Hello 1st time poster from Cali

Mrktwiz · Oct 20, 2012

Hello;

Hi gang I'm John from Santa Cruz, Ca...I currently drive for Schneider ( kinda tired of it), and I'm coming into almost $100k in March and was considering buying my own Conventional truck BUT after seeing how nice some of these expediter trucks are outfitted and talking to a expediter couple last week, I'm exploring this area to possibly more into. I have only one major question; " Do any expeditors running. 22' straight van run solo? I mean do I HAVE to run as a team? I JUST had another horrible experience helping out a fellow SNI driver ( he cried how broke he was and needed me to run teams with him to make " real" money....then he quit the company and I was out of work for 7 weeks until another solo truck became available...lousy bum)

I just really hate the idea of running with anyone and want to know if it can be done solo...not looking to get rich...just make some money...I'll be buying the truck and have well over $35k in the bank as a " prudent reserve".....any advice, comments ( friendly please) are welcome, thank you in advance.

John

BigCat · Oct 20, 2012

We sit a lot, are you ok with that? There are solo trucks out here and they can do well depending on the carrier. Sounds like you have a good reserve set up to startup but you have to make sure you are content with the down time we have.

Rocketman · Oct 21, 2012

Solo drivers do fine in expedite...east of the mississippi. There is expedite freight on the west coast for someone who wants to stay out there. Whether there is enough to keep you as busy as you would like is the question. Others could answer that better than I can.

It will depend a lot on what your looking for. If you want to run in the traditional midwestern freight lanes, it's tough for a solo to get a load with enough time on it to get across the country. Most expedite loads are going to be booked at 45-50 mph whether its 100 miles or 3,000 miles. Weekends are about the only time a solo can run a good long run with a Friday p/u and Monday delivery.

If you want to stay on the west coast do your research on who can keep you busy. If you want to run 48, I would caution you that hometime is probably going to be hard ro come by and seldom will it be there when you want it. Getting back east will probably be even harder.

I know one member (now deceased) used to stay out west a lot and he would fly home for his hometime and fly back. There are always options for those creative enough to find them.

Mrktwiz · Oct 21, 2012

Thanks guys for that info...anyone else? I tried the "search" feature for expediting solo and any other derivatives of that...not much came back though (shrug)?

zorry · Oct 21, 2012

Bank the $100,000 and get a local job with benefits. Seriously.
Unless you have insurance from another source, I'd hate to see you burn through your money. One injury or illness could wipe you out.
Or find a better partner and put a year or two in with an owner.
Expediting is great with a good partner. The preplanned loads combined with a smaller vehicle gives you plenty of time to explore and do recreational things.
Most expeditor trucks will give you so much comfort and room than you are used to.
It's easier to find a partner because you don't need a real truck driver. I teamed and trained a casino supervisor and a school teacher and they both became good drivers.
Only after you know you want to do this would I buy a truck. You want to buy the right truck the first time.
Good luck.
Read It's A Team's Life on the home page of EO or Phil Madsen's Blog which you can link to from his posts.
Both will give you insight into the possibilities out here.

ChanceMaster · Oct 21, 2012

Currently teaming with a friend I made @ a factory before expediting. We have had our rough spots, but seem to be making headway towards a mutually beneficial team relationship.

I've met a few solos out here in S/Ts, and they don't seem very enthusiastic, maybe its them though. FXCC has been (recently) advertising for Midwest solo drivers, must be a need ? We seem to be really busy when in the NY/NJ/PHL area with very lucrative loads that go a short distance, and I always wonder if a solo could do well just working that area.

Here is another idea. What if you considered yourself a trainer ? Lots of folks are interested in expediting, Offer them a place to get some driving time, all the while screening them for the possibility of finding a compatible co driver.

Best of luck !

Sent from my PC36100 using EO Forums

Mrktwiz · Oct 21, 2012

BigC....read your post FedEx Cc area....I'm already pre-approved as a driver for them but now am thinking of going and getting my own truck...yes I'm ok with sitting I do that a LOT with Schneider and I'm sitting waiting for a load right now

.....keep ur chin up and thanks for the advice!

Mrktwiz · Oct 21, 2012

Chance now that's a real good idea! I've been OTR for almost 2 years.....do you make extra money training peeps like we do in the conventional OTR gigs?

Edit;of course I might needs some training as well...I just shudder with the thought of having to live with someone else, even for a short while....tried it twice BOTH with horrible and frustratingly terrible results..kinda made a promise to myself to NEVER do that again...

ChanceMaster · Oct 21, 2012

Mrktwiz said:
Chance now that's a real good idea! I've been OTR for almost 2 years.....do you make extra money training peeps like we do in the conventional OTR gigs?

Edit;of course I might needs some training as well...I just shudder with the thought of having to live with someone else, even for a short while....tried it twice BOTH with horrible and frustratingly terrible results..kinda made a promise to myself to NEVER do that again...

