Thinking about Expedited - got Questions!

werksracer · Apr 6, 2009

Hello (hey this is MY first post!)

I've had my cdl since May of 08. Started with werner and switched to a fleet-owner-operator pulling werner vans in September.
The more I talk with Panther & FedEx Expedited drivers, the more interested I become in doing it myself!

Some questions
(or maybe their statements and i just want your thoughts)

I seem to have narrowed my search down to FedEx Custom Critical or a fleet-owner-operator with Panther.

Your Thoughts on that?

Also,
I mentioned Expedited freight and a couple of companies to my owner-operator and he said, "he didn't think expedited freight was a growing segment. That the big companies, like werner etc, could deliver 'that freight' at a much lower rate".

Yes I know, EVERYone is entitled to their opionion, but you guys are actually IN the expedited business and I want to hear your thoughts on being in the Expedited division of Freight, AND what you think the future holds for this part of the industry.

Thanks,

Scott

chi-batman · Apr 6, 2009

stick with steady job and paychecks for now expediting has too many in it now! check back when the economy picks up

Turtle · Apr 6, 2009

He's right, now's not the time to jump in. Stick with the steady paycheck. Expediting is a growing segment, but it's tied even more closely to the economy than regular trucking is. While regular trucking can deliver the freight cheaper, they cannot provide the kinds of services that expedited freight can. Expediting is all about emergency freight and exclusive use of the truck shipments, something that regular trucking cannot do with any kind of certainty or regularity.

bluejaybee · Apr 6, 2009

werksracer said:
Also,
I mentioned Expedited freight and a couple of companies to my owner-operator and he said, "he didn't think expedited freight was a growing segment. That the big companies, like werner etc, could deliver 'that freight' at a much lower rate".

Sure they can, but will it be when the customer wants it and in the time frame. Is Werner equipped to drop everything else and run an LTL in a moments notice. Well, they won't make many runs until they will see the need for the extra charge. Guess they will have to put on an expediting division. Oh that's right. This is not a growing segment, so that probably won't happen.

If you are able to live to your standards on your pay at the moment, you better stick with it awhile longer. Most of us are having less than highs and mostly lows right now. (And I speak only from what I have read here, don't shoot me).

Tempest · Apr 6, 2009

bluejaybee said:
If you are able to live to your standards on your pay at the moment, you better stick with it awhile longer. Most of us are having less than highs and mostly lows right now. (And I speak only from what I have read here, don't shoot me).

Bang Bang!!! hehe

Seriously, This isnt the time as these gentlemen have said. Things will probably get worse before they get better out here. When things turn around, though, you might wanna try it out

. In the meantime, research, research and when you are done, research some more. You need to know what you are getting into before choosing this life. I cant imagine doing any other job, but this game isnt for everyone.

Oh, and as for your boss. You tell him when the customers want it in a few days, I am sure they will call Weiner err Werner. (sorry, darn typos) But when they want it YESTERDAY, they call an EXPEDITOR!!!!!!

chassie · Apr 9, 2009

Tempest said:
Bang Bang!!! hehe

Seriously, This isnt the time as these gentlemen have said. Things will probably get worse before they get better out here. When things turn around, though, you might wanna try it out . In the meantime, research, research and when you are done, research some more. You need to know what you are getting into before choosing this life. I cant imagine doing any other job, but this game isnt for everyone.

Oh, and as for your boss. You tell him when the customers want it in a few days, I am sure they will call Weiner err Werner. (sorry, darn typos) But when they want it YESTERDAY, they call an EXPEDITOR!!!!!!

Joe,
I see you are from SC. I am interested in moving there. Just got my Class B CDL in Jan. 09. Have been talking with Panther for the past two days to do expediting for them. Can you give me any info on what the economy and work is like there. Thanks in advance. Chassie in Ohio

chassie · Apr 9, 2009

Hello fellow and female co-truckers,

My first day on the site. Very interesting...... I just got my CDL in Jan. 09. Have talked with Panther to get into expediting.

