Getting Truck / Authority Beware - The Ship Has Sailed

Wait til tql scores something and posts 1 load 25 different ways, 500 agents doing it.
Will that make it better?

This business is so much easier when you just deal directly with the customers.

 

I still don't know what to think of these statistical analysis from DAT sometimes. It's like the old adage, there's lies, [darned lies] and statistics.

 

Yep I completely agree. It's a huge conflict of interest dictating market trends with data from a single source. There are other sources out there that I've found which paint a much less dramatic softening of the market, and almost all are saying that the economy is still very strong and freight rates will bounce back somewhat soon.

 

Only the dumb or desperate put themselves at the mercy of the spot market hauling FAK. My wife and I were clueless our first six months but asked a lot of questions and spent a lot of time on TTR. It did not take long to realize that driving for the Megas was not the path to riches. Whenever we saw a really nice truck, especially those with extended sleepers we would go up and ask the drivers what kind of freight they hauled and how much it paid and who they hauled it for. It does not take a genius to realize that hauling the same types of freight that Megas employing H2B visa holders do is a loser’s game and we chose a niche that set us apart from the herd. My wife and I are both navy veterans and being patriotic Democrats with the ability to get Secret clearances we decided to haul AA&E for the military. Unless the US becomes a pacifist nation we won’t have worries and will always be able to afford little niceties like hot tubs. There are other specialties a driver can choose to set them apart like heavy haul, high security freight, tankers, flat bed, and Hazmat.

 

So really you are assuming it all.

I have a different outlook, things are slowing down but it is seasonal, not the end of any gold rush. Amazingly dwell time on the docks is still a little high, tonnage seems to be a little lower but still moving alightly upward, and rates are still rising.

My fleet rate average moved up 6% excluding heavy haul, I expect to see that move up another 2 points by the end of the year.

Those who put credence in load boards as a barometer for the market ignore the fact that their load boards are skewed to begin with and give false data.

But then ... I can be wrong. I have to strategize to maintain revenue for a few trucks, not like some who have come here and claimed they are experts with five or six trucks. Take it as you want.

 

Midnight, you've been doing this for how long?

And how many things have you done?

 

Simply number of loads posted and number of trucks posted. I never care about their hot zone map, as it is something really never reflecting of what I experience but their Average Lane Rates seem well tailored. They have a number of credible contributors in broker to carrier; shipper to carrier pay outs.

 

I go back to my gripe about the so-called 15 day average stats they make you pay for. My buddy says that it hasn't helped ONE time yet when it comes to trying to use it as a barometer in influencing a broker to pay higher than their posted or stated rate.

 

You mean the guy I ran in to with tractor and trailer payments of over 3000 a month isn't going to be getting 3 to 4 dollars a mile anymore? He was crying because he couldn't make it on a 1.80. The industry is coming back to normal. Look out when winter rates show up.

 

You have your fleet and your own freight sources and more than once you already you said that you think little of load boards and brokered freight. But many of us rely exclusively on it, and what he stated adheres to present reality for small people like us. Especially given the fact, that almost every newcomer will start working with load boards too. They might not have any loadboard access or any clue of what's going on. To them he sent the message. He sent a fair warning - no more 4 dol a mile on every load.