With the economy reeling from shutdowns due to COVID-19, trucking is getting hit hard. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), over 88,000 jobs were lost in the truck transportation sector during April alone.
Unemployment numbers in April hit 14.7% as 20.5 million more Americans filed for unemployment. Those losses were felt in the trucking industry as well. In March, BLS recorded that the truck transportation sector had 1,523,900 jobs. In April that fell to 1,435,600.
From March to April, 88,300 jobs were lost. That’s a decline of 5.8% from the previous month. That’s the largest number drop and the largest percentage drop on record. Compared to April of last year, there are 6.2% fewer trucking jobs.
“It was ugly,” Bob Costello, chief economist for American Trucking Associations, told Transport Topics. “The trucking industry lost 88,300 jobs, and we lost more jobs in one month than we did in all of 2008.”
Source: truckinginfo, fleetowner, ttnews, freightwaves
Pop's says
Another reason is how far the Freight Rates have dropped thanks to Load Brokers.
O/O cannot afford the fuel and maintenance costs because the Freight won’t pay enough to even cover operating costs much less make enough profit to feed their families and it’s going to come back and bite the Freight Brokers right in the Butt.
rickey luper says
Brokers are nothing but crooks and should be locked up
D O says
Strike and Unionize.
Republicans have fooled everyone in believing Union’s are bad. And the trucking industry fell for it, and is being robbed and paid peanuts.
Driver says
Good thing I have experience and and a clean CDL to get another job.
Michelle says
Uh…those of us left are getting fewer miles. No word on that?
Brian says
The longer the economy is locked down, the less freight will be traveling. It’s simple math. Time to open the country again.
Dmechanic says
Should have never been locked down in the first place!
Mike L says
YOUR JOB COULD BE NEXT.
ARE YOU TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY YET?
So, is there anything at all that can be done to more quickly shut this trend down???
A vaccine? Yes!!
Do we have a vaccine? Not yet.
What we do have is:
The physical DISTANCE we can put between ourselves and MASKS we can put on our faces to knock down our breath and spit.
IT’S ALL WE’VE GOT AT THE MOMENT, SO WE SHOULD GRIN & BEAR IT. IT’S ONLY FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AND IT MIGHT JUST BE MONEY IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.
Please wear a mask.
Buy at least two or three – more if you can – something you like, durable and washable.
I’m 58 years old, I don’t want this virus, and I don’t want this economic mess to get any worse.
Things can get better faster if each of us takes this seriously and does our part.
M says
I don’t wear a mask anywhere
david wilson says
you drank the cool aid just do the math TOTAL POPULATION divided by the number of deaths by the way i am 62 and i am not worried
Dmechanic says
This is crazy!
You all & most of this country are drinking bad cool aid and not asking the right questions if not not questioning at all.
The year was flu season 1969/1970. Woodstock was in the planning stages. The star of this show was THE HONG KONG FLU. It affected the whole world just like covid19. More than 100,000 Americans alone died from that one. Nothing was shut down, no masks were worn, no blip in the economy, elections were not delayed, nobody was sequestered in their homes, life just went on and it wasn’t because it didn’t get reported. Almost all of you wont remember it because you weren’t born yet. The part of the population which saw most of the deaths was 65 and younger.
Another thing: if you think an N95 mask or any of the other ridiculous facial coverings is going to help, think again. The N95 medical grade masks are designed to deal with bacteria only, viruses are a thousand times smaller.
Ann L Walter says
It turns out I had it right before they declared the pandemic hit America. They didn’t know what was wrong with me so they released me and I had to work thinking I was going to drop dead any moment. It was so bad I made a will
Jake says
Instead of wearing a mask at the store just keep your lips together and don’t talk.
Without my mask I am more safe than the constantly bellowing guy, his belly spread across the counter with the mask and all his exaggerated sighs and turning to everyone behind him in line and expecting them to laugh along with him at one of his stupid jokes.
Mark Gillespie says
Considering all the price gouging by middle brokers you can’t make a living anymore., shippers are paying better money but brokers are taking half or more, so there needs to be regulators on this.
