Seems like 'The Hunger Games' for Owner Operators

that’s why all the snow Mexicans run interstate US freight that they shouldn’t be over saturating the US market as well. Pretty sick of it personally

 

Freight waves did a article saying that this recession is unlike any other for trucking .. since aug2020 to sept2022 trucking added over 1100 new authorities each week.. also in the 2008 recession brokers moved under 10% of the freight and most was leftovers ,Now they move over 20% of all freight and a lot of it is premium stuff.. All the 1 to 5 truck companies keep getting enough freight to make the payment unlike in 2008 where they got nothing hardly.. they figure another 78 weeks to be back to normal.

 

My only pushback on the freightwaves article is that when predicting 78 weeks until normalization, it makes the assumption that there isn't acceleration in the number of carriers leaving the market place the longer we remain in a "freight recession". I would imagine more and more carriers leave the market place the longer the market is recessed.

 

We have priorities . Thanks for noticing

 

What amazes me is a few members in this forum want to go owner op, they can see(read) in plain day that other individuals are folding up shop and going company. And they seek advice and still want to roll the dice. Go figure……..

 

you ever read the book The Jungle by Upton Sinclair?
There’s always an ### for every seat. There’s always somebody that thinks that if they just work harder they can make it, and that everyone else that failed was stupid and they’re smart. However, most systems are not designed for labor to succeed.

 

Sorta agree, sorta disagree. I did LP with Schneider when everyone, to this day, says you can't do it and be successful, but I was. Part of the reason I was because I was focused on my business, not a bunch of crap going on behind me and I had my families support (they got it).
But to your original point, you're absolutely right. That's why they import guys from Somalia and push for 18year old drivers.

It will only get worse. And part of the problem is that WE don't understand........some of those rascals are living their best life at .20 a mile and an airconditioned truck.

 

I dunno if @Diesel Dave post was directed at me, but if it was, I get what you're saying.

My idea, or plan if you wanna call it that, is a bit different from what I think a lot of guys do. In fact, I think it's polar opposite. I could be wrong, and may be.

Seems to me guys run out and buy a truck when times are good and it looks easy. They buy their dream truck with a big payment when things are good and have high overhead. Then when the market turns, they have no wiggle room.

I may be wrong, but it's my belief that I'd be better off buying a cheaper truck in cash, (with the realization that I will have to stick money into it) and keeping my overhead as low as possible. And if I can do that and be successful when the market sucks, I should be able to make it if and when things turn for the better. Then bank the money for a newer truck.

Most likely I'll be in a local operation pulling dry bulk tanks to ready mix plants. It's seasonal work around here, and over the winter I'd go pull rail containers just to keep busy and cover my fixed costs.

It's a nice theory, I think. In reality? May not work. Or it may. Who knows. But I won't know till I try.

 

Cheaper and emissions trucks don’t go together…….