What am I missing?

Its not always loads that are cancelled due to brokers or agents you know that, but, it does happen. Regardless...
You dont have that load and yes you are screwed. Big time. That was the load that got you to the next one (preplanned) So, now what??? Preplanning is down the toilet. Do you sit and hope? Do you deadhead to meet the commitment you have made to your company and the customer? Regardless of what you do you still have fixed costs involved with having the truck on the road. Those costs don't go away just because the load cancelled. You try to make what you consider to be an educated decision and this to me isn't flying by the seat of your pants either, it's trying to do the right thing. What is it they say about "the best laid plans of mice and men..."?

 

Numbers don't lie...but the companies leasing equipment, that really does not even belong to them, should be criminal. Lease Operator and Slave, should be the same word.

Reality says to wait until you can purchase your very own truck, can find affordable cargo insurance, and get your own authority. Pay cash for your truck OR, get a 2nd mortgage on your home and buy a truck. 3-7% is a much better rate then 6-18%, Shop the rates.

Having a new truck and a rental trailer gives you options and flexability. With your own authority you can hit the LTL load boards, I'd also hit the local airport cargo areas really hard. LTL averages $3+ a mile. Where truckloads are going for far less. LTL loads average under 20,000 lbs, truckload averages 35,000+. Does not take rocket science to figure out why LTL has a much higher profit margin then truckload.

Make friends with as many forwarders as possible. Bartering is extremely valuable and is not taxable. Utilize it. The bottom line is to make your own deal & make sure you get paid.

Pick an airport close to home. Get enough money on the outbound load that it does not matter what you load back. Specialize on a lane. Pick your fuel spots, your emergency repair points, and develop friends along the way. That is where the profilt margins lay.

Hope this helps

 

I cant count how many times an agent would send me deadheading for a ''load'' and when i get there SHIPPERS are looking at me laughing...They said you are the 5th landstar driver here looking for that load.

The kicker is this....The agent that did this have no recourse for there actions or behaviors.There are no laws against this....I have been sent on loads that 7 truckers are there when i get there and only one load being loaded!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and the same p/u #....hmmmmmmmmmmmm

why? agents are covering there a z z....plain and simple..

Until you get out there and play ''the rat race'' with your own rig,you will not see this...

Once you get out there its hell...

It is a freight ##### business.....


NOTHING IS SET IN STONE....TRUST ME....

THERE ARE NO LAWS IN PLACE FOR THE CRAP BROKERS,CUSTOMES AND AGENTS PULL....

BUT THERE ARE 1,000'S OF LAWS FOR TRUCKERS....GO FIGURE...LMAO

MY LAST RUN TILL I SAT WAS FROM ORLANDO TO ATLANTA FOR A 3.20 A MILE LOAD...I deadheaded (my own money)GOT THERE AND LOAD DID NOT EVEN EXSIST....CALLED LANDSTAR BCO REPS AND WAS LIVID...

THE VERDICT?

SORRY,JUST THE WAY IT IS...you no what he said?

just don't use that agent anymore...rolmfao

i lost alot of money on deadhead and time and wear and tear on my truck..

no one caressssssssssssssssssss.....duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

its a cut throat business.

 

1POD, maybe you and I should start a thread listing the agents that do what you just mentioned. I have been silly enough to go back to some agent again in the past with the same result. Screw me once, shame on you. Screw me twice, shame on me.

 

I will hate myself for saying this for the 1st time in my life....

I make more money driving for a ''company'' then i do working for myself....

I have less headache,better health care,more sleep,more at home time,no paper work,no chasing crappy freight down the road.etc,etc,etc. i even look better physically and i am in better shape then chasing ''imaginary'' loads down the road...lmao

I would of never said this as of 1 years ago.....never ever,ever would i say such a thing....

I had an interview with a company out of k.c....ready for this...

Hauling groceries dedicated out, deliver the stores and deadhead back. 500 mile radius of kc...after 1 hour sitting i get paid 20/hr...i will get .38 cents a mile,10.00 a stop..70 mph truck,health care,and home at the very least every other day....not a bad gig...

2500 miles x .38 = 950.00
(avg) stops weekly are 10 so 10 stops x 10.00 = 100.00
(avg) sitting time is 4 hours a week so 4 x 20.00 = 80.00

950.00 + 100.00 + 80.00 = 1,130 as company man

I am preying this comes through so i can leave this o/o behind me..and have a decent sane life with my family and end my era of o/o.and chasing a ''fantasy''lol,lol

 

rolmfa, me too.....

 

Planning, Knowing where the freight at, what moving and what not. Why haul a load to an area you can not get a load out of. Crazy that not Planning what I am saying. Common sense says Look ahead. So you do not have to sit and wait or deadhead large amount of miles.

What do you hear a lot from the Company Drivers? They sit to much. Have you ever wonder why? Cause of poor planning by the LOAD PLANNERS and Dispatchers. I seldom Deadhead over 100 miles, yet I have deadhead 400 miles as a Company Driver. But even then I questioned them about it.

I met a Driver little over a year ago, whom left home knowing every load he will haul out and till he gets back home. With Landstar you can do that also.

Non Planning makes a Driver a 1pissedoffdriver Planning make a Happy Driver. True time you will have to be flexible. But Planning can avoid more of the Over deadheading, and put more money back in your pocket.

Planning can also help you avoid the bad agents.

Planning can do more good than not.

Even with planning yes things can go wrong, but with planning it can be avoided more and worked out rather than having to stop and think in how to fix the problem.

But as i said i agreed with the post I brought this up about, but just brought this up trying to help. Take it or leave it. Most whom fail also failed to planned.

 

Coastie, Can I ask you a question? Do you drive for a company or are you an owner operator???

 

Luvtheroad:
Coastie is not an O/O he works for USA as a company driver last I heard
and he even has a thread thats says "Coastie going o/o at last" just scroll
down out side this thread.

1pod:
I wouldn't blame you a bit to go to work for a company, that same thought has crossed my mind many times. I do believe if I can hold out till the end of this year I will be doing the same thing and thats going to work for a company as a driver. That friend I mentioned in another thread is the only reason I am still o/o'n, it just to help him get at least 2 years experience so he can get on with just about any trucking company then.