Things are going fairly well. I have more work than I can handle. I keep hearing about our economy and it's weakness. Sorry, but I don't see it. I have five shippers here in STL with work EVERYDAY. I go to the load boards and there are 20 or 30 different loads moving within 100 mile radius of STL. I need another driver!
But I am VERY particular about the kind of driver I want. They need to have a diesel pick-up truck or flatbed and hold a CDL-A, or willing to get one. They need to have a clean MVR - no accidents in the last 5 years and no more than one ticket in the last three. They need to be a self-starter and have some common sense. Experience is NOT required but good attitude is essential.
I am also looking for a Big Truck owner-operator - an 18-wheeler. I have specialized in doing Hot Shots - loads under 35' and 15,000 lbs - for the last five years and have found that niche to be much more profitable. The cost of operating is less resulting in higher profits. But there is work out there for big trucks too.
And speaking of trucks, I need a new truck. This Dodge is getting tired. It's 10 years old and has more than 350,000 miles - a great workhorse. But I have spent more than $2,000 in repairs in the last month. But it IS paid for. I don't miss NOT having a $600/mo truck payment. If I can get another driver - or two - it would be easier to handle a truck payment tho.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Egads! Busier than a 1-Armed Paperhanger
I have been fairly religious about updating my blog twice a week or so --- until now. Despite my best intentions, I have been negiligent. But I have been quite busy, as I will now share.
Ha ha ha -- just reading my last couple of posts to see where I left off. Both attest to my being busy. And I have also used the '1-Armed Paperhange' line. Guess I need to get a new 'Book of One Liners.'
I was bragging on my new driver - Mike last month. He continues to do awesome. You may - or may not - remember, he has no over-the-road driving experience but has pulled flatbed trailers with heavy stuff on them. So he knows about securing loads and driving with 30' of something hanging off the back of a truck. He is now familiar with the various state DOT inspections and what power-trips some of them can be on. Mike has been a OTR Truck Driver for about a month now and understands why most drivers dread the 'right-lane' when pulling into a weigh station.
Mike has done so well for me that I have modified our agreement where he makes an additional bonus every month he exceeds a certain gross dollar amount. He hit the bonus round for the month of September by mid-month! He reminds me so much of me going down the road. The other day he was near Seattle, WA and was describing the beauty of Mt. Rainer as he passed by. I laughed as I thought, 'Been there, done that.' I reminded him he was getting paid on top of getting to see these phenominal sights. Life is good for both of us.
I was very successful while in St. Louis last month setting up direct contact with shippers. I now get emails everyday from 4 or 5 companies moving freight. That's on top of the construction company we have been servicing for almost 20 years. I need another driver. In fact I'm headed back to STL to do just that. I wonder what the odds are of finding someone like Mike?
I am currently in Paradise (Treasure Island, FL). I got down here Labor Day weekend. I booked a load from one of my new shippers down to Biloxi, MS and then worked my way accross I-10 into FL and down to Orlando. Then hustled to St. Pete on Friday afternoon in time to drop the trailer, unload my truck at the house, shower, shave and haul butt on two-wheels back to Tampa for the Toby Keith concert.
Anybody that knows me also knows I am NOT about the country western. I have heard of Toby Keith but couldn't tell you what he looks like much less the name of a song he sings. I went because of the group of people that invited me. They are fun and most any concert I have ever been to, it's the people that make the party.
I am still not much into cowboy. But this show was far and away Top-5 in my book of concerts. Trace Atkins opened the show. OMG! What a great start! By the time Toby came out there were probably 40,000 fired up Americans singing and dancing in the aisles. What a red-white-and-blue show this was. Other than his Ford truck (I'm a Dodge man, thank you) this was as inspiring a performance of nationalism as I have ever seen. Anywhere. Anytime. It makes you proud to be an American, not that I had any trouble before. David Allen Coe made a guest appearance - at age 71 he can still sing a song. Willie Nelson had a video appearance. Definetly Top 5. And I have seen some shows: Aerosmith (twice), Doobie Bros., Lynard Skynard (several times), ZZ Top and more.
Two of my best friends also came down from Belleville that weekend. Jim is my cabinet maker bud. He built a new kitchen for one of the rental units and he and his wife came down for a week to install (one day) and hang-out at the beach. Pam was also off for several days (holiday weekend) so we had a blast. They brought their bikes so riding was a big part. One day we 2-wheeled up to Caladesi Island and then rented kayaks. I have NEVER seen a REAL pink flamingo -- until that day!
