Amidst the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, shelter-in-place orders and social distancing rules have been put into effect. People’s buying habits have changed, and that’s meant a huge spike in freight volume for some sectors of the industry while others are seeing freight drop significantly.
Refrigerated loads are among those which are seeing demand soar. A spur of shopping took place when President Trump declared a national emergency earlier this month. Grocery shelves in some parts of the country were stripped of large amounts of food, hygiene products, and other essentials. Restocking stores in a hurry has refer haulers enjoying higher spot rates than normal – though they are often subject to long wait times at shippers and receivers.
Unsurprisingly, loads consisting of other in-demand equipment like medical supplies and goods used to manufacture them are also helping to keep freight volume averages up.
In some areas though, non-essential workplaces are being forced to close by state and local lawmakers. At least 21 states have instituted some form of mandatory quarantine. Even in states without mandatory closures, companies are shuttering their factories preemptively to help contain the spread of the virus. This includes high-profile factories like those of Ford, GM, Fiat Chrysler, Honda, And Toyota.
Even where people are still working and still making money, social distancing practices and worries of an economic recession are keeping people from spending money on non-essential items. As demand for those goods falls, so too does freight volume.
Some sectors are already feeling the squeeze, but if the outbreak lasts much longer, the strain on the economy and freight volumes will only get worse. And Dr. Anothy Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases who has advised every president since Ronald Regan including Donald Trump, told The Atlantic that under the best circumstances, even temporarily bringing the pandemic under control could take “anywhere from four to six weeks to up to three months. But I don’t have great confidence in that range.”
Source: fleetowner, fleetowner, overdrive, ttnews, freightwaves, freightwaves, theatlantic
Amen to the truckers like myself that are still working need to make sure to use good hygiene at the truck stops . I see drivers not washing hands and i tell them even if they don’t speak English i make it clear to them what they need to do if not will be no jobs or country left!
Same here for me too brother westside tsp IA city truck driver FireMan here
Let’s keep up the good work brother
It’s mostly Americans that I witness not washing their hands… I’m American and that’s BS you should mention foreigners… I
Rates on the east coast have went up dramatically…. There’s a huge truck shortage!!!!!!
Cuz nobody wants to go to that dump
Cant blame them
Spoke like a Chicago midwestern Russian
A Russian called the east coast a dump? Umm, have you seen Russia?
The tolls in the N. E. are what make it VERY unattractive.
Trucking for van loads have been on the decline for the past year. Brokers are underbidding the loads so bad and cheating the truckers. After 35 years, I parked my truck, deactivated my Authority and said screw it. If you can’t pay for fuel, maintain the truck, pay insurance and taxes, it isn’t worth hauling. I love my Pete to much to run it into the ground for cheap loads. Fortunately, I own my equipment and can park it in the barn.
My cost for fuel in RI right now is $1.78 gallon. Pump price $3.30
Shifter maybe u should had did something different I dont see every owner op have all those problems
I have a local job delivering retail fuel. Just been told I will be issued a temporary layoff, as business has tanked now that so many people are staying home. Que sera…
Covid 19 has shut down my small car hauling business. Trying to stay positive, but don’t know what this looks like on the back side of the Chinese corona virus outbreak. I must say, I’ve never been more proud of the brave men and women of the trucking industry. May God be with all of you!
I think Trump it’s going to put an end to this bogus shut down very soon. I predict Monday people will be going back to work. Definitely Church on Easter Sunday. On the bright side I’m driving everywhere not locked up in the house and hauled beer for the first time in my 26 years of driving! Liquor stores are an essential business. WTF!
Yeah, never figured that one out.
You’ve never seen an alcoholic with the DT’s?
No, the government, along with the controlled news media will keep the hype going with inflated figures of infected and deaths, to justify a nationwide lockdown and martial law. Big trouble coming. But, in meantime, “essential” businesses such as the baby-killers at Planned Parenthood are open.
👍🇺🇸
sick
Can anyone share their experience in Bulk Liquid Food Grade? Bosses say things are slow because of COVID and other things. Doesn’t make sense to me if other food items are up.
Drive for a company that hauls Honda parts. Where the plant is shut down temporarily I’ve been assigned to a company that hauls bread due to them being needing extra drivers. The bread gig isn’t so bad but I miss my Honda route.
Yep. It’s going through the election. But people will eventually start getting CV cabin fever and come back outside. IM A CAR HAULER OUT OF WORK. All the plants are closed. I don’t see the economy in good shape. Watch the stock market. Stores are closing. I’m scared to go out there right now. I’ve been home watching the news and it ain’t good. Nothing good is being reported. They just dropped a trillion dollar relief package. If you get this virus and have to go to the hospital. We will die alone in ICU. They have no answer. With all that said God Bless and check on your loved ones. Don’t assume they are alright. Nobody is safe right now. For all you guys stuck at truck stop. Don’t go in. Stay in the truck. The truck is your safe haven. God Speed
How many babies have been killed since November or December when this virus started here supposedly. Many more then this invisible enemy has! Apparently abortion clinics are essential. I’d like to know how many drivers are infected or have died by now. We are at very high risk if this virus is what they claim it to be. Sad fact but there should be many of us sick and dying right now. Thankfully I know no one who is.
Look, it’s just a modified variation of the standard influenza…the flu. Only this one has morphed into having vestigial fingers all over it which make it able to grab onto the fibrous tissue inside of ur lungs and it stays there and multiplies until you aren’t able to get a breath…hence the emergency need for the ventilators. The people who are dying from this are those who haven’t got enough gumption to hock it up and spit the bastards out… I mean really hock it up. Those who are being said to have contracted the virus and gone through the process of it running it’s course…those are the ones who kept up with hocking and spitting before it ever got a good enough foothold to overtake the lungs.
If you guys wud just listen to yourselves. All I hear is your working 14-15 hours a day, and you’ve become servants to the Man; for a measley 4 days off a month, and an income of just above average middle class income. Why don’t you get smart by organizing, unionizing. Theirs nothing to brag about being a truck driver. The companies tell you when to work, when you can sleep, and when you can go home. The business model for success in the transportation business is to control the driver’s life period. You belong to the Man. Life will past by much quicker if you choose to drive a truck.I know. As for as young people go back to school; learn a new trade, forget trucking.