lack of loads

First quarter is always slow.

 

Frac sand is getting well in PA.

 

Reefer freight always falls off in late December or early January to one extent or another. The supply chain gets overfilled during the holidays, and that product has to get moved before shipping picks up again. It's part of the yearly freight cycle. And... my observation is that due to more conservative load planning AND that afore-mentioned drop-off, there is more time on loads to help with weather delays this time of year. It will pick up again as spring produce starts to hit the market.

It's just part of the game, and even company-side drivers need to put cash away when they're in the high-hay for this time of year!

 

Retailers make half their annual profit in the 4th quarter. In order to ramp up the supply chain shipping is heaviest in the 3rd quarter and through November. Shipping begins to tail off in December, if it isn't in the distribution centers by Thanksgiving it is too late to reach the sores by the first or second week of December. December shipping is mostly going from DC to store.

I concur that all truckers need to plan on thinner paychecks in the 1st quarter.

Brand name companies and major retailers work on very long lead times. Right now trade shows are showing products for back to school, holiday, and fall. Salesman samples are already ordered for Spring 2015 for trade shows starting inJune. Designs and planning for Fall, Back to School, and Holiday 2015 is underway.

 

Close to 500 REEFER LOADS listed on PRIMES LOGISTICS site for January

 

January and February ALWAYS sucks for freight, that's regardless of what company of kind of freight you're hauling. And that's after 18 years of seeing freight's ups & downs.

 

This winter is definitely better than last year so far. Knock on wood.....

 

That's why im a company driver and not a lease driver.