hows every ones rates holding up?

In looking at the loadboard it seems like there are less loads posted now then at this time last year. Last week I delivered to NJ and wound up DH to NC to pick up crane parts going to south GA. Good thing I made most of my money going up.

 

My freight or rates have not changed at all. A few customers have even started to pick up. This is why you need to stay away from brokers as much as possible or find brokers with dedicated customers. The work and the money is there just not as much extra capacity to throw out to the brokers.

 

I had a decent run going in, tail end of a multi-stop weekend run. But it wasn't a great run. I knew I was going to have to work to get one coming out of there. I've got patience for miles and don't mind hustling, but after the 20th broker in a row offers you welfare rates and acts like they're doing you a favor, it's time to move.

Funny thing is, after I took the load out I had 3 calls on my truck postings hours after I deleted them. After hearing cheap rates thrown at me all day it felt good to give a little back LOL. "Oh geez I'm sorry, we just picked up a load two hours ago... maybe next time, friend.."

 

Red, Feels even better when it is a broker that jerked you around calling back begging you to take a load. Called Friday for Monday load out of my town - 1 mile DH. Broker tells me they will have to check with customer on my rate and let me know Monday. Yeah, OK, I'll sit by the phone and wait on you. 200 miles into my load on Monday I get a call to see if I still want the load. Pleeease - I'm going to loose the account.

Still brings a smile to my face thinking about it.

 

According to TransCore rate monitoring, Philly rates have been dropping for about a month or so, down 3-7% depending on trailer type. And that's from a crappy rate to begin with......

 

It seems to me that when the price of diesel hits $4.00 everything comes to a screeching halt.

 

But it has been above for a while and is now below. Saw $3.99 in OH this morning and paid $3.89 in IN on Monday.

 

Let me qualify by saying around $4.00 Bill. The freight I haul (mostly ltl) tends to fall off when fuel jumps, I can haul all the military I can handle but it isn't worth what it pays and the other stuff isn't much better. That $3.89 in IN doesn't include the .11 cent surcharge so in reality IN fuel is around four bucks.

I think we're headed for another slump, this summer won't produce the numbers that everyone has hoped for. There have been several articles that indicate the economy will remain weak, as I sit here looking at my IRP bill that has an increase of roughly 27% over last year I wonder if it's worth writing the check.

 

Yep, I had the company check on a ld. for me from middle Il going to Nv. this is for a 13 axle unit.
Plus needing a deck insert. Less than 9 mile gross is all they wanted to pay.
Then I need to pull escort money / permits from that costs. Plus the companies cut..

Funny thing is somebody will do it for that price.
I got a deal starting next month out in Wa. and was looking for something to get me that way. Heck I can bounce out of Ga. cheaper than pulling that ld.