Capitalize on storm loads?

I got a load of electrical components for power lines going down to Louisiana a couple of months ago paying $7.50 on 330 miles. That paid the 600 empty miles home coupled with previous loads that week. And luckily unlike foodstuffs it was quickly unloaded. I know where to set myself for any of those gulf coast storms now and who to call.

 

Well, I have a question concerning evacuation of not allowing trucks, etc... I have a three part shipment. The first delivers to Fredericksburg, MD tomorrow, luckily the guy said he'd be there Sunday. The second delivers to Alexandria, VA Monday morning. But the third part they said they were closed Monday and I wouldn't be allowed to deliver til Tuesday. It's at New Castle, DE, and they are expecting that to be the eye of the storm on Tuesday morning. My basic idea was to run up there Monday after unloading @ Alexandria. And just hope somebody is around to sign the bill. It's military, not sure if it's a base or what, but you would think somebody would be there and understand under the circumstance I want this off my truck and GTFO.

The last stop is a military truck, I have ramps, I mean I can get it off the truck. I assume it would be a really terrible idea to unload it without getting a signature. I guess my other question is, barring some kind of road barricade or law enforcement directing traffic. How will I know if there is an evacuation ordered or route closings and stuff. And then, what do I do ? I mean, I'll have the truck stocked up with food and water and keep a healthy amount of fuel in just in case, but outside of that how will I be aware of when I'm supposed to get out of dodge ?

and then what ? I just have to sit with whatever is on my truck until the roads open again ? I got a feeling if I don't get lucky and get this off my trailer Monday I will be up a certain creek without a movement control mechanism for a week or so.

EDIT - I guess the storm is moving faster than the last prediction I looked at. Apparently, now it will be hitting all my delivery locations Monday. FML, well I guess I don't have to think about whether I can beat it out and get out of there anymore !!

 

I honestly think people are making this storm out to be more then what it is..........

It's nothing more then a windy rain storm!! The winds are nothing more then what the mid-west deals with daily(thats the way it seems lol)

 

Dismissing the power and carnage of a storm has killed more people than preparing to survive, I may be a odd ball but have enough sense to not to believe that extreme weather conditions are to be taken lightly.

 

Three things I consider when pricing a relief load is road hazards from all the building debris that's been thrown around by high winds or tornados, lack of electricity (fuel) in the area, and what is the marshaling process (aka detention and fuel service) I can expect.

If you accept a relief load, the bills should include authorization to enter areas that are restricted for whatever reason. Other than that, its just another higher paying load into a sucky area. With everything torn up, the shippers in the area usually aren't shipping much out.

Sorry to hear you're stuck under a load.

 

the storm loads aint always what they are cracked up to be. you have to remember in a very severe storm, fuel locations will be scarce, power out in locations.

its not as cool as cool or financially rewarding as so think.

i haul in other directions, when the storm chasers go to the storm. it leaves a lot of loads uncovered.

a lot of these deals end up being passed along two or threes times from the initial deal,, (landstar gets a huge amount of these loads from fema) its not fema and folks like landstar that dont pay, its all the sub sub sub contractors.

in 2004 we were hauling 14 x 70 mobile homes from ga to richmond, ky and cumberland, md to fema drop lots, then we hauled em to the storm areas in florida, ( made a lot of sense). i was already hauling for the manufacturers , so getting them was no problem.

the amazing part was the folks that contacted me to haul them for rates that were 25 per cent of what was actually being paid.

the guys that set up travel trailers and the mobile homes invariably get screwed over by some contractor.

honestly keep your regular customers happy, they are with you all year.

and if going into a storm like this, just park it til it clears. i would much rather be where you are now than possibly in a direct path in new castle,de you think those guys at the little reserve depot want to risk anything unloading a truck that could get damaged in the storm?

and like many have said 7 day, 10 day forecasts are very helpful

 

I'm not saying "dismiss" it but I really think the damage will be minimal

 

Good luck with you delivery but if you are on way to where i think im sugest dont even get close to, first if its national guard they dont open on mondays at all , not one around it, you other problem would be that its going to be the worse area for monday afternoon and tuesday morning and las you will notice once you get there becuase evry one run in other direction im sitting a home looking for relief loads (empty) and wife family be evacuate from DE ,MD (ocean city) NJ they are at mine house .good luck driver

 

Imminent flooding of the New York and New Jersey subways, they are closed down and being sealed up best as possible.

10-12 foot flood surge for the Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and New York Eastern shore.

 

The storm now has 90 mph sustained winds and there is already major flooding in many areas and this is just the beginning of the storm!! Aparrently you have never been in a hurricane before!! Trust me there will be billions of dollars in damage, many lives lost and millions of people without power!! Imagine living in a skyscraper with no power, no water and your drains backing up!!