Picking my own freight baby! My journey to & of being on Schneider choice, the Adventure & Numbers!

@sealevel ...I thought u just pass the lumper fee to the shipper or broker?

 

If you had your own authority you'd have to book freight directly with Schneider brokerage. Choice is through Schneider national and is an internal program for drivers running under Schneider's authority. Schneider brokerage "sells" the freight to Schneider national

 

Not without jumping through hoops. Also would have to be a lack of company freight within what is deemed a acceptable distance if I remember correctly.

 

Sounds like to me the broker is offering a grand for the load. Who pays the lumper? Plus you need a stretched frame and a long hood for that place. A driver's side window that goes all the way up and wiper fluid that doesn't freeze at 5 degrees would also be a bonus. It's been a long day.
In all seriousness, you can hardly find a place to park at a truck stop in the middle of the day for all the empty trucks looking for something to do. I would find it hard to believe brokers are on their knees begging. Not impossible, just not the norm.

 

While it's tough right now...i would say..do what you think is best for you 2...there's going to be people who will try to persuade otherwise...only you 2 know what you got to do to make a profit..

 

Also, pay alot of attention to what @TennMan has to say. He has more experience with this company than most of us on here have put together. Everytime I think he is just another hillbilly spouting off he pulls out a crystal ball and for the most part is dead on accurate. Just be forewarned. He can be a little awnry and is agitated easily.

 

My agitation level corresponds with how full the jar is, the emptier it is the less agitated I am!

 

TDFair........everybody is kinds speaking the same advice......right now ain't a good time. That said, looks like your husband is gonna jump anyway, so he's a little unsolicited advice.......

1. If you're at home, you need to learn the loadboard and the freight lanes (where freight in and out is the strongest). If you have Excel skills, develop a spreadsheet and, depending on how good your spreadsheet skills are, pretty soon you'll see patterns......ie. St. Louis to Nashville, Nashville to Memphis, Memphis back to St. Louis, (I have no idea if these are strong lanes, it's just an example). Help your husband be successful. It's difficult to book on the fly, and if you're sitting on a couch with time on your hands, you can make better decisions.

2. In my opinion, there's no need whatsoever to go out 4-5 weeks at a time; at some point it becomes an exercise in diminishing returns. My advice is something along the lines of 11-12 days at a time and 2-3 days off. Run a good 7 day week and then start routing yourself back to the house, (and this does not have to be SATURDAY AND SUNDAY!!!! You are no longer a company employee with weekends off.......you're a business owner making decisions that are best for the business.).

3. Depending on where you live, it might be useful to learn how to book thru the house. For example, let's say you live in St. Louis. You find a good load out of Evensville on Friday, but doesn't deliver until Monday at 10 am in Kansas City........man, that's magic. Get under it on Friday, take it to a VERY safe place (maybe a SNI yard) Friday night, go home, the roll out Sunday night or Monday morning. Learn how to think outside the box.

4. Don't sit on Monday because you had a killer last week and you don't want to buy fuel for the truck. Remember, this is a 365 day operation. I'm by no means saying fill up, but you can but $150 worth of fuel and still have a semi-productive day.

5. When you're on the road, make every day productive. I go to truck stops for 3 reasons: food, fuel, and a place to sleep.......otherwise, I'm working.

6. Taxes......my experience as a single man with no personal deductions other than my house was about 8% of the gross. If you save 10%, you should be fine. But, find a good, local CPA to give you a better, more informed idea.......DO NOT USE ATBS.......EVEN THE FREE PART.......IT'S AN ENORMOUS AND SAD RIPOFF!!

Most importantly, just get up every day and do your best. You will struggle at first, be frustrated a lot, disappointed sometimes, and raging PO'ed others. But most days are good, and as you learn a little and along, it becomes easier. Again. I echo what most have told you, however it can be done. I wish you and your husband the very best. Stay in touch and maybe start your own thread. Good luck.

 

Wait, what?

U mean u keep a jar of $#!+ nearby?....lol

The more full it is, the more pissy u get?

 

Àny live unload that requires a lumper on choice is already included in the load. Just like on the company side. You don't have to front the money.