Truck Load Rates Halt 8 Week Slide 2.0

Scared drivers press on toward looming freight cliff - FreightWaves

 

Man, Albert in that story is a serious trucker, he wears a suit and tie on the job!

 

I looked at what I was paying for fuel last April vs today. It's at least a dollar a gallon cheaper, some places even more. That is probably helping, in the short run anyways, a lot of companies to weather the storm somewhat. The one's who really haven't experienced much of a cut in rates or volume, are probably stockpiling the cash savings.

 

Who knows. This market could end up being different than anything this industry has ever seen, according to the "experts" at least.

I'm booked on a couple of loads right now and I'll worry about the upcoming "cliff" when I get there on Wednesday

 

Which begs the question, the independents who claim they're going to keep their trucks parked unless the rates jump back up on their lane, just how long can they afford to do that?

Last month I read one fellow who posted that he's keeping it parked unless he can get $5.00 to $6.00 a mile

Then a few days later he posted that he had to take a load for what amounted to be $3.00 a mile because nothing better was available. What will it be next? $2.50 a mile, $2.00 a mile, $1.50 a mile??? Not criticizing him or anyone who takes that position.

I'm just wondering, do most independent truckers really have enough cash reserves (without any other source of family income) to park their trucks for 3, 6, 9, 12 months potentially?