Calling Pepe and Merrick.........

[BigDiesel]

Bueller, Bueller........

[tootie04]

They went AWOL!!

Where are you guys??

[Sonny Pruitt]

I think Pepe went overseas for a while.

[Doghouse]

I think merrick parked in S. Fl for a while,...couldn't take the cold :wink:
Also he said before that his internet account sometimes gets blocked,...
Pepe,.....he might be still trying to get the tractor dislodged from his trailer :? ,...I'm sure we'll hear from them soon.

[merrick4]

I'm here. Has it been cold Doghouse? I hadn't noticed . What the hell, born and raised in it anyway.

So I have had a very good past couple of weeks. Actually I signed up with Mr. Gman for the dispatch service but I realized that something like that is not for me which is much more a reflection on who I am than anything to do with GMAN.

I didn't realize how much I kind of enjoyed the thing on the phone with these brokers and moving the truck like a piece of chess on a board. Basically I think dispatch service is for two types of people:

One is someone that just wants to drive and not be bothered with the stress of getting a load which can by trying if you are just running off the boards and the other is one that just is getting abused out here.

I actually met a O/O who was leased on to some company and got 75% of the linehaul and he just came from Florida to Michigan for $.94 a mile. He was complaining about the brokers and I told him respectfully that he should only be blaming himself for putting that on his truck. I guess his tranny dropped en route too and now he doesn't have the money to fix it. I hate to say it but one less person running for $.94 cents a mile the better.

But anyway I would definitely recommend Gman as I found him to be just as attentive and thoughtful on the phone as he is here and if someone isn't comfortable with the rates you are getting I would say you can not go wrong signing up with him and hope he understood on my decision to stay dispatching myself.

As for me, I guess I would say that I am doing ok. In a way I think I am doing too good and it's making me nervous. The guy I was with before made the comment that I am new so I should never expect to do $5,000 or so in one week by myself out here with no contacts. Well this week from last Friday to yesterday I did $7800. Of course the money means nothing without the miles so it was 4092 and that was every single mile put on the truck which includes one excursion to get a shower.

I guess it was end of year etc and people were home and I figured that as soon as January hit there would go the money but I just go close to $2.50 a mile on all miles on a trip from Ohio to Pa/NY. I kind of wanted to see what was going on over here in Pa. I always use to say no every time I heard PA but this wasn't bad. Of course I can't get out of here it seems for anything more than $1.20 so I plan on deadheading back to OH and will still end up with $1.76 or so on all miles.

By the way Gman, I didn't take that load to Colorado. I've decided that I don't have chains, don't want chains and won't be going where I need chains.

Other than that I seem to agree with Doghouse and have myself been following that strategy, i.e. going to areas where they will call me and not calling them. I need to get home to Florida in a few weeks and I think this is going to be a chore. I will not take loads for $1.00 a mile. If worst comes to worst I will get a load as close as I can, Georgia or something and deadhead home and stay home to Valentines day and make it up on the way out.

[Bigmon]

Merrick,

Last I remembered you had a load to Santa Fe Springs, Ca right before Christmas. How did that go? Where did you go after that? That was when you stopped posting BTW.

Other than that I seem to agree with Doghouse and have myself been following that strategy, i.e. going to areas where they will call me and not calling them.

What a novel idea. I'll have to try that. :wink:

[merrick4]

Merrick,

Last I remembered you had a load to Santa Fe Springs, Ca right before Christmas. How did that go? Where did you go after that? That was when you stopped posting BTW.

Hi Bigmon, well the load to Santa Fe Springs went very well. That was a total of 2166 all miles from my last stop in Alabama to the door in Santa Fe Springs and I got $3500 for that and that had 252 miles of deadhead which are included with the 2166. But when I got there I guess some stuff was on the truck that wasn't ordered so I had to take it to another place (in South Gate about 15 miles up the road) and got another $100 for that so my average was $1.65 all miles from Alabama to California.

That trip was good but I drove into California on Xmas and come to find out they don't sell iced coffee in Southern California and I go crazy if I don't get some. The next day the lumper supervisor actually drove me to Norwalk I think it was, in his car, as they said the McDonalds there sold it but they didn't. I have to say people are usually pretty nice with me.

I have to say, I loved Cali the first few times out there but I've had enough. I was cold, no iced coffee and that's it for me. All I need to do is look at the weather map at the back of the USA Today and see that where I live is right where I need to be. Of course they had a freeze there the other day but it's so unusual it made national news.

So then it was getting a load out of there. They were throwing money at me left and right to move the truck but I'm still not sure sometimes, that is I'm not real quick on my feet. I hesitate a lot as I'm not sure on certain areas etc (remember I literally have only 5 months as an O/O and only less then three dispatching myself.)

