Rates are crashing and fuel to the moon!

I agree 100%. I don't know why everyone makes Freightwaves the gospel on the pulse of the trucking industry. Their #1 goal is to drive traffic to their site and products and using words like "bloodbath" do that and gets them on CNBC and Bloomberg.

Not all trucking is equal and you can't lump dry van into reefer or tanker or flat bed.

I'm in the reefer game and I keep on saying the volumes do not reflect a recession environment and the rates are partially low because of the narrative Freightwaves has put out there.

 

I appreciate it but I have new trucks and want new APU's to go along with it.

 

Volumes and definitely down, at least here in the Midwest. On Friday, I was unloading in Milwaukee, WI, I hoped to get a less than 100 mile short run to get me home and that freight used to be abundant here but by 10 am it was all swept out. It paid as cheap as it could get.
It is all connected vessels and we've seen before. Soon after dry vans, reefers and opendecks will feel the pinch too. Right now it is an aftershock from the record high rates and the rates are not the worst I have seen yet, so it is prematurely to call it a bloodbath but for those working on spot market with a brand new equipment bought for 5% down may not be fun any more. Bloodbath is when the repossessed trucks at auctions are easy to get or when Arrow Truck Sales offer 3 year old trucks for $45 grand but we are not there yet.

 

I should clarify, volumes are down in certain areas but some can be explained by seasonality.

I don't think enough has been made about the bird flu. I'd like to see how many loads have been knocked out of the reefer market as a result. I'd think between MN, IA, WI and MO it's at least 75 loads a week, which all go on the spot market.

 

They lost me when I was reading an article about the diesel “shortage” on the east coast and made reference to diesel prices “plummeting” (their word) 15 cents in other areas of the country. They sell advertising on their site just like the rest of them and sensationalization sells and they do everything in their power to get traffic.

 

Have you looked into Dynsays APU? I have one on my 389 and like it. Can't compare it to any others as this is the only one I've owned...

As for fuel savings I personally don't believe having an APU saves that much...

 

And if you look at the big dog and pony show they are putting on this week a great majority of their sponsors are 3PL companies. It just wrecks of conflict of interest.

The Future of Supply Chain

 

I thought the same thing when diesel was $3. With a bunk heater you're only idling 6 months and I couldn't see recouping your initial investment but with fuel doubled and over my 3 year trade cycle I think you can...but it's also assuming diesel stays this high...At this point I'm just winging it along with other things.

 

Yesterday, my Pick up # never came through. Try finding a Load on Saturday at 2:00 pm. What a mess. The Guy tells Me he’s paying $200 TONU. I tell him that doesn’t cover fuel back home. I think he should pay $250. I weighed my options. Not many, decided to DH to Atlanta, 700 miles, and pick up the only available Load. Keeping the next 2 loads. I got 7.76 mpg Lol. Just filled up at $4.99 gallon. Burned 64 gallons on 621 miles. This Load pays $1300. $2.85 mile on 460 miles. Not exactly sure what it’s cost Me yet, but around $800, since the other Cancelled Load paid $1000 more. Tough decision, still better than cancelling 2 Loads going back home on Saturday, starting over. Might get Lucky yet on Thursday, and be able to make most of it back. A perfect example of what not to do. Still better than giving up. We were all dressed up, with nowhere to go, Lol. Aggravating, but almost in the past. So it goes, can’t always be easy money.

 

Now would be a 'share time '.....
Jus sayin