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I think it is true that such a statement is available. If memory serves, I think we got one once upon request, though I do not recall the details of how or to whom the request was made. I am speaking in the past tense because our carrier no longer uses Comdata. FedEx Custom Critical switched...

We dont' use a winter front and don't believe it is necessary. Like Leo's truck, ours runs at a constant engine temp year 'round, regardless of outside weather conditions. Perpaps off topic a tad, I can also say that cold weather driving in a Volvo is vastly superior to cold weather driving in...

It is a popular comment often made by B-unit (cargo van) drivers here in the Open Forum. If you drive a van, you do not have to keep a log or comply with DOT hours of service regulations (certain expceptions apply). While that is absolutely true, how important is that really? I ask the...

Dave, Are we not saying the exact same thing, only in different ways? No number, in and of itself, is meaningful alone. A complete analysis is not complete without gross, net, ROI, CPM and other numbers. The better handle an expediter has on all such numbers, the better business decisions one...

Very impressive web site about your travels. It is clear you put a lot of careful work into it. I am certain that many, many backpackers and hikers will benefit from the work you did. Great things happen when people live and share their dreams.

Dont' feel bad, ejtrucker. I grew up in Wisconsin and lived in Minnesota most of my adult life. I don't like the cold either.

Industry publications have been using the term "freight recession" for some time now. Overall, freight is down from previous levels. As trucking is considered a leading economic indicator, some are pointing to that as one of many indicators that say a recession is on its way and maybe now...

"But what do I know." It would appear you know more than your fleet owner. Of course you should use a fuel additive to keep diesel from gelling in cold weather. If your fleet owner does not figure that out after paying the bills you mentioned, ... well, what can you say?

Yes they are.

Truck type? Carrier name?

This cost per mile worksheet is a good resource, and it helps make my point that gross revenue is not meaningless. Two owner-operators can complete the same sheet and arrive at two different CPM numbers. Which one is financially better off? It is impossible to say without looking at the gross...

While I agree with DaveKC that the most important income number is your bottom-line, net revenue number, I do not agree that gross revenue number means nothing. A carrier will look more favorably on a truck that grosses say $200,000 a year than on a similar truck that grosses $100,000. That's...

First, go get that HAZMAT endorsement. Many expedite carriers require it. Having it will open more doors for you. As you said, it's not a big deal to get, but it will take a little time to go through the process. As you have no doubt figured out, teams are in high demand. I don't know any fleet...

Whether general economic conditions are good or bad, it is always in an expediter's best interests to minimize fuel consumption. Doing so saves money that would otherwise be spent. By default, burning less fuel is also a green behavior. Green behavior is also imposed on us as vehcile emissions...

If a courrier wants a bed for a longer, multi-night or overnight straight-through trip, it would be best for the courrier to rent an RV to be used as an escort vehicle and hire people to drive it. Truck sleeper space belongs to and is needed by the driver and co-driver. The courrier's place is...

You are a good writer, Aviator. Have you introduced yourself and your writing skills to Lawrence?

I concur. About one gallon per hour. Actual varies by truck and conditions, but that is a good figure to work with. I recently asked my sleeper manufacturer how much it would cost today to install the generator we have now (Onan). Answer: "About $9,000."

I have heard this don't fuel while the tanker is unloading advice before, but would not the filters between the underground tank and the fuel that comes out the nozzle keep dirt out of your tank? At Flying J, you can see the filters on the pump. I've seen people changing these filters from time...

Are you saying Panther does not pay extra for HAZMAT loads? What about Landstar? I thought, perhaps wrongly so, that all the major carriers pay extra for HAZMAT. As I think about his, I have no basis to believe it, it was just an assumption I made. Is the assumption wrong? Panther, Landstar...

Also note that time spent sitting can be some of your most enjoyable time on the road. While expediters must often wait for freight, they are not obligated to spend that time looking out their truck window while doing so.