JAC says
By federal law if you ask them how much they are getting for a load they have to tell you. But carriers don’t because they don’t want to (pardon the expression) be blacklisted
joe says
and you are correct! hell.. if carrier tries to collect detention broker threatens to blacklist!
which blacklisting in itself is supposed to be illegal but not enforced
Donald Moore says
The old broker/shipper way of doing business is an antiquated model. Shippers could go direct to carriers via the web.
Hurry up and wait says
Driver shortage anybody??? Still no raise. Supply and demand??? I have smelled the trickle down stuff. Not good.
Tom Thumb says
We don’t need more regulations. You need to stand up put your big trucker pants on and don’t haul cheap freight
Charles R Johnson III says
This is exactly how to do it. A stand for solidarity must be taken
RAY R WHITMAN says
Yep
D B transport LLC says
The mistreatment and the distrust is constant OO and leased OO are always scratching, fighting and trying to gat a fair price and everyone has their hands in your pocket and with these newer trucks and the mechanical problems with the emissions good luck because there is no learning curve here anymore so if things don’t change for the better big business and greed will end the independent contractor in trucking
Jay says
Yep. It’s all by design.
joe says
trucking jobs lost due to eld mandate.. it’s costs for upkeep… ins rates rising.. freight rates dropping to. .68-$1 a mile. truck pmts $2500mo..not including trl pmts and maint costs at an average of $500 wk. take a broker load and broker either takes more than what he should or refuses to pay due to double brokering. all facts!
Rawdog says
If your hauling freight for less than 2 bucks a mile just hang it up and go drive a prime truck or something
Robert says
Prime doesn’t pay lease operators by the mile WE GET 72% OF WHAT THE BILLED FREIGHT CHARGES ARE, PRIME TAKES 28%.
WHY DOESN’T ANYONE UNDERSTAND THAT. OH BY THE WAY I MAKE PRETTY GOOD MONEY AT PRIME.
AND BEFORE ANYONE MAKES COMMENTS ABOUT SLOW TRUCKS I RUN 65 EVERYWHERE IT’S LEGAL.
I paid 80 cents a gallon yesterday to fill my truck, thats not the pump price either. Not bragging just saying, look at your business objectively.
SO STAY WITH YOUR BROKER AND GET SCREWED.
I know a couple of people that own a small fleet and they don’t have to work. Plenty of opportunities its all in what you want to do. Having a vast freight network and their fuel network is not a bad idea. If you have your own DOT number you can go to Prime logistics and you can run unrestricted speed.
Thomas says
Not quite accurate, Prime gives you 72% of the cost of what’s Prime allocated if they were running their own truck for that load, but not what the freight bill (what the customer pays) brings in.
Jack Hennessee says
Let the FOOLS run 75 mph and to hear them tell it, they get 8 mpg!! Thise of us who can add and subtract and have been doing this for decades lnow better and we get paid detention after 2 hours loading or unloading our Tanker!
Robert says
Apparently you missed the point Robert. Even if you get payed percentage, you still break it down to per mile cost. Prior to Covid-19, anything under 2 dollars a mile for all miles run is considered cheap freight.
ben says
i think by the way he talk’s he didn’t or isn’t able to figure that out!!!!!
John R Hemminger says
But out of that great money you are making at Prime, paying for their truck can you tell me what your operating costs are per mile?
RAY R WHITMAN says
Man if u dont know what 72% breaks out to be cpm ur not going to last long even at prime. I get 90% of gross but I still know my cpm. Then u have to know what cpm it takes to run ur truck to make money. Get real
Penny says
$2.10 per mile is the very lowest a o/o should take and that should be for a position to a better load
Warren Kennedy says
Those are absolutely inaccurate numbers. Fuel prices are down $.75 to $1.00 at the pumpnso fuel surcharge is down. If you cant find a load for at least 1.75 to 2.30 a mile tjen yoi are lazy. My profits have gone upwhe rates are down. Its about running a sucessful operation
martin e neltner says
Owners in the trucking industry are feeling the same pain as privately owned gas stations, privately-owned grocery stores, privately owned farmers. All of these entities have been eliminated from the free market due to competition. It’s interesting to read the comments about reductions in freight rates and brokers taking what appears too excessive commissions.
