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Slow Freight ? ? ?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by shaken, Dec 13, 2006.

  1. Dec 13, 2006 #1
    shaken

    shaken Bobtail Member

    16
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    Dec 13, 2006
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    Only been driving for 6 months so I'm not real familiar with the ups and downs of the industry yet.

    For the last 8 days that I have been out, there have only been 3 days that have been spent driving. Everytime I ask the dm about this all I hear is that freight is really slow...

    Is it really THAT slow this time of year or are they just blowing smoke?

    Would really like to hear how others are running.
     
    shaken, Dec 13, 2006
    shaken, Dec 13, 2006
    #1
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  3. Dec 13, 2006 #2
    Brickman

    Brickman Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    12,908
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    Sep 17, 2006
    WY
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    This is not what last year was.
     
    Brickman, Dec 13, 2006
    Brickman, Dec 13, 2006
    #2
  4. Dec 13, 2006 #3
    Ledbetter

    Ledbetter Light Load Member

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    Nov 25, 2006
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    Right now as a whole the economy is down. No one is buying anything other than food, clothes, and housing stuff. Yes, you have people buying for Christmas but those items were sent back in August and September to the warehouses so they could get prepped to be sent to individual stores in October.

    Also coming up in the first 6 to 8 weeks of 2007 will be the annual slowdown that happens every year after Christmas. You need to be prepared and hopefully have some money saved.

    You didn't mention what type of freight your company hauls so I'm guessing that you are with a Dry Van company. I hauled for a refrigerated company in the past and I never slowed down during normal and abnormal slow freight periods. People still wanted to buy food and chemical companies still wanted their chemicals shipped. (Never together on the same trip of course).

    Be patient, stay with it and expect things to hopefully rebound as usual come March, 2007. If you can't, check out a refrigerated company. There're plenty to choose from and ignore the "reefer stories" that you here. One is you can't sleep with that thing running. Took me a week to get use to the noise and now that I'm away from it, I miss it, LOL.

    Hope this helps.
     
    Ledbetter, Dec 13, 2006
    Ledbetter, Dec 13, 2006
    #3
  5. Dec 13, 2006 #4
    Truckin Juggalo

    Truckin Juggalo Medium Load Member

    606
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    Aug 5, 2006
    Madisonville, TN
    0
    The Peak for Dry Van Freight Season is right around october then it just drops from there and it will start to pick back up in February and March
     
    Truckin Juggalo, Dec 13, 2006
    Truckin Juggalo, Dec 13, 2006
    #4
  7. Dec 13, 2006 #5
    shaken

    shaken Bobtail Member

    16
    6
    Dec 13, 2006
    0
    Thanks for the feedback Ledbetter and Truckin Juggalo! Sounds like Jan-Feb will be a little tough yet... I'll just have to look forward to the increase in March.

    Hauling dry van OTR right now. I've actually been looking into the reefer haulers. But like I said, still a newbie at 6 months. I'd like to get at least one full year in with the same company, (maybe even two) before I start seriously looking. Wouldn't like the "Job Hopper" reputation to haunt any promising future prospects!

    Btw Juggalo... awesome spreadsheet! Inspired me to design my own. Shouldn't have any trouble finding the time out here! LOL
     
    shaken, Dec 13, 2006
    shaken, Dec 13, 2006
    #5
  8. Oct 25, 2009 #6
    jtrnr1951

    jtrnr1951 Road Train Member

    3,466
    1,249
    Jul 20, 2009
    Standing in the corner, timed out
    0
    Yup, he's probaly still waiting for IT to pick-up.
     
    jtrnr1951, Oct 25, 2009
    jtrnr1951, Oct 25, 2009
    #6
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