How long do you wait before switching companys??

RogerRabbit · Dec 3, 2004

Hi,

I was wondering how long do you guys wait before switching to another company? I am new to expediting and have been with my current company for exactly one month. The problem is that I am not getting the mileage that I was told I would be getting. They said I would be getting 8-10 thousand miles a month. The first month I worked, I only had 3000 not enough to break even. The first week of december does not look any better I had a run on the first of december nothing on the second and most likely nothing today and over the weekend.(as they are slower on the weekend) I spoke to the recruiter and he said he will let dispatch know and thats about it. The company itself has been around a long time everyone there is really nice they have a great orientation program. The only problem is really the miles. I was told that they also 100-150 trucks all owner operators. Thats a lot of trucks I have to compete with. I make myself available 7 days a week 24 hours a day and always let them know I am willing to move to other areas for freight. I recently spoke to my friends wife who is a recruiter and assistant ops manager at another company and was told that 5 of our drivers switched over in the last few months. She is guaranting me 10000 miles per month if I switch over and they pay a little more per mile and I am only competing with 30 trucks.(being she is my friends wife she has no reason to lie to me) So tell me guys what do I do stick it out a little longer untill I cant bear to lose any more money or make the switch where my friends wife is guaranting me work?
Thx in advance

M A WEBSTER · Dec 3, 2004

RE: How long do you wait before switching companys

what are you driving? i drive a cargo van. dec things slow down a little because of the holidays.1jan-15apr will even be slower for most companies.think it has somethng to do with tax day.people arn't spending as much. as for switching companies they're all the same. had i switched every time things got slow i would have run out of companies to switch too. dont consider this as a full time job, look at it as a hobby making money. you have your good weeks and then not so good. it all balances out in the end.you get a reputation as a quitter thing may get tough out there for you. there has been weeks ive made 3000.00 and didn't even have to work hard and others as low as 200.00.hang in there merry x-mas happy new year.

Tennesseahawk · Dec 3, 2004

RE: How long do you wait before switching companys

He's not saying he had a rough week... he had a rough first month. I believe if a company has a problem giving their newbies some miles in the first month, you can see worse later on. I understand it's slower in December, but he is talking November... one of the hottest months for freight (though ours was slow too). If I averaged 750 miles a week over a month's time, I'd think of booking too.

Roger, at this point I'd have to suggest that you go to the new company before freight hits bottom for the season. Don't take their "guarantees" as word for anything other than what an extremely good week may look like. No one can guarantee those miles... you hafta earn em by learning the zones and being there when no one else is. But if this company is up and coming, it sounds like you've found a cash cow for quite awhile, being there are only 30 trucks on. Good luck!

T-hawk

Preacher · Dec 3, 2004

RE: How long do you wait before switching companys

As I see it there are two scenarios that could play-out if you were to switch to the other company.

Scenario #1: You switch over and they give you the miles they promise, at the rate they promise, and you have alot of favor there because the ops mgr is your friend's wife. You then live happily ever after making all the money you want.

Scenario #2: (Most likely) You switch over and they don't live up to their promises of miles and pay. You have a hard time getting back-hauls and you do alot of deadheading. You then get angry and frustrated because you still aren't making the money you expected. To top that off, you become angry at your friend's wife because she promised you the moon and didn't deliver. Your friend becomes angry at you because you got angry at his wife, and as a result you two part ways as friends. You then find out that your former company's business has picked up and everyone over there is making good money. Finally you are forced to look for another company because you made your friend and his wife mad at you and you are not getting any good loads.

You choose.

Ps. I hope if you DO switch that scenario #1 is the final outcome.

LDB · Dec 3, 2004

RE: How long do you wait before switching companys

I said in a post a while back I believe it takes at least 90 days to learn enough about this business to know you don't know anything about this business. I also said it should be 90-120 days before thinking of changing companies since it's a learning curve.

If I am reading this correctly you have just recently talked to the recruiter who in turn said (s)he'd talk to dispatch on your behalf. If that is the case you may want to give it a little more time to see if things change.

I don't know but have a strong suspicion the other company will still be there and still available to sign on to a month from now. If it's a now or never situation that would set off red flags anyway.

Good luck to you whatever you do.

Leo
truck 767

Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

Tennesseahawk · Dec 3, 2004

RE: How long do you wait before switching companys

I know... what's another month? You could wait and switch over in the middle of the low period and not know if it's better than your current company or not. Or, you could go to this new company and get an idea of what to expect when freight isn't slow. Normally, I'm not an advocate of company hopscotch, but no one can live on $750 a week for two months let alone one. Preacher and Leo are right about one thing though... take your friend's wife's words lightly, cause you don't want to blame her if it ends up less than paradise out there.

RobA · Dec 3, 2004

RE: How long do you wait before switching companys

There are several issues here that I see.
First; one month is far too early to think about switching. You can't go flitting around from company to company. You have to learn the ropes and find out how things work.
Did you sign with Thompson?
Why are things so slow?
Are most of the customers in the automotive business?
Ford is slow right now; Oakville and St Thomas are both on lay off.
Are the other drivers in the company slow?
How are the drivers dispatched? Is it First in and First out; or do the dispatchers have learn to trust you?
Why not hang out in Windsor at the office; let them see you and know who you are.

