Old saying...

[OntarioVanMan]

"If your wheel ain't turning you are not making money"..

Not exactly true in this business....there are times the wheels should stay put....turning them, ends up costing you money in the long term...

 

[greg334]

Nope you are looking at it wrong again, haven't we taught you anything?

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Nope you are looking at it wrong again, haven't we taught you anything?

Ok professor...you'll have to explain this one...

 

[greg334]

Sometimes you have just say ... and go with it.

Revenue counts, not waiting for the big offer.

This is about luck, even your company depends on that factor, so ...

If you are there for 48 hours and not moving, then what do you lose when you take something to move you?

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Sometimes you have just say ... and go with it.

Revenue counts, not waiting for the big offer.

This is about luck, even your company depends on that factor, so ...

If you are there for 48 hours and not moving, then what do you lose when you take something to move you?

Well you know and I know there is so much that goes into the equation or the mix...every load has to be considered on its own merits whether it is good for you or not....and everyone has different needs and so forth.....my decision would probably not be your decision....

 

[cheri1122]

If you are there for 48 hours and not moving, then what do you lose when you take something to move you?

If you take something that moves you to a dead zone [esp if there's significant unpaid DH], you lose revenue. And possibly a load to a better area.
Sometimes, it's smarter to turn down the load and DH to a better area instead.
Then again, there is that unpredictable factor: luck.
I think OVM meant the saying is so entrenched in some minds, they'll take every load, or DH too soon, just to be moving.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

If you take something that moves you to a dead zone [esp if there's significant unpaid DH], you lose revenue. And possibly a load to a better area.
Sometimes, it's smarter to turn down the load and DH to a better area instead.
Then again, there is that unpredictable factor: luck.
I think OVM meant the saying is so entrenched in some minds, they'll take every load, or DH too soon, just to be moving.

Bingo! Thank you Ma'am...

 

[BigBusBob]

Ontario... Here's a simpler version for you...

Wheels that don't turn, Don't Earn.

 

[greg334]

If you take something that moves you to a dead zone [esp if there's significant unpaid DH], you lose revenue. And possibly a load to a better area.

Really?

Well you can be in a hot zone too and not get a thing for days. The thing many miss is freight is actually everywhere, it is the carrier that holds you back.

Sometimes, it's smarter to turn down the load and DH to a better area instead.

I think it is smarter to find your limitations, work within them and stop looking at every run and every load as a money maker. When people look at weekly and bi-weekly revenue, and see dips in it, they tend to panic and try to 'work smarter'.

Then again, there is that unpredictable factor: luck.
I think OVM meant the saying is so entrenched in some minds, they'll take every load, or DH too soon, just to be moving.

YES it is the luck thing. Sitting on site of a customer and waiting for them to call the carrier may not give you that load, while being out in BFE and enjoying the weather not worrying about life, loads or the pursuit of diesel fumes may get you a good load.

I think OVM also needed to add that many are so entrenched that they have to find "hot areas" of freight to make money, they overlook a lot of the factors involved and these seem to be the ones worried so much about making every load a money maker that they turn down things that pay the bills and lead to bigger things.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

"hot areas" now that there is funny....

 

[Steady Eddie]

Sometimes you have just say ... and go with it.

Revenue counts, not waiting for the big offer.

This is about luck, even your company depends on that factor, so ...

If you are there for 48 hours and not moving, then what do you lose when you take something to move you?

Revenue counts to Wallstreet and share holders. There is more to it than revenue.
I know a guy who will not move no matter what. He is in the deadest of dead zones. "Nope, I am not going to move" 9 days later still sitting. Low and behold on the 10th day he gets a load going 300 miles. Would that revenue off set the days waiting?

Luck of the draw? Could he maybe made a move to improve his luck? If you sit long enough you will sooner or later get a run. Revenue in this case did not off set his cost.

Yeah, most of it is about luck, but you have to make yourself lucky. The revenue will follow.

Spend 100 to make a 100 is not luck. Spending a 100 to make 600 is good business.

 

[greg334]

Yeah, most of it is about luck, but you have to make yourself lucky. The revenue will follow.

Well that's all good and well but you can't make yourself lucky in most cases in this niche market.

Facing a hard reality that the carrier or company is the one in control, not you and not too many of them know how to handle their capacity to the fullest extent, I would contend that the luck is uncontrolled to the point that all you can do is move or sit. Refusing work that is at your level of financial target and speaking pretty much about freight east of the ole' Miss, it comes down to moving and producing revenue or sitting and not producing revenue or in other words the freight may or may not lead you to better freight because we can not know what is over that horizon. Even if the work comes under your financial target, it may be more lucrative to take something to move the truck while not worrying about the pennies lost in the move.

 

[blizzard2014]

Here is what I did Greg. I have been watching the boards all day Firday and it's been some slim pickins all over the country for expedite freight. What I did id booked a load picking up in Alabama on Monday going all thew way back to Michigan. I deadheaded 630 mile to make the pick-up. Even after all of my deadhead to get the load and the miles to run the load, i'm still netting over 300 dollars.

While this is not an ideal situation, I am getting out of a bad area and still ending the process with a net profit. The only other two alternatives were to stay in Texas over the long holiday weekend sitting in the parking lot, or driving empty to Kansas City and cutting into my profits


Do you think this was a wise decision Greg? With how slow freight was this Friday, i'm thankful to have gotten what I did get. I may even have opportunity to throw another load on board to help recoup some of the lost profits. I'd rather beback in Michigan on Tuesday nmorning up in profits as opposed to waking up in Texas on Tuesday competing with the cheap freight rates coming out of that area. That is how I do business sometimes.

