Any household movers in the forum?

No way I'd give them free maid service!! I charged $75.00 an hour for that in 1980's!!!

 

Exactly, it's crazy. The only time I don't complain much is when they offer a military and it will fill up the rest of my truck and is going into storage. A lot of military I do haul actually loads from a warehouse and goes into another until the member gets their housing figured out. Still at 67% off it don't pay great, but I figure warehouse to warehouse and if it stays close to my current route it'll at least cover the labor for the full trip.

 

The trick to the military loads, is tell the shipper you will be there one day and you get there two days or the day before!! You out run them and they automatically go into S I T !!

 

that's the best part of military, no questions asked SIT. With a COD customer, the paperwork says they have to accept any day in the delivery spread, but the higher ups almost never have you take it to SIT, they would rather you sit and wait on the customer to avoid negitive online reviews. I've only had a couple of those situations though. Only exceptions is when a closing falls through last minute.

 

I did my time in HHG, 30 years!
It's a joke now what they are paying for the amount of labor involved! The only thing I miss is the workout and the mileage power walk up and down the walk boards all day long!

 

I currently do HHG, IMHO, you have to find a niche. Specific markets or a particular customer base that's going to work. We do city-to-city expedited HHG loads, big all inclusive flat rates, no tariff work. It works for us but we almost always come back empty.

 

you guys have any suggestions on backloads aside from joining a van line? I remember a guy I used to work with had a rolodex of people to call and always found something coming back.

 

It's a little hard, I'm with a van line now, but before I was I would reach out with moving companies that were independent. A lot of the independents are pretty good about helping out. I'd start out by letting them know I'm not trying to steal their customers, but I can help out if needed. For example they might have a customer going your way that they may not to haul due to lighter weight or the distance. stay far away from brokers, they'll make more than you. Also UShip is awful, I guess it might be better than deadheading but just a little. Most of the companies will remember you if you do a good job and especially if you can throw them a job or two. Some are nervous at first due to the customers view of "contracting".

 

Thanks guys, yeah I found Uship to be totally useless. I wouldn't move most of those loads across town for what people wanted to pay to run it across the country. I'd be in the red on the job just paying my guy the time it takes to fill out the bill of lading!

@springhill: thanks for checking in, you guys look to be about the same size as us, we're in our 10th year as well. Do you do interstate? I didn't see a DOT # on your webpage.

 

i just started in the moving industry as an owner operator. Its amazing, maid 11,000 my first month, solo, and i never had a full trailer (by choice).No forced loads, and worked at my own schedule. The possibilities to make money are very broad if your willing to work hard and have the knowledge necessary to do the job. Other states may pay cents per mile, but contract seems the wisest to me, i get a percentage of however much i load on my truck. and a very good percentage at that, i alsohave possibilities to get higher percentage as time goes on, and if i keep claims (no damages) low on shipments. im in my early 20's and im looking towards $100,00 this year and ive met guys who make alot more. SO to whoever reads this. go try it out, the only negative thing i have heard about this job is that guys make a #### ton of money the first few years and then they blow it all. but thats more a personal problem rather than a problem with the job.


Drive safe gentlemen.