Bad timing?

The people that had a drop in freight that much is people that have dedicated contracts and when they closed up shop , there goes the freight. There is plenty of freight out there moving . The question is do u work for a company that is going to work the spot market and/or be using this time to secure new customers and build new relationships.. Well it sucks for the company drivers because u have no say in how things are run. But the owner ops out here should be using these bad times to build relationships and network with new brokers/customers who have the freight that is still moving..

 

For what it's worth, I've been in trucking professionally and consistently doing, driving, dock or management since 1987. Never had a full time job in any other industry. I have been with my current employer 9 years and employer prior to that for 10 years. I am not a job hopper and I am starting a new job on 5/18/20. I am walking away from a daytime P&D run with a major LTL to go back to regional. I have been told I am completely crazy to do this at this time. However, the opportunity I am taking fits for my personal, family, financial, and professional needs and desires. There is no real bad time to move if you do your due diligence.
Blanket statements and generalities are always false. (A little sarcasm)
You need to evaluate each situation as it comes along. So no, this is not necessarily a bad time to move if the right opportunity presents itself. I also agree with you, when this silliness over the Wuhan Flu subsides, as it is starting too, the economy will take off like a rocket.

 

This is a boom-bust industry, full of ups and downs. You've gotta salt away funds when the going is good so that when the lean times hit (and they always do), you can ride out the storm. It's a very simple concept that very few truckers adhere to. So many guys buy new trucks, boats, property etc when they're busy and then when the bottom falls out, they're saddled with debt and payments. Others live paycheck-to-paycheck no matter what and few truckers that I know of seem to have any savings at all.

This has been a great time for me, it's slow as molasses around these parts but I've got over a month of vacation time saved up. I volunteer for days off and I'm getting paid to be at home and get things done I couldn't when times were busy. House is paid for, car is paid for, plenty of money in the bank. Was even able to buy stocks when the market bottomed out and recently cashed it all out for some nice profit. I've increased my net worth more over the last couple months than when I was busy and working 1/2 as much!

So is now bad timing? Yes, if you didn't/don't plan. It's a great time if you have!

 

Some people want security. Some people want maximum opportunity. If you want security, stay put. If you want opportunity change jobs. Both strategies have risks. One risks missing out on advancement. The other risks being unemployed. Pick your comfort level.

 

Well said by both posters. Hope for the best, plan for the worst. Also it is important too have a plan but understand that a plan rarely survives first contact with hostile forces and have contingencies

 

Famine but a feast will follow. I don’t think switching jobs is that big of a deal. Not for a hired driver anyway. The people that are still hiring right now I’d say must be solid companies or they wouldn’t be hiring.

 

@BreadMakesMePoop, its coffee for me...

 

Be patient my friend. Nothing stays bad forever.

 

Never had much of a plan myself. Just keeping an eye on my daily vitals and making everything up as I go along. Of course like I've mentioned in other posts, as have many others around here, I don't think job hopping, let alone moving, is the best thing to do at the moment.
Luckily, I've seen enough booms and bust in my current company over the past, four years to tell the lulls don't last long. Even with the current bout of global unpleasantness.