How is life different as an Expediter?

Discussion in 'Expediter and Hot Shot Trucking Forum' started by WiseOne, Oct 9, 2008.

  1. RickG

    RickG Road Train Member

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    Please explain how it is growing . Expedite depended heavily on automotive freight and that will never be what it was . Other customers rethink the higher rate before paying expedite rates . Expedite carriers have dropped their rates considerably and also give certain customers discounted fuel surcharges .
     
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  3. Baack

    Baack Road Train Member

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    I was reading a interesting article the other day on the growth of expedite loads has moved away from automotive industry and has grown in LTL type freight
    And that its still a ruff market but their has been growth in some area's
     
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  4. taz'smom

    taz'smom Bobtail Member

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    :biggrin_25520:
    I agree with you. Usually expedite drivers have a schedule that most drivers don't want. There are times you have to be ready immediately for a load, and go "direct" which means straight through. You never know where you're going or what you will haul. Expediting will change with the times. Automotive freight usually accounts for about 25% of all freight, but my husband and I rarely hauled automotive. It's all about what the customer needs right away. We've hauled menu boards to fast food restaurants under construction, fiber optic cable for pro basketball games and nascar races so they could be broadcast. We even took a truckload of Snapple drinks to the Bengels stadium in Cincinnati, OH. arriving 2 days before the game for food vendors. We have been to various football stadiums picking up sideline boxes, and even delivered "foam fingers" to the Cotton Bowl on New Years Day! It's great to have customers in dire need of something and you show up early with their product. They usually have the dock doors up, and even start to unstrap your load before you get inside! We are always thanked with a handshake and a smile. Expediting is not for everyone, but once you are in it, you understand what an important part of trucking it really is.
     
  5. beboppinbigun1

    beboppinbigun1 Light Load Member

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    http://www.expeditenow.com/news/publish/Expedited_Freight_Volumes_Suddenly_Rise.html

    from the current issue of Expedite Now, the link is to the full article
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 3, 2009
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  6. RickG

    RickG Road Train Member

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    Jul 22, 2008
    Owensboro , KY
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    The problem is the rates are lower for LTL . The loads now being accepted by expedite companies aren't always expedite loads paying expedite freight . People get excited about increased freight and while that's a good sign levels are still the lowest they've been in 10 years , improving from being the lowest they were in 20 years .
     
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  7. dusta

    dusta Bobtail Member

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    Lady penguin, I guess you had a bad experience. I have been driving 14 years and FedEx CC is the best company I've ever been with. I can make very good money and have the freedom to do pretty much whatever I want, when I want.
     
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  8. Triple-T

    Triple-T Bobtail Member

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    Surprisingly, the only whining I hear right now is you. I have read many forums and spoke to many Expediters, and most will say it is a rewarding experience, you just have to be with the right company, or do your research on how you will live on the road. The only "Whiners" are those who have not done the research and fully expected to be rolling constantly, but still get home every weekend, and still make $60,000 after taxes. Do your research, learn the lifestyle, and know what to expect and you will not be surprised. I have driven the big rigs otr and with the exception of a little extra wiat time while on call, I did not find too much difference in expedite. For every bad story out there there are a hundred stories for the people who love this job.
     
  9. phroziac

    phroziac Road Train Member

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    bad thing about expedite is that since its almost always teams...you have to deal with customers more. If expedite freight is low you may get a junky load with 500 miles. might have to deal with 4 customers in a 24 hour period. ;)
     
  10. kingsson

    kingsson Heavy Load Member

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    I am sure that if I read for a long time all the threads here, I would find answers... but I only on a ten hour break - and it would be nice to sleep sometime! :)
    Kids are gone. Two empty nesters looking for something new and interesting to do. I have a CDL. My wife does not. I have been OTR for about seven years. The two of us are thinking of hitting the road together - with her as a rider, as well as being lovely and beautiful company! We also have a couple dogs (small ones). This would be something we could do together instead of me doing all the driving. We do not own a truck to lease on to a company. Are there companies that lease trucks/vans to drivers - like lease ops in OTR? I see talk about a LOT of sitting around, and 1,000 mile weeks. So does it pay? We would enjoy being able to go to church, etc. where we can't take the big rig. Just interested in checking this out. Both of us have good driving records.
     
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  11. Yeibeichei

    Yeibeichei Bobtail Member

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    I am new to the website. I am interested in expediting because after 17 years of pulling a 53' trlr I would like to drive someting shorter and all one piece. This is a woman thing: I want a custom sleeper to quasi-RV with a few times a year in different parts of the country. Let's face it even if we owned a motorhome, none of us want to drive home just to turn around and drive back to someplace we may have just come from while under load. All expediting can't be bad. There's a trade-off for everything, I'm trying to educate myself enough about the expediting industry to know what my trade-offs would be. Maybe someone can speak to my inquiry. Thanks.
     
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