I am starting a new thread! The topic is the same. It is a continuance of the first topic I wrote on 01/16/02.
In the many years of participating on this forum and others, I have learned ‘simple’ is the best way to go. In fact ‘simple’ will be the theme of this project. 40 replies is a lot thank you! But it is also a deterrence for some. Some would rather not read and/or scroll to the bottom; some have a difficult time finding the posts that land within the center of the other replies. Taking all my experience into consideration I thought it best to start a second thread.
First, I want to thank Rich, and Packmule for attempting to defuse the contract debate in the original thread. With each reply I read pertaining to the contract issue, a sigh of relief came from within. I also want to thank Leo for starting a new thread - topic 'CONTRACTS' Please visit the contract debate [link:www.expeditersonline.com/dcforum/DCForumID1/3580.html|click here!]
Although I believe ATeam about contracts being an issue, this thread isn’t about contracts. Maybe he can include or touch on it in the article he is writing about business plans, or shelf it as a potential next series of articles. This project is about putting together a list of questions for those thinking about entering into expediting to aid in their research.
I may very well end up writing a piece on "How to Research the Expediting Industry," as ATeam suggested, only if ATeam is my editor!
ATeam wrote, “This is the technique Diane and I used when we researched the industry. We talked not to just one carrier recruiter, but several; reviewed not just one contract but several; interviewed not just one fleet owner, but about two-dozen; talked not just to a couple drivers, but many.â€
Those techniques mentioned above came after you already made up your mind to become expediters. Did it not? BTW! I would love to get my hands on a copy of your notes to aid us in this project.
What and how did you decide to talk to recruiters, review contracts, and interview fleet owners?
Didn’t you meet and talk to drivers before you did all the above?
What were some of the questions you ask these drivers you met?
How did you hear about expediting?
How did your react when you learned what an expediter was?
Those steps you took right after you thought about the possibility of becoming an expediter are those I’m looking to build on.
Keep in mind not everyone’s skills are equal. While some are computer literate others are not. While some may be internet knowledgeable surfers who read news groups, forum posts everywhere, and can surf the net with ease, many don’t even know there is an archive on this site full of priceless information on expediting.
How to research ‘finding the right fleet owner’, once a person makes up his mind to become an expediter, and lease on with an owner may also be a sequel to this project. BUT! This project is geared towards compiling a list of 25, 50, 75 or as many as possible questions. Questions we think may aid anyone looking into and learning about expediting. Once a person learns an ‘expediter’ isn’t ‘just a big-truck driver’, that there is a very big difference between the two, it becomes appealing. Appealing to many people from all different walks of life; from the unskilled to the professional white-collar worker and everyone in between. I am volunteering to make this list of questions to aid someone thinking of becoming an expediter. So those thinking about becoming an expediter have questions, some with suggested answers, and opinions, based on successful experienced expediters (Yes! – even those with 1 or 2 yrs). Success is the key! Therefore making it easier for someone entering into this sector of trucking. Hopefully they will use these questions as an aid to research the expediting industry, so to make a sound decision.
Looking back at the first topic #3571 ‘Looking For Volunteers’ there were excellent replies from earnest members. BTW! I received 26 PM’s of which only 2 were of negative influence. Of the 26 members who sent me a PM, even with 2 expressing doubt, all 26 offer to help see this project through.
That my friend is what I call caring expediters!
If you have not yet thought of the questions you ask someone when you entered into or when you were deciding to become an expediter, please take a minute or 2 and write them down, send them to me in a PM. [link:www.expeditersonline.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=send_mesg&userid=teacel|CLICK HERE] to send me a PM, that list of 1 or 100 questions you think may help someone entering into expediting. Please don’t worry about duplicating what someone else may have written. I’ll do the worrying!
What are some of the questions someone you met at a truck stop or on the road ask you in regards to them becoming an expediter?
I will post a list in this thread of some of the questions suggested so far. Please don’t take offence if I don’t credit someone for a particular question, for I am not going to post the names of those who sent me a PM. You know who you are. Some ask that I respect their anonymity therefore I will respect all. Remember members, I can’t do this alone, and I need help from all of you.
PS!!!!
