Simple question, maybe.

[PTN2011]

Thanks so much to each of you for responding to the question – “WHAT is the hardest job duty an expediter has to do day after day as an expediter?”
Obviously waiting is a stressful aspect of expediting for many of you. My initial thoughts as how answers would run did not include the majority view “waiting” as the hardest day to day duty for an expediter.
Having read many EO postings prior to my question I had already gleamed that many challenges face expediters both old and new and yet waiting to get moving on the next load is the top challenge for expediters.
I take away from your posts that there is a real joy each of you feels in getting back on the road again and that waiting is keeping you from your joy in life. Thanks for your responses.

 

[Moot]

At this difficult time in Diane's and my expediting career, our saving grace is the well defined goals we set early on.

That and I'm sure your regular practice of the Maintaining A Positive Attitude Reaction Drill.

In a past post I lampooned you for practicing Reaction Drills. I wrote about practicing the Blown Steer Tire Reaction Drill which resulted in the death of my best friend Jack. I was bitter and blamed you for his death because you recommended practicing Reaction Drills. I realize now that I am the one to blame for Jack's death. It was my finger that pulled the trigger of the Carcano. If I could relive that day, it would be me in the cab of that truck. But the seat and mirrors were already set for Jack. So I must live with the fact that I killed my best friend Jack. Maybe that's why I'm still in expediting; running from my past, living in WalMart parking lots, eating solar heated Pop Tarts and talking to myself.

I also went through a difficult time with my current carrier. I was upset with my previous carrier and the circumstances that landed me with my current carrier. It took me more than 6 months to adjust my attitude to match that of my carrier's. Now I look forward to weird, bizarre and stupid situations I encounter. It's kinda like an old acid head who quit eating acid years ago because he got a job or something that tests hair for drug use. He doesn't eat acid anymore but still has an occasional flashback. He never knows when it's coming or how intense it may be, but with the proper attitude in place it can be very entertaining. Kinda like the time my tires melted in the parking lot of the Gastrax truck stop in Pembina, ND. It was night, the temperature was -30 degrees and I only had one spare tire. Entertaining indeed for the customers peering out at me through frosted windows.

Oops! that last item -- melting tires-- you can strike that. I did not mean to say that. Somehow it just slipped in.


My point is, um, yeah, waiting for the next load is the hardest part of expediting.