THEY WILL HIRE YOU but NO FREIGHT

[gandrew]

Sounds to me like you two are doing all the right things. It's just a crappy time for all trucking. Lowest freight tonnage in decades, rising fuel prices and too many trucks which, in the supply and demand economic model, allows freight rates to decline. At some point in time a balance must occur between the available freight and the number of trucks. Then we will see rates improve for us all. Sadly, for that to happen, a number of trucks must leave the marketplace. And time must pass for the economy to improve and manufacturing to pick up the pace and start needing parts and materials moved. The next nine months we will all be in a survival mode. Lowering our expectations about putting money in the bank, we are now concentrating on just making payments on time and staying in the game until the recovery. Running as hard as we are able, our settlement Wednesday was short of our truck payment, let alone have extra for eating out or savings. I am applying early for Social Security as we speak, instead of waiting for the full amount. Three months before a check arrives, I hope we can last.

[halfburn]

I heard a timetable on Clark Howard the other day for economic reovery. Low point 2011 w/ 11% unemployment and things better by 2015 with full recovery by 2020.

[gandrew]

That actually sounds like a practical outlook. Unfortunately I will be out of trucking in 3-4 years with or without a recovery. The bean counters at our company are planning on 2010 being the year we return to profitability. Either way we are committed to this expediter lifestyle and will continue to struggle to find a way to make it work.

[takteam]

Hey gandrew..you are determined and working so hard. Expediting is challenging because you have to be ready to go. We miss the money with expediting and are thinking about going back in that direction with our tractor. It is hard to get off the road when you get a momentum going and are bringing in money. And need to be out! We once worked three weeks and went home every fourth. We go home more than you but are out about 6 to 8 weeks at a time. Happy Fourth and well wishes on your loads.