Running with JCT, Part Deux

Brian said Soon too but would not tell me nothing lol.

 

As long as we are not bought out by swift lol

 

That's never gonna happen. Rumors like that are started by idiots with nothing else better to do.

 

Yeah!

Besides, its Prime buying us out. Get it right.

 

Your right, and I agree. I guess I should have approached this subject with better terminology.

 

I don't turn down loads. Even if I can't make OTD. I take the load. I just make sure to note on the preplan acceptance that I can't make OTD and on every MAC1.

I run my recaps til I mentally and physically can't take it anymore. I stay out about 3 months at a time by choice and usually only do one reset about half way through.

I have no problems not scanning in a load for a day or two in order to make it work for me. I try to work them so I have on average 2800-3000 miles per pay peroid.

Controlling fuel is the biggest thing and hardest thing to control. Some drivers get scared to drive with less than half a tank. This hurts them. Early in a set of loads for a pay peroid, I will top off my tanks if the price is right. Later in a set a loads, I tend to get what I need to finish. I recently went from Fabens, Tx to City of Industry, CA to Colton, CA. Spent the night. Got loaded. Ran back to Salome, Az. Got enough fuel to complete the load.

As for your load. Yes, I would have tried to drop or swap. But would have planned to deliver and would plan accordingly to maximise my bottom line.

Sometimes a short week is unavoidable. This pay peroid for me was only 1900 miles. Thanks to proper fueling, still banked $500. Next week will be around 3200 miles.

 

I don't know that I qualify in your book but since you asked for some input here is mine.

First, that other place is an excellent choice (no pun) and I almost went there, and quite frankly, should have. However, I know the system, the lanes, the customer base and the structure there. All of the same condition here apply there as well. In addition to the current challenges here you would be faced with the ones mentioned above plus learning the load planning. What I'm saying is that if you can't make it work here you might be worse there.

Besides, there is a hiring freeze in place for most areas and a waiting list on the rest.

Regarding here; there are only a select few areas that you can control costs and those must be the focus. In no way am I talking down to you and I'm sure you know the following already but for the sake of completeness I'm mentioning all the bases I believe are relevant.

1) Maintenance/repairs. I'm out of warranty so it is a big issue for me. You, not so much as most costs should be under warranty. Shop wisely on maintenance since that money in there is yours. Just don't cheap out to save a dollar, though.

2)Maximize your drive line hours. Don't burn on duty if it isn't needed. Use the split sleeper when needed (I wanted to use ness-uh-sary but can't ever spell it right)

3) This is the main one. Fuel. Plan the route around the fuel stops. Spend time looking at all possible routes and price the fuel along each one. 30 minutes checking routes before taking off can save a lot of money.

I don't turn down loads. A load offered is because you are the best option on that load. If it is a crap load the planners know this and do their best to back it up with some good runs. Maybe not the very next one but they do their best to get something good.

In regards to planning and fueling, I think the best way is an actual run; no hypothetical blusihlt. To do this we need a pickup, destination, avg mpg you get and most importantly the current fuel load.

In your greely load I can't say because you didn't mention how much fuel you had to start with. If you want my thoughts on future loads just state the origin, destination and current fuel load. I always estimate my trips at 6 mpg to give a safety net.

I don't run 55 or 58 or even 62. 64-66 is my usual spot but have no problem flat footing it (like today).

Make sure that you always pick up and deliver on time. Going to be late? Inform them and get a relay if needed. Tardiness gets you crap loads and dead time between reloads.

There is more than one way to run here and I'm certainly not going to say that mine is best or the only way. S.T. would probably cringe at how I run.

Let's get specific!

TA

 

That shows that I'm on track. This load is 2000 miles and 2 stops. I think I can bank about 550. Thanks for the response and advice.

 

I have been here about a year and a half. I have never been late on a load although I have turned down loads. As a matter of fact I turned down a thousand mile load going to California that delivered Sunday because I thought it had too much sit time. Then I Got This load...Too Much Sit TIME

Thanks for your advice.

 

Guess the load I am getting must go to sparks via 40 and not 80. No skin off my back as they requested in the notes but the fuel thing suggested fueling in Wyoming lol. Better I get to go thru via Vegas baby.