Ok is it really that slow??????

[Draco]

Last week I took a load down to Griffin, GA and I sat in Atlanta area all day Wednesday. Talked with dispatch a few times only to be told in the evening that Atlanta wasn't a good area and I needed to move north. Moved up to Nashville early Thursday morning and sat there through late Friday afternoon. Only to be told that there wasn't any freight in the area and I needed to move further north. :-(

So being it was Friday I just decided to bite the bullet and move home, which is in Indiana. So a total of 630mi of deadheading back which made the nice run to GA not so nice afterall. This happened a few weeks ago as well. I took a load to Waterloo, IA only to have to deadhead down to Crown Point, IN to get another load after setting 4 days.

I have been offered the IA load a few more times but I am hesitant to take the load again due to having to deadhead 320 miles just to pickup another load. Seems like I am sitting more than I am running lately. I hate turning down loads but deadheading 300+ miles just to get another load just isn't feasible to me. I know things are slow this time of year but are they really that slow???

 

[miko]

Draco, this time of year I decidet not to be fuzzy with the deadhead and take whatever they offer me. It is better to deadhead some 200 miles rather than sit for days, having to spend money on food and gas for idling the truck and no load afterall.
If you can really afford it to turn down loads this time of year, lucky you. I certainly can't, got bills to pay, such as truck payment, like the rest of us...

 

[Draco]

Miko,
I am at home when the IA loads come up, so not spending any money there. I took the GA load hoping to have something going anywhere afterwards. Told them I wouldn't be shy about deadheading to get a load. Nothing was offered and was told nothing in the area either. So do I sit for a week or more? Nope choose to deadhead north to Nashville (dispatch said Nashville would be lots better) in hopes of getting something out of there. Sat there 2 days still nothing so decided cheaper to go home (cost me $28 in fuel) at that point. As dispatch said nothing was happening in the area and they don't see anything out of Nashville on Mondays. Since I know I can get a load out of my hometown home seemed to be the best option at that point.

 

[poopookitty]

Draco,

I feel your pain. My hubby and I are team drivers in a D truck. We've only had a few loads in the last 4 weeks. We're dying out here. This is only our second winter expediting, but we did much better last year. We keep threating (ourselves) to go home, but it's been a good drive to Houston from anywhere we have been. It's kinda depressing. We just finished a 500 mile run, and here we are sitting again.

The only difference I can think of between this year and last is the part of country we were in. This year mid-west, last year north-east.

Have A Poopy Day!

 

[Glen Rice]

Most of these comments are from operators that have been around a few years. My concern is you should have prepayed your bills for January thru March in the first place. Where is your business plan. Hoping tomorrow will bring a 6000.00 dollar load will never happen. You need to take the presure off yourselves by preparing for these situations. Winter has always been rough. I hope we all learn something from these posts. Christmas is over. Like Jesse James the biker not the cowboy, says "Pay up sucka"!!

 

[miko]

Glen, it is my second year, but last year was alot better too.
Savings go only so long if there is unexpected issues during the year or winter. One can only drive so many hours in a day/week/month.
It sure would be great if we all had the money to have bills pre-paid, but that's not the reality for a one-van-company.
We are glad for every load that comes along.
And the nicest business plan does not protect one from unforseen things in life. We are just happy and thankful that we made it that far without any more troubles. It will even take us a while to catch up to a normal level, even tough the last 3 weeks have been great for us.

 

[RichM]

One of the things I have always tried to get across to potential and new expediters is that when things are going well and big checks are arriving, instead of staying at that 5 star hotel for a weekend , make 1-2 truck payments in advance. When things slow down due to whatever reason at least you don't have to worry about a possible repossion on your vehicle.
I agree it seem to be slow,but I also see more and more competition every day.:-(

 

[poopookitty]

Ya know that's not really very nice. I drive someone else's truck, and would probably never make enough money to pay my bills three months in advance in this position. Though, I agree this is a lesson learned. Regardless, by the smug tone of your message you're probably running well enough to not be upset by the slow season. Miko's post regarding unforeseen financial problems couldn't be any more right. Stuff happens. Anyone who has any experience in life, regardless of your driving experience, knows that. I'm glad you're doing well, but have a little compassion, huh.

