You might want to give Jones Motors a call. They use an agent system, and the better freight is over in your neck of the woods towards Pittsburgh. My buddy that followed me to Schneider just went back. His first load was more than I made in a month over here. $3 grand from Pittsburgh to KC MO, 9000 lb LTL. What the hell am I doing at Schneider! Mike
The problem is and you know this, loads like that don't happen everyday in this business. The company I'm leased to is as old if not older than Jones and has a good customer base, its just that other carriers are willing to work for nothing and come in and cut rates!
Boy I know that. But this Schneider gig just ain't cutting the mustard. The expedite stuff, if I get one run a week at $3-$5 a mile would be doable. And lately the guys have been getting 1-2 runs a week. And that is just about all I would want to work with those rates. And there seems to be more freight as more guys close their doors. But can I get that one run a week! That is the $64,000.00 question. Mike
I veiw the load boards most every day, and yeah, generaly speaking that freight is the bottom of the barrel stuff. But, I have found some worthwhile loads on there, you just have to sort through alotta chaff to find wheat. Also, you can bargain on the pay. Not all of them will move on price, but some will. I've done it. A couple of months ago, there was a load posted for $700 to go 130 miles. I called on it and got $900 out of them, and hauled it. Not bad for an afternoons work. This is the exception tho, by far. As for what 2009 brings on the boards....I dunno. The brokers will likey have more leverage than they did in 2008. But they, as with us truckers, quite likey won't make the money seen last year. They typicaly get 8% give or take, and with fuel down, so goes the linehaul rate. Good luck ..
Heres the thing, the surcharge should drop but not the linehaul! And you are right about the brokers having more leverage. My uncle got offered 2 loads today out of TXthat was gonna pay him .80 to the truck with surcharge.....thats just pathetic!
I hear ya Les. I couldnt agree more. But every load I've called on, it's "all inclusive" .80 cents per mile is a slap in the face. I've head Tex is tough to get out of right now, but geezuz, fuel is still twice what it was in 1994, when .80 cents was the standard. Not to sound like a tough guy or anything here, but that crap would have sat on their dock before it went in my trailer for .80 cents. I am glad I don't run Texas
