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rates

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by riley1131, Jan 6, 2009.

Page 1 of 4
  1. Jan 6, 2009 #1
    riley1131

    riley1131 Bobtail Member

    11
    3
    Jan 6, 2009
    elberton,ga
    0
    Hi im new to this forum. My father and I got in the trucking business after another business venture that left us with our equipment and both haveing experience driving otr we thought it was a good option. We started with a few small customers left from the other business and working the rest off the loadboards. We started this venture about 2 years ago and lately the economy pretty much done away with our customers and put us soley dependent on the boards. Over the 2 years I have had good luck turning a profit off the boards there have been ups and downs but if I watched the areas I went I could usually get decent paying loads both ways however lately take today for example I cant find a load paying enough to consider putting my truck on the road for this seems to becoming the norm. since the summer it has been getting harder and harder to get decent loads. Is everyone else having the same problem? We really enjoy the way we run having to anwser to nobody one of us drives while the other works keeping the truck loaded but if these rates continue my truck will be parked and I will get a normal job. The equipment we have is a international 9400i and 2 benson 48ft flats. Any suggestions are welcome.
     
    riley1131, Jan 6, 2009
    riley1131, Jan 6, 2009
    #1
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  3. Jan 6, 2009 #2
    harbin

    harbin Light Load Member

    52
    17
    Jan 11, 2008
    bear, de
    0
    yeah, times r hard.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 8, 2009
    harbin, Jan 6, 2009
    harbin, Jan 6, 2009
    #2
  4. Jan 6, 2009 #3
    MedicineMan

    MedicineMan Road Train Member

    5,799
    6,440
    Jan 13, 2007
    Woodville, TX
    0
    January is always the worst time. All the retailers are doing inventory and not ordering anything. Go to wallmart and even there you will se bare shelves. It will pick up in February and March although when you add the bad economy I'm not guaranteeing how much it will pick up.
    you need to plan for a bad January EVERY year. Personally I used to take the whole month off when we had our trucks running
     
    MedicineMan, Jan 6, 2009
    MedicineMan, Jan 6, 2009
    #3
  5. Jan 6, 2009 #4
    riley1131

    riley1131 Bobtail Member

    11
    3
    Jan 6, 2009
    elberton,ga
    0
    Yea im hoping it picks up a little atleast I just got a half decent load as yall were anwsering it took 2 days to luck up and get it. Time to start looking for the next one thanks and good luck.
     
    riley1131, Jan 6, 2009
    riley1131, Jan 6, 2009
    #4
  7. Jan 7, 2009 #5
    Evilcapitalist

    Evilcapitalist Light Load Member

    144
    160
    Oct 14, 2008
    Aiken,SC
    0
    I waited 2 days in Oklahoma City to find a decent load, which was picking up in Abilene, KS. Then my truck broke down on me, so 2 more days in the hotel. This was after 2 days downtime b/c of the New Years Holiday. Now I will be lucky to get a decent weekend load. It is REALLY bad right now ....no wonder fuel is so cheap. I didn't vote for Obama (nor McCain, either - voted 3rd party), but I will be glad when he takes office, the war in Israel is over and this economy gets settled down. The market has to go back up - it always does.

    KEEP THE FAITH
     
    Evilcapitalist, Jan 7, 2009
    Evilcapitalist, Jan 7, 2009
    #5
  8. Jan 10, 2009 #6
    person

    person Light Load Member

    83
    8
    Jan 6, 2007
    0
    When fuel goes back up rates should go back up because shippers will be paying a fuel surcharge. It seems fuel going up is the best we can hope for right now. I believe most experts believe it will go up with a vengeance. This isn't good for general production and trucking, of course. But I think it will be good for those who can stay afloat and reap the surcharge thing.
     
    person, Jan 10, 2009
    person, Jan 10, 2009
    #6
  9. Jan 10, 2009 #7
    Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

    18,951
    8,981
    Apr 4, 2007
    0
    This post really makes no sense.

    The fuel surcharge that is paid barely covers the increased costs of the fuel. It does not always keep pace with the rising costs that may be in effect.

    The basic problem is the reduced base freight rates. Why these have happened and ways to raise it should be the focus.
     
    Roadmedic, Jan 10, 2009
    Roadmedic, Jan 10, 2009
    #7
  10. Jan 10, 2009 #8
    Winchester Magnum

    Winchester Magnum Road Train Member

    1,492
    1,647
    Jan 4, 2009
    Alaska highway
    0
    I think what he's saying is that with high(er) fuel, the rates pay more....as in the "all inclusive" type rates. I haul both ...some with a surcharge, and some without a surcharge, and the ones without a SC fluctuate up and down, as fuel goes up/down.

    Not that with an all inclusive rate, that anyone is getting richer cuz fuel is $5.00 gallon. That would be trucker math LOL

    Hope that made sense..
     
    Winchester Magnum, Jan 10, 2009
    Winchester Magnum, Jan 10, 2009
    #8
  11. Jan 10, 2009 #9
    Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

    18,951
    8,981
    Apr 4, 2007
    0
    No, it still goes back to simple math. The basic rate is the source. The reason it has dropped so much is not tied to the fuel prices. It is tied to the economy.
     
    Roadmedic, Jan 10, 2009
    Roadmedic, Jan 10, 2009
    #9
  12. Jan 10, 2009 #10
    Winchester Magnum

    Winchester Magnum Road Train Member

    1,492
    1,647
    Jan 4, 2009
    Alaska highway
    0
    I think the "all inclusive" type rates have dropped for both reasons you mention - Crude per barrel at $40, and the economy in the crapper. So yeah.
     
    Winchester Magnum, Jan 10, 2009
    Winchester Magnum, Jan 10, 2009
    #10
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