Can somebody please help me stay motivated?

In Van especially many are struggling just to survive, as evident in this thread.
If this goes on long enough and many get put out of business how is that sustainable. How can people can be encouraged to become future truck drivers when they find out they could be out here sitting going bankrupt themselves if they choose this career.

It's not a remotely stable industry to get into.

 

So if the Megas are paying close to your intake it shows you are not making good decisions on your rates and understanding where to be. If I was you I would sale the trailer and go do the lease on instead of own authority. You are paying to much for insurance to keep this up for those rates.

 

So, basically, you are defying the most elementary laws of economics. You cannot hermetically close the demand and supply sides of the equation.
If everybody agrees not to be hauling for any less than 3 dol per mile, as it would sustain a desired profitability threshold for the most owner/operators, and everybody is happy, then how do you prevent an additional influx of newcomers attracted by the general happiness in the industry and their wanting to be a part of it too. The word is out that "I make $8 000 a week after fuel" type of a thing. The existing carriers would also increase their fleets - capacity to haul - to get more revenue. At some point, again, you will have more capacity than the available freight volume, not allowing everybody to haul for 3 dol per mile at the same time. Otherwise, if the minimum rate is set by law, then you will have to take turns and wait before it is your time to haul.
Kind of like electrical trade Union Workers, who wait months on end before they are called on a job that pays extraordinarily more than a regular electrician job.
What's better, free market or that..? Everybody should decide for themselves.

 

That's how it works.
I don't have a truck or trailer payments but I spent over $1600 this week between replacing breaks and resolving electrical issues. And that's done when at home, not on the road.
I am booked next week on two loads 1200 total miles and $2600 revenue. Mon-Thr. I'll take it because the cost of fuel and tolls will be about $800 and I'll be left with $1800 by Thursday afternoon and then maybe another load by the end of the week taking me back home... that may barely cover the maintenance/repair costs of this week. But then if the next week is the same, provided I don't have additional break down issues, and the next and the next... then that's the money I could live off and pay bills. Now if the break downs and repairs like that happen every week, I too, will break at some point and say, I am out. But everybody hopes that their boat is in a better shape and won't start leaking while fishing for minnows.

 

There's a minimum wage for most all jobs, even company drivers don't have that.
From owner operators to company drivers all can get screwed.

Someone can go to a regular job and even if it's slow/no customers they get paid.
Company driver can be sitting and get zero.

It's messed up all around.

I know how it is and when things turn I'm going to stick it to the brokers.
When they complain ill tell them I'm left standing after you bankrupted my fellow drivers so now you're gonna pay up!

 

This is exactly what happened late April 2020 when the holocough shut downs began, then persisted for 6-8 weeks. It was estimated 1/3 of the national fleet went out of business not to return.

Rates spiked, held a while, then fell again once enough dreamers got their tax refund and bought equipment.

My prediction is: this time it's shaping up to be a much longer downturn than April 2020, for a number of reasons. Mainly that the demand market that hit after free states started to open up last time, doesn't exist today and is further stifled by inflation.

 

Count me in for this weekend. I’m onboard till Monday.

 

Exactly. I’ve been around long enough to see how the average O/O operates. I’m talking about successful ones that lasted. The ones that know all the numbers and options available. The hard Workers. The ones living the reality. The Big Shots don’t last long.

 

This economy is finished.

Bad inflation not going away.
Rasing into rates causing banks to collapse.
People holding back spending.

Just saw this yesterday.
People buying less at Costco too.




Cheap rates are going be here for a while at least until many are bankrupted out.