My advice is to become the broker using an association process owned by privately owned truckers. Quit complaining and start acting like your own boss by removing overhead from your food chain. Study history and learn from the past or your business will be consolidated just like the above industries mentioned.
martin e neltner says
Two points. 1) 250,000 jobs available and 88,000 lost. Still a shortage of 162,00 jobs available. I am 70 going back to work next week.
2) Owners in the trucking industry are feeling the same pain as privately owned gas stations, privately-owned grocery stores, privately owned farmers. All of these entities have been eliminated from the free market due to competition. It’s interesting to read the comments about reductions in freight rates and brokers taking what appears too excessive commissions.
My advice is to become the broker using an association process owned by privately owned truckers. Quit complaining and start acting like your own boss by removing overhead from your food chain. Study history and learn from the past or your business will be consolidated just like the above industries mentioned.
M says
Truckers are always bitching
Dmechanic says
Just wondering martin e neltner: are you retired/partially retired @ 70 & getting your monthly Social Security payment, which by the way would mean that your Social Security is augmenting your trucking income, which by the way would mean that if you were to accept a cheap paying load it wouldn’t affect you like it would everyone else?
Jughead says
There you go 88,000 drivers just became available. No more driver shortage, so stop giving out CDL to kids and put them on the road.
JOSE Echevarria says
No one gives a crap big companies are making ALL the money setting the rates and the drivers who does the work gets the shaft what a country
MKG says
Greed is in every country and prolific in every countries government or ruling entity. Surely you know this is true. As for the freight rates, it boils down to they couldn’t get away with it because there are always plenty of cheap workers/companies who agree to the rate.
david wilson says
you can always leave dont let the door hit you in the backside
Bobbie says
They fixed the greed in Cuba & Venezuela. No more greed by law , the government takes care of there people. No greedy corporations messing up your life. You should move there and check it out I bet life there is real good.
Tim says
What does it help to know how much the brokers make? That doesn’t mean the driver will get more
Richard koppenaal says
If you are and independent,. You can’t survive. Brokers charging way to much on a load. Companies fear being blacklisted for reporting that activity. Losing that many jobs in one month is going to cause empty shelves at the stores
Joe average says
Elaine Chao, she’s the greatest.
Heath W Puckett says
The seriousness of ex felony that cannot get hazmat endorsement due to a minor felony? Could this law change ? Non serious felony such as assault that one has already paid for is the focus?
John Hart says
That’s not true I have 4 felony I got my hazmat ,you can get a hazmat if you were caught selling drugs or killed someone with a gun or a vehicle
Don says
Double brokering is suppose to be illegal. Joe is pretty well right. eld was put in place because the big companies could not teach these new drivers how to do or use paper logs. The ATA is not a friend to the onwer or independent drivers .
Elbert White says
Any time you are told to give the shipper amother company’s name when you check in, that load is being double brokered.
Robert says
ELD WAS PUT IN PLACE BECAUSE INDEPENDENTS WERE RUNNING ILLEGAL AND DOT COULD NOT PROVE IT.
I DON’T LIKE THE ELD SOFTWARE. I miss the AOBRD much better I could go 2 miles before it started drive time.
Worked great trying to get into a truck stop on tight schedule.
ELD is not the problem ots the 14 hour clock plus slow shippers/receivers with no regards for our time.
16 hours to get loaded…actually 13.5 waiting for a dock because they were pulling my load and getting it ready is not excusable.
Bottom line is shippers and receivers don’t care they are paid by the hour and detention is just the cost of doing business.
ben says
if you were running 2 miles before it registered you, my friend were running illegal also!!!!!!
Matthew Shanks says
Don are you serious, you’re actually going to blame “New drivers” for implementing eld…”old drivers used and abused paper logs to no end, running 3 log books scratching start and finish times….etc DOT’s not being able to read half the books bc of chicken scratch and poorly kept logs!!! I’ve heard it from the horses mouth drivers and dot
William Pabon says
All of you are correct in one way or the other in this comment section the problem other than covi19, ELDs, low rates, high fuel, the shippers/receivers take forever to load/offload without pay. Why isnt anyone talking about making shippers have bonds like brokers so we can charge them for detention? Either way i see small carriers closing left and right since the pay is so bad. And lets not forget the cost of insurance, that is just a killer. Too many reasons to list here as to why we small carriers are getting hit. Iam parking my trucks till rates go up I just wish others do the same instead of continue to take cheap freight.
