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The lawsuits and IRS actions in the ongoing debate over the status of FedEx Ground drivers (are they contractors or employees?) is of some interest to expediters, as it has to do with independent contractor status, which most expediters are (or may not be, depending on one's point of view). The...

Do you buy fuel in Mount Vernon, Illinois? We have in the past but are not inclined to any more. The city has taxed us away. See article: More truckers plan to bypass Mount Vernon fuel stops

Nobody in the financial press is saying the 2009 economy will be better than 2008 (at least no one I have seen). Since freight levels and prices are affected by general economic conditions, I am wondering what kind of year y'all expect? Some veterans of past hard times report hauling less than...

The Wall Street Journal October 24 article Shipping Firms Gear Down as Slow Economy Takes Toll is must reading for expediters, and especially for people considering a move into the expedite industry. While the article is mostly about big trucking companies, it talks about freight slowing at a...

"Southfield, MI (PRWEB) October 25, 2008 -- On Oct. 24-26, Steven M. Gursten will be in Atlanta, Ga., speaking at a seminar for the Association of Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America (AITLA) called, 'How to Win Big in the Tough Truck Accident Case.' His topic, 'Maximizing Personal Injury...

I recently read about GARVEE bonds in the October 1-14, 2008 edition fo The Trucker (a newspaper distributed free at truck stops. Online: TheTrucker.com). GARVEE bonds are used to fund highway construction projects in many states. They were issued by states with the idea that federal highway...

Since having a Carrier reefer installed on our new truck in 2006, our reefer dealer of choice has been Crow's Truck Services in Memphis, TN. Crow's remains so today. Their service has been competent, friendly and fairly priced. We know of one driver that says, "No one touches my reefer but...

A friend of Diane's and mine is running for U.S. Senate in Minnesota. If he wins, he would be a friend of yours too. I write this to introduce him and urge your support. His name is Dean Barkley. He is a third-party candidate running on the Independence Party ticket. The IP has been a major...

In another thread, EASYTRADER described how a credit crunch may affect trucking. While I do not disagree with his description of this potential scenario, I have yet to see any changes on the ground because the bailout bill has failed to pass Congress. Democrats and Republicans are issuing grave...

Fuel prices have soared in recent years. Truckers pass the costs on to shippers via a fuel surcharge. Shippers suffer a transportation sticker shock of sorts and make changes that are in their best interests. Higher fuel prices prompt them to make changes that would not have been made before...

India and Frank Hamner So, Diane and I pull into Castaic, CA for a truck wash only to find it closed. Diane parks on the street. Back in the sleeper I am on the computer looking for another truck wash. I hear Diane open the passenger window and someone on the sidewalk with a cheery voice...

Carrier programs for getting drivers home range from non-existent to strongly committed. For people researching the industry, a carrier's ability to get you home is important or not, depending on the individual. To help folks understand the differences among carriers and real-world experiences...

Talking with friends today, it came up how a large number of owner-operators and drivers are frustrated by fuel costs (who isn't?) and confused because they don't know anymore (if they ever did) how much they need to earn to make a load worth taking. In other words, a large number of drivers do...

This morning's news about the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac bailout, while historic, should not be seen as an isolated event or a cure. It is a symptom and part of an ongoing trend of deteriorating general economic conditions. Leaving the political blame conversation for someone else to start in...

Our truck was tagged today. After leaving a shipper in Los Angeles, we saw it. Graffiti is on the passenger side sleeper wall and truck body. It appears to be made with a black felt-tip marker. Under load and not wanting to stop for any length of time, I tried to get it off at a fuel stop...

The five-day forecast shows a category 3 hurricane heading straight for New Orleans, and making landfall sometime Monday. The forecast is of course subject to change, but it is not good. Five-day Forecast Map Having done some disaster relief work in the aftermath of Katrina, I don't care to...

Five years ago this week, Diane and I, having never driven a truck before, left our white-collar professions and moved into a fleet owner's truck to begin our career as expediters. While there have been setbacks along the way — some quite serious — we have had more fun, made more money and made...

As I write this, we are about 90 minutes into an overnight run. Dispatch just told us to return to the shipper. One of the skids on our truck should not be on the truck and they want it back. This means more paid miles and more pay for the additional stop. It is a happy surprise. Another that...

From Land Line magazine, August 11, 2008: "Trucking companies going out of business continued at a record pace in the second quarter, according to a report released by trucking analyst Donald Broughton. "In the second quarter of 2008, 970 trucking companies with five or more trucks went...

Below is an excerpt from my daily blog. I offer it for newbies to consider as they develop their business strategies and practices. I don't have any freight to talk about today (Sunday, 8/10/08), but it is morning and there is still hope. We have been waiting for a load since Thursday morning...