So a lot of calls, and by the way that little statement I use that I need to use a factor so how's your credit, well one offered good money to New Jersey and when I asked that she said "some love us and some hate us" so that tells me enough. Also I am never confrontational and apologize and "I'm sure you are a very nice person and quick payer but I absolutely need to use the factor so I am very sorry" and I give them the name and number of the factor and let them work it out with them.

Then the same broker that sent me out to California (and for whom I have hauled before) called and asked me to pick up in San Diego (actually Chulo Vista) and then in Nogales and take it to Taylor, MI. I told them I wanted $5,000 and they could't do that so I told them I was sorry but I was being offered good money. So to make a long story short they came up inch by inch until they gave me the $5,000. At that point I had just accepted a load to Mass for $6400 I think it was but I was thinking that I would be better off to take the $5,000 and be in a decent area than to be in a bad area. Of course I had already accepted the load but I called the factor and they said no so that was easy to get out of.

One mistake I made in California, I was going over directions on how to get out of there and they told me of some new toll road that just opened up but they told me that it was free until January. I asked several times and one driver said yes free til January 3rd I think it was. Well it wasn't free, well free for only the SunPass thing or whatever they call it out there.

I met some O/O in Nogales and got to talking with him. He was Mexican but a citizen of this country but came as a "wetback" (his words actually [yo vine mojado]). He had no clue about the loadboards etc. and I probably wouldn't mind leasing on some of these guys in the future when I build up some more contacts. But really between him and the other guy I met in Michigan no wonder rates are what they are.

I unloaded at a crossdock in Michigan. There was a long line of trucks waiting but even though I was there the day before (I hadn't checked in as they were closed and parked around the corner) they still took me first as they were wating for the product.

I always thought getting in and out of Canada wasn't bad but apparently it's a major hassle. These guys had to wait for hours for the American trucks then wait for hours for the paperwork for customs. One was of Nicaraguan descent but born and raised in Canada and extremely bright. He had all sort of numbers on what it cost to run a truck and fuel rates, tarif rates and why things cost less in this country. I was very impressed with him. I asked why he doesn't get his own authority but he felt he wasn't ready. But recently I read here I think from WildKat that it costs more to be in independent up there. I don't know but this guy was spitting out numbers like Alan spits out specs.

Well from there I emptied (always a great feeling when the bills are signed and the load is over) and pulled back around the corner and posted my truck. Some calls and for the load I actually took I told him no at first. I had to deadhead to Sidney, OH and then I had 3 stops, one in Milton, Pa , one in Rochester, NY and final in York, PA. I didn't want to end up in PA but then I was thinking that I wanted to see what is going on there in PA and also I needed to take a break and the money was good. Loaded miles it was about $3.00 a mile and with deadhead it was I think $2.47. Besides it was a frozen load (no continuous reefer and very light)

When I finished the final load was empty I backed up to hook up to the trailer and then got out with the flashlight to inspect that it was secure and I see a spring hanging. So I took it to the dealer and they said they wouldn't have it til Monday but I don't need it. It was a long story but I made them go over why I don't need it over and over. Here's what it is"

JAW RETURN SPRING

A new jaw return spring has been added to prevent the jaw from closing while bobtailing

but while I was there and had to pay them $70 I asked them to inspect the truck

They came back with this which I was going to post over at the maitenance forum but any help would be appreciated as to cost.

Oil dipstick tube (ring at top) leaking. Oil pan starting to leak, both right side drive wheel seal has seepage and trans and rear oil was a little low.

They were rushing me out the door telling me all is fine and that just to get it looked at when I get home that it was just a little seepage and not leaking. Warranty just ended and I told the last place to inspect everything.

The fifth wheel spring cost $1 or so and they showed me where to connect it myself.

By the way that place was interesting. Some guy from Texas opened up the place. There apparently wasn't a freightliner dealer in Pa or in that area so he put a few of them. They do all of JB Hunt's trucks. They told me my truck which just came in for the fifth wheel spring which was on line "A", well JB Hunt trucks usually go to line "X". They do over $3,000,000 a year for JB Hunt.

Well that about sums it up Bigmon thanks for asking.

[Bigmon]

Thanks for the update. I was interested because I have an office about 10 miles from where you were. I was also curious about your loads out of CA since everyone seems to complain about not being able to get out.

[geomon]

come to find out they don't sell iced coffee in Southern California and I go crazy if I don't get some

So why don't you buy some coffee then add ice? Voila..iced coffee 8)

[merrick4]

Thanks for the update. I was interested because I have an office about 10 miles from where you were. I was also curious about your loads out of CA since everyone seems to complain about not being able to get out.

Office? If I'm not mistaken I thought you said you hauled reefer? To be honest I was surprised at the loadboards out there. I thought there would be more. I mean that's a major entry point for stuff from China. I guess I did ok as it was a holiday weekend.

There is one guy who I have been talking to lately. He is a broker and has I think 4 trucks. He had more and "lost a fortune in trucking". I asked him where he went wrong and he said taking the $1.00 loads of chicken to California hoping to get out with a good load.

