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Sonny Pruitt · Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 449 Location: Mahwah,NJ

How dare you question what I'm saying. 379

Sonny Pruitt · Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 449 Location: Mahwah,NJ

Some people actually did fail.

others just moved on

There were 3 other guys who worked for Atkinson, 2 of them went with Landstar and the other guy is making a royal killing $$$$$$$$$ but he teams with his wife and they get some really outragious prices hauling expedited refridgerated air freight.

Another guy and his son started hauling Pocono Spring water. And soon expanded to buying tractors and hiring drivers etc. He's back to TCS hauling railboxes. When I asked him what happened he told me he could not afford Pa workmans comp. (thats kind of a different problem but to be considered if your dream is to own a fleet.)

I know a couple guys at the fish market in Boston who are Landstar also.

I think people figure out that if you are only going to work the loadboards then why kill yourself with regs. and paperwork. Just go with Landstar and its the same diffeerence.

I thought of it myself but I am an idiot and actually like my weekly peddle run and the customers I deliver to.

solo379 · Joined: 14 Feb 2004 Posts: 3156

Sonny Pruitt wrote: Some people actually did fail.

others just moved on

Yes, all jokes aside, i know exactly, what you are talking about!

Sometimes i think about it myself, in a slow weeks like this one :D .
Did not a bad round to OH tho... 8)

Than, i think...it's not that bad, i'm still making what some would call a full time wages, for part time work, and since for now, i can afford it...why not?

Im getting lazy, and spoiled, but isn't that what good life is all about? :lol: :wink:

Sonny Pruitt · Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 449 Location: Mahwah,NJ

Is it just a slow time of year or is the bad housing market effecting you?

solo379 · Joined: 14 Feb 2004 Posts: 3156

Sonny Pruitt wrote: Is it just a slow time of year or is the bad housing market effecting you?

Well, since it's been my 9th anniversary, with that company, one thing i know for sure, it's not slow time of the year.
Actually, we don't have much slow time, except for Xmas to February, but i didn't work that time anyway.

Yes, this year, is kinda slower than usual, for whatever reason. :roll:

It's not that i couldn't run, it's just i'm kinda picky, and there is less staff to pick up from.
But it's OK, for now, i'd rather make $13-1400 net(not just after fuel), in 2 days, than $16-1700 in a 5 days.
I just hope it ain't get any worse, than i'd have to make some changes... :shock: :D

Sonny Pruitt · Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 449 Location: Mahwah,NJ

Also one of the things I was not prepared for is so many freakin reasons to be slow.

When I started it was the beginning of the potato season off Long Island.

I got work immediately and found a nice load back to NJ

Then I got the frozen ltl deal which I still do and is a done deal 52 weeks a year.

Everything I do hinges on the ltl load.

I started in oct and did pretty good but Katrina took a lot of reefers south with ice.

After New years there was diddly squat until March.

March -June I was making a living.

But then everything got slow again and brokers were very stingy with the $$$$$

Its busy again but the whole summer was stink-o

If it was a really hot summer you can name your price out of Poland Spring but it was mega hot for a week or so.

Every holiday means you are going to go pick up loads that aren't ready because "its a holiday you know" or wind up working a few days until you can get a rythem going

So basicly you have to be able to predict and react to regional slow seaons and I don't know how to do that.

If you use the load boards exclusively it looks like (to me at least wet behinf the ears)

You need to kick butt for 6 months to cover the other slow 6 months.

easier said than done

solo379 · Joined: 14 Feb 2004 Posts: 3156

Sonny Pruitt wrote: easier said than done

Well Sonny, you are the last man, i'd be worry about!
Cause you've got a lot of common sense, and a lot of humor sense(wouldn't even mention experience :D ), and that's what we need, to survive in this business! :P 8)

Sonny Pruitt · Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 449 Location: Mahwah,NJ

Aw shucks :shock:

Sonny Pruitt · Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 449 Location: Mahwah,NJ

G man I agree with you 100%. I hear guys saying the are a company driver and hope to get thier own truck someday. There are really not that many good paying o/o companies. And its hard to get that point across. And you hear guys saying they will do whatever it takes to make a profit. Peanut butter and crackers etc. Gonna stay out and run. You know the story. What kind of life is that? Then the dream of the own authority pops up and I think its worse than o/o unless you go in with decent contacts. There is way too much slow time as I said before. Also don't be fooled into thinking that there is big money waiting for you here. There is plenty of work, but its hard to make more money than the better paying o/o jobs.
The freedom is an advantage and If a broker likes you (all you have to do is be on time once and a broker will like you) you will get a few $$$ bones. The only real advantage is eventually getting yourself known while having your authority and having an opportunity fall into your lap.
I run the same route use the same brokers and what has happened is you talk to the same people and you get your foot in the the door here and there. I like that part and its become a lucrative busness. Thats why I still do it.

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