Finally got my own truck

Way to many company drivers running under 1099. Im pulling a reefer for small fleet in OH leased on pulling their contract . Im avg 2.30mi to truck loaded . Majority of our stuff $3mi. Doing ok but with less time off . Like you i dont see how people are doing it. They gotta be living 24/7 in the truck.

 

Spyder if you still haven’t quit check out the Suorin Drop. It’s a Vape but not one of the bulky, look how big my clouds are ones, the battery is gonna explode in my face... type. While I don’t know how I feel on the smoking vs vaping thing I can assure you I feel much better and my cardio is on point 2 years after switching.

 

I just read the whole thread. Awesome thread man! Do you feel that after the eld mandate it changed your whole plan? I’m glad you made it through and are still going. Hopefully you’ll keep updating the thread!

 