 

[chefdennis]

"Hot Zone"....I am telling you it is nothing but HOT down here in Laredo.... No freight , but HOT....now that being said, i knew as soon as I took this load id probably be here till the 1st of the week, maybe as long as weds...and I was ok with that, because, I am the "vacation / Recerational expediter"...

HEY BLIZZARD, EMPTY YOUR MAIL BOX...I have been talking witha Nwebie and he talked about running independent and i told him to contact you as in my idea, you were on top of that situation...but he can't message you because your box is full!!...

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Here is what I did Greg. I have been watching the boards all day Firday and it's been some slim pickins all over the country for expedite freight. What I did id booked a load picking up in Alabama on Monday going all thew way back to Michigan. I deadheaded 630 mile to make the pick-up. Even after all of my deadhead to get the load and the miles to run the load, i'm still netting over 300 dollars.

While this is not an ideal situation, I am getting out of a bad area and still ending the process with a net profit. The only other two alternatives were to stay in Texas over the long holiday weekend sitting in the parking lot, or driving empty to Kansas City and cutting into my profits


Do you think this was a wise decision Greg? With how slow freight was this Friday, i'm thankful to have gotten what I did get. I may even have opportunity to throw another load on board to help recoup some of the lost profits. I'd rather beback in Michigan on Tuesday nmorning up in profits as opposed to waking up in Texas on Tuesday competing with the cheap freight rates coming out of that area. That is how I do business sometimes.

Hey Bliz...if it works for you.floats your boat..who is anyone to criticize? Good luck with that...

 

[blizzard2014]

Hey, OVM, I am flexible like PVC pipe. Chef, tell him to message me now. Also, there are a few of you who recentle messaged me and I had to empty all of the folders in my inbox and lost your messages, so that is why I have not responded. Please message me again and I will get back with you all as soon as I can. I have been so busy I really haven't had time to pay attention to my inbox.

Chef, hobby expediter or not, i've grown very tired of parking lots lately. I'd rather run at some profit than sit for a few days in a parking lot. Even if I was retired, i'd still operate in the same manner. I have just grown past the expediter parking lot weekend bullsitting sessions. I am a lot more cynical these days and rarely stick around the truck stops long enough to socialize. I am one of the most sociable anti-social expediters on the road.

That being said, if I was there in Laredo this weekend, i'd take everyone in the parking lot out to wings and drinks on Chef's credit card lol! Guido, if it's any consolation to you, I have only been loaded out of laredo one 2 times in 4 years and both loads cancelled! You should be alright, we got a van out of there this Saturday, but i'm not even going to mention how bad rates have been down there. Good luck!

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Hey, OVM, I am flexible like PVC pipe. Chef, tell him to message me now. Also, there are a few of you who recentle messaged me and I had to empty all of the folders in my inbox and lost your messages, so that is why I have not responded. Please message me again and I will get back with you all as soon as I can. I have been so busy I really haven't had time to pay attention to my inbox.

Chef, hobby expediter or not, i've grown very tired of parking lots lately. I'd rather run at some profit than sit for a few days in a parking lot. Even if I was retired, i'd still operate in the same manner. I have just grown past the expediter parking lot weekend bullsitting sessions. I am a lot more cynical these days and rarely stick around the truck stops long enough to socialize. I am one of the most sociable anti-social expediters on the road.

That being said, if I was there in Laredo this weekend, i'd take everyone in the parking lot out to wings and drinks on Chef's credit card lol! Guido, if it's any consolation to you, I have only been loaded out of laredo one 2 times in 4 years and both loads cancelled! You should be alright, we got a van out of there this Saturday, but i'm not even going to mention how bad rates have been down there. Good luck!

I;ve come to be the same way....I am now a Wally Worm...lol...only reason I am at a J now is for a shower...and then I am outta here....

 

[Yesteryear]

"Hot Zone"....I am telling you it is nothing but HOT down here in Laredo.... No freight , but HOT....now that being said, i knew as soon as I took this load id probably be here till the 1st of the week, maybe as long as weds...and I was ok with that, because, I am the "vacation / Recerational expediter"...

HEY BLIZZARD, EMPTY YOUR MAIL BOX...I have been talking witha Nwebie and he talked about running independent and i told him to contact you as in my idea, you were on top of that situation...but he can't message you because your box is full!!...

Well, I would sure rather be sitting down there in Laredo over the long week-end then up here in Westfield MA! 45 degrees - cold . . . wet . . . rainy . . . drab day! Hmmmm Hot . . . cold . . . yeah give me hot over cold and rainy anytime!

 

[Steady Eddie]

Well that's all good and well but you can't make yourself lucky in most cases in this niche market.

Facing a hard reality that the carrier or company is the one in control, not you and not too many of them know how to handle their capacity to the fullest extent, I would contend that the luck is uncontrolled to the point that all you can do is move or sit. Refusing work that is at your level of financial target and speaking pretty much about freight east of the ole' Miss, it comes down to moving and producing revenue or sitting and not producing revenue or in other words the freight may or may not lead you to better freight because we can not know what is over that horizon. Even if the work comes under your financial target, it may be more lucrative to take something to move the truck while not worrying about the pennies lost in the move.

Yeah, that's what I said.....you read something else?