In our continuing article about the role of music in travel, for this post, I’d like all my readers out there in cyberspace to meet Richard Skaggs. Richard is an independent owner/operator doing business as Renegade Trucking of Sarasota, FL. Initially I met Richard through posting a full load on a load board. He has since covered several full loads for me with extreme precision and care, in other words, the guy does a great job. So, I posed the question that is the focus of this series to him.
His response, was simple, succinct, and made me smile, and it was this, and I quote,”Skynyrd, Skynyrd, Skynyrd, Skynyrd, and Skynyrd.” You see, Richard, there is only one band that matters, and that is the legendary classic rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. The man is as rabid a fan boy as any Star Trek geek I have ever met. In fact, when I met him last weekend at the Flying J truck stop just north of Tampa, FL, he was wearing his favorite Skynyrd t-shirt, which also parodied his (and mine favorite after work drink, Jack Daniels).
Richard explained to me that ever since he first heard the southern rock sound that LS pioneered, it was all he wanted to listen to. Particularly on the road, he told me. As a driver/roadie for the short lived 80’s hair metal band Axe, LS was all the band heard between gigs. “They used to always [whine] and moan about it, “he laughed,” ‘At least they don’t wear makeup and spandex like little girls,’ I’d tell them.”
Then, later in life, when he became an owner/operator thinking that he could now “listen to them as much as [he] wants without [his] wife complaining.’’
Plus, there is a lot of sentimentality attached to this music. First kisses, and family gatherings, falling in love, and getting laid off. Richard could name a song by the epic group that summed up how he felt at the time; there was something for every memory.
That is the power of the music we listen to on the road. That is something that is truly amazing, knowing that everything in every store, in every home, or warehouse has not only traveled miles and miles, but that it has a soundtrack to get it there. That,I think is something amazing. Until next time…happy shipping.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
When you’re on the road, what music moves you?
Ever since childhood, I’ve had a thing for traveling. Especially road trips, I think there is nothing better than packing up the car with a couple of friends to go on an adventure.
I think it’s this sense of adventure that is part of the reason people become transport drivers. There’s that feeling of total freedom that only comes with being on the road. Going from place to place, seeing unusual sights, and, along the way, meeting interesting people.
At the time though, the cab of an eighteen wheeler (or a van, or car, for that matter) can be a bit monotonous between stops. So, of course, many people listen to music.
Personally, music is an essential part of the over the road process. What better way to start a trip out than firing up your engine, turning on the CD player (well, I guess it would be mp3 player these days), cranking the volume WAY up and heading out on the highway.
So, I got to thinking about what the best road songs to listen to on a run. Which are that song that, as a good friend of mine says, “You can sing along with as loudly as you want to, as out of key as you want, and everyone still loves to hear?” You know the music that really moves you when you’re moving.
I decided to ask around a bit to see what people out there on the road listen to. The answers I got were diverse, just as diverse the people I spoke with, and it was a lot of fun.
Here’s how it worked. I gave everyone to lists to fill in. The first list was a list of people’s current top five songs to drive to. The second list was for people’s top five records of all time. Both are in no particular order.
For me they looked like this:
Current Top 5 Songs
*Guns of Brixton – The Clash
*Eastbound and Down – Jerry Reed
*Take 5 – Dave Brubeck
*My Michelle – Guns ‘N Roses
*Going In For The Kill – La Roux
Top 5 Records
*No Control – Bad Religion
*The Chronic – Dr. Dre
*Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Greatest Hits – Tom Petty
*Trees of Green – Louis Armstrong
*A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out – Panic! At The Disco
But hey, that’s just me.
Over the next few posts, I will be exploring the music that moves us while we’re moving, so feel free to post your top five songs and records along with us. Check back often to see who likes what and to see if maybe someone else’s tastes turns you on to something new!
As always, until next time, happy shipping!
I think it’s this sense of adventure that is part of the reason people become transport drivers. There’s that feeling of total freedom that only comes with being on the road. Going from place to place, seeing unusual sights, and, along the way, meeting interesting people.
At the time though, the cab of an eighteen wheeler (or a van, or car, for that matter) can be a bit monotonous between stops. So, of course, many people listen to music.
Personally, music is an essential part of the over the road process. What better way to start a trip out than firing up your engine, turning on the CD player (well, I guess it would be mp3 player these days), cranking the volume WAY up and heading out on the highway.
So, I got to thinking about what the best road songs to listen to on a run. Which are that song that, as a good friend of mine says, “You can sing along with as loudly as you want to, as out of key as you want, and everyone still loves to hear?” You know the music that really moves you when you’re moving.
