Is it hard to find freight in the winter months

Most of us do the holiday run for TMC. This means you stay out for 3 weeks before xmas but then get a full week or week and a half (depending on year) off. You get higher revenue b4 xmas because you stay out. the worst week is xmas to NYE but 90% of the fleet is home. The rest of the winter freight isnt bad as long as you remember, "the squeaky wheel gets the grease but the really squeaky wheel gets replaced." Dont let you FM walk all over ya, but don't be a poop hole either.

Winter sucks though becuase your winches and tarps will be iced. Nothing like tryig to break of 3 inch of solid ice from your straps.

 

Why are you leaving your straps to the elements. All that salt, sand and grit in them is destroying the straps.

 

I'm no Einstein but I assume ice builds up on the straps going 62 miles an hour down the road with a strapped load on deck.

 

You're right. They do. I also see a lot of drivers that wind their straps up into the winches and store them there too.

 

I have seen them stored in the winches too. My past flatbed employer did that with their trailers. But I think TMC tells their drivers to store their straps in that shiny toolbox. Saw a couple TMC trucks today in Vermont. Looking good as always

 

You are right. TMC does not allow storing straps on the winches. Some drivers do it anyway but I would advise not doing it. TMC will frown if you do and get caught. Plus storing them in the box protects them.

 

Things do slow down somewhat in the wintertime. Its not real bad depending on where you live. I live in Louisiana and don't miss many loads because of weather. The problem I have noticed is the loads pay less in winter. It was tough my first winter but as you get more time in and your pay increases you can make it thru just fine. Again I live in the south. It may be a different story for drivers that live up north where the weather can be nasty

 

The winter is a good time to run mileage instead of percentage. And push for nice long two day runs