I can't speak for anyone else. The whole reason I posted was to get constructive/helpful feedback. Not snotty comments from someone that flaunts their money.

Have A Poopy Day!

ps. by the way this was meant for glen

 

[woobergoober]

Yep, dead right now, at least where I am at. I am in Lansing, so most of my work alwasy originates out of and returns to Detroit. I am running a straight truck, and drove down town to do a couple local runs. Hung around afterwards for 2 hours, then called dispatch and told them I was going home and call me if any out of state loads came up.

January was decent for me, but February is really stinko! It is definately everybodys ideal business plan to make a couple extra truck payments, etc. but I have been playing catch up for the past couple years.

I bought my truck a couple years ago and went to work doing a dedicated route. It went great for the first 8 or 9 months, but due to a bunch of new company policies and troubles with our customers, it got to the point where nobody was making any money, so a couple of us picked up our proverbial marbles, and looked for some other place to play.

I bounced around a couple places, doing local work, and neither of them panned out. Local work just does not pay. I finally found my current job, and ran my rear end off from the end of November, through a good chunk of December, and of course nobody was working during shut down, at least not in my company. January came, we went back to work, and did pretty good until the last few days, and up to the present time.

I will say that my General Manager showed me check stubs for several drivers (comparable to my situation) and he showed how the year before, they ran good, came back in January, and was pretty slow through the rest of January, and into February. In February, most everybodys settlements were a fraction of what they normally made, so I am not surprised.

This year, I plan on making a killing, as long as the automotive business has the same idea, and hopefully, next year I will think of Jan and Feb as a mini vacation with some work here and there.

Hang in there- Im trying to; actually, I am, and I will be good to go, wishing for a couple weekdays off in the middle of the summer. I know the feeling about the GA run you did. I went down to Doraville the other week and dumped some freight at the GM plant. Sat around for 36 hours, and the following night headed East to Graniteville, SC to pick up some freight going back to Detroit.

On the deadheading; my opinion is this: if they are not disounting the hell out of the freight, I will pretty much go wherever they want, and request a percentage increase on the load to cover deadhead. They know I can not drive 500 miles for nothing. Its all about work. Do you want to work, or sit, or go back home. Me, I choose work. GIVE ME WORK OR GIVE ME DEATH!!!

Scott

 

[poopookitty]

Yea! Just got that killer load home. Hang in there Miko. It will work out. It always does. STAY POSITIVE!

Have A Poopy Day!:7

 

[davekc]

I think the point that everyone is trying to make is to save as much as you can. Sometimes that is not easy. It also can be easier said than done. You do need a business plan but only a fool will tell you a perfect one exists. If it did, everybody would be using it. There are many variables that determine your costs. Some you can control, and some you can't. Whether you are an owner operator or a driver, there will always be risks.
The biggest pitfall is when folks don't know there true costs and don't really know what they are making. I am usually amazed by how many folks don't know what is costs to run their truck.
This will not always solve a problem but you may be able to react faster knowing whether you are making money or on a ship that is sinking.
Also, don't overspend on things whether its the buffet three times a day, or spending a fortune on a vehicle. Keep as much capital in reserves as you can.
If you are with a company that over a prolonged period of time is not producing, you need funds to move to another carrier. Just remember not to jump too fast, as "the grass may not be greener"
"Businessman first, driver second"
Davekc
owner
20 years

 

[woobergoober]

Dont know about you guys, but if I eat one meal a day while on the road, I am doing good. Usually take stuff for sandwiches and keep pops cold.

Goes the same for Motel (not Hotel). I run a day cab, and I think I stay i a 45.00 a night Motel 6 approximately twice a month. I know if somebody wants to, they can demand receipts, but my gig is to go out of Detroit, and get back as soon as possible with inbound freight, and leave again as soon as possible. My company seems to get ultra premium rates on Detroit freight.

 

[C5BILL]

I've always wondered. Why is the first quarter slow? Does the whole economy shut down for three months of the year?

