Where is everyone #2!!

Things for us have been weak since this time last year. We have been working our butts off to keep rates up and keep our drivers busy. This has meant lots of sales work, new customers, rekindling old relationships, etc. Our core specialized business just isn't there. The last 3 months have seen it take another drop. There is just too much capacity and you have people like Roehl tripping over themselves to put more specialized trucks on the road. In addition, the steel shippers we work with are seeing major slow downs. Companies that couldn't keep up 6 months ago are talking about layoffs. I have another good friend that runs a large machine shop that makes parts for several large equipment makers. Their business was great 6 months ago, and has been slowing ever since. Everyone in his industry is feeling the same. While I am tired of the BS in Washington, that's not what has me concerned. I am reading the signs that are all around. I think in 6 months people are going to be saying they underestimated the effect that the sequester, Obamacare, fiscal irresponsibility, etc. would have on the economy and that the second half of this year had very weak (under 1%) growth.

Neither my family or my contractors are interested in running our trucks up and down the road for peanuts. If we aren't making any money, what's the point. We just completed a major bid and should get feedback with the next month. It will be very telling. If we didn't manage to secure more work, it will be time to cut back a little, hunker down, try to keep our good help busy and wait for the next time things swing back to our favor.

 

Take exit 15 north past the TA to the end. That stoplight is US20 and turn left (west) and go thru another stop light about 1/2 mile and they are on the left.

I just posted a link in he other thread about the chain binders. That's where I got my ratchets. They are the LDR-38 and are made for 5/16-3/8 chains and rated for 6,600#. I love them, not a single problem yet with them. You'll have to go up to the DR1 now to get the 6,600 you want as the LDR-38 is only rated for 5,400 for some odd reason??

 

Doesn't help that Tennant just bought 50 new trucks and all Alumnium steps to pull JD freight out of Davenport either. I have a friend who lives in Riverdale and said he's seen them coming into the drop yard with brand new steps and trucks with paper tags??

 

You need this tattooed to your chest

 

Tennant does a lot more than just JD, so I doubt they all are for that strictly.
I have noticed a lot of different carriers hauling for JD lately, JD has to be loving all the rate cutting that is going on to haul their products. It's just a shame that it puts a company like Pape into the situation that he has outlined.

 

He might put that on the back of his head.

 

At my place. Hopefully I'll find a good paying load tomorrow. I didn't take anything last week because I knew I'd be sitting for the weekend. I would rather be home then sitting at a piss smelling dirty truck stop.

 

Hmmm,.......rofl

Well, there is room after all huh? lol
Wonder if I could get some advertising dollars from WS?

Martin

 

Those look familiar.... I've had mine for going on 3 years now, so they aren't as pretty anymore.

And of course they only carry a large assortment of Peterbilt and KW stuff, because they have to do something to make those trucks look good. Our trucks are already good looking lol

 

It's getting that bad huh? Who has come in hard with the rate cutting for JD? Roehl and western express? I use to see WE drivers that just got into there truck, go to JD Harvester in Moline to pick up combines or heads and have no idea how to secure them or even have the equipment needed to secure them. The lack of training is just insane and I bet they are making those rates drop to crap!