Jesse says
Its is pretty tough to park trucks when they need to be paid for. Parking trucks in my business means claiming bankruptcy.
Oliver says
You are bankrupt already. You just don’t realise it yet my friends with the high overheads. The broker love to hear you said that you have a big truck payment or other high overhead, please don’t mention it to them so they know you will be back because they’re thinking you don’t have any other choice if you want to stay in that seat 💺.Like a lamb to the slaughter, a targeted Low hanging fruit. I park my truck two months ago, luckily I don’t have a payment.
Willie says
Well one reason is JB HUNT, SWIFT, WERNER AND A HANDFUL MORE WILL HAUL THOSE CHEAP LOADS JUST TO KEEP DRIVERS IN THEIR TRUCKS. THEY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THE DRIVERS NO MATTER OF THE PROFIT OR LOSS.
RAY R WHITMAN says
Jbhunt, my cousin works there. They increased their percentage to cover loss freight to keep shareholders happy. They have year long contracts with customers rates didnt drop. Fact.
I still pull 2.00+ with jbhunt, I ask for it. Alot of drivers opening bid is 1.50 or less, stupid. If u dont ask they ain’t going to give it dummy.
Robert says
Insurance is going ul because of things like the idiot going down vail pass missed 2 runaway ramps and caused a fatal accident. 36 vehicles involved, 6 dead. He’s in jail but coverage is now higher and premiums went up.
If you know how to drive steep grades you shouldn’t have to use the brakes.
I went down cabbage with 79,800 headed to walmart in Washington. 34 mph down that grade and never once touched my brakes. I didn’t have any friends once i got to the bottom because left lane was closed but you see my point.
I went through Prime student training program but my trainer has been driving for 43 years. He taught me the way that the old timers do it. When i touched tbe brakes during my training he nagged me more than my ex wife.
Robert says
Hmmmm, like to see that one done. Just downward gravity alone will make you have to hit the brakes to slow down with that amount of weight even if you stayed at 35 mph and using a jake. Not everyone on here just came out of New Millenial CDL Holders Truck Driving School. Try again.
Bryan C Anderson says
Been driving 7 years …on cabbage ..parmlee… coming into Palm Springs in ca ….these new trucks can do it ….set ur cruise 5 mph under t he speed limit and the Jake’s kick in at speed limit and hold
Faith Arnold says
Please elaborate on exactly your technique: not even touching your brakes downhill.
Rusty says
You don’t have to the head cashier at Walmart to know how to come off cabbage at 35, 30 or 40 mph. Use the right gear and Jake brake. A Cummins has a better Jake brake than cat. So with a cat it’s a even lower gear. Plus you can run your engine fan. You get your brakes hot on any hill, then you don’t need to be in a truck. Maybe a mini van.
Martin says
It’s easy. I used to go down the grapevine all the time at 80,000 pounds and not touch my brakes. You use the 3 stage jakes to keep the truck between 30 and 40 mph all the way down if you need more speed or braking just gear down or gear up. Yes it takes longer but …
Andrew H says
Meanwhile my local LTL trucking company here in Northern Michigan has been above normal for freight volume. My linehauls have been packed both ways.
David K Rank says
Sounds good Andrew.
Josh Bales says
So, I can now assume that trucker shortage no longer exists?
george stephanopolous says
There is no such thing as well I only have 5 more dollars in the load
and it is a load paying $300 to go 285 miles. Just the thought process
of somebody thinking this business, will allow, 40,000 pounds of product
and requesting a person ( truck driver), to encounter, the aspects of life on the road, and handle something for 2 days, at $150.00 a day, is utterly disgusting
but the big folks ( truck load, and brokers), do nothing but continue, to undercut,
because, they think that is model of the business. When the world opens up
these orders will come back, and every small carrier, ought to DEMAND, $4.00
a mile, or leave the load sitting, but some stupid ass single owner operator,
will haul something for a 1.00/mile cause they think they just have to get home, or be responsible , for that next load, at home. even back in the crisis,
folks were paying 450 – 500, for loads going 200- 250, Year 2020, the announced rate is 250 – 300. COMMON, which person is the stupidest, ( broker, announcing the load, or the carrier, willing to haul it)
rob says
I still have my job, but I’m only allowed to work one day, every thirty days.
