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>Phil, I'd be interested to know why you think others are >interested in your service numbers? I just don't get it. I'm not alone in sharing our in-service and availability numbers. The topic has come up in the Open Forum before and several drivers have posted theirs. When I updated ours...

Greg said, >Now also as an expediter contractor, opportunity cost can't >be applied when you take time off, simply because you are >not contracted to take loads at a given time on a given date >but rather have to wait for offers – hence the opportunity >cost for taking time off can’t...

>Our first full year with Roberts Express was 1990. I no >longer have records for that year so the following numbers >are the best I can recall. > >We grossed $48,000 to the truck. >A 1989 cargo van was $10,000. >Gasoline was 80 cents a gallon. >The standard non-discounted rate to the van...

Chuckwagon said, "Part of my 'MO' is I have a set rate per mile I must have, I >don't care how far I have to drive to get it, as long as the >overall rate per mile hits my level - I will go get it." That method is used by many expediters, including Diane and me. it works. Financial...

>Phil also wants to know about the money we all earned back >in the 80's,90's and early 2000's and what we did with it. >Now why should I tell what I did with my profits. Why should >I divulge my lifestyle to someone whom I don't know. Rich, You have talked publicly here in the Open Forum...

>Yes, the pie is continually growing...But what is the cost >of that piece of pie? >Longer away from home? More miles to be driven then what the >"old timers did"? > >I realize you Phil have your home on your back (turtle) and >away time time is not a real factor. > >But hows about quality...

Jeff Jensen wrote a great piece detailing the year behind and the year ahead. See: http://www.expeditersonline.com/artman/publish/Expedite_Projections_for_2007.html A special Happy New Year goes to Jeff Jensen. He has put out good pieces in 2006 while dealing with Diabetes. It is great to see...

In my view, when a contractor or driver accepts a lousy load backed up by a good one, all risks associated with both loads are also accepted, as are all obligations. Loads sometimes change because shipper and consignee needs or availability also change. The further out a pickup is from the...

In the interests of full disclosure about our in-service and acceptance numbers, which I have sometimes shared in the Open Forum, our 2006 numbers are down from previously higher levels. That is due mostly to time out of service related to building and buying and building some more the new truck...

The original post contained one statement I'd like to question and another I'd like to question. The first is the often-made assertion that money back in the "good old days" was better than before. If that is so, where are the wealthy expediters? The business is barely old enough to carry...

It takes no experience whatsoever to read the owner's manual and follow the directions to protect the warranty on a new truck. Developing a good preventative maintenance schedule is something that can be done before the newest of the new even buys a truck. This is a case where the value of...

>A Team wow did I hit a nerve. You flatter yourself thinking >that my post to JohnO somehow involved you. There are many >Teams in this industry and John knows the story about the >pie in the sky scheme and believe me you did not come up on >the radar screen. The expediting world does not...

>Where is this shortage really at? If there is such a >shortage than why have rates not gone up, supply and demand >should be raising our rates and instead they are stagnet or >is just me? I believe the shortage is there and something has to give. What has given, is driver turnover. The...

We keep it simple and just have a "truck account." It serves as an emergency fund, source of funds for truck repairs, place from which the truck payments come, and place into which next-truck savings go. A portion of the truck account is kept as cash for immediate access. When the account...

I've heard from other drivers one time where dispatch asked them to let someone else, another FedEx driver, drive their truck. The request made sense from a customer service point of view, but the driver's view and liability issues trumped customer service in this case. They answered no and that...

Wow! I studied ancient Greek in college and seminary. You guys are leaving me in the dust. How quickly we forget. (Well, maybe not that quickly, it has been 30 years, but I'm embarassed to remember so little from those years of study.) It would likely come back to me with some study and review...

RE: Need recomendations for required cargo control Most medium-size and large cities host stores where freight handling and van body equipment can be purchased. You don't need to run out and buy everything at once. But, especially if you are hauling HAZMAT, you should be open to buying...

Do you know if the oil used was the new API CJ-4 oil? While I've not seen any announcements about it, I presume an oil price increase is coming with the new oil.

No, my generator does not warm engine coolant. It is an Onan 7,500 watt generator that produces electricity only. The truck is equipped with a headbolt heater and oil pan heater too. It also has a preheater to aid winter starting. With the generator running, I can flip a switch in the sleeper...

Good points. Thank you, Greg.