Driver Lifestyles
A Tale of Two Drivers
Jeff Jensen, Editor
"Jeff Curry put me in contact with an Express-1 contractor who had a tractor for me to drive, so I worked with him for awhile. I went from that to driving a straight truck for another owner. After driving a straight truck for awhile, I figured I should stay with that size truck when it came time to buy my own."
Erich Koenigshof of Coloma, MI says he is used to hard work and long hours on the job. Raised on his family's fruit farm, this 27-year old expedited owner-operator still puts in a hefty number of hours helping out on the farm, in addition to time spent behind the wheel of his tractor-trailer.
"My dad taught me how to drive, mainly in single axle flatbeds. I grew up driving the farm trucks so it was a natural progression to end up in the big trucks," says Erich. "I went to college for a year but I didn't care for sitting in a classroom so I figured truck driving is what I really wanted to do."
"I was hauling produce when an old family friend, Jeff Curry - Express-1's President - and I got to talking. He aroused my interest in the business."
Four years after beginning his fast freight career, Erich is a confirmed solo driver who says, "The only time I've run as a team was when I first started and I would team with my boss while he was training me. I don't think I could run with a co-driver, I'm too used to being alone," he says with a laugh.
"Express-1 keeps me as busy as possible. Being a single driver, I probably do my share of shorter runs with an average length of haul at around 400-500 miles. You can never tell in this business, though. The very next run might be cross-country."
He continues, "I like expediting and being in business for myself. I like the freedom of being my own boss with no one looking over my shoulder. When freight is moving well, I'll typically stay out for 2 weeks at a time, then stay home for a couple of days before I'm back on the road again."
Erich is the proud owner of a 2006 Kenworth with a C15 Cat turned to 550 HP and tied to an Eaton Fuller 10-speed. His home away from home is a 72" Bentz sleeper with microwave, fridge, TV with DVD player.
"I like Express-1, the company gives me a lot of freedom. If you want to take time off, there's no questions or hassle. Last week for example, I got the flu while I was on the road and I kept working sick until I could get back to the house. That illness laid me up for a week and I told the company that I would be out of service until I felt better. They told me, no problem. I like that kind of independence."
Michael Ruelle of Express-1's Human Resources Department tells us, "Erich is a very dependable driver with a great attitude. He has received special recognition for his job performance and his exceptional work ethic."
"He's done a great job and he's a great asset to our Express-1 team!"
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Express-1 driver Rodger Shingledecker was looking for a change.
After 17 years in an office environment he says, "I just wanted to get out and try something new. I ran across ExpeditersOnline on the Internet and it seemed interesting. I went to an Expediters Workshop in Monroe, MI, where I met (Express-1 recruiter) Tom Turner."
Tom put me in touch with (truck owner) Larry Brown, and the next thing I knew I was headed to Buchanan. I told Larry I would try it first and see if I liked it. Well, that was three years ago and so far, I have logged just over 217,000 miles."
Rodger is currently operating a 22' Freightliner straight truck.
Rodger and wife Tracy have been married for 27 years and are expecting their first grandson at the end of September.
Their son-in-law has completed two tours of duty in Iraq and is scheduled to return there in 2009.
In a recent interview, Rodger reflected on his time in expedited trucking:
"The first year was a learning year for me. The next two years,I tracked monthly mileage, weekly mileage, deadhead, deadhead pay and deadhead percentages. I keep the information on the computer, so I can compare months and weeks. As you learn the better areas, you can lessen your deadhead and see your profitability increase."
"Most of the time, it is a very positive situation at the shipper and consignee. They are happy to see you because you are helping them."
He explains, "Where some of the semi's are waiting two to four hours to unload, we usually are in and out and rarely have to
wait. Another thing I enjoy is having coffee or lunch with a fellow expediter and sharing ideas and stories."
However, the coin has two sides: "The thing that frustrates me the most is when the consignee doesn't open for another three to four hours. The downtime used to bother me, but as I started to learn the areas and things to do locally, it doesn't as much. Plan a movie, shower, do laundry or a meal, and that will make passing the time more enjoyable."
So, how does one get started in this business?
"Check it out online, go to an Expediters Workshop, talk with other expediters (and their partners). Don't listen to the CB. Check with the company for an insurance rider; it could answer a lot of questions."
"If you're ready for the next step, my suggestion is to drive for an owner. Some people will disagree, but that's how I feel. It's a great way to learn without the added pressure and expense of owning a truck."
"Last but not least," he adds, "is get a good GPS system ASAP! I went six months without one and when I finally got one, it relieved 99% of the stress!"
Along with the places he's visited and the people he's met, Rodger says that some loads in particular stand out in his memory:
"I think the most interesting load was somewhere by Scranton, PA on the river. I was hauling three tool chests, each about five feet long and full of tools. When I got there, they sent me here and there. Nobody knew who wanted the freight or where it went. When they finally got the correct person, we delivered underground in a dam."
"That was pretty cool."
"I would say there have been a lot of little accomplishments like making a difficult delivery downtown, figuring out how to get an odd shaped load on the truck or delivering a stuffed leopard in a tree to a taxidermist. I guess being dependable and on time would be my biggest accomplishment."
"I'm pretty new at this and I'm learning something new every day."