Why the second one? We were expediters by that time and we went to the Expedite Expo for a different reason then we did the first event.
When we were researching expediting many years ago we were debating on attending the Expo and weighing the costs. We at that time had a lawn care business and taking time off in the summer would mean working double time before and after to make up for those lost days. Then we had the expense of a plane ticket, a hotel, and a rental car for only TWO DAYS OF A SHOW...
Luckily for us someone else stepped in and said, "You are making a life changing decision why are you even debating this?" Well that put the Expedite Expo in a different light and we followed her advice. (Another reason I network with people much more brilliant then myself)
When making a life changing decision it is best to gather as many facts as possible and there is no better place to do that than the Expedite Expo. This is the only place to get an overload of information about Expediting. Recruiters, truck salesman, fleet owners, and drivers all neatly contained in one area for two days.
When we were doing our research I had a notebook and a sharp pencil and I took a plethora of notes. We talked to recruiters for a certain company and then we would find drivers with the same company and basically ask them the same questions and compare the answers. We did this over and over with all of the companies represented. As the day would wear on we would think of more questions and then the cycle would repeat. Each of us has to find a company that fits us and this is one of the reasons research is so important. Our research would not work for someone else.
We attended the workshops, took notes and asked questions. While at the Expo in 2004 we met many drivers and some we still are in touch with today. Attending the Expo where other couples trying to gain enough information to decide when they went home if it was time to get their life in order so they could hit the open road. Our hard work paid off as we are still with the same company we started with January of 2005.
We still attend the Expedite Expo for the networking opportunities and the knowledge we gain. There is always another load but there are not always opportunities to meet or learn something that will help to make a profitable decision later on down the road. We have found this to be true of all of the truck shows we have attended the more we put into a show the more we get out of it.
On Saturday we will be part of a panel "Keys to Being a Successful Owner Operator". Richard DeForest, ATBS will be the moderator. The questions we will be answering:
Are you ready to take the plunge and become an owner operator?
What do you need to know to increase your odds of success?
There will be time for questions and after the workshop attendees can stop by and visit with us in the Team Run Smart booth.
Bob and I will be in our Team Run Smart Shirts and will either be outside working with Henry Albert or inside in a booth with our new truck. Henry will have his truck and trailer at the event placed in front of the convention center. Please stop by and say Hi! as it would be our pleasure to meet you.
To learn more about the Expedite Expo:
Expedite Expo