I decided to ask around a bit to see what people out there on the road listen to. The answers I got were diverse, just as diverse the people I spoke with, and it was a lot of fun.
Here’s how it worked. I gave everyone to lists to fill in. The first list was a list of people’s current top five songs to drive to. The second list was for people’s top five records of all time. Both are in no particular order.
For me they looked like this:
Current Top 5 Songs
*Guns of Brixton – The Clash
*Eastbound and Down – Jerry Reed
*Take 5 – Dave Brubeck
*My Michelle – Guns ‘N Roses
*Going In For The Kill – La Roux
Top 5 Records
*No Control – Bad Religion
*The Chronic – Dr. Dre
*Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Greatest Hits – Tom Petty
*Trees of Green – Louis Armstrong
*A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out – Panic! At The Disco
But hey, that’s just me.
Over the next few posts, I will be exploring the music that moves us while we’re moving, so feel free to post your top five songs and records along with us. Check back often to see who likes what and to see if maybe someone else’s tastes turns you on to something new!
As always, until next time, happy shipping!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Tips For eBay Buyers
First, I’d like to preface this entry with this statement:
I love eBay! I think it’s a great service that has become an indispensible tool for small and large businesses alike, as well as consumers the world over.
That being said, the eBay buyers out there should be aware of a few things before purchasing that amazing antique couch or that one-of-a-kind Simpsons promotional theatre display, and that is how your item is going to be shipped.
The thing that I run into most commonly, particularly with the casual eBay buyer, is the “sticker shock effect” that accompanies getting a quote to ship larger items (i.e. couches, snow blowers, etc) or larger shipments of items (for instance a 500lb pallet of clothing). If you’ve never shipped anything via freight before, be aware that depending on what you’re shipping, where it’s coming from, and where it’s going to, cost can get expensive. So, be certain to always factor that expense into your overall cost. A good way to avoid “sticker shock” is to get estimates of freight costs BEFORE you start making bids. Most shipping websites offer free online shipping quotes, as well as live customer support to help you get an idea of what your cost will be.
Another common issue that I run into with clients purchasing from eBay is packaging. It’s a good idea, especially if item is going to have to freighted, to make sure the seller is going to be willing to package (palletize, crate, or box) your shipment, otherwise you may require what is known as a “white glove” shipment.
White glove shipments are a bit more costly but, they also tend to be a lot more headache free. The reason for this is the with this type of shipping service involves actually having people come to your home or place of business, actually packaging your shipment, moving it to its destination, and unpacking it when upon arrival.
Finally, as a consumer, be sure to thoroughly read the seller’s page. Often, casual sellers who offer free shipping or delivery, only do so in their local area. So, if that is the case, make sure the seller is nearby.
By keeping these things in mind you should be able to make your eBay purchasing experience a lot more simple, straight forward, and hassle free. So, until next time… Happy Shipping!
I love eBay! I think it’s a great service that has become an indispensible tool for small and large businesses alike, as well as consumers the world over.
That being said, the eBay buyers out there should be aware of a few things before purchasing that amazing antique couch or that one-of-a-kind Simpsons promotional theatre display, and that is how your item is going to be shipped.
The thing that I run into most commonly, particularly with the casual eBay buyer, is the “sticker shock effect” that accompanies getting a quote to ship larger items (i.e. couches, snow blowers, etc) or larger shipments of items (for instance a 500lb pallet of clothing). If you’ve never shipped anything via freight before, be aware that depending on what you’re shipping, where it’s coming from, and where it’s going to, cost can get expensive. So, be certain to always factor that expense into your overall cost. A good way to avoid “sticker shock” is to get estimates of freight costs BEFORE you start making bids. Most shipping websites offer free online shipping quotes, as well as live customer support to help you get an idea of what your cost will be.
Another common issue that I run into with clients purchasing from eBay is packaging. It’s a good idea, especially if item is going to have to freighted, to make sure the seller is going to be willing to package (palletize, crate, or box) your shipment, otherwise you may require what is known as a “white glove” shipment.
White glove shipments are a bit more costly but, they also tend to be a lot more headache free. The reason for this is the with this type of shipping service involves actually having people come to your home or place of business, actually packaging your shipment, moving it to its destination, and unpacking it when upon arrival.
Finally, as a consumer, be sure to thoroughly read the seller’s page. Often, casual sellers who offer free shipping or delivery, only do so in their local area. So, if that is the case, make sure the seller is nearby.
By keeping these things in mind you should be able to make your eBay purchasing experience a lot more simple, straight forward, and hassle free. So, until next time… Happy Shipping!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
How to Classify Your Freight
How to classify your freight.
