I was recently approached by someone the other day who just got their cdl. This young individual although new to the trade had a very interesting point for me, and in a sense I leave it up to the wisdom of you all to ansewer it.He wanted to know a little about expediting as he was interested because the trucks seemed easier to drive and it might be more fun to drive something that was less stressfull to drive and how could he get into it. I told him how I got hired by an owner but to be careful as there are plenty that are dishonest. Then came up the big question how long do you have to stay out at a time he asked me. And thats when I lowerd the boom on him and told him my rotation was going to be 5-6 weeks out and two weeks in at a time.He then said surely you cant do that the rest of your life what will you do when you decide that you need more time at home. I told him I hadnt really thought about the long term but that he was right I cant see running a rotation like that for the rest of my natural life. So we wanted to ask everybody is there life after expediting?? I mean what do you do if thats all that you do? Is there any place out there that offers more hometime or flexible schedule?? Is it better to be an o/o, so you can decide where when and how long you run, would that be profitable? Thanks for all your help.
future in expediting
- Thread starter davet391
- Start date
Home time is a central issue that should be considered by any expediter wannabee. By its very nature, expediting is a job that takes you away from home. If expediting is your sole source of income, home time is also zero-income time.
Numerous expediters have logged many years on the road with as much or more time out on the road than you mention. It is not uncommon to meet people who have been doing it over ten years. Some have done it over twenty. Beyond expediting, thousands of truck drivers have spent their entire adult lives making a living on the road.
This is not a business for people who are oriented around being home. It is a business for people who can live and work on the road for extended periods of time. If you want the freedom expediting offers but also want to remain close to home, the freedom can be found by being self-empoloyed in a home-based or area-based business endeavor.
As far as life after expediting goes, a good work ethic combined with good money management and financial planning can carry any long-term expediter into a middle-class or upper-middle-class retirement.
Numerous expediters have logged many years on the road with as much or more time out on the road than you mention. It is not uncommon to meet people who have been doing it over ten years. Some have done it over twenty. Beyond expediting, thousands of truck drivers have spent their entire adult lives making a living on the road.
This is not a business for people who are oriented around being home. It is a business for people who can live and work on the road for extended periods of time. If you want the freedom expediting offers but also want to remain close to home, the freedom can be found by being self-empoloyed in a home-based or area-based business endeavor.
As far as life after expediting goes, a good work ethic combined with good money management and financial planning can carry any long-term expediter into a middle-class or upper-middle-class retirement.
As you stated , this was a young individual starting out . Many expeditors have already raised their children and moved to expediting from other careers . It would be interesting to know the percentage of age groups of expeditors . I bet a very small percentage is under 30 and a very large percentage over 45 . How many fleet drivers are raising a family on their earnings ? How many in the older age group have their income supplemented by retirement or pension from previous careers ?
arkjarhead
Veteran Expediter
when i was expediting i loved it, but the hometime is why i returned to tractor trailers. when i figure i had to at least 14 days before i could go home it meant a few weeks away. you know you run steady for 2-3 days then sit for a day. then run 3-4 days the sit for 2-3. it stretches out the amount of time it takes to run 14 days. tractor trailer is a lil easy. plus it's a lil easier in tt to find a run to or thru the house. plus non expedite loads are not time critical so you can pick up a short run on thursday get home friday leave sunday evening the go deliver the load. in expedite you would most likely pick up thursday and deliver on friday. of course depending on mileage. if you want home time i'd suggest getting a class a and run a tt. the money for a driver is about the same. but you run a few more miles in that tt to get that money u could run less and make the same amount but be home less. its up to.
nightcreacher
Veteran Expediter
ive done the 3 weeks out 1 week home,for a long time,but since i changed to 10 days out,3 days home,the monthly income,stayed about the same,and i get 4 checks instead of 3. in the later months,nov and dec,because of holidays,i may stay out from thanksgiving til christmas,but im off from the 23rd dec til 3rd of jan
moot,yes expediteing is a way of life,any other form of trucking is uncivilized
moot,yes expediteing is a way of life,any other form of trucking is uncivilized