Rates are crashing and fuel to the moon!

That graph is hardly a cliff, a downturn yes.

 

Just makes me happy I don’t live and die by the spot market and that I don’t burn bridges so that doors remain open in case I want to go back where I was before.

 

I understand the point you bring up and it's a good point .. which Iam glad you pointed that out because it does come into play as far as this thread is concerned.. we could make it really complex by trying to weight in the economic growth % vs the frieght volume over the last 4 years also witch to be fare that's what should be done
But I don 't have a dog in this fight

 

Right. Year over year isn’t a fair direct comparison. Like you said, how much capacity has been added? You always have the load to truck ratio but there again, that’s not a true reflection either because to keep it “fair” both sides would have to grow at the same rate.

I’m not saying it’s going to get slow or denying that it could get pretty ugly. I just don’t buy into the panic with all these charts and graphs because they don’t really tell you how they got there. Think back to the old days when you’d have to wait for your issue of Heavy Duty Trucking to show up next month so you can read about how bad things are.

 

This thing is going to get interesting I think
Interesting enough that I've been shopping for a commercial brand popcorn popper .. I posted this a few weeks ago in this thread...there's 3 or 4 members here that Iam following now .. and when their rose colored glasses get fogged over .. it will be interesting to see what they post then

 

I do all my load prediction by hanging around the grocery stores and watching what customers are or aren't buying.. that's what determines what I might have to look forward too I guess.. it sounds crude and it probably is
But it gives me a rough idea of what's to come like you I'am not ready to hit the panic button yet..
I been home for 6 weeks now by choice.. I needed to do some much needed updates on my truck .. and needed to let the sticker shock wear off of the corn prices at some of the feedlots I pull for
Another good point you bring up is it would be interesting to know what the % of trucks has increased since 4 years ago too.. I've got a extra wagon sitting here if you get the itch to bump the chute again

 

I watch by what is going on the north east. If I see Landstar or Mercer or other owners up there I know rates are up.