Freight Slowing down during the winter?

Are you talking about general truckload dry freight? Regional or OTR?

But yes, in truckload trucking, there is immense competition, in spite of what the overall economic conditions are doing. Some will succeed, beat others up, and come out the other side, others will struggle and possibly fail. I can't relate anymore. Where I am presently, there really is no busy times and slow times but I realize there is for others.

Some expand too much and/or too fast during the boom time assuming the boom time would go on forever, then end up with a lot of unhappy drivers after the boom runs out, which it always does. Food on the other hand goes on, regardless what the economy does. People are always going to eat, either at home from a grocery store or at a fast food place, or at a restaurant

 

Some do some do not. Others park for winter. (Blacktop work comes to mind.)

What we used to do in the old days is run hard say thrid week of Feb into around 2nd week of November. If it's indian summer or autmnum you took a few more weeks out and gave thanks for his holy bleesings upon us all into winter. The better to celebrate the spring.

 

General freight gets slow during winter time. Even the LTLs are slow.

 

It gives you time to re-lyric your favorite country song to fit your situation.

In your best country voice..

I been in sleeper 'bout a 100 hours..
Ain't got no dispatch..
I get the blues every time I check..
Been that way for months..

My qualcomm is.. Dry dry dry! Oh my box is... Dryyyyy

*twangy guitar notes*

 

What type trailer are you pulling? If you're pulling a reefer it shouldn't be slowing down at all with Christmas and New Year right around the corner.

 

I pulled a reefer and during the months of Oct, Nov and Dec my company ran my rear off. If I was not hauling General Mills it was Tyson, if not Tyson it was candy. This went on till about mid Jan. I sometimes took 2 weeks of home time in late Jan. Then Feb and March was slow but I still made good money. By April it was going again.

Some may not want to say it, but these winter months is when the "problem" drivers sit. I have had my FM send me a load after sitting at our terminal for a few hours and leave with drivers sitting that have been sitting for a day or two. Goes back to that relationship with the FM and making those appointments. If you ever get on a load planners (redacted) list I feel for you when the freight is slow.

 

Don’t quit your day job.

 

deleted. Dont want to derail