Slow for everyone else ?

[jeffman164]

Just wondering if it was slow for everyone else for the past two weeks. Have been with this co. for 5 weeks so not jumping the gun . Just curious. 1st 3 weeks were outstanding - last two weeks I kept looking skyward to see if the BLACK cloud had lifted yet.
THANK YOU

 

[raceman]

It always slows down this time of year. It may pick a little after this weekend for a week or so but it is typical. It would not be unheard of for it to be slow from now until after the new year and month or so beyond.

If you are working for for a company that is hauling mainly automotive, I would say you are right on schedule for slow. This business has ups and downs. If you been at it five weeks and are a little concerned now, I suggest you talk to folks inside the company and others drivers to completely understand your customer base and the down times. There will be many down periods that will come on like clockwork. Once you know them, you can prepare for them.

It is about the same for everyone in all companies. It will vary a bit by company based on their customer base.

Enjoy and good luck

Raceman
Dedicated O/O
OOIDA 741748

 

[chetjester]

I'm not a happy camper. I just got back into expediting and I'm driving at T/T. Doesn't seem to matter. Laredo sucks. Sat there from Wednesday until I got a load picking up in Brownsville for Sun. Sat in Toledo 2 days. Sat in N. Carolina a day and a half. That's too long between runs. I don't need to reset my log book after each run.

And I'm back in Laredo after delivering to Eagle Pass Friday morning. Now I have a 2 pallet pickup at 2 PM Saturday going to Chicago. Will that be all my truck is hauling north tomorrow? I hope not. Sort of a waste of space.

So, it's slow. I don't believe it is just the time of year. I've been so busy in other years at this time. I don't know what's going on.

 

[jeffman164]

When I did expediting before, was always busy until Christmas and then it would slow down. Wasn't expecting slow down soooooo early. Heard that Laredo was a good place to get freight out of. Then I hear it's not. Please give me the low down.
THANK YOU

 

[Tennesseahawk]

Laredo is like Atlanta... hot, then dead, then hot again. It cycles several times a year. The reason Laredo is hell is cause it's 800 miles to another freight zone when it is dead. That's why freight goes for so little there sometimes.

"If I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know." - Kansas

 

[TJ959]

I guess it depends on your company. My company has been fairly slow to very slow most of the year but busy the last month or so. As far as Laredo goes it's just plain terrible. Dispatch tells me it's a good place but I've never got a load out of there ever. Now if they want me to go there it has to be worth it and I'll stay no longer than one working day before I move on. It's a little better now that they have a new Flying J but I just don't like being there.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

I never turn down a chance for Laredo... unless I know there are 10 company trucks already in TX. I've deadheaded from Dallas to Laredo just on a hunch, and got out the next day.

Answering the original question... if I'm posting a lot, it's either slow or I'm at home (which the woman hates that I spend so much time on here when I'm home!:7 ) Currently not slow for me.

"If I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know." - Kansas

 

[redytrk]

I wish people would put up the size vehicle they are driving.

Any discussion of loads out of Laredo is directly related to the size of truck.

Personally in a "C" I relocate out of there real fast.A dispatcher (FECC) told me,"All that comes out of Laredo is "E" loads.

Admittedly that advise came a few years ago,and the situation could have changed. I haven`t been there since Carol stopped driving to care for her mother.

 

[Dispatched]

D unit

Began building relationships with various Brokers one year ago. A couple of friends "networked" me into the first 3-4 and then began calling several more until I had accumulated a good list. Brokers can and will find you loads. I'd say the've been able to rescue me 90% of the time with loads out of or near dead areas. You'll have to comply with your particcular carriers policys or use your imagination with the logistics of hauling a load on your own. These are not garbage paying runs and all pay better than .60-1.00 line haul rate.

This method can and does work. You'll have to do quite abit of leg work but at least you won't be sitting.

 

[slfisher45]

I have a 33000 GVW Two axle straight, 22 ft box. Everytime I,ve been to Laredo I've gotten a load. Wednesday through Saturday is the best time for Panther.

 

[goingbroke2]

It has been a very, very slow month and more for me as a solo in a D. Dead head is high and miles are low. Load offers are few. Layovers are long. At this point I'd consider myself fortunate if I only waited a few days between loads - but without loads waiting more than a few days is business as usual for me lol. Dispatch explained to me that freight is slower than normal this time of year compared with last year.

They are saying that last year was really a unusual year because there was alot more freight than normal and that this year is actually more of a normal year - if that makes sense.

Basically they say that if you take 2005 out of the picture, then 2006 is an average year for expediting.

I now understand this business alot clearer because when it comes to long layovers and dead heads, it's like dispatch says - "Sorry, but welcome to expediting!" Guess it takes different people different amount of time before they really understand that - and I'm still working on it too.

I spoke with a couple of drivers who have dead headed out of laredo - one guy dead headed all the way back to ohio because they couldn't get a load out of there said they'll never take another load there. Sounds like a smart idea to me.

 

[slfisher45]

Panther solos are better off in the 7 sta

 

[slfisher45]

7 state areas IN,IL,OH,PA

 

[slfisher45]

KY,TN, and lower MI

 

[jeffman164]

Surprised Chetjester said he was slow, especially in a E unit. Heard that Blair and C&M was usually very busy. Just goes to show you I guess (lol). Well it's Sunday 2:00 , off to Janesville for a Monday morning delivery. Will be off computer until I get back. If all goes well, and busy , then around Christmas break. Thanks for all the info !! And remember GODSPEED !!

 

[Tennesseahawk]

>I spoke with a couple of drivers who have dead headed out of
>laredo - one guy dead headed all the way back to ohio
>because they couldn't get a load out of there said they'll
>never take another load there. Sounds like a smart idea to
>me.

Which part? The dh 1500 mile dh or the vow never to return to Laredo? Anything said by someone who deadheads that far isn't worth listening to.

And if you carry that attitude over to a carrier that gets a lot of business in Laredo, you lose money.

"If I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know." - Kansas

 

[davekc]

I can't recall ever DH'ing a truck out of Laredo. Unless that run into Laredo paid $3.00 a mile, I wouldn't DH 1500 miles to go anywhere except maybe home for the last time prior to looking for another carrier.





Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[bernieh48]

D unit

Never had any problems getting a load out of Laredo. Usually get one out the same day or next day. Crazy to d/h 1500 miles out of there.

 

[Marty]

I drive a van and this has been the worst Fall season I've seen in nine years of expediting.
The Bush administration states that our economy is booming but you surely can't see any evedence of such in our industry.

 

[RDC]

Marty, who do you drive for? Hope it picks up for ya'. Ive been thinking of getting back into it but have some serious doubts because nobody seems to be running well.