Shipping Wars anyone?

[QRTRHRS]

I watched a couple of episodes of this new "reality show". Oh man.

Reality or not, there are some good points to be gleaned from this show.

Probably number one, the reason so many people hate truckers. And that is the people themselves. Like on the show, it absolutely has to be there now. Everyone wants instant everything. Well, guess what!

In no uncertain order. Are you people out there with that big dually thinking about diving into the hotshot arena? Pay attention.

Do you really think you can waltz into say NYC and load up something in like 30 mins? Well, welcome to the "lumper world". It ain't going to happen. Often as not, you will be asked politely to let the crew do their thing and load/unload your rig. Pay attention. They may not remind you so nicely should you wish to speed things up.

Undercutting. No shortage of idiots that will work for nothing or even go into the hole.

Do you really think the average DOT cop is going to buy that "my state does not require plates on the trailer"?

And lastly, do you really know what your backside is going to feel like glued to a dually seat for like 600 (more or less the legal limit) miles a day, multiple days in a row.

Other than that, I guess I would rather watch this show than something on Lifetime, lol!

 

[tooldad8712]

I am a contractor listed on that website. It used to be a good site to catch loads. Now the website takes nearly 20% of the cost. The contractors on that show are the extreme and the 2 younger ones are complete idiots in my opinion. I have 100% positive feedback. I take care of my customers and make sure I can. As they say on the show, feedback is everything.

I used my f250 and a 24ft enclosed and a 18ft deckover flatbed depending on loads. Both items I had from my job/hobby as a shop teacher.

I am a teacher who did uship in the summer. I did it one summer without proper DOT authorization. I didn't lose any money, but didn't really make any either. I put 21,000 miles on my truck in the summer. I stuck with apt moves and could "claim" I was helping a friend move.

The second summer there were threats of shippers calling DOT on certain loads if a non-dot shipper got their loads. So I registered to avoid fines and troubles. It was the insurance that killed me. $3500 for the year. No 6 month rate available. I still made a little, but fuel started to creep up and shippers undercutting bids make it not worthwhile.

I am still registered with DOT but as a not-for-hire. I look for loads when I am going somewhere. Like last year I helped a friend move from VA to IL. I picked up a couple of small items on the trip out to help pay for fuel.

You can seriously go out of your way, you can make a big buck, but also lose your tail too. For example, I went STL (home) to Chicago with 3 college kids apts loads on my 24ft trailer, $300 each. Brought 2 small shipments back, $300 each. Gross $1500, left on friday, back sat night. $500 in fuel. Not bad for 36 hours.

Another example, I had a load from STL to TX. $1500, $1000 in round trip fuel and expenses. Picked up a load before hand, $700-800 or something like that. Guy backed out at the last minute while I was in router. barely made anything those 4-5 days.

The one thing they are leaving out of the show, is the negotiating process. I always had a contract that was emailed and electronically accpeted before heading. If they used more than the alloted space, there were definite charges. It is actually illegal DOT wise to put unobtainable time limits on loads. I would also specifiy it was driveway to driveway loads, my insurance would not cover moving items in and out. Most of the time however I did help people move things in and out with the understanding I was not liable at that point.

I did also take photos at pickup, have signoffs on damage or condition. Often I was shipping items bought on ebay, therefore the new owner hadn't seen it before. There were also return charges built into the contract due to non-acceptance.

It is a lot of hassel and a way to pickup a return load if you are a owner operator looking for a return load here and there. not a way to make a living.

 

[flusher]

Nearly all these "reality" shows are hyped by using goofy, unrealistic schedule requirements to build up tension and conflict.

I prefer the "Dirty Jobs" approach with "Mellow" Mike Rowe just getting down and dirty with the job at hand--little schedule pressure and much more entertaining.

 

[jonyyuma]

I do find this show amusing, when taken as Entertainment. I did buy my tractor out of state and have it shipped using one of these carriers. He was late, but I understand more about operations of it now? The idea of cutting rates to the bones, is alarming, at least to me. I would not drive that far for so cheap a rate...Ie the double boat story and it was thousands of pounds heavier than stated by shipper?

 

[jinman]

I prefer the "Dirty Jobs" approach with "Mellow" Mike Rowe just getting down and dirty with the job at hand--little schedule pressure and much more entertaining.

I enjoy Dirty Jobs even though they make it a lot dirtier than it has to be. Mike Rowe makes sure he gets dirty even if nobody else does. I will say that I'd hate to have to pay for their cameras. Being a cameraman on Dirty Jobs is the "real" dirty job.

 

[jonyyuma]

Paying for cameras like when the swamp boat flipped over and dumped the crew?

 

[charlz]

We have watched the first couple shows, so far we will probably keep watching it. The young guy doesn't seem too sharp, haven't seen that much of the girl yet except for the bucking bulls she hauled.

I did have to take Ax Men off the dvr schedule this year, 1.5 shows was all the b$##$'n and screaming I could take.

Rock Stars is another one I started to record, interesting so far.

'Doomsday Preppers' or whatever... will probably add that to the schedule and see how it goes. Starts in two weeks, couple of those guys look certifiable which might make it interesting :confused2:

 

[jonyyuma]

Ax men was interesting but they need to cut the cussing...Best part yet was the felling of the guys ford truck. Maybe he can find another fiberglass cap for it, saved the back window..

 

[scoutcub]

I dumped em all.....back to watching "american idol"......:laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[dmccarty]

I dumped em all.....back to watching "american idol"......:laughing::laughing::laughing:

That was funny.

I get the US Naval Institute's Proceedings magazine. It is for for Naval and Marine officer or anyone who has interest in maritime matters. They have a column every month about someone who is famous or was pretty successful AND who served in the Navy or Marines.

This month the column was about Richard Harrison who is the father on Pawn Stars. He is from NC and went into Navy since the only work he was going to get was in a cotton mill. He joined up and got out after four years. He had a family and was working construction which did not pay so he went back into the Navy after being out for 9 months. He went on to retire from the Navy. He said he would have stayed in for 30 years but got out because he was at sea too much and his teenage boys needed him.

He tried real estate but that not work out. He invested $10,000 to start the pawn shop. Now at 70, he is worth $10,000,000. He really thinks his time in the Navy help him be a success when he retired.

Later,
Dan