A lot of what has been posted here in the past is making sense to me. I mean if anyone like me who knows nothing can go buy a truck and set up shop, well maybe the entry point should be higher. I am doing my best and not hauling cheap but why would someone be taking a $1.00 a mile?

But my friend in Mass who was in the trucking business for many many years, was telling me that people hauling for cheap didn't start yesterday. He had his own authority before deregulation. I think, just maybe, things might get better in this industry. Things are getting too expensive and hauling for cheap will put many people out quicker now then before. More and more people will probably just end up company drivers and then it's those left standing against the big companies. The advantage big companies have over the small ones is they have multiple streams of revenue. J.B Hunt is doing real well with intermodal.

But I digress and in the end I am too new to make any prognosis for this industry.

[merrick4]

come to find out they don't sell iced coffee in Southern California and I go crazy if I don't get some

So why don't you buy some coffee then add ice? Voila..iced coffee 8)

Would you tell a true cigar smoker to go buy the Swisher Sweets for $2.00?

Actually on Xmas I resorted to that. But the thing is it needs to be brewed double strength as the ice dilutes it. Then they wanted to charge me $2.00 for the cup I took.


And actually I read recently, I think it was a New York Times article, that some won't even drink it how I do; They want it cold brewed. Actually I read too (I was Googling for the best ways to make it) there was another article that called McDonalds iced coffee the new crack as people are flocking to it. Buy stock in Mcdonalds.

I did end up buying a coffee maker in case of emergenices.

[mike3fan]

I am doing my best and not hauling cheap but why would someone be taking a $1.00 a mile?

because they have no clue how much it cost to operate the truck,because someone always wants to go home,because they get nervous that it's noon and they don't have a load today yet,because they are behind on their truck payment and they will make it up next load(they hope).and so on and so on.

[mike3fan]

But the thing is it needs to be brewed double strength as the ice dilutes it.

I can't stand hot coffee,the thought of drinking it cold is down right disgusting(no offence).

[GMAN]

By the way Gman, I didn't take that load to Colorado. I've decided that I don't have chains, don't want chains and won't be going where I need chains.

I am glad you decided to not go into Colorado without chains, especially during this nasty weather. Some of those western states are checking chains more this year.

[Doghouse]

It was colder in Grand Junction than it is here in Missoula,...either way its in the teens to mid 20's,...reminds me of winter on the farm in upstate NY.

[merrick4]

because they have no clue how much it cost to operate the truck,because someone always wants to go home,because they get nervous that it's noon and they don't have a load today yet,because they are behind on their truck payment and they will make it up next load(they hope).and so on and so on.

Well really more of a rhetorical question. To be honest I don't know how much it cost to run this truck either. I mean I know what I pay for fuel and I can divide that by 6, I know what I pay for insurance but the rest I'm not sure as I don't have a year to base things off of. But again the way I have financed things complicates the numbers. But really knowing the costs or not, it's kind of common sense that you can't run for $1.00 a mile. I don't know, I truly don't consider myself so smarter than the next person, not stupid by any means but more I'm just curious and I seem to be doing ok. I mean you can't put a square peg in a round hole and by the same token you can't run a truck in this day and age with $1.00 a mile.

I can't stand hot coffee,the thought of drinking it cold is down right disgusting(no offence).

none taken of course. I never even drank coffee til I was like 30. Well I guess you're lucky cause your state is one of 3 that I can't get the iced coffee in McDonalds either. But you have Dunkin Donuts so that works.

I am glad you decided to not go into Colorado without chains, especially during this nasty weather. Some of those western states are checking chains more this year.

Actually what I did GMAN is call the Colorado Dot for a definitive answer as to what's necessary. They told me that chains are required, not tubes or some other thing she mentioned, between certain mile markers I forget which one.

It was colder in Grand Junction than it is here in Missoula,...either way its in the teens to mid 20's,...reminds me of winter on the farm in upstate NY.

I was looking at the map Doghouse and I never realized New York went way up north like that. I was just in Rochester but that didn't seem so rural.

Oh by the way as for being cold, well what I do now is run the ceramic heater at night on low with the APU. Honestly the APU would be fine for most but my blanket is paper thin and I refuse to bundle up. So this works out fine as it brings up the temp and the APU will then shut down for a while then start up so I'm saving fuel.

The problem is I was in the shower today and worrying about if I shut the heater off before I left the truck

[mike3fan]

But really knowing the costs or not, it's kind of common sense that you can't run for $1.00 a mile.

must not be I see more doing it than not.

[Orangetxguy]

It was colder in Grand Junction than it is here in Missoula,...either way its in the teens to mid 20's,...reminds me of winter on the farm in upstate NY.

What are you doing in Mizzoula??

[Bigmon]

I think Pepe is back. Fill us in.