Lets make a list of BAD shippers in Ga

You know in all the years I have been trucking, very seldom have I found anything worth loading in the Atlanta market. Rates are usually low, and seems like all the shippers don't want to start loading until 4-5 pm. I try to avoid that area all together.

If you are ever offered a load out of APL Logistics/ Colgate toothpaste, Lithia Springs GA. RUN! RUN as fast as you can. Worst place I have ever been to.

 

What is the antonym to specialization? You went to opposite direction that the beaten path of success in trucking dictates for so many, downgrading the operations at least two levels. Now you got what you see.
The shippers and receivers, especially those with recognizable names, are hit and miss, yet they play integral part in a dry van world. To avoid them completely is impossible in this market. The only other option could be to deadhead of the there. Forget about the detention pay to be of any significance for a dry van, or even reefer.

 

Atlanta is a huge city. Warehouse jobs (the people loading your truck) are bottom of the barrel jobs. Look at who is going to take those jobs and that's who you'll be dealing with at the docks.

I'm with whoopnride, I try to stay out of Atlanta altogether.

 

I use to go get peanuts to the south and east of Atlanta. Not too shabby.

Do they still grow peanuts down there? Its a bit of a drive but when it's done right it's not bad.

FFE had a yard north of Atlanta on a little two lane road, if THEY are still there they must know something about that Market and making money I suppose. So it cannot be all that bad.

I am biased anyhow. There is that large ApplyLady demanding her Yakima WA Apples at 7 am, bless my heart. Oh lord...

 

I simply ask for load details. If it's groceries and there is an appointment time, I usually pass right away. Sometimes I ask for the shipper/receiver names and look them up on Google maps, see how big the warehouses are and read the reviews.
With time and experience you learn where to go and where not, however to get that experience you gonna get burned quite a few times.
Man, on the other side I can only imagine how cheaply you run. CH Robinson, Southeast market and a new to the business guy. Sounds like a recipe for depression.
Atlanta is hot only in the May-June, when all the trucks start getting loaded in FL, instead of deadheading North. In the Jan-Feb is absolutely depressing there, as snowbirds refuse going to the snow states

 

I agree with you Dune but it isn't any worse than midwest states right now. There are great spots on the SE if you know them. I'm sure that's true for your neck of the woods too but I can't find anything decent in or out of the midwest lately and I hate it. I really like running to and from Michigan if it isn't the middle of Detroit. I'm kind of sick of sticking so close to home but it's paying the bills.