 

[davekc]

Alot of production that is time sensitive is stronger at years end. In alot of industries, they are steering towards a quota because their company's value may be determined on that. That would effect everything from their stock price (if applicable) to obtaining future financing ect. Also because of the holidays, many trucks now have retail goods on their truck instead of production parts. This is good for expediting.The holidays also in general will create less available drivers and trucks. And of course, many factories shut down for several weeks. All of those things are not in the same demand after the first of the year. Usually by the second quarter, production ramps up for the remainder of the year.
Hope that gives you some idea
There's a few more but that is the basic concept
Davekc
owner
20 years

 

[Jack Jackson]

PooPooKitty, I don't don't think anyone, espesially an "old hand" in the business is trying to put you down or make light of your situation. We all have gone thru tough times

As DaveKC said, the best plan is to put it away before you need it. Yes it is tough, but one of the ways to improve your situation might be to deadhead to one of the E/O seminars. Not only to learn from the instructors but to ask other drivers about freight lane and better places to layover

I know that you drive someone elses truck, but if you improve your income, it will also improve your owners income as well.

 

[Draco]

Well for starters Glen, if you've seen any of my past posts you know that I had 2 accidents last year. One in Feb. where I slid my van on black ice. Survived that time w/ no problems all bills where paid by MY savings. Then again in June I was in another accident a swoop and squat in NJ. Again all my bills where paid on time w/ MY savings. So I would say that's pretty good business plan to be able to pay all those bills w/o working much. It took my entire 2yrs of savings to pay them but I did it. I won't go into details of all my expenses but I will say that after the black ice accident I did have to go buy a new van. At this time the Sprinters went up in price so my payment jumped 200 a month because of this. But I have still managed to pay the bills. I was 'lucky' enough to have a lawsuit get settled and right now that little bit of money is what I'm running on.

I couldn't get back into expediting until Nov. Due to company X bad mouthing me because of the 2 accidents. Worked for a few months w/ a so so company. Then in Jan I started w/ my new company and have a tiny bit of savings left to keep bills paid but NO extra $. Now I sleep in my van (I have a Sprinter w/ a sleeper) and eat once a day. I carrying snacks, pop, etc and cut my expenses where ever possible.
I would like to meet these van expeditors that have the extra money to pay 3 months of bills in advance. Maybe I should work for there company as even when I was working by one of the 'top' 3 expediting companies I still couldn't pay 3 months worth of bills in advance.

I was just asking about things being slow because it seems this quarter is alot slower than things have been in the past.

I agree w/ poopooKitty here I was asking to see if it was slow for everyone. This is a new company for me and I'm still trying to learn the hot freight zones. So Glen, I didn't ask for snide remarks I was just asking if things were really slow everywhere. As we all know you can't rely on what dispatchers and recruiters tell you. They'll tell you almost anything to try to appease you and get you off the phone.

 

[miko]

Draco, true words.
Last week it was running so good for me that I kept hopes hight it will pick up big time.
This week caught two local runs, but better than sitting around and freeze my hinder off in the van. I sure hope something will come up soon.

 

[poopookitty]

Hi Jackson,

Your suggestion to attend a EO Seminar is not a bad idea I'm always open learning something new about the industry. Although, I'm not sure if I could learn better places to sit or dhead to from EO. From what I've learned so far from other drivers at the company I work with, not every driver has the same experience. There are many many variables involved. Such as, truck specs, wht glove, time of year, nearby shipping companies, whether they discontinue a product just to name a few. It may not always be the same from one month to the next much less, year to year. Even trucks with the same exact specs seem to have different experiences in the same places.

I know the major service centers, but from I understand they too are slow right now. Nevertheless, I did definitly learn a very clear lesson to prepare for the worst for next years slow season.


ps. snotty is snotty

Have A Poopy Day!

 

[bryan]

Hang in there. Went through a semilar situation last year. Blown motor in Jan04. Bought a true lemon just to get back on the road. It broke down faithfully every month. Then was rear-ended in Aug04. didn't get back to work till Sept04. I just got caught back up in Aug. 04. So it can be done just keep in contact with your creditors and see what is there minimum requirments are. BEST OF LUCK