Truck Load Rates Halt 8 Week Slide 2.0

Been real busy the last 2 weeks with our 2 regular moves. Rates are on the upswing for time being at least. Saw some good rates posted in my area recently. Pre pandemic rates so the near future is looking promising.

Got a few other things in the works too ATM. Keeping that a secret for now

 

@TallJoe

Was it you that hauled something funky and had to get a washout for the van? Did a load of bailed tin for a good rate but never again LOL. Reeked of a trash wagon after and had to load my steady for mon on Friday that requires food grade van. Still made my P/U on time after the washout.

Gonna keep renting our 2 wagons 318 a month for both + 3c mi maintenance but we're 1500mi wk avg. Getting a 2021 Dane for 345 a month and gonna buy older 5000-6000 van for our customers that don't require 101 inside width or food grade. Cheap parking where we park. 175 a month total for both trucks/trailers

Hope things are looking up for you guys

Edit: for the time being were gonna keep renting because things could dry up in an instant. The dane is rent to buy will prob end up buying it. Paying a tad extra for it in the end, but on the other hand something happens, here take it back and were not stuck with multiple wagons as a lawn ornament lol.
Salt is usually cheap. Looked at couple of salt loads on the board the other day and the rates surprised me. Not just one broker but a handful all had good rates on salt.

This cheap broker with an office in Niles .....sure you can prob guess who. They had short plant to plant hops 60-70mi knocked rates down to 275 during pandemic or 400 going 270 mi out to Pittsburgh or 500 going to Ohio. Either enough smaller carriers went under or ppl finally putting their foot down and saying no. Prob a combination of the 2.

Now their posting some fair rates aging. I give props to our steady not cutting the rates when the plant opened up again. Our other steady we got a better rate out of them. 975 now on 306

4150 on 1375mi for the week. The other truck did 1700 in 2 days, pulled it out to chase some AC gremlins

Got some catching up reading but hope you guys are seeing better rates

 

It was a load of mulch out of GA. They were loading it in the open and there was a lot of mud they brought inside the trailer with their forklifts. I tried to sweep it but No Way Jose...it had to be washed out, especially when the temps where in the 20s.

The rates improved. I came back from Cincinnati, OH last night for $600 and then on Monday I am booked to leave for Jackson MS for $1600 and then from there to York, PA for $2400 - that's not bad at all all things considered, especially the fact that I still buy fuel for $1.65. BUT I think I may cancel in view of the possibility that the riots escalate, and stay with the family to protect. I hate this, now when the rates started to improve, this madness is happening.

 

We just got RTS fuel cards in the mail yesterday. Most places we frequent accept them. More than nastc it seems. 30c off a gal at some mom and pops by us.

Im seeing posted rates 1000 on 320, 700 on 130mi, 900 on 285 just to give a few examples.

It's still a brokers market IMO. I wouldn't be surprised if the broker is getting 950-1000 on our 700$ run. I know it's 875 min bc the 1st load we did was screwy apt and del time so they threw us 800. And i know they still made some off it. Another EX load last week 130 mi posted for 500. This wk same broker posted it for 700.


Working on getting 2 direct customers. Meeting one for lunch this week. Old man's giving me free reign, set these 2 up myself. Pretty stoked if i just land one direct

 

That's good for you. I do admire and am jealous of your resolve and enthusiasm. I wish I had it in me too. LOL

 

You should like the RTS card. Been using it since I became an O/O and no complaints. Some great discounts on the mom & pop stops. Even in California I'm finding some out of the way stops and saving a buck a gallon off of PFJ which helps a lot here.

Congrats on the direct customer leads, I hope it works out for you. Makes a huge difference to the bottom line at year's end.

 

I enjoyed some of my latest Covid-19 relief runs. Just run as I please.
The Harrison Cascadia gliders with Detroit reman D 60 series are available on their parking lot for $154 500.
They were going for about 10K less 2 years ago. I don't know why I can't stop thinking about them. How many more years for me to be in this business? I hope for not more than 15...so what if got myself a truck like that - nothing fancy schmancy about it - I imagine, it feels kind of of like a century class, I used to drive.
Nonetheless, A reliable, low maintenance truck that should last till I retire.
Certainly, going back to pre ELDs years would make me enjoy this work more.

 

Said screw chasing women and partying and put all my energy into building the business. Got lucky and found a job i love and lucky enough to experience some of the old ways still.

30 yrs from now I hope the small owner ops are still around and can have a piece of the American dream and still rock loose leafs and old iron, rolling coal past nanny trucks

 

All this rioting and looting made me reschedule the morning delivery because of the curfew in the area and consequently cancel my following loads this week. I'll stay home this week and do some gardening. I'll have to make sure nobody is looting my house and destroying my lawn and flower beds.