Cheap Florida freight

I have not seen the big guys undercutting rates on contracts. But will do what ever they have to to get a truck out of a market. If you look at off-season contract rates vs. spot market rates you will see it is much higher than spot. And they will broker more than they haul in off-season because they can make more from drivers that will take a $1/mile than putting it on a company truck.

 

Unfortunately the large carriers will haul and chop rates to get trucks back into lanes, they will also attempt to keep rates down at the cost of the owner operator.

Happens all the time

 

I was told that Maverick was hauling flatbed freight out of south Texas for $0.50/mile last year. That would do good to only cover the cost of the driver. I won't even cover the fuel cost.

 

Back in the 80's J.B. tried to backhaul lumber out of Canada for little or nothing, Canadians burnt his trucks to the ground loaded.

I visually seen that after the fact.

 

Yes, they were pulling stuff out of Eagle Pass and Brownsville for that low rate. I ran into a lot of their drivers at the T/A in Ganado and they had some deal set-up with a dedicated lane where they took GAF shingles down and picked up lumber and pipe coming back???

You have to remember tho that the rates they get on the other loads, and the LITTLE they pay their drivers. Those trucks are probably paid for in the 1st six months, so the only overhead they have is fuel, driver and maintance on the truck. They can afford to bring a load back for that since it at least pays the drivers mileage....#### shame!!

 

And this is the question a buddy of mine are always asking each other, why Florida? Out of all states, Florida has to be the cheapest to haul out of (next to Texas). But then again, I grew up in West Palm Beach, FL and I have a good idea why. (LoL, look 50 miles south in Miami and you'll know exactly what I mean)

 

There are some areas that have freight about as cheap as Florida. The main problem with Florida is that they don't really make anything. Florida is a consuming state. The only thing they have is produce and that is little by little going away with all the development. Their primary industry other than produce is tourism and that doesn't produce anything for export. Above all else, you have more trucks than freight and those who have trucks will often haul below cost to cover some of their costs of moving their trucks. There is plenty of freight out of central or north central Florida for $1/mile. I have gotten the same product out of Alabama for $2.50/mile. There is no need to blame the shippers or brokers. They will move their freight as cheaply as they can. As long as carriers and owner operators are willing to haul for nothing there will be plenty of freight. I have had brokers in Florida to laugh at the stupidity of these people who take those loads. Of course, they only tell me that after they know I won't haul their freight for those rates.

 

I disagree about the consumer state only, Florida commodities are diverse and that includes manufacturing. But someone who does not do any homework and expects a high pay outbound freight is a fool willing to drag cheap miles, if a person would take the time to establish a relationship you would find abundant good paying freight outbound.

 

I have occasionally gotten something worth putting on my truck coming out of Florida. It has usually come from around Tampa or Jacksonville. Panama City is also an area where I have gotten decent rates coming out. Rates are usually still lower than I can get elsewhere. There is an auction near Orlando where I have gotten good rates coming out after a sale. Unfortunately, they don't have those auctions every week. If you want to stay in Florida, you can get fairly good rates moving freight around instate.

 

That's the move. You should see the rates they are offering to go in there now. Unreal but folks are taking it. I swear even if you own your rig outright I don't understand how they can run it for the rates they do.