You should have some money put aside to carry you over the early slow times. I've read 6 months expenses isn't too much.

I would be very, very leary of working with a friend or the wife of a friend. Friends and business don't go together (voice of experience here).
How can your friend's wife "guarentee" you work when the other carrier is so slow?
Do your research; have patience and good luck!

Tom Robertson · Dec 3, 2004

RE: How long do you wait before switching companys

Roger...
If you have given it a month and only gotten 3000 miles it's time to move on. I started a driver on Tuesday this week and he will finsih in Laredo on Sunday with over 2800 miles.
November slow?????
That was not the case here...
If I were in your shoes I would take the word of your wife friend and make the move

RobA · Dec 3, 2004

It's somewhat different for a Canadian RE: How lon

> I started a driver on Tuesday this week
>and he will finsih in Laredo on Sunday with over 2800 miles.

Hi Tom: There is one thing to remember; RogerRabbit is Canadian. He cannot "follow the freight" but can only run down to the States and back to Canada.
Down to the States...and back to Canada.
I agree that 3000 miles in a month is slow.
Roger's options are more limited. That's why my suggestion was to stick it out for awhile.

Tom Robertson · Dec 3, 2004

RE: It's somewhat different for a Canadian RE: How

hey Rob~

thanks for pointing that out...my mistake

However if thats all the mileage they can provide, I would be inclined to give the benefit of the doubt to the friend of the wife. I just don't understand how anyone could begin to make ends meet on 3K miles a month.

X1_SRH · Dec 4, 2004

RE: It's somewhat different for a Canadian RE: How

I totally agree with Rob on this one - but I have a serious red flag here, and I hope that I am not the only one who caught it.

In his initial post Roger states that someone is guaranteeing him a certain amount of miles per month. Anybody that extends a guarantee doesn't know this business. Expediters feel the fluctuations of the economy faster than anybody else in transportation. We all know that there are slow times, and there is also a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Some weeks will be great, some maybe not so great. This is why Expediters have to look at things in terms of averages - Either quarterly or annually.

You need at least 3 months data to get a decent average - and even then, we all know that the first quarter of the year won't stand up to the 2nd or 3rd. It's the world that we live in - and it's always been that way - fortunately things are improving, but that's another post.

There are some very solid averages that stand the test of time, and I'm sure that time will back them up if given an honest try.

With so many variables in this business - weather, equipment failure, border issues, even national issues like 911 - to offer a guarantee of loaded miles to anyone is compromising your own integrity. The only guarantee that a company should make - Is the opportunity for you to succeed in this business. You get out what you put in.

I've been on my soap box again (I know) Thanks for listening. I get really wound up sometimes - but I really do love this business. It's been good to me,(and yes, I've paid my dues out there) and I want it to be good to everyone else too. Thanks - X

davekc · Dec 4, 2004

RE: It's somewhat different for a Canadian RE: How

I am not aware of any companies offering an iron clad gaurantee of X number of miles per month ect. I would be leary of those types of promises. There is a first for everything.....get it in writing since it sounds alittle too good.
If one is doing only 3,000 miles a month, one must clearly move on.
Just my opinion of course.
Davekc

RogerRabbit · Dec 4, 2004

RE: It's somewhat different for a Canadian RE: How

Hi guys

First of all thx for all the responses. I would just like to add that I drive a 24ft straight truck and Rob you are right I work for thompson emergency. Going to the office and hanging out is a good idea but we are dispatched first in first out so what difference could it make? I dont mind waiting it out because the other company will always be there, they told me to come when ever I am ready. The guarantee i am getting is not in writing but more her telling me to trust her. There are drivers averaging 9-11k a month, and you have a choice of getting paid by the mile $1.15cdn or 75% commision. The other company is located in mississauga if any one wants to guess. She has told me that with having only 30 trucks there drivers are very busy, they have also recently hired a professional recruiter to drive around to truck stops etc to try and get more trucks on board. She even went as far as to show me driver pay statments for the last few months so I could get some kind of average. What about the fact that 5 of our drivers switched over to her company in the last few months? This should mean something. Like I said I dont mind waiting but I should be able to at the very least cover my expenses, Truck payment gas cell phone etc. Both these companys only do auto freight. Im thinking the differnce could be in the number of trucks you are competeing with 100+ or 30. I am not going to make any harsh decisions. I am going to speak to my ops manager on monday to see what he says, and will take in to consideration what you guys have said. I will let you guys know what happens.

davekc · Dec 4, 2004

RE: It's somewhat different for a Canadian RE: How

I would keep it simple. Ask for the names of two new people and two veteran drivers phone numbers. Talk to them and see what they say with regards to milage their compensation ect.
If they refuse then of course your questions have been answered.
Davekc

Crazynuff · Dec 5, 2004

RE: It's somewhat different for a Canadian RE: How

If the new company is hiring a recruiter to hire more drivers I'd worry about how much work there would be for each driver after they hire all these drivers .