Is it me? Chicagoland freight

how bout some dry van product? yeah I know, in a reefer?

 

Not at all. Actually the lighter stuff pays better. But dry good out of Chicago land suck as well. Been several ships that got delayed so what normally has gone rail had to go truck (out of LA) so you have more of the container guys hauling other stuff.

 

Look at the bright side. You're not in Detroit.

 

Reefer bad in Det?

 

Well.. not if you're hauling auto parts in one.

 

I'm doing VERY well out of Chicago. Been able to get $4 mile easily ...... This is with a flatbed tho.

So ditch the barn wagon and come make some money doing more than slamming doors. And lose a few pounds in the process

 

MI down to GA been 3.30+ fsc for reefers. Get off the load boards.

 

Within 50 mi of Detroit? Shame on me for not looking harder. It's a market I don't go to unless someone is throwing enough money at me to go back to OH for a reload. I haven't explored it any further, apparently to my detriment.

Probably in part to a problem other new(er) carriers may experience, so I'll throw it out there as a lesson learned: Always adjust your assumptions to the present. Historical experience falls in value the more "historical" it gets.

Early on, before the ink was very dry on my authority, we got stuck in Detroit and I ended up swallowing some big deadhead to get out. At the time, I was having to work my butt off to chat up anyone to load us, every single time the truck got empty. Primarily due to short time with authority and no established safety record or reputation. Nearly every load was a "new" customer.

A little over a year later and that's not so much a problem any more. Not only have I established some regular, good paying customers, but there is a lot more time and knowledge I have on my side to attract new and better ones.

Despite that, old scars are hard to forget. And it's easy to just move on, relying on the past experience versus revisiting or re-engaging. Thanks for the reminder not to be lazy.