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

Discussion in 'Schneider' started by freightwipper, Jun 1, 2015.

  1. GeekFink

    GeekFink Light Load Member

    60
    61
    Oct 16, 2015
    Kingsport, TN
    0
    So, without prying too much about your sweet spots (ill find em on my own dont worry) how do you start picking freight? What is the first thing you look for. I guess what I am asking is how do you make the decision if the area you are running to is good or bad?
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. freightwipper

    freightwipper Road Train Member

    9,366
    11,439
    Mar 24, 2014
    OTR
    0
    yup I'd take that if I was there.
    Still not going to Florida though lol
     
  4. FatDaddy

    FatDaddy Road Train Member

    4,314
    10,375
    Dec 23, 2008
    Katy, TX or Swedesboro, NJ
    0
    Well when you've been doing it long enough you sort of know what areas are going to be hot and what areas are not so great.

    But just starting out my best advice would be always have a plan to get out. So once you find that load you want check out how the market is for where it's being delivered. Pick a radius you don't mind deadheading (I like to stay within 100 miles but that is flexible depending on rates) and check out what the freight status is over the next few days. If you seen a hundred loads and the majority are decent rates...you have a winner. If you see 3 loads in a 100 mile radius...it may not be a good idea to run it.
     
    GeekFink and HeWhoMustNotBeNamed Thank this.
  5. GeekFink

    GeekFink Light Load Member

    60
    61
    Oct 16, 2015
    Kingsport, TN
    0
    Exactly what I was wondering. Thanks man!
     
    FatDaddy Thanks this.
  6. freightwipper

    freightwipper Road Train Member

    9,366
    11,439
    Mar 24, 2014
    OTR
    0
    Well that's a complex answer.. depends on a lot of things and/or my mood.
    Biggest thing I guess where you getting is how do I decide if a load or area is good or bad?
    That comes through experience, learning the lanes.. shippers.. markets etc etc.
    Doesn't happen overnight for anybody.
    For example when I'm in an area I have a good idea what I can GET out of that area and won't settle for less.
    Now if I go into an area I don't know well like when I went to Mississippi once then my outlook is different. When you're new then it's all new to you.
    That's just me though.. everybody is different and has different wants and needs.
    Like now that winter is coming I'll only be booking 1 maybe 2 days out and be checking the weather more so than the load board.
    No more driving in snow and ice storms, I'm going to book around that crap.
    I've had enough close calls with Fedrex blowing my doors off while sliding all over the interstate. :confused:
     
    trucker91, exracer941 and GeekFink Thank this.
  7. FatDaddy

    FatDaddy Road Train Member

    4,314
    10,375
    Dec 23, 2008
    Katy, TX or Swedesboro, NJ
    0
    This is when the real beauty of choice comes in to play....winter. And I don't mind playing in the snow. I just like being there the day before or after the storm....not during.
     
    drvrtech77, GeekFink and freightwipper Thank this.
  8. freightwipper

    freightwipper Road Train Member

    9,366
    11,439
    Mar 24, 2014
    OTR
    0
    Oh yes!

    Never again... NEVER AGAIN do I have to deal with a dispatcher sending me into a freaking ice storm.

    I hated that most about being a company driver.

    "ring ring ring...
    Hello this is driver number 12345
    You know this load is going right into an ice storm right?"

    Dispatcher:
    "Yes but the load must be covered.. it had to be picked up"

    Me:

    "Well it's unproductive.. they're saying whole interstates will be shut down"

    Dispatcher:

    "do your best"


    Me:

    :angry5::angry4::biggrin_25510::sad11:
     
    GeekFink Thanks this.
  9. Chzenchi

    Chzenchi Bobtail Member

    12
    20
    Feb 26, 2015
    Right around the corner
    0
    I live in Jax, came from Crete and an IC here now. I've pulled the Beech Island load a couple times and have DH into Georgia a few times also....just depends on what I can find to back the load up and what it pays. I don't let the price of one load discourage me, I only worry about my $$ per mile for all miles driven at the end of the week!!
     
  10. Joe De Artay

    Joe De Artay Bobtail Member

    26
    5
    Oct 21, 2015
    0
    deleted.. made a thread for this so I was not being a hijacker!
     
    Last edited: Oct 23, 2015
  11. freightwipper

    freightwipper Road Train Member

    9,366
    11,439
    Mar 24, 2014
    OTR
    0
    lol it's okay to ask questions, I don't mind.
    For the record I don't see why not.. southern Mississippi isn't a great area but there's loads there.
    Only up hill battle I know of is the learning curve but we all go through it.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.