda thinkin the same thing myself.. well not in so many words.. but.. prolly many contractors would kill (not literally), for the opportunity to run that hard. If you were driving from 10am to 5:40pm, and shut down for roughly 8.5 hours.. AND you don't have to log..
I can see why it's gotta be tough for a dispatcher.. he probably thought he was bringing you something deserving a pat on the back.. it's gotta be so hard for them to even think about pleasing everyone, that I can see why they don't bother trying to please anyone.
No offence to you Rev, each of us has our own needs and limitations, but for the dispatchers, it'd be impossible to keep track of who needs what and when. (and why, and for how much).

[hondaking38]

getting a load, any load offer with some miles is like almost impossible these last two weeks.......ahh the glory days when it took a 600 mile load to get you off the couch, or when you couldnt wait to get your 5 hour break!!!! such memories lol

[LDB]

David,

I commend you for putting safety first. By my rough calculations you had been up about 16 hours and worked a good bit of that, gotten about 2.5 hours of sleep and then were awakened with a request that would have taken at least another 15 hours to complete. While it would have been a tempting offer, it wouldn't have paid enough to cover funeral costs or on the other side of that coin the costs of a losing verdict. Stick to your guns and safety first.

[OntarioVanMan]

Originally Posted by LDB

David,

I commend you for putting safety first. By my rough calculations you had been up about 16 hours and worked a good bit of that, gotten about 2.5 hours of sleep and then were awakened with a request that would have taken at least another 15 hours to complete. While it would have been a tempting offer, it wouldn't have paid enough to cover funeral costs or on the other side of that coin the costs of a losing verdict. Stick to your guns and safety first.

My point Leo...was as a solo by his own schedule he didn't go to sleep as soon as possible and wasted an opportunity...as a solo and being what it is out here...and knowing we are 24/7 it's no time to ummm kill time flagerantly