Suds43
Seasoned Expediter
My turn to brag about the expedited industry and my previous (and only) owner I've driven for.
We started in expediting without a clue as to what it was all about. Luckily we got on with owners, husband/wife that knew the business. At the time, they had 4 straight trucks and 3 vans on the road, all with the same company.
I'd actually responded to an ad he had in a local paper. We talked a few times on the phone and then drove to their house to meet in person and see the truck he had available. An 80 mile drive-one way.
These people took us under their wing, so to speak, made sure we had good/safe equipment, gave us a small "hint" what expediting was about, and sent us on our way.
Orientation done, waiting for "that first load"!! The qual-comm "beeps" and we're like two kids at Christmas.....excitement and panic all rolled into one! I"m sure glad no one could see us in the truck responding to the first load offer and getting ready to go! LOL
any-hoooo we actually became good friends with our owners........we respected them and their investment in the truck, etc....they respected us out of trust....trusting us to drive and take care of a $75,000 truck. They always made sure the truck was mechanically "fit" for the road and safe. If we had a problem with the truck, which we very rarely did, I'd call and tell him what the truck was doing, most of the time he knew exactly what was wrong. He'd know if it needed to be taken care of right away or if it would be alright until we got back in.
We'd try to make it home every three weeks (at his request) He always said "3 weeks are enough, better to get home awhile, relaxe, get away from the truck for awhile, then go at it again". We'd drop the truck off at their place, go in their dining room and "do" payroll.....sit and chit-chat awhile then head home..While we were off, he'd go over that truck with a fine tooth comb, preventative maintenance...he didn't want any of his drivers stranded out on the road somewhere.
When he dedcided to give up the straight trucks and go with tractor trailers, he actually told us if we wanted to stay with them, go out, find the truck we wanted, and he'd buy it for us to drive. We graciously declined. We went our separate ways but continue to still be good friends today.
Thru it all, we met soooooooo many good, decent people...Other drivers, dispatchers and office people at the company we were contracted with, and alot of decent people at the places we loaded at or delivered too. I bet I could count the "bad" experiences we had over 3 yrs. on one hand.
With a good owner, the right company, and the right attitude, is there really a better "job" (if you can call it that) in the world??
I think not!!!!
Haven't been driving for the past couple of years, but miss it terribly....hopefully we can get back into it soon!!
Now, instead of all the whining, crying, and complaining, let's hear some "good" things about expediting........maybe some funny things that happen "out on the road".......
C'mon........I know everyone has had something happen out there that brought a little chuckle........
Everyone be safe out there and don't forget, your next load is just a qual-comm "beep" away!!
Relax and have some fun out there! After all, you could be "punching" that dreaded time clock everyday!!!!
We started in expediting without a clue as to what it was all about. Luckily we got on with owners, husband/wife that knew the business. At the time, they had 4 straight trucks and 3 vans on the road, all with the same company.
I'd actually responded to an ad he had in a local paper. We talked a few times on the phone and then drove to their house to meet in person and see the truck he had available. An 80 mile drive-one way.
These people took us under their wing, so to speak, made sure we had good/safe equipment, gave us a small "hint" what expediting was about, and sent us on our way.
Orientation done, waiting for "that first load"!! The qual-comm "beeps" and we're like two kids at Christmas.....excitement and panic all rolled into one! I"m sure glad no one could see us in the truck responding to the first load offer and getting ready to go! LOL
any-hoooo we actually became good friends with our owners........we respected them and their investment in the truck, etc....they respected us out of trust....trusting us to drive and take care of a $75,000 truck. They always made sure the truck was mechanically "fit" for the road and safe. If we had a problem with the truck, which we very rarely did, I'd call and tell him what the truck was doing, most of the time he knew exactly what was wrong. He'd know if it needed to be taken care of right away or if it would be alright until we got back in.
We'd try to make it home every three weeks (at his request) He always said "3 weeks are enough, better to get home awhile, relaxe, get away from the truck for awhile, then go at it again". We'd drop the truck off at their place, go in their dining room and "do" payroll.....sit and chit-chat awhile then head home..While we were off, he'd go over that truck with a fine tooth comb, preventative maintenance...he didn't want any of his drivers stranded out on the road somewhere.
When he dedcided to give up the straight trucks and go with tractor trailers, he actually told us if we wanted to stay with them, go out, find the truck we wanted, and he'd buy it for us to drive. We graciously declined. We went our separate ways but continue to still be good friends today.
Thru it all, we met soooooooo many good, decent people...Other drivers, dispatchers and office people at the company we were contracted with, and alot of decent people at the places we loaded at or delivered too. I bet I could count the "bad" experiences we had over 3 yrs. on one hand.
With a good owner, the right company, and the right attitude, is there really a better "job" (if you can call it that) in the world??
I think not!!!!
Haven't been driving for the past couple of years, but miss it terribly....hopefully we can get back into it soon!!
Now, instead of all the whining, crying, and complaining, let's hear some "good" things about expediting........maybe some funny things that happen "out on the road".......
C'mon........I know everyone has had something happen out there that brought a little chuckle........
Everyone be safe out there and don't forget, your next load is just a qual-comm "beep" away!!
Relax and have some fun out there! After all, you could be "punching" that dreaded time clock everyday!!!!
