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Also, keep in mind, they charge you about $0.05 cpm for every mile you run in NY. Sometimes, it makes sense go around toll roads, sometimes, it don't. You have to consider, time, and miles. It's funny, how some people going around actually spend more on fuel, not to mention wasted time. But that's simple business decision... :roll: :D |
It's 3 A.M. and found a spot at the TA. This time works out good for me as the early crew, that is those that park early are leaving now to head out so I can find a space.
Tonight as I was driving I was thinking about how everyone, especially GMAN, always says you need to be good in business to succeed here. However I think that needs to be broken down a bit. I use to read when he wrote that and kind of glossed over it because I was thinking that I am good with managing money. I see a lot of people here come on and say that they want to be an O/O becuase they are good with money. Really though, someone who is good with money, is the CFO of a company. The CEO is the one who is good in business (of course these are broad statements). I realize that I need to learn to negotiate and maneuver the truck to certain freight lanes like a piece on a chess board. A business man needs to see the whole picture and put the pieces together. This worries me a bit as I think I make a better CFO than a CEO. The negotiating I am very uncomfortable with. When I buy a car, I'm usually red in the face and looking down and just trying to write the damn check and get out of there. But knowing one's weak points is obviously a plus. The guy I'm working with is good at negotiating. The problem is I don't deal with him as much as I'd like too. He has a day job and I find myself dealing with the dispatcher whom I didn't know before this. Anyway I was talking with my friend tonight and I was going over the numbers of the past two weeks and he kind of got mad. Not at me, but for instance he said that the load I'm taking right now would not be on his truck therefore it has no business on mine. Going from a good area where I was to a bad area, I needed to get a better rate. I will learn the freight lanes but like I said negotiating is not my strong point. Solo379, you are right about the tolls. That's why I wanted to check out the Penn turnpike. I like doing the I68 in Maryland but when pulling heavy, it kills me to push the truck like that. I don't understand what it is about the truck that allows some to pull up those hills like nothing. Is it the gear ratio or the horse power? Person, (by the way I like your handle) how does that website know what the carriers are getting for rates? I mean are these self disclosed and if so why would a company disclose that? A lot of good advice on this board, I appreciate all the input as well as reading the stories of others. Another 7 days and doghouse should be out here so it will be interesting to see his experiences too. By the way I was thinking another thing tonight too. I mean I often wondered how does a small guy compete with the big ones. But there I was tonight with the thermometer in the corn and not letting them put the stuff on my truck at that temperature. I can assure you that I wasn't standing on docks when I was with the company like I do now. Don't get me wrong some guys will but for the money I was making I just didn't care. I did routinely check the reefer and make sure everything was on the right temp and had a thermometer in the back vent which I checked but to go the extra mile and stand there and pulp pallets I wasn't doing. Actually they couldn't get the corn to the right temp but the buyer okayed it to go on the truck with some extra ice and instructions on handling the temperature. |
This is truckloadrate.com's statement comparing their rate service to Internet Truckstop's.
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And of course, it's actually imposable successfully negotiate, w/o knowing it! :wink: |
Merrick....there are also courses on negotiating and sales that you can buy (cd's to listen to) that will help you in how to respond to certain statements and tones of voices that experienced brokers use to manipulate a situation.
You are your own CFO-CEO-Sales Manager-Purchasing Dept...all wrapped up in one....could be 8) or could be :shock: |
Merrick, as far as my statement regarding my maintenance and inspection policy, I just came up with that myself. You're a smart guy so you'll be able to go into the FMCSA regs, read the requirements, and put your stuff together so you're compliant. In that same thread, I think Ron Fulton posted the pertinent regulations.
I'm really not a big negotiator when it comes to what we haul. I know what I need to get on a given lane that's the bottom line. I'm not always looking to get the most I possibly can on a load, nor am I willing to haul for less than my bottom line. There are times when I recognize that I'm in a position of strength and I will use that to my advantage, but I rarely turn every last screw. I prefer a stress-free environment. Either a load is acceptable or it's not, if you go in with that approach, you don't have to do much negotiating. |
A lot of good advice on this board, I appreciate all the input as well as reading the stories of others. Another 7 days and doghouse should be out here so it will be interesting to see his experiences too.
Sure will, I'm planning on heading out Monday the 13th to go get my trailer in Stanley Wisconsin. Nice long bobtail run :roll: |
Well, Merrick4 hasn't posted in 7 days. Do you think
A. CAD shut him out again B. He has a life outside CAD C. We over suggested things to him D. other (speak your choice) |
He probably imploded from all the BS,... I'm not even going to make it out till the 20th because of all the crap that I missed.
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He's been locked out by CAD again.
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