Anyone else seeing reefer loads drying up?

• Tyson Foods and JBS U.S. Holdings are closing meat processing facilities as employees fall ill and concerns about the spread of coronavirus through facilities rise, according to The Wall Street Journal.
• Tyson Foods temporarily closed a pork production plant with 1,400 workers in Columbus Junction, Iowa after more than 24 employees tested positive for COVID-19,
• JBS closed a beef-processing plant in Souderton, Pennsylvania for two weeks, but is continuing to operate one in Greeley, Colorado.

Tyson and JBS close plants as coronavirus hits meat manufacturing

 

Any refer company worth it’s salt should be able to ride this out. Unlike flatbed companies hauling construction equipment who don’t know when their markets going to come back, you know hauling food is always going to be there. Sure it’s going to fluctuate a little here and there during times like this but people always have to eat. Even when the countries broke. A well Managed reefer company should easily be able to ride this out! Without layoffs either.

 

In Seattle. The spot market is dead. I'm deadheading 1400 miles for a $3/mi load next Monday. Not screwing around with sub $1 a mile freight. I got paid good coming up here. Figured dh would be in my future anyways with it.

 

I heard from another driver that a motor carrier out of Sapulpa OK got called in by their biggest customer who renegotiated their contract rates to the tune of $3 million less . The motor carrier has terminated many of their less productive drivers, mechanics and managers in the office. They have also changed their fuel surcharge calculation from 6 fleet miles per gallon to 7 fleet miles per gallon in an effort to capture back millions of dollars in fuel surcharge that more rightfully should go to the lease/owner ops.

 

How much is many miles loaded are you going to be running?

 

Not when everyone and their brother is dumping flats, steps and vans to grab an ice box. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised to see hotshots with a few chest freezers and refrigerators strapped to the deck, lol.

 

Hope they can keep most of them up and running to feed America

 

Almost 700 miles loaded. But it's a one and a half day load and puts me in a great area after it delivers. Not going back west unless it's really really good any longer. Rates out have cratered for reefer freight.

 

I read in WSJ that America as of earlier this year possess about 77.2 million pounds of frozen poultry product in storage approximately for a variety of purposes.

In Searcy we have what is called the smith farms. Billion dollar chicken houses growing god only knows how many in each one. Used to deliver acres of concrete building 10 of them if not more. Business on that scale is way over my paygrade.

I understood also that smaller chickens grown for approximately 50 days to be suitable for chicken type fast food in the likes of Wendys etc. Nationwide was running short of supply as well. Well enter the Covid19 situation and retail has essentially halted.

There should be a overabundance of chicken now from a month ago.

It has been a very long time since I studied USA/USSR and who has the most of what nationally as enemies and survey a mental exercise of... if you bought all the chicken in the USA to eat today with a extremely big credit card how many millions of pounds will be delivered to your door? Theoratically.

Apparently we have enough in weight to fill a pot all over America for everyone and then some.