Getting Truck / Authority Beware - The Ship Has Sailed

If you don't mind me asking, what is the trailer sales cycle? Can't find anything on google. Thanks

 

Exactly. I mean, I did just fall off of the turnip wagon after all

I ran a load to Phoenix in the middle of December. That same load, I called and tried to "negotiate" on today, went to some other sucker for 45% LESS than what I did it for in the middle of December.

Point being, the market is in flux right now. Spot freight is what it's always been and always will be.

 

Some people have contracts to fill. For example local to me company has Laredo to Detroit automotive dedicated one way account, they take back whatever is available, sometimes it's $2 per mile, sometimes it's $1 per mile or sometimes deadhead.
Another local company has dedicated paid round trips also Detroit to Laredo, if the load back is not ready, they are paid to bounce back empty and they take anything available for any price.
Even $1 per mile loads is a nice profit for them

 

And that my friend,Is why Americans are in debt!! You dont BUY it if you cant afford it.
Thats why Drivers will always be "Yes sir,No Sir" To everyone they encounter,

and a Strike? lol..Like I say,Everyones in thousands upon thousands of dollars in debt and cant Afford to "Stand up" For whats right.

And the Big Brothers are loving it.

It Begins with parenting and how your raised......Society today has become "Impulse" Buyers for Anything!!

 

I read an article somewhere. It was a speech by a Trailer Mfg. Trade group rep given at a Tradeshow.According to him there’s a 9 yr cycle of increased sales.He cited backlogs of orders getting shorter. Cycle should have ended by now. I can’t remember much more. It was around time I was in the market for a trailer. Roughly 2 yrs ago, first I’d heard of it myself.

 

Rates are definitely down.Along with fsc. Stayed south for a week. Did some work done on the Truck.No big deal,squeezed a short trip in between this one and next one.No more DH home. Going to be a balancing act of Trips,and repairs, when loads and rates are thin.Still making progress, just slower pace.

 

I was looking at those same jobs today and just shaking my head This week I wound up booking 2 loads on Convoy from the bay area to Portland and back for over $3 a mile. Considered myself lucky to get them. Rates are really down everywhere this month. Haven't booked a load on DAT this entire month.

 

Having watched the rates in the Midwest for the last two years, I don't see that they hit the miserable level of Jan 2017 yet but I am really astonished by the dynamic of it all. It is not very forgiving .... no forecast to prepare just Bang! and all is back to the survival mode. Is it not going to be the perfect time to spent money on maintenance and equipment upgrades? Very counter intuitive, while there is no money out there to make you go and spend it in the shop or at the dealer but the past shows that it is the best time.

 

Out of curiosity, how far away are you seeing we are from the January 2017 levels?