Shifter says
Trucking started to die last year. The brokers were low balling loads so bad, we could barely afford t9 haul and that was even with dedicated loads. Then with the over regulations such as ELD, hours of service, drug consortium, high insurance, high fuel cost,, etc., it was getting worse and worse. No one was helping us to keep moving America, certainly not our government. Covid 19 put the final nail in the coffin. After 35 years of driving, mostly under my own authority, we deactivated and parked our truck/trailer. I refuse to haul cheap paying loads just to run my equipment into the ground. First it starts with you can’t pay for fuel or maintenance. Then you can’t cover other expenses like insurance, etc. Then a major repair comes and you are SOL.
Bottom line: It doesn’t pay to haul cheap paying loads!
Les says
understand your position and dilemma- however it is a double edged sword. The more people do as you did- the more they will keep pushing we need more immigration help to fill the trucks sitting idle- which in turn lowers rates again
Robert says
Plenty of trucks out here. There is no shortage of drivers. There is a shortage of parking though.
Driver shortage is made up by the ATA to force regulations so the big companies can get kickbacks for putting bodies in the seats.
Right now its a shippers market they can tell you what they are going to pay and either take the load dirt cheap or they will find someone that will.
Rates will go back up if we lose some capacity out here like in 2019. But I don’t see that happening. The days of the O/O are numbered. Its even tough leasing a truck from a carrier. Not lease purchase by the way. I have no knowledge about that.
Brian says
I did a Lease purchase and it sucked. You damn near have to be genius just to run that business model successfully. Personally I’m still trying to get things settled. But for the most part I finished paying off the truck. and moved to a different company making more money. I did it through a big carrier. and it’s not that we ran cheap freight. it was that we the lease operators ran freight cheaply. I’ve ran some of the freight that i used to run at the old company. and they really took some big cuts.
Terry Kalmi says
Something definitely needs to get done about brokers
Keith says
COVID-19 (COV-SARS-2) was an excuse to trash the economy in the U.S. and place us under More Rules. Now, things are worse for many, especially drivers and owners.
Rawdog says
And here I am making better money and more profit than ever in the last 20 years. Sounds like y’all are a bunch of dart /landstar wanna be owner operators
BullyHauler says
If you aren’t showing proof, it ain’t happening. I can say I’m making $40 per mile, but that doesn’t mean it’s true. All you’re doing is giving me flashbacks of driving by the West Memphis truck stops with my CB on.
Gail Morra says
Well. Since you’re on the brag. What’s your interpretation of terr money in last 20 years. You do realize theres different types of freight. I’d like to know what income you think is so great out here.
ben says
i don’t know why you bad mouth landstar. they have over 10,000 owner-operator’s,the largest owner-op company in the US!!! they did’nt get to that point by being a bad company.you must be brokering freight from them. why do you think they broker some of their freight,the driver’s leased to them would’nt haul the freight they broker. maybe you’re one of those driver’s that tried leasing to them and was turned down ! i’ve been leased to them for over 30 year’s and have alway’s made a qood living and was never shorted a penny!! they have alway’s had my back when i was right.
Robert Garcia says
One of the biggest problems is Elaine Chow.
That is like putting a blind man in charge of a fifty mile mountain biking course in the Rockies. President Trump needs to replace her with a truck driver who has owned there own fleet for thirty years or more. That person also needs to have had no association with the ata.
Mike says
Those of us still out here with Flatbeds are getting 1.35 to 1.45 a mile too…Its not a good time in trucking
Marcella says
I wish I could agree with everyone, I drive a Food Grade Tanker..I transport: oils, alcohol, juice..This industry has had no lack of work..try food grade tanking..Maybe that will help plenty of drivers stay employed..BTW, I’m OTR, I make .55 with bonus incentives, given mothly/quarterly…
Marcella says
Try driving food grade tankers..There is consistent work.. You will always be working…
Faith Arnold says
Marcella, where do you work?
Sk says
Well, ok then, that should more then answer the DRIVER SHORTAGE QUESTION.
