Holidays and miles

A lot of people are slower during the holidays because the shippers or receivers aren't nearly as busy, which can be even more true if you are running dedicated like you said. Its a great time to plan to take time off as you won't be missing much but sucks if you are looking to work. For my trucks they finished up on the 21st and didn't work until the 27th and then were off again from the 29th till the 2nd. On the 27th 28th 2nd and 3rd. I would have normally hauled around 16 loads for those four days days and I only got 4 maybe 5. Next week will be back to normal which will be nice.

I wouldn't worry too much about it. Things should pick up now that school breaks are over and everyone is back to work.

 

I dont think your company intentionally cut your miles, its more a problem of less freight. Many companies shut down during the holidays so there is less freight. If I remember right freight will be slow until MArch, at least thats the way it was when I drove. Alot of drivers go home for Christmas and stay home until Jan 2 or so partly because of slow freight.
I usually got home Dec 23-24 and stayed hoome til JAn 2 and I was a company driver but I had 10+ years with them so I pretty much got my way.

 

the company isnt cutting loads. its like all and cat said. freight gets slow. think about it...as much as it hurts you to be sitting, it hurts the company as well. if they could legally give you 5000 miles a week and you would do it, then that would happen EVERY week. unfortunately for everyone, trucking is only meeting a demand of shippers and receivers to move their goods, and they completely rely on those entities to tell the industry what they need from it. thats why the busy season is summer to fall...the largest movement of consumer goods is in preparation for christmas. of course, there are many more things than consumer goods that need to be moved, so this is an over-simplification. but your company (in this case at least) isnt trying to jerk you around. most drivers feel the pinch from late december through february. and im sure dedicated may be far worse in this regard, as you are relying on one group of shippers or receivers to give you all your work.

 

Many occupations have slow times, like construction.

This time of year is slow for freight.

It is something we should expect each year, and it is something we need to be ready for.
Which means saving a bit more in the piggy bank during the fall.

Too bad for me, I didn't.
I spent all my money for a special Christmas for many of my family, so now I'm skrimping like crazy.
But I don't blame my company because I know they would keep me running if the loads were available.

What really sucks is getting a 1000 mile load that falls through because some ditzy 'person' doesn't her job at the shipper and never sent the paperwork through before she went home for the weekend.
So now I'm back on the list, waiting my turn for another load on a slow weekend.
Heck, I'll probably sit here until Monday morning and get the same load re-assigned to me.

 

many companies take this time of the year to hand out vacations, do inventory and serious maintenance issues/upgrades. it will pick up and will be back to normal fairly quick.