How is life different as an Expediter?

[Baack]

Please keep the comments polite or don't post a reply!!!!!!

[Firefishe]

Originally Posted by joeyneedlz

Grossing 100 grand is not that good. Anybody with a pulse could do that.

The last time I observed it, grossing 100 grand *is* a good thing--provided what remains is good (to the person receiving it.)

The trick isn't so much the gross--although the higher this is, the better the rest will be, which bring me to my point:

It's the Net Pay that's important, as that's all that the driver has in the end, what comes after expenses, not before.

Quite frankly, I wouldn't find it at all difficult to have a nice, flat-rate, Net Salary--negotiated before hiring--from which to draw.

I don't know what all this 'per mile' issue is debated so hotly. Give me a stable salary any day of the week, and I'll drive as long as my body is able to take it and the law allows.

Good benefits, a stable salary, and a truck to drive. This makes good sense to me. Salaried employees give companies the ability to know their labor costs in advance (possibly making this a fixed cost?), keep costs down, and also simplifies tax paperwork, etc. I fully support this model and wish more companies would use it.

I'm pleased that you are able to do so well with expedited trucking. I wish you the best in continued success, no matter what your chosen part of the industry-at-large.

Thank you for allowing me this time to respond.

Warm Regards,
Firefishe

[yendor_65]

I have some news, Your pay is directly related to how you run. If you nit pic and turn down a lot of loads you income will reflect that. I turn down very few runs and I make money. When I put myself in service I am out to work and to deliver loads not HIDE in the truck stops. You can,t be ( lazy ) and make money in expiditing or anyother trucking position.

[GunRunner7]

Most of driving career has been in big trucks- I know that life all to well. So I decided that I wanted to try Expediting.. the first things I noticed was actually knowing what the loads paid and how to calculate what was worth while as it directlyinfluenced my pay. Working for an owner that put such a tight window on what loads and areas I could travel didn't help either. As I took loads previous to this for a non-force dispatch company and went where ever I could in a big truck.

I felt that I had more freedom in other ways: I could park in places that were off limits to Big Trucks, eat in places that were not going to rob you blind for food and supplies. My stress level was down quite a bit even though towards the end of my time there (the owner could not find me a co-driver).

The only thing that was hard to get used to was the layover times...I used to some of that with a Big Truck- but not like it was as a solo in a Expediter.

Dispatch was very helpful and actually understood what the issues were. That may be uncommon in alot of places-but it was a nice change.

[teddy_bear6506]

I have been checking in to All Types Expediting. I could most likely start working this week, according to their web page. However, I don't have my own vehicle, and they have a separate application set up for owning your own vehicle, and not having a vehicle. I had hoped they would set you up with or get you in contact with a fleet owner, but it doesn't appear this is how it works. It looks as though you have to lease a vehicle while leaving your personal vehicle as collateral. I have seriously thought about leasing my own, just so I can get some experience and maybe move up from there, but it just seems a little too risky with not knowing anything at all about Expediting or how the leasing works. I don't want to dig my grave any deeper than it already is, but it certainly is tempting to take the chance and get out on the road to hopefully be making some money.

If anybody has any knowledge of this company or experience in leasing your own vehicle to start this type of venture, I would appreciate hearing your thoughts.

[GunRunner7]

I would highly recommend that you ask around in the O/O section about leasing a truck and leasing on with a company. Check out [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link.

Also, talk to some guys that are O/O in Expediting and above all- find a Company that will put you in touch with a Fleet Owner and get some real time in a truck as an expediter while you decide if it is for you-before you get locked into something and drown in debt.

I know when I previously dealed with Panther and FDCC that they could put you on a list and the fleet owner would call if they had an opening. There is also [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link.

It used to be said that before you became an O/O that you should have 10k in the bank. I am not sure if that is still the case-but you do not want to start without 3 months operating money in the bank.

[rlmichael09]

Originally Posted by Harold Pittman

Expediter? means what?

Expediting can be likened to : being ambulances of the trucking industry. we carry "hot loads"/Hot Shots.

