Does freight really slow down?

2008 was a prime example of when freight slowed down

 

I really wish I could disagree, but our economy is currently holding by only a few threads and a bunch of lies.

It's one big rotten tower of cards and it can't go much higher.

I'm going to leave it at that cause if I don't I will write 10pages worth.

 

There are some good industry resources for freight lanes, rates, frequency, all that. Check out some of the information sources. You're right about at least one thing, this is Americ and there will be freight. Ground transportation is a $200 Billion annual industry, so there will be loads. Kind of makes me wonder this, though: how can there be short freight and a driver shortage at the same time? It's kind of - how can there be strong winds and fog at the same time?

 

We are a nation and have our own huge problems and built on a house of cards as noted, but we are also living in a much more "global world" where too many feel that we must feel each others "labor pains" so we can feel better about ourselves ... point is, Europe, China, and the Middle East also has their fuse lit, and at some pint they are all going to explode into chaos, and we (USA) will not be immune.

And don't get me started on how much of a drag the current and projected illegals and "welcomed migrants" will be on our system and security. These will be "the straw that broke the camel's back" this time around.

But back on topic, for all those contemplating trucking as a career choice. It may be better then the options, it is just as susceptible to domestic and global chaos as any other options.

 

If you keep up with the economic blogs like Zerohedge, we are one step away from total collapse. I noticed a slowdown happening in the fall in flatbed running for Swift.

 

I wasn't trucking in 2008...how bad was it? I wonder if this forum has posts from 2008 about freight shortages lol

 

I was hauling aggregate in the DFW and north Texas area and it slowed dramatically but I was also dealing with a divorce at the same time and it was not a good time for me and many others I knew in the construction trade. So I can easily imagine a lot of truckers saw dramatic decrease in gross pay for a time.

 

It was very bad. In Ohio, Honda cut production down to almost nothing. I think it was around 15% of what they had been producing. One supplier in Columbus shut down, and all the others slowed down because the assembly plant wasn't ordering parts like they had been. Consequently, the ripple effect affected all the shuttle drivers who move those loads everyday. I remember hearing from a boss at Midwest Logistics Systems that they had to lay off over 100 drivers.

That was just one company. All the LTLs also laid some drivers off at some point.

 

I think 2016 will be ok....economy is up-ish....job reports are good, obamas out-ish...people are working, people are spendin
They'll be freight movin!!

I haul copper now, different story, Im dependent on china spendin some money in order for me to stay busy..walmart is packed!! lol

 

I can only speak specifically to the expedited freight because I was expediting with FedEx in a specialized, high dollar (usually reefer) division in 2008...

To give some context, we usually only ran loads that paid A LOT per mile, then had to sit for a day or two to get the next high paying load (ie - you made pretty good money, but ran fewer loads spread out)

Anyway, in '08, customers paying more (to have freight expedited) dropped unless it ABSOLUTELY had to be there 5 minutes ago. I felt sorry for the regular expedited division who saw freight slow to a trickle. Also, we spoke with plenty of OTR truckers (usually with the megas) and you could tell they were concerned with the freight (lack of) and diesel prices.