What is the economy and work like in SC?

Thanks in advance for any info.

Chassie in Ohio

Dakota · Apr 9, 2009

The best advice is read all the old post for the last couple of years, if you still want to get into this business, you'll need good business sense and good luck. Most people are just barely scraping by, some are losing their arse. I am sure there are some that are doing fine but they probably have lots of experience in this sector.

chassie · Apr 9, 2009

Hello Dakota,

I haven't read a lot of positives, but I guess it is take a risk and see eh? I am hopeful that things will pick up in the coming months with summer, retail, landscaping, building, etc. I know the news media talks about the 10% unemployment, but what about the 90% that are still employed.

You could stay on this site 4-ever and read, read, read.

Thanks again.
Chassie

greg334 · Apr 9, 2009

it's not 90% employed, but more like 65%.

DougTravels · Apr 9, 2009

Chassie: Why ask for advice if your mind is already made up? I am a semi newbey 3.5 years out here. If I had not done well the first 3 years, the last 6 months would have bankrupted me. When you are moving things are great! When you sit for days on end or move to a better area then sit there for days it takes its toll on your bankbook and your sanity. Fuel is pretty cheap now and there are bargains on trucks, if you want it sugarcoated. If you get in now and freight does start moving well, it could be a great time. If Expedite freight stays the same or rates go lower and you don't have a bankroll backing you, you could go broke and crazy all at once though.

Dakota · Apr 9, 2009

After reading nearly every post on this site, I decided not to get into expediting as most here know it to be. The company I signed on with is more of an air freight forwarder than a straight expedite company. I am home almost every night. A big plus for me.

gcf1172 · Apr 9, 2009

well hello out there in expedite land!!!

help!!!!!!!!!! i want to go into expediting...ok my current situation sucks!! lol so tell me is it that bad out there lets be realistic. im looking to go to work for someone else(not my own truck)ive had a cdl now for 16 yrs driving dump trucks in North carolina but that was feast or fammon. at the beginning of this year i bought a 14 foot box truck and have been pulling some work from uShip - The Online Shipping Marketplace - Ship Freight, Furniture, Vehicles or Moves but even thats getting rediculouse when you have bubba-joe-jim-bob with his escort station wagon bidding against you and hes bidding things at 25 cents a mile...lol..well tell me whats a weekly pay look like out there its gotta be better then here thanks hope to hear all positives

DougTravels · Apr 9, 2009

gcf1172 said:
well hello out there in expedite land!!!

help!!!!!!!!!! i want to go into expediting...ok my current situation sucks!! lol so tell me is it that bad out there lets be realistic. im looking to go to work for someone else(not my own truck)ive had a cdl now for 16 yrs driving dump trucks in North carolina but that was feast or fammon. at the beginning of this year i bought a 14 foot box truck and have been pulling some work from uShip - The Online Shipping Marketplace - Ship Freight, Furniture, Vehicles or Moves but even thats getting rediculouse when you have bubba-joe-jim-bob with his escort station wagon bidding against you and hes bidding things at 25 cents a mile...lol..well tell me whats a weekly pay look like out there its gotta be better then here thanks hope to hear all positives

My average weekly settlement is 10-14k, fuel runs about 50 bucks a week and I am home every day about 2pm. Hows that.

MentalGiant · Apr 9, 2009

DougTravels said:
My average weekly settlement is 10-14k, fuel runs about 50 bucks a week and I am home every day about 2pm. Hows that.

HAHA!!!! Liar!!!

Dakota · Apr 9, 2009

DougTravels said:
My average weekly settlement is 10-14k, fuel runs about 50 bucks a week and I am home every day about 2pm. Hows that.

