JimF51
Seasoned Expediter
By that, I mean what I'm reading here. When I decided to buy the truck I have, from the owner I had been driving it for, I figured since it cost time and money to switch carriers, might as well do it now. Although I drove expedited in '97, so much has changed, and I've only had experience with FedEx since I came back, in Aug. '10, that I thought a change might be better.
I spent a lot of time looking for and at info on various companies. I didn't hate FECC, but thought I might find a better niche for myself. Of all the companies I read about, Load 1 and Landstar seemed to be held in the most positive light. In my experience, with being on forums and other type computer lists since the '80's, forums get more than a fair share of complainers. So it surprised me, that there was hardly any negative about the above mentioned companies.
Regarding Load 1, wow, what a change, since I signed on. Don't mean there is a lot of negative, but just that there is some, and it's being aired.
I've only been on since Oct. 24, so have little to speak of the overall situations, but I have already found myself with a few doubts about my choice.
To be fair, I probably didn't ask the right questions, or heard the answers to the ones I asked incorrectly, but I do not feel I was mislead in any way.
Couple of examples. Brian took me to introduce me to dispatch, and asked them to try and get me a load to NC, so I could get the rest of my gear. That was on 10/26 or 27. Wasn't too pressed to get there, at that point, so took a load going to MN. And they got me out of there. Both runs paid decent. I know it's not a travel agency, but had been told there was lot's of runs to the Carolinas and back. And I know they can not just come up with a load, if the load isn't there. But I did have to tell them, the few load offers I got after getting back to yard. I took a load to Batavia OH, thinking at least I'm moving south, and then one to TN, in hopes of getting something going east. But finally hit my deadline, for something I did need to be home to take care of.
So moved D/H to home, putting a $200. cut into what I had made, so far. Based on what I was told, I planned to mostly run between MI and the Carolinas, catching home time on the fly. But haven't talked to any drivers who have seen much of that. One driver actually lives in same town I do, and he doesn't, either.
Another issue I had, was a situation came up, and asked about it. Person A I asked, said he needed to talk to person B, as it was his decision. When I finally got answer from person B, got negative answer, said that that was person A's decision. So why didn't person A say so up front, and save me a weekend of waiting around?
I opted for using elogs, as I had gotten used to them with FECC, after being almost the last hold out against them while there. I know how to 'work' paper logs very well, but found I never had the need to there. So the elogs made life simpler. But at Load 1, I'm starting to feel this might be a detriment to my money making. That doesn't make me thrilled. I had gotten tired of playing the paper log game when I was a TT company driver, and don't want to go back to it.
I went up to dispatch one night last week, to tell them I couldn't do a load because of the elog, and while dispatcher I was talking to, and who was trying to get a change made so I could keep the load, I got a attitude from another dispatcher. He told person I was talking to not to worry about it, there were plenty of other trucks in the yard. I bit my tongue, being new, but 1st reaction was to get right in his face. I don't need that sort of attitude.
Don't get me wrong, there are still many things I like about Load 1, but am now seeing things I miss about FedEX. And I NEVER thought I would say that
So for me, the jury is still out, and we'll see how it goes. After this weekend home, I'll be out till Christmas, and jury will have better idea.
Sorry for the long post, just wanted to voice some thoughts from a new guy perspective.
I spent a lot of time looking for and at info on various companies. I didn't hate FECC, but thought I might find a better niche for myself. Of all the companies I read about, Load 1 and Landstar seemed to be held in the most positive light. In my experience, with being on forums and other type computer lists since the '80's, forums get more than a fair share of complainers. So it surprised me, that there was hardly any negative about the above mentioned companies.
Regarding Load 1, wow, what a change, since I signed on. Don't mean there is a lot of negative, but just that there is some, and it's being aired.
I've only been on since Oct. 24, so have little to speak of the overall situations, but I have already found myself with a few doubts about my choice.
To be fair, I probably didn't ask the right questions, or heard the answers to the ones I asked incorrectly, but I do not feel I was mislead in any way.
Couple of examples. Brian took me to introduce me to dispatch, and asked them to try and get me a load to NC, so I could get the rest of my gear. That was on 10/26 or 27. Wasn't too pressed to get there, at that point, so took a load going to MN. And they got me out of there. Both runs paid decent. I know it's not a travel agency, but had been told there was lot's of runs to the Carolinas and back. And I know they can not just come up with a load, if the load isn't there. But I did have to tell them, the few load offers I got after getting back to yard. I took a load to Batavia OH, thinking at least I'm moving south, and then one to TN, in hopes of getting something going east. But finally hit my deadline, for something I did need to be home to take care of.
So moved D/H to home, putting a $200. cut into what I had made, so far. Based on what I was told, I planned to mostly run between MI and the Carolinas, catching home time on the fly. But haven't talked to any drivers who have seen much of that. One driver actually lives in same town I do, and he doesn't, either.
Another issue I had, was a situation came up, and asked about it. Person A I asked, said he needed to talk to person B, as it was his decision. When I finally got answer from person B, got negative answer, said that that was person A's decision. So why didn't person A say so up front, and save me a weekend of waiting around?
I opted for using elogs, as I had gotten used to them with FECC, after being almost the last hold out against them while there. I know how to 'work' paper logs very well, but found I never had the need to there. So the elogs made life simpler. But at Load 1, I'm starting to feel this might be a detriment to my money making. That doesn't make me thrilled. I had gotten tired of playing the paper log game when I was a TT company driver, and don't want to go back to it.
I went up to dispatch one night last week, to tell them I couldn't do a load because of the elog, and while dispatcher I was talking to, and who was trying to get a change made so I could keep the load, I got a attitude from another dispatcher. He told person I was talking to not to worry about it, there were plenty of other trucks in the yard. I bit my tongue, being new, but 1st reaction was to get right in his face. I don't need that sort of attitude.
Don't get me wrong, there are still many things I like about Load 1, but am now seeing things I miss about FedEX. And I NEVER thought I would say that
So for me, the jury is still out, and we'll see how it goes. After this weekend home, I'll be out till Christmas, and jury will have better idea.
Sorry for the long post, just wanted to voice some thoughts from a new guy perspective.