Eagle Logistics Services. Indianapolis, IN

I was in orientation last week and the only truck for Eagle guys were the Lone Stars, the Petes and the Cascadia's were all gone, but inventory changes from week to week. My first load out was abandoned by another Eagle driver at the Indy yard, so we pulled his truck out from under the trailer, I hooked up and away I went to Bay City MI. While up there found out my EPU would not put out any heat, and not being able to idle the truck, it was a cold night. Also found out that my truck only does 63 tops.
Eagle paid me the full amount for that Bay City run, which started in St. Louis MO, beer load so it was heavy, truck pulled it pretty good and handled the strong winds I encountered going up to Bay City from Indy.
My D.M told me that if I wanted to use a broker to use Coyote and ask for Jeff, and about the trailer rental, I was told by Eagle operations that you pay your trailer fees when you sign your contract for the trailer, not while you are using Celedon's. Another thing I have to get used to is the advances, with my last company, leased drivers got $250 each week that you pulled off the card when you fuel, here you get $100 and you have to tell them what you are using it for and then they will send you an express code, not a big deal just different way of doing advances.

 

I keep, hearing everyone talking about getting advances. I don't get it, if you aren't making enough and have to constantly live off of them you should be looking for places that bring you higher revenue so you aren't living off next weeks income.

 

No driver you don't live off of the advances, they are there for truck and personal use, and drivers should know that it comes right off the top of your next weeks settlement. At my last company I took a $250 advance every week and still made $1200 or more, sometimes with most of the advance still in my wallet. It gets bad when a driver needs it to pay bills at home, therefore needs to double it, and those drivers got into a mess in a hurry. They give us advances to use not abuse.

 

This is what I was referring to, tons of truckers live like that. I mean I have lived paycheck to paycheck but living off of advances is living off the paycheck you haven't even got yet.

I have taken one advance in all my time trucking, our company accountant called me the next day to make sure someone didn't steal my TCH card and take money off it. I had to explain nope, lumper wouldn't take TCH so had to get cash and was easier to do it that way so I got charged for the advance and reimbursed on the the same check for the lumper.

 

Now that I got the truckers edge I see I can do that now,hehe ....those girls from truckers edge spent an hour with me on the phone making sure I knew and could access the whole site with my tablet and phone....Erica Goo the rep and tech support girl...give them a call....

 

Can someone give me a list of total deductions? What the trucks are governed at? How are the lonestar set up? Cummins and 13? Elogs?
Thanks!

 

That's great to know! I've got Fleet Tech. Yes, they do charge per transaction, but when you're saving $80-$150 per fueling depending on location (yes per fueling, not per week), it's worth every penny. Multiple times I've saved .35¢+ per gallon. With that said, it is a pre paid card, not a charge card. Carriers should be able to split your settlements between you and the fuel card, just tell them how much. Plus, you can pull advances off it if needed and they offer checks in case you need them for lumpers and what not. Truth be told, I'm a cattle hauler switching out to reefer/dry van so this will be a new experience for me so I'm sure everyone here is gonna get hammered with more than a few questions from me and I'll apologize in advance.

 

Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I have returned.

Got my trailer Monday morning. Signed for my trailer paperwork and met my DM in Knoxville. First thing she handed me was the bill to a dedicated load that ran from Knoxville to A small town just outside St Louis. First thing I noticed was it required eight foot drops. I handed it back and said not interested. She said 90% of our loads are tarp so you might want to get used to it. Then she said I'll try to find you something that isn't tarped but it may take awhile. I thanked her and walked to my truck. My ITS application wasn't approved at the time but she did hand me an approved brokers list. I hopped on CHRobinson and Coyote and looked around. Knoxville appeared to be dead. Sure enough, 90% of it was also tarp. After a few phone calls it appeared to be cheap as all out doors too. Around 6pm I figured ITS wasn't going to call me back so I decided to try Getloaded.com. Was able to get on and browse right away.

The next morning I got up at 630am and started looking around. I posted my truck on get loaded and got a call from a Landstar agent about a decent load, but after running the numbers turned it down. 15min after that got a call from a Mercer agent, same thing, didn't like the rate so I turned it down. Not long after that got a call from a TQL agent and promptly rolled my eyes lol. But, I accepted her load. I had her email me the rate confirmation info and carrier instructions. I then forwarded them to my DM and called to confirm she received it. She confirmed it and returned it to the broker. This broker was not on the "approved" list so take it for what you will. Also the loads on Getloaded at the time was about 30% tarp. Go figure..........

130 miles Deadhead
710 miles Loaded
840 Total Miles
$420 in estimated fuel at 6mpg

Linehaul $2150
2150 X .75= $1,612.50
$1,612.50 - $420= $1,192.5

After fuel will clear an estimated $1.42 per mile.

Feel free to chop my math up, I'm not the brightest individual and could use the help. Also I'd like some advice. Should I post my truck for the actual unload date? Or play it safe and post it for the day after? Also I got my eye on a load that picks up,the day after my delivery. Should I call in the morning? Or wait till I'm closer?

 

Well, Loke, glad you made to Knoxville ok and got your trailer. I am still in Indy waiting for my headache rack to be installed. The shop mounting racks are only getting one a day out. Sucks, but I am also being compensated pretty good every day at 4:30. I got real lucky today and was able to get the Yellow w900 that Quality had inside their glass booth last week. Tanks, wheels, stacks and grille all have been hand polished because they just brought it back from a Truck Show somewhere close.
Anyway, on to your comment and question. I try to stay away from CH Robinson loads, period. very cheap!!
I would wait to post your truck with load board until you are within reasonable distance to you unload. Just in case something goes wrong. Then I would post it for the day of your unload unless your unload won't be until mid to late afternoon, in that case I would set it up for the day after. Being on the safe side and posting it for the day after your unload will keep you running good with the load board/broker, but it really depends on your distance to reload and how much time you have to get there. Only you will know that at the time. Here is the only problem with booking to soon. If something goes wrong and you can't make the pick up on time then you look bad to broker on that load and they won't be as willing to work with you on future loads. Of course depending on what the hold up was. It might take you a little while to get use to it, but you will know soon enough what works for you and what doesn't.
Sounds like you are doing ok, hang in there and good luck. I am like you, I prefer no tarp loads too, but sometimes it will be necessary. I still have to get to Knoxville myself and get my trailer. Btw, what trailers do they have there?

 

How much did it cost to get set up with Truckers Edge?