How long would you sit empty?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by MSWS, Oct 7, 2023.

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  1. MSWS

    MSWS Medium Load Member

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    I'm curious how long some of you would sit empty at a terminal waiting for a load. I'm currently on day 3, and while I'm not planning on quitting yet, I am wondering how much longer I should wait before I start to seriously consider it. The $100 per day I get in layover is something at least, and freight is slow these days, but what's the longest you would wait or have waited before looking elsewhere?
     
    MSWS, Oct 7, 2023
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  2. Big Road Skateboard

    Big Road Skateboard Road Train Member

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    I don't wait well, so i'd have done left.

    But, do you have better options?
     
    Big Road Skateboard, Oct 7, 2023
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  3. NorthEastTrucker

    NorthEastTrucker Heavy Load Member

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    One day Max.!..No way I'm wasting my time after 1 day. Time isn't free time is money and a significant amount of money as well.
     
    NorthEastTrucker, Oct 7, 2023
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  4. MSWS

    MSWS Medium Load Member

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    Not over the weekend, no. Next week, probably something on a par with what I currently have. Hence, why I'm not planning on quitting YET.
     
    MSWS, Oct 7, 2023
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  5. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

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    Sitting at the Terminal. Wow. Don’t even bring me to a Terminal if you don’t have a Load out. Too close for comfort. Rather stay somewhat autonomous at any Job. Familiarity breeds contempt. My big mouth usually gets me in trouble.
     
    Rideandrepair, Oct 7, 2023
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  6. Kenworth6969

    Kenworth6969 Road Train Member

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    Weekend sitting can be understandable, especially if unloaded late Friday.

    During a weekday, no excuse.
     
    Kenworth6969, Oct 7, 2023
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  7. Arctic_fox

    Arctic_fox Experienced mx13 execrator

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    Every day i sit is about $1500 i have lost going by my yearly average. So its less a question of how long are you willing to wait as "how valuable is the load. And how much money am i loseing sitting vs deadheading and getting a load elsewhere" i MIGHT wait overnight on a standard load if i was low on hours when i showed up. But my policy is the load needs to pay $2000 every day i need to wait and that wait needs at least $200 per day. After a point however, its literally cheaper to deadhead then sit.

    There are exceptions of course but those are on a case by case basis. Say a shipper asking me to wait a day or 2 on a $1500 $2 a mile load so i can grab a $7500 $4 or $5 a mile load from the place i deliver to. But you never ask "how long do you wait" you ask "how valuable is this load as opposed to deadheading elsewhere?"
     
    Arctic_fox, Oct 7, 2023
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  8. MSWS

    MSWS Medium Load Member

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    I was unloaded on Wednesday. Been sittin' here ever since.
     
    MSWS, Oct 7, 2023
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  9. Kenworth6969

    Kenworth6969 Road Train Member

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    Where at?
     
    Kenworth6969, Oct 7, 2023
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  10. MSWS

    MSWS Medium Load Member

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    Atlanta
     
    MSWS, Oct 7, 2023
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