Speaking just for me, @ Fxcc..no extra for training. I am a contractor not an employee. You could negotiate a "starting rate" of compensation with a new driver though. Be fair and have it escalate as they gain knowledge. My truck owner did that with me, and it worked very well.

Sent from my PC36100 using EO Forums

leezaback · Oct 21, 2012

you have to realy like the person to hate them and not take it personality. Hubby and I started out together we were getting divorsed at least nine times a week-after 13 years-were down to twice a week-life is good! as for training-from semi to straight-right is right when backing, expediters for the most are helpful-have a question-ask. We don't slam people -we all started from the beginning once.

BigCat · Oct 21, 2012

Mrktwiz said:
BigC....read your post FedEx Cc area....I'm already pre-approved as a driver for them but now am thinking of going and getting my own truck...yes I'm ok with sitting I do that a LOT with Schneider and I'm sitting waiting for a load right now.....keep ur chin up and thanks for the advice!

Yeah that was when I first went solo here. After that post they got me rolling and pretty much kept me busy. I still sit a good bit but they do their part to keep me going.

Mrktwiz · Oct 21, 2012

zorry said:
Bank the $100,000 and get a local job with benefits. Seriously.
Unless you have insurance from another source, I'd hate to see you burn through your money. One injury or illness could wipe you out.
Or find a better partner and put a year or two in with an owner.
Expediting is great with a good partner. The preplanned loads combined with a smaller vehicle gives you plenty of time to explore and do recreational things.
Most expeditor trucks will give you so much comfort and room than you are used to.
It's easier to find a partner because you don't need a real truck driver. I teamed and trained a casino supervisor and a school teacher and they both became good drivers.
Only after you know you want to do this would I buy a truck. You want to buy the right truck the first time.
Good luck.
Read It's A Team's Life on the home page of EO or Phil Madsen's Blog which you can link to from his posts.
Both will give you insight into the possibilities out here.

Their are no jobs left period....I looked seriously for over 3 years..( I once counted how many " custom" resumes I sent out....over 2,000, spent literally 9 mos of time " networking, seminars, job counselor s etc...) .I finally had to accept reality, at my age their are VERY few options...appreciate your comments though.

cheri1122 · Oct 21, 2012

Mrktwiz said:
Their are no jobs left period....I looked seriously for over 3 years..( I once counted how many " custom" resumes I sent out....over 2,000, spent literally 9 mos of time " networking, seminars, job counselor s etc...) .I finally had to accept reality, at my age their are VERY few options...appreciate your comments though.

Good luck convincing most people here on the jobs sitch, they just don't believe it.

Regarding Zorry's suggestion, both blogs are interesting, but both are written from a team perspective, and solo IS different. A solo does everything - no dividing the chores [one cleaning up the sleeper while the other does the trip planning, or one fueling while the other logs] to save time - it's crucial that you be organized enough to get it done in the time allowed, because 'on time' is what it's all about.
And as was mentioned, we do sit more than TL/LTL trucking, that's the nature of expediting.
I totally understand your attitude, as I'd rather earn less than have to deal with someone else's 'stuff', and after nearly 10 years driving solo, I guess I earn enough to keep doing it, lol.
You need to do more chatting with expediters, though, from different carriers, and some who own their trucks, and some who drive for fleet owners [as I do] before you can feel you know what you're getting into.
I drove T/T in the LTL industry too, and what I do now is much better - but it's not everyone's cup of tea, definitely.

EasyDoesIt · Oct 22, 2012

Mrktwiz said:
Their are no jobs left period....I looked seriously for over 3 years..( I once counted how many " custom" resumes I sent out....over 2,000, spent literally 9 mos of time " networking, seminars, job counselor s etc...) .I finally had to accept reality, at my age their are VERY few options...appreciate your comments though.

Someone just published a study projecting 12 million jobs will be created over the next four years no matter who wins this election. Better days ahead?

Moot · Oct 22, 2012

zorry said:
Only after you know you want to do this would I buy a truck. You want to buy the right truck the first time.

This is excellent advice! Specing an expedite truck is quite different than specing a tractor. You should drive for a fleet owner first, probably have to team, but this is a great way to learn the industry and give you ideas on how to spec a truck.

ChanceMaster · Oct 22, 2012

Sent you a pm

Sent from my PC36100 using EO Forums

Mrktwiz · Oct 23, 2012

Thanks Cheri..I will follow your suggestions!

Mrktwiz · Oct 23, 2012

Moot said:
This is excellent advice! Specing an expedite truck is quite different than specing a tractor. You should drive for a fleet owner first, probably have to team, but this is a great way to learn the industry and give you ideas on how to spec a truck.

Moot..the more I read I see what people are saying.....I am leaning more in the direction you outlined as I move forward, thank you!