Random LTL Rants (all are welcomed)

Yes that’s what I mean. An EOL service center meeting and swapping with another EOL service center. I know of at least 6 meets like that. All big centers that are not hubs and don’t run to a common hub where it could otherwise be exchanged. Purely done to satisfy demand for next day service where it can’t be accomplished by sending the freight through hubs.

 

Ahh. Well then that’s interesting. Are these that you know of exclusive you the region you are in?

 

I would say it’s definitely more common west of the Mississippi where there are fewer hubs, but it would be possible anywhere that there is demand.

A hypothetical example could be Philadelphia to Cincinnati. Both large cities with large service centers that are not hubs. The middle ground would be in the Pittsburgh area, but they’re also not a hub. Closest one would be in Youngstown OH, which at 340+ miles is too far for PHL.

So if there’s enough demand for next day service, it’s easy to see how it makes sense.

 

Yes, this is also where lay down runs also make sense.

 

Very true, I actually forgot we did those. All of them were turned into meets in my area thanks to covid.

 

I know there’s still a Chicago Heights Illinois to Birmingham Alabama lay down run. Talk about some miles.

 

One of the hubs I run to has a 642 mile meet with a via on both ends. Pretty sure they also have to bump a dock on the via. It made sense when it was a laydown, but it sounds insane as a meet.

 

Dang. Sounds like a 13.5 hour day. BUT 130k a year. I always hope guys that run like that don’t need that money to pay there bills. More or less money in the bank.

 

Back to work after two weeks off with a crushed thumb. Last stop, the Jerome Grand Hotel.