Robert says
THERE IS NO DRIVER SHORTAGE IT’S ATA LOBBYING FOR REGULATION TO ALLOW EASIER TRAINING LIKE 18-20 YEAR OLD INTERSTATE DRIVING.
THEY ALREADY CAN GET CDL AT 18 BUT INTRASTATE ONLY.
Les says
If the ATA supports it – you can bet it is bad for drivers and o/o
Rick says
You got that right Les
Lloyd blackman says
Trucking been on decline since ELD mandate we are no better off than b 4 ..remember with out trucks america stops .untill they use commonsense. Get back to d good ole days.!!!
Harley D. says
A 1 year “Hitch” in the military for Any 18 year old Punk kid who wants to Drive OTR would help greatly for safety! When I was an 18 year old punk kid myself, it was during The Cold War! All my Bosses and some Colleagues had done multiple tours in Vietnam! My First MOS I was Driving Million Dollar JP-4 Jet Fuel, 5,000 Gallon Fuel Trucks around Multi-Million Dollar Jet Aircraft. I was also hauling 30,000 Gallon Tankers from One Base to Another! (Baffles what’s That?) You just Made damn sure, you filled those “babies” to the “Tippy Top”! But my point is; I was told like this, by my Colonel. (Who did 5 Tours in Vietnam, by the way! He was basically there from start to finish! Need I say anything more?) “You screw up and blow up one of my airplanes or one of my bulk storage tanks! You better hope to God, you Blow up too! If Not, I’ll send you to the “Man Upstairs” myself, with a Bullet !!! ” Guess what? I had a perfect record! Strange how that works, isn’t it! Lol! He died of Cancer from Agent Orange in 2006. His wife shortly after him! We had become Best friends over the years! He told me years later he never meant it. But had to use “something” to keep all us “Punks” in line, an from blowing up the place and ourselves! Wish he was here today to see China’s Attack on the planet with such a deadly Biological Weapon as Covid-19. But I digress! So a year or two mandatory in the military for anyone below 25, who wants to drive 18 wheels. Just might not be a bad idea! Kept me alive! Thankfully too. I still have a spotless driving record, some 30 odd years later!!! Not bragging, just saying! Might be an Idea? Stay Safe an Stay Heathy out there my friends! 🙂
Les says
you weren’t near as occupied with Tim too and fb either, and I am sure you weren’t triggered when they put spinach in the serving line. Got out of restaurant business because I couldn’t deal with the snowflakes anymore. They get worse every year
Darren Shierly says
If 88,000 Truckers lost there jobs in April . How can Companies still hire. Doesn’t that mean the business is way down . How can anyone from a company driver or o/o make any money ( living ).
Sleepycat says
This is all a Grand Plan by the Government. That want total control and Are Looking at maybe 7 major Carriers to haul all the freight. This way the pay will be the same the Trucks will all be Govern the same weather your a Owner/Operator Lease Operator or Company Driver. ITs all about Control.
Kevin says
I work with 3 brokers two are for short runs and one mostly for long hauls. Been dealing with them for years . we have a great understanding if it don’t pay don’t call. I will say I did take a cheap haul the other day it only paid about 1.85 a mile but it was only about 200 miles them I picked up a load that paid about 3.10 a mile and it was 700 miles. So work with brokers that work for you. It’s your business not there’s. Don’t take cheap freight and then bitch about it . as far as I’m concerned that cheap shit can sit on the dock and rot as its not going on my truck.
Rick says
ATA has always fought for the big guys. I doubt very much if Owner Operators are factored in to the 88,000 job loss figure. I have had my truck and trailer parked since April 10th, “after I sat in Atlanta for 2 days looking for freight,” and came home empty on the 9th.
There is a Youtube video, “operating cost,” put out by Tri State Tax Service LLC located in Hamilton, Ohio. It gives the true operating cost operators need to know. Just type in youtube search engine Tri State Tax Service LLC, scroll down and you’ll see the videos.
That guy not only knows the tax side of the industry, he also has 2 or 3 million miles under his belt.
Robert says
Everyone has missed what they stated. They said, ” The Transportation Industry “. This includes a lot more than just truck drivers. Besides, if there are that many truck drivers unemployed, then why are they allowing remote testing for CDL licenses in order to fulfill the need for drivers as was previously stated in truckers report?