When I grow up I want your job

chassie · Apr 10, 2009

DougTravels said:
Chassie: Why ask for advice if your mind is already made up? I am a semi newbey 3.5 years out here. If I had not done well the first 3 years, the last 6 months would have bankrupted me. When you are moving things are great! When you sit for days on end or move to a better area then sit there for days it takes its toll on your bankbook and your sanity. Fuel is pretty cheap now and there are bargains on trucks, if you want it sugarcoated. If you get in now and freight does start moving well, it could be a great time. If Expedite freight stays the same or rates go lower and you don't have a bankroll backing you, you could go broke and crazy all at once though.

Thans Greg for your input. I appreciate your insight.
Chassie

rookmiser · Apr 10, 2009

do alot of research look at frieght moving call brokers see what frieght is out there expediters are a different breed, they don,t like people coming in to the bussiness,its a cut throat industrie.so you will see alot of discouraging threads here. in my opinion a driver is the last person to ask if you should get in.there attitude is the less drivers the more freight for them,you will sit alot and you have to take the good with bad ,and willing to stay out,3 ot 4 weeks good luck

greg334 · Apr 10, 2009

You're welcome but I am not Doug.

chefdennis · Apr 10, 2009

Ok, I am as new as can be. I have been doing this since last aug, hauling my 1st load in sept after getting my van ready. The 1st thing I will tell you is the same thing I would tell anyone getting into ANY BUSINESS that they are running themselves and repsonsible for paying the bills. You had better have a good bank account to start. You have expense that you will incur even if the truck isn't loaded, you will have expenses that need paid in your private life that if you don't have a seperate income to cover or a bank account to cover them, will have to wait 2 weeks from your start date because most all are going to hold at LEAST 2 weeks back. Without a way to pay your bills during that time, you are starting in the jole to begin with.

Now i read all the same negative stuff for the most part of a year before i decided to give it a try. The business slowed down considerably from the time I started looking till the time I actually decided to do this, but not needing to use this business to pay for anything other then its own expenses, and with my business backgground, I figured i could pay cash for the truck and my out lay would be considerablily less and i could do it.....

The 1st 4 months were good, you have to remember, i never did this before and had no expectations as to the money to be made...so i was doing good for my finanical position, paying only for this business, and nothing else.

I can tell you, jump it with both feet if you set yourself up right from the start...if you can't then stay away until you see the economy picking up, FREIGHT IS SLOW, i am drivng half of what I did last yr, i am making half of what i did last yr, BUT, because I set myself up, I can deal with that. Alot of people out here are 1 major repair away from going out of business. Even if you drive for an owner, what position is he in to fix a major breakdown!?!? You could still be out of a job because he can't fix the truck right now....

I think there are 3 people in this thread looking at the business, all 3 of you CAN MAKE IT IN THIS BUSINESS, but understand you are going to get discouraged until freight picks up....and I haven't even touched on the normal day to day frustrations of the business. I personally hate sitting in one place, but i know it is part of the business. When i started i refused to sit in any one place any more then 36 hours, then id move (deadhead) on my own to another place....well let me tell you...this week i finally sat in one place a bit longer, I've been in cleveland for going on 60 hours, i have been 1st out for about 20 of those hours and if i don't get a load by 3 pm today, I am heading home for easter with my family and giving up my 1st out.

Its slow 2 weeks ago I ran 5 runs in 4 days, that helped out with this week being slow, but the only reason it did is because i have a bank account and i run my business finanically on a quarterly basis not a weekly....so a bad week can be offset on the balance sheet by 2 good or one great week.....

Should you people get into this business now? With the info you get here from the DRIVERS, and as you were told, call freight companies, look at the market, see whats happening with manufacturing, with durable goods being moved...then only you can decide if you can set yourselves up to beable to handle the slow times we are in right now...but you need to be able to pay your way without income for at least a month , i wouldn't do ths without 2 months of expense money in the bank in good times, now it would be 3 months minimum.....

I don't wish people luck, i believe we each make our own way and our own luck, if do hope you do well in whatever you do...look at this strictly as a business....can you afford to get in is what you need to ask yourselves...