[rlmichael09]

Originally Posted by theladypenguin

This Expediting I have determined is for lazy homeless people barely wanting to get by & off the streets. You will lose everything you ever worked for if you think this is a job. It's not a job at all. Take my word for it.

Lazy homeless people??? you see yourself in others i suppose. I have my own business which i also run from the road while I expedite. I have 3 field reps i supervise. I have a beautiful home with my husband who also is a workaholic. I love to travel. I love to work. Expediting is a world all its own. It has it's ups and downs like all other jobs do. It is exciting for the most part. it takes skill and experience and it takes patience and good management of time. We handle time critical shipments. we are the ambulance service of the trucking industry. it takes dedication and committment, courage and drive to succeed. Some of the best people you could ever want to meet are Expediters. Attitude has alot to do with it and if you had a bad experience with it i would say it is no wonder with THAT kind of attitude and mentality.

[rlmichael09]

It does not matter if you hold a class A or B CDL. If you hold a cdl and drive a truck (no matter the class of vehicle) you are a truck driver, and all types of trucks are just as important to this country and the world as the semi truck and driver.

Truck drivers are a unique breed of people, regardless. Expediters are no different, we all put our trousers on the same way, we all sit in a seat and drive, we all wait for the next load, we all lay over, we all do paperwork and keep logs for and are at the mercy of the dot, we all are dependant on the dispatches and the companies and owners we drive for, we all drive many miles, long hours, and we all get tired. We are truckdrivers, we deal with JQ Public, and we all have to ride these freeways, highways and byways.

To be so rude towards a certain class of driver is uncalled for.

There is a need for Expediters in the industry or we surely would not be out here. Lets say you drive 1,000 miles and deliver your load to find out you left a critical part of it back at the shipper. Are you going to turn around and go get that part on your own time and $$?? No you are not, but you can bet your company is going to be glad they have an expediting company they can call to save the day for the line that will shut down and the people who will lose hours from their pay because they didn't have what they needed.

Or how about the family that loses a family member to death across country with no means to get the body home for burial?? Who's going to bring that body home for that family??

Or the film crew that has an assignment in a remote location. Expediters are "door to door". Are you going to drive your rig down the lane and up to the door of this remote location?? Your rig couldnt do it. It's too big, too heavy and too long.

Can your rig get into mountain areas with roads not much bigger than a lane? These little expedite straight trucks are amazing, and you would not believe some of the places we have picked up and delivered to. Or some of the places we have had to manuver in.

I am an Expediter. I have driven team and am now driving solo. I love the life. It is what you make of it. There is good $$ to be made in Expediting if you apply yourself and learn the ropes and tricks. Don't be too picky of the loads, take whatever you can, whenever you can. Don't be foolish with the fuel. Slow down. Just because the speed limit is 70, doesn't mean you have to drive 70. Cars are better made to handle the higher speeds...let 'em get out of our way. if you are experiencing a layover.....use that time to stop and smell the roses. Idiling will use your fuel up...shut the dang truck down......get out of it....get some exercise.

We ALL pay our dues to make it, and everything has its own time. As bad, as hard, and as rough as times are, the wheel will turn and things will be that good as well.....when the wheel turns. And speaking of turning wheels....it's time to roll. Take care all and stay safe.

"Gypsie"

[Mastertech]

rlmichael09, if you would please take a few moments to look at the post you are replying to you'll find it is several months old....in fact the person who made that post hasn't been online for over 3 months.
Having said that I wouldn't get to worked up over that post.


MT

Originally Posted by rlmichael09

Lazy homeless people??? you see yourself in others i suppose. I have my own business which i also run from the road while I expedite. I have 3 field reps i supervise. I have a beautiful home with my husband who also is a workaholic. I love to travel. I love to work. Expediting is a world all its own. It has it's ups and downs like all other jobs do. It is exciting for the most part. it takes skill and experience and it takes patience and good management of time. We handle time critical shipments. we are the ambulance service of the trucking industry. it takes dedication and committment, courage and drive to succeed. Some of the best people you could ever want to meet are Expediters. Attitude has alot to do with it and if you had a bad experience with it i would say it is no wonder with THAT kind of attitude and mentality.