The next day, we took Pams convertible down to Sarasota and went shopping at St. Armand Circle, where the rich and famous spend their money. That afternoon we drove up to the beach at Anna Maria. I live on one of the barrier islands north of the entrance into Tampa Bay from the Gulf. Anna Maria is the northernmost beach on the south side of the entrance to Tampa Bay. Parking is near impossible there as it is 99% residential. That didn't stop us. We 'borrowed' a vacant rental-properties alcove to change into swimming suits, hiding behind big beach towels. Then it was a half block walk between residences to get to the water.
To be honest, I like my beach better. There was nice sand there (like mine) but no shells. And the sand bars went out into the Gulf for several hundred yards before plunging into deep water. Very deep water. I know for a fact they shark fish in the channel less than a mile away. I reminded everyone we were just shark bait. But now I can say that I have been there. Good memories. But probably not worth the trip to go back again.
We had dinner at some beach restaurant and watched the sunset. And then road home with the top down star-gazing and marveling at how the flashes of lightening off in the distance were such a contrast to the rest of the sky. Until it started raining on us. And I'm talking a torrential downpour. The stereotypical gully washer Florida is famous for. Jim was driving so he was not familiar with the controls for putting the roof up. He knew we had to stop. But it was a few seconds before he figured out the car also has to be in neutral. To say were were soaked would be an understatement.
Eventually we got the top up. But the windows were still down and the wind is blowing the rain sideways - IN on MY side! And he can't get the windows up! What the hell? The girls in back are laughing hysterically as I try to hold a beach blanket over the opening - pretty much unsuccessfully. It felt like 10 minutes but was probably only one before he realized the child-lock was on preventing the windows from being raised. More memories.
Pam celebrated a birthday that week. The four of us and four others went to a fine dining establishment in Tampa - Seasons 52. Everyone was dressed to the nines. The bill was close to $400. Pam and Lori did a little swing dance at the bar with the piano INSIDE. More memories.
The Tuesday after Labor Day I worked - like a dog. We installed the kitchen cabinets. Jim goes 150 mph. I struggle to keep up ... and keep out of his way. But it sure does look good. I kidded the tenant that his rent was going up $100/mo.
There was some bad news. On my trip down here I got stuck in stop-and-go traffic for more than an hour pulling a 10,000 LB load. It pretty much destroyed my clutch. I guess after 350,000 miles it was due replacing. So I put my truck in the shop Wednesday with the expectation it would be done Saturday, which it was. But I only made it 10 miles and had complications. It went back in the shop Monday and I just got it back this morning. Hopefully it is good to go because I load in the morning headed back to STL to find another driver.
So now I'm caught up - again. I will try to get back in the habit of updating. But right now, it's dinnertime.
Ha ha ha -- just reading my last couple of posts to see where I left off. Both attest to my being busy. And I have also used the '1-Armed Paperhange' line. Guess I need to get a new 'Book of One Liners.'
I was bragging on my new driver - Mike last month. He continues to do awesome. You may - or may not - remember, he has no over-the-road driving experience but has pulled flatbed trailers with heavy stuff on them. So he knows about securing loads and driving with 30' of something hanging off the back of a truck. He is now familiar with the various state DOT inspections and what power-trips some of them can be on. Mike has been a OTR Truck Driver for about a month now and understands why most drivers dread the 'right-lane' when pulling into a weigh station.
Mike has done so well for me that I have modified our agreement where he makes an additional bonus every month he exceeds a certain gross dollar amount. He hit the bonus round for the month of September by mid-month! He reminds me so much of me going down the road. The other day he was near Seattle, WA and was describing the beauty of Mt. Rainer as he passed by. I laughed as I thought, 'Been there, done that.' I reminded him he was getting paid on top of getting to see these phenominal sights. Life is good for both of us.
I was very successful while in St. Louis last month setting up direct contact with shippers. I now get emails everyday from 4 or 5 companies moving freight. That's on top of the construction company we have been servicing for almost 20 years. I need another driver. In fact I'm headed back to STL to do just that. I wonder what the odds are of finding someone like Mike?
