Where to begin......
First of all, I have been with LEA for a little over 3 years.
My 1st six months, give or take a few weeks, were hard on me
due to all lack of knowledge about expediting. I am domiciled
in Indpls. and the way I looked at it, or the way it seemed to
me, was to be loyal to the area I was domiciled in. So I sat at
home waiting and waiting and waiting. Just waiting on a load call that never came. Instead, I had other agents call me for hauls
short and long. I knew that other agents would call me, it never occured to me that just because I`m in the Indpls area, doesn`t necessarily mean that the Indy agent would call me. That alone took
me a few months to figure out. I might also point out that I called several agents each day to let them know I was available. I guess like many other Companies not necessarily Expediting look for young people with 20 years experience. It`s almost impossible to prove your worth that way. At any rate, even when I did prove myself, I still continued calling many agents on a daily basis. I might also add that as of the beginning of this year, I rarely call any of the agents at all. The reason, I have a cell phone I carry with me everywhere. The agents contact me that way. Could this be 1 secret of getting loads?
Which in a round about way brings me to the Highway Master. Yes, in my view it is a disaster. I think some of the agents may look who is in a certain area for a load, then call you on the cell to see if you are available. I don`t believe they looked to see if I was under a load or not. I myself don`t like the system because it`s either slow or inaccurate in updating your location. I do believe I have lost loads due to that. At any rate, I have shared with you my mode of operandi, which works for me. I`m sure many of us have our own systems of what works for us. I`m also sure as time goes on, I`ll find new ways that will help me be even more successful. I would also like to convey to you that this isn`t a gripe note, just a little of what I do to get loads. I might also add, just like everyone else, I also have my slow times with my share of deadheading. If I`m within a few hundred miles of home, I`ll head that way. Come to think of it, even if I`m 500 miles from home I`ll head in that direction,I`d say 40% to 50% of the time I do get a load that way also. Mind you, just because I`m headed in the homeward bound direction, doesn`t mean I`m headed for home. It just means I`m relocating. I won`t stay in one area for more then 24 hours. Unless of course I`m at home. Or, I`m in an area where I know I`ll get a load within 2 days. From time to time I do visit the agents to let them get to know me personally and vice versa.
I never complain to them about others, nor do I complain to them about Mother Landstar. I keep myself clean and presentable as well as my van. There, now you know what I drive...hahaha.
All in all I`m satisfied with LEA, although I do believe things could be much better.
I hope in a small way I may have helped someone especially the newbies get some insight they may try. Then again, maybe it didn`t help anyone. Another trick newbies may try, is to listen to other drivers while they are at a truckstop waiting for that load. You seasoned drivers give them good pointers.
I`d like to thank EO for a great site.
I sure miss the courtesy of the road we once had.