Paul says
The book Industry of Thieves exposed brokers back in 2009.
Martin says
Some of the most ignorant people in the world are truck drivers
Options says
Some people are so gullible, those numbers are manipulated to get some people scared or excited about their current financial situation. I am pretty sure those where the open positions within companies that decided to have a hiring freeze. It’s all a numbers game. Owner Operators do not fall within these numbers because they chose when they want to work! This also has nothing to do with brokers, look around if nothing is open items aren’t being consumed. As Rick stated in his post if you are an O/O focus on your operations cost know your cost per mile. If it is to cheap to haul don’t touch it. I know there is a sucker that will take that cheap freight but eventually they will soon be out of work. You can only operate in the red for so long!
Donavon DeGraff says
I netted 9400 dollars after taxes insurance ect as a company driver at 50 cents a mile. Because his suspension running food water and asswipe I ran 22458 miles loaded in April. Longest run without sleep was from lovelock nv to sac to napa valley to springdale ar. I stopped in kingman for food and fueled in gallup…. operating for 37 hours consistantly legally, average was 60.4 mph in a govern 68 Volvo 860 globtrooter xl…. you must remain flexible and have customer freight contracts. Brokers are in between only, or your gonna go broke in good economic times.
Donavon DeGraff says
Broker…. defined as… you’re broker than ever before…. but the blame is still China
Michael Henderson says
Some of u folks don’t fully understand how the freight market works. The averages on rates are governed by the rules of supply and demand which legally allows them to rise and fall based on the number of available trucks compared to the number of available loads in any given area. Last month, on the day before the market went over the cliff, there were 300 trucks posted available in Chicagoland and only 40 available loads. It legally becomes the norm for the brokers to lowball the price because there are so many trucks needing to move. The only way to bring the price up is to reverse the numbers or for us all to refuse to move period.
joe says
The 90’s are over drivers, If you want to make money these days you have to actually have to work for it, step up or hang up them keys
Michael J DesParois says
I run tanker and was furloughed 4 weeks ago and its not looking like I will be called back by the end of May. It is more likely that the furlough will turn into a permanent layoff June 1st.
Biniam says
It depends on what kind truck u drive….
Bobbie says
82 comments here and almost all of them complaining about how bad there jobs are.
Yep lots of truck drivers for sure
Charles R Johnson III says
This is exactly how to do it. A stand for solidarity must be taken
Steve says
I’ve read enough of the information here, some of which makes good comments.
I started driving semi-truck in 1978 and this or what I’m about to say doesn’t make me any better than anyone else, “we were all created equal” including “common sense” to be used, not “nonsense”.
The bottom line is not just refuse the load pertaining to including but not limited to brokers / rates.
To resolve all the issues it will take a “posted 7 day strike”. As stated “posted” however, once known it would most likely take less than “4 days” to reach the resolution demand. Drivers need to stand on their own two feet and spread the word.
Should all drivers decide to stick together again, changes “would be made” through FMCSA and Washington DC to eliminate a major problem on top of the Covid-19 “national disaster”
Y’all should start thinking about proper resolutions to the problems and complaints listed, “STAND UP & LETS GET IT DONE”.
Goon. says
You’d take a vaccine made by the people who funded the creation of the virus in the first place?
First, a vaccine is impossible.
Second, the people who have global depopulation conferences suddenly want to save all of us? Don’t you see the conflict here?
You should know better.
L.Sorenson says
“Wealth of US billionaires soars as pandemic expands, nearly 40 million unemployed” (WSWS 5/23/2020). This pandemic becomes the trigger to bail out the corporations and those like Jeff Bezos of Amazon with the biggest quantitative easing giveaway in history. Estimates are that almost half of the jobs that existed as recently as February will be permanently gone. Naturally, the trucking industry will be hit extremely hard. No wonder the big investors who haven’t done a days worth of honest work in their lives are so gung ho on autonomous vehicles. Take note guys, the stock market goes up on bad news for the mass of us…The brokers are the small fry in the middle of this train wreck that already has eclipsed 2008 in spades! Unite the drivers, OO’s and hourly alike, to take a stand together for a change will everyone else who will refuse to die for profits.