I am currently in Paradise (Treasure Island, FL). I got down here Labor Day weekend. I booked a load from one of my new shippers down to Biloxi, MS and then worked my way accross I-10 into FL and down to Orlando. Then hustled to St. Pete on Friday afternoon in time to drop the trailer, unload my truck at the house, shower, shave and haul butt on two-wheels back to Tampa for the Toby Keith concert.
Anybody that knows me also knows I am NOT about the country western. I have heard of Toby Keith but couldn't tell you what he looks like much less the name of a song he sings. I went because of the group of people that invited me. They are fun and most any concert I have ever been to, it's the people that make the party.
I am still not much into cowboy. But this show was far and away Top-5 in my book of concerts. Trace Atkins opened the show. OMG! What a great start! By the time Toby came out there were probably 40,000 fired up Americans singing and dancing in the aisles. What a red-white-and-blue show this was. Other than his Ford truck (I'm a Dodge man, thank you) this was as inspiring a performance of nationalism as I have ever seen. Anywhere. Anytime. It makes you proud to be an American, not that I had any trouble before. David Allen Coe made a guest appearance - at age 71 he can still sing a song. Willie Nelson had a video appearance. Definetly Top 5. And I have seen some shows: Aerosmith (twice), Doobie Bros., Lynard Skynard (several times), ZZ Top and more.
Two of my best friends also came down from Belleville that weekend. Jim is my cabinet maker bud. He built a new kitchen for one of the rental units and he and his wife came down for a week to install (one day) and hang-out at the beach. Pam was also off for several days (holiday weekend) so we had a blast. They brought their bikes so riding was a big part. One day we 2-wheeled up to Caladesi Island and then rented kayaks. I have NEVER seen a REAL pink flamingo -- until that day!
The next day, we took Pams convertible down to Sarasota and went shopping at St. Armand Circle, where the rich and famous spend their money. That afternoon we drove up to the beach at Anna Maria. I live on one of the barrier islands north of the entrance into Tampa Bay from the Gulf. Anna Maria is the northernmost beach on the south side of the entrance to Tampa Bay. Parking is near impossible there as it is 99% residential. That didn't stop us. We 'borrowed' a vacant rental-properties alcove to change into swimming suits, hiding behind big beach towels. Then it was a half block walk between residences to get to the water.
To be honest, I like my beach better. There was nice sand there (like mine) but no shells. And the sand bars went out into the Gulf for several hundred yards before plunging into deep water. Very deep water. I know for a fact they shark fish in the channel less than a mile away. I reminded everyone we were just shark bait. But now I can say that I have been there. Good memories. But probably not worth the trip to go back again.
We had dinner at some beach restaurant and watched the sunset. And then road home with the top down star-gazing and marveling at how the flashes of lightening off in the distance were such a contrast to the rest of the sky. Until it started raining on us. And I'm talking a torrential downpour. The stereotypical gully washer Florida is famous for. Jim was driving so he was not familiar with the controls for putting the roof up. He knew we had to stop. But it was a few seconds before he figured out the car also has to be in neutral. To say were were soaked would be an understatement.
Eventually we got the top up. But the windows were still down and the wind is blowing the rain sideways - IN on MY side! And he can't get the windows up! What the hell? The girls in back are laughing hysterically as I try to hold a beach blanket over the opening - pretty much unsuccessfully. It felt like 10 minutes but was probably only one before he realized the child-lock was on preventing the windows from being raised. More memories.
Pam celebrated a birthday that week. The four of us and four others went to a fine dining establishment in Tampa - Seasons 52. Everyone was dressed to the nines. The bill was close to $400. Pam and Lori did a little swing dance at the bar with the piano INSIDE. More memories.
The Tuesday after Labor Day I worked - like a dog. We installed the kitchen cabinets. Jim goes 150 mph. I struggle to keep up ... and keep out of his way. But it sure does look good. I kidded the tenant that his rent was going up $100/mo.
There was some bad news. On my trip down here I got stuck in stop-and-go traffic for more than an hour pulling a 10,000 LB load. It pretty much destroyed my clutch. I guess after 350,000 miles it was due replacing. So I put my truck in the shop Wednesday with the expectation it would be done Saturday, which it was. But I only made it 10 miles and had complications. It went back in the shop Monday and I just got it back this morning. Hopefully it is good to go because I load in the morning headed back to STL to find another driver.
So now I'm caught up - again. I will try to get back in the habit of updating. But right now, it's dinnertime.
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