Would you do it again O/O current rates

I would do it again. But I am a hard headed ahole. Kinda have to to be successful at it.

 

A LOT are not doing it with current conditions. I would do it again but I can't recommend a new person doing it right now. Wait until after the election. That would be the time to jump.

 

A lot are just scraping by or using up savings. Capacity needs to exit the market, or demand needs to increase for rates to rise. Truck pricing on somewhat desirable trucks is still high based on the capacity market, IMO. I'm looking to upgrade my truck, but I'm in it for the long haul. Pun intended

 

It was good in 2011-2014 as everybody says, 2015 was ok, 2016 is horrible. Hopefully next year will be better. Up and down, just like every other business I guess.

 

If you plan to run off the load boards,.. I do not recommend financing a truck. Its tough enough with a truck thats paid for. Thats how I survive out here. Save some cash and buy a truck out right or something you can easily pay off in 6 months.

What I am noticing is that not only are good rates becoming difficult to catch,.. but the volume of loads available just isnt there. Usually right now,.. this time of year I have my hands full and its all I can do to cover the loads booked for me. My little circle that I run in the NE is not working out for me right now. I'm going to have to find a different lane if things dont pick up here soon.

Hurst

 

This is def a down year for freight as a whole. I would really hesitate buying a truck at this time unless you have steady work lined up. Maybe things will re-bound maybe they won't. To be honest, the party is over. There will be good times in trucking, but as a whole the industry is in bad shape. To many regulations, costs are way out of proportion compared to freight rates, and everyone seems to be ok with it. A lot of new faces in the industry, who knows maybe that's a good thing. But so far not looking good.

 

But our president says anyone who doesn't think everything is awesome is peddlin' fiction

 

Interesting topic. I'm not an O/O but the idea of going independent has been in the back of my mind since I started trucking... I don't see the upside now at all. Will be interesting to see where the industry goes as a whole in the coming years.

Sometimes I wonder if I should keep an eye out for a smoking deal on the 'right' truck that just needs some TLC at the right price, but I don't know...

 

I have been wanting to re-enter the game for about a year now, but it simply is not the right time. Some claim to still be doing great, but with so many others not doing well, the only way it could be justified is if one had a few rock-solid contracts in place before taking the plunge.
I started out on load boards in 2012 (a good time for freight), but quickly acquired a few direct customers. Those customers were the reason I lasted as long as I did. If not for some bad luck, I'd still be in, but if you are new to the game, it'd be tough to compete against the "temporary workers".
To answer the original question : The grass is NOT greener on the other side of the fence