Freight classification can be explained as, typically speaking, a matter of density. For instance, imagine what 500lbs of bricks on a pallet would look like. Now, imagine how many pallets it would take to hold 500lbs of ping-pong balls.
Obviously, these are two very different images. The bricks are compact, heavy, and take up very little space in a tractor-trailer. On the other hand, the ping-pong balls are light, airy, and at a weight of 500lbs, would take up significantly more room.
So, even though these two shipments have the same weight, it will cost more to freight the ping-pong balls than to freight the bricks because the ping-pong balls take up more space in the truck.
Other useful questions to ask yourself when trying to classify your shipment would be:
*What is it used for?
*What is it made out of?
*Is there another name for it?
*How heavy is it?
*How is this packaged?
Asking these questions, combined with your new understanding of how freight classifications are defined should allow you to more easily utilize our online freight quote calculator, and give you a more accurate idea of what your shipment would cost. In addition, our staff is happy to answer all of your questions and assist you with any of your shipping needs, so feel free to contact our freight agents. Happy shipping!
Freight classification can be explained as, typically speaking, a matter of density. For instance, imagine what 500lbs of bricks on a pallet would look like. Now, imagine how many pallets it would take to hold 500lbs of ping-pong balls.
Obviously, these are two very different images. The bricks are compact, heavy, and take up very little space in a tractor-trailer. On the other hand, the ping-pong balls are light, airy, and at a weight of 500lbs, would take up significantly more room.
So, even though these two shipments have the same weight, it will cost more to freight the ping-pong balls than to freight the bricks because the ping-pong balls take up more space in the truck.
Other useful questions to ask yourself when trying to classify your shipment would be:
*What is it used for?
*What is it made out of?
*Is there another name for it?
*How heavy is it?
*How is this packaged?
Asking these questions, combined with your new understanding of how freight classifications are defined should allow you to more easily utilize our online freight quote calculator, and give you a more accurate idea of what your shipment would cost. In addition, our staff is happy to answer all of your questions and assist you with any of your shipping needs, so feel free to contact our freight agents. Happy shipping!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Shipping Company Expansion
Freight Corner, LLC has now moved to a new larger location! We are now located at 7175 66th St. N. Pinellas Park, FL 33781. Our Shipping Company started out in the back of a home office just 11 short months ago. We grew to a meager 9 person staff before our freight company soon ran out of room. The company got to the point to where it actually took over my entire home in a very short period of time. Obviously the next phase was to find a new place to call the home of Freight Corner, LLC. So, we began to look for a new building for our freight shipping operation. We soon found a wonderful new location just off of 66th St in pinellas park, just south of park blvd. It took us an entire week to get out shipping business setup and ready to start giving out free freight quotes and moving our customer's freight shipments. But before too long, we were ready and moving forward. We spent extra time to pay attention to the smaller details in the office so that our employees would have a very professional environment. Our goal was to provide the most professional office we could so that when we expanded our staff of freight agents, they would be a very professional breed of agents. Specialized freight agents that pay extra special attention to our high expectations to providing the best customer service in the freight industry. Now that we have been in our new office for 6 weeks, we have grown our staff from 9 people to 19 people strong. In a short period of time we have gone from a good freight company to an awesome freight company. Since our move we have forged several new alliaces with some of the best freight carriers in the freight industry. Freight companies such as R & L Carriers and STI have been added to our arsenal of resources. So come to our new website and try our new freight rate system and get some of the cheapest freight rates in the freight industry today. http://www.freightcorner.com/
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Freight Corner, LLC introduces Midwest Motor Express
Freight Corner is pleased to introduce Midwest Motor Express to our carrier data base. This is a trucking company that does everything from LTL (less than truckloads) to TL (full truckloads). There is not a thing that this trucking company can not handle. Now the best part of having these guys directley work with us is obviously the freight pricing. We have strived for months to show them the business that is being done directley in their area. The direct points that are serviced are OR, WA, UT, CO, MO, IL, IA, WI, MN, ND, SD, NE, WY, MT. Please click on the links to view their terminals. If you are shipping from a business, residence or a terminal this trucking company will be able to service all your freight needs through Freight Corner, LLC.
Feel free to look around and see how easy it is to track your shipment with Midwest Motor Express. You will never have that feeling of not knowing where your package is considering it can be tracked within seconds.
Feel free to look around and see how easy it is to track your shipment with Midwest Motor Express. You will never have that feeling of not knowing where your package is considering it can be tracked within seconds.
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