I thought I told you two to use the secret Swift forum . .
Freight is off but I still managed 3100 last week, all east and all along the 81, pretty much, including 1500 ino RI and 1100 out.
Don't turn down loads you can legally run. There are only 2 comfort zones: 1.) Sitting in a truck stop staring out the window, or 2.) Running and earning money.
It'll be 5 years for me in January. In 5 years I have delivered 1 load to a Chicago address. I have turned down only 1 Chicago load and that was a local run into the rail yard . . no, thank you. (Anytime you're called upon to move an intermodal in any direction, call the intermodal office in Phoenix to confirm everything is in place BEFORE you touch it.) I've been to the Boston suburbs a few times but never in it. I've never even seen a preplan into New York City. I picked up an empty in Philly, otherwise everything has been on the outskirts and I've never been near Pittsburgh. Don't fear the East Coast.
Don't drive 95 between VA and CT, EVER! Use 84 to get to Hartford and points Northeast, use 287 to get around the cross Bronx, use 81 and any number of even interstates (66, 70, 78, 80, etc) to get you as far up the coast as possible before diverting to 95. It doesn't add that many miles and I've never been called on it. On time and legal is way more important than on route.
As for routing, yes to the fuel route and Mac 23 and no to the "new and improved mac 12". I have used and strongly recommend DeLorme street Atlas USA (now 2009+) for over 4 years. It's cheap, $100, or so with the antenna and very reliable. There is a learning curve through which you'll need to pay careful attention but I just can't say enough about the full screen map detail and all the little perks that come with it.
As for Gman . . well . . he's been at this a lot longer than I have. I guess you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Freight is cheap because companies like ours are not required to pay us to be out and ready when the loads are ready. Gman thinks it's the rogue bandit on the other line with his broker saying he'll haul it for a quarter less. Gman doesn't understand that the top 20 (or so) companies like Swift represent about 90,000 power units.* It's that clout that undercuts the likes of Gman. If these companies were required to pay fair wages, including overtime, for all hours worked, rates would have to go up and that the rising tide would raise all boats, including Gman's. But he thinks it's the guy on the other line willing to haul it for a quarter less. So let him think that. I'm tired of arguing with him.
*That info is at least a couple of years old but I'm looking for it. The number (of power units) is probably higher now.
Here is the 2007 top 25 . . doesn't include power units but I think you'll get the idea . .
http://www.trafficworld.com/images/eph/23TW081808.pdf