Leaving for Denver, be back /Monday.
Go Steelers!
In the many years of participating on this forum and others, I have learned ‘simple’ is the best way to go. In fact ‘simple’ will be the theme of this project. 40 replies is a lot thank you! But it is also a deterrence for some. Some would rather not read and/or scroll to the bottom; some have a difficult time finding the posts that land within the center of the other replies. Taking all my experience into consideration I thought it best to start a second thread.
First, I want to thank Rich, and Packmule for attempting to defuse the contract debate in the original thread. With each reply I read pertaining to the contract issue, a sigh of relief came from within. I also want to thank Leo for starting a new thread - topic 'CONTRACTS' Please visit the contract debate [link:www.expeditersonline.com/dcforum/DCForumID1/3580.html|click here!]
Although I believe ATeam about contracts being an issue, this thread isn’t about contracts. Maybe he can include or touch on it in the article he is writing about business plans, or shelf it as a potential next series of articles. This project is about putting together a list of questions for those thinking about entering into expediting to aid in their research.
I may very well end up writing a piece on "How to Research the Expediting Industry," as ATeam suggested, only if ATeam is my editor!
ATeam wrote, “This is the technique Diane and I used when we researched the industry. We talked not to just one carrier recruiter, but several; reviewed not just one contract but several; interviewed not just one fleet owner, but about two-dozen; talked not just to a couple drivers, but many.â€
Those techniques mentioned above came after you already made up your mind to become expediters. Did it not? BTW! I would love to get my hands on a copy of your notes to aid us in this project.
What and how did you decide to talk to recruiters, review contracts, and interview fleet owners?
Didn’t you meet and talk to drivers before you did all the above?
What were some of the questions you ask these drivers you met?
How did you hear about expediting?
How did your react when you learned what an expediter was?
Those steps you took right after you thought about the possibility of becoming an expediter are those I’m looking to build on.
Keep in mind not everyone’s skills are equal. While some are computer literate others are not. While some may be internet knowledgeable surfers who read news groups, forum posts everywhere, and can surf the net with ease, many don’t even know there is an archive on this site full of priceless information on expediting.
How to research ‘finding the right fleet owner’, once a person makes up his mind to become an expediter, and lease on with an owner may also be a sequel to this project. BUT! This project is geared towards compiling a list of 25, 50, 75 or as many as possible questions. Questions we think may aid anyone looking into and learning about expediting. Once a person learns an ‘expediter’ isn’t ‘just a big-truck driver’, that there is a very big difference between the two, it becomes appealing. Appealing to many people from all different walks of life; from the unskilled to the professional white-collar worker and everyone in between. I am volunteering to make this list of questions to aid someone thinking of becoming an expediter. So those thinking about becoming an expediter have questions, some with suggested answers, and opinions, based on successful experienced expediters (Yes! – even those with 1 or 2 yrs). Success is the key! Therefore making it easier for someone entering into this sector of trucking. Hopefully they will use these questions as an aid to research the expediting industry, so to make a sound decision.
Looking back at the first topic #3571 ‘Looking For Volunteers’ there were excellent replies from earnest members. BTW! I received 26 PM’s of which only 2 were of negative influence. Of the 26 members who sent me a PM, even with 2 expressing doubt, all 26 offer to help see this project through.
That my friend is what I call caring expediters!
If you have not yet thought of the questions you ask someone when you entered into or when you were deciding to become an expediter, please take a minute or 2 and write them down, send them to me in a PM. [link:www.expeditersonline.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=send_mesg&userid=teacel|CLICK HERE] to send me a PM, that list of 1 or 100 questions you think may help someone entering into expediting. Please don’t worry about duplicating what someone else may have written. I’ll do the worrying!
What are some of the questions someone you met at a truck stop or on the road ask you in regards to them becoming an expediter?
I will post a list in this thread of some of the questions suggested so far. Please don’t take offence if I don’t credit someone for a particular question, for I am not going to post the names of those who sent me a PM. You know who you are. Some ask that I respect their anonymity therefore I will respect all. Remember members, I can’t do this alone, and I need help from all of you.
PS!!!!
Leaving for Denver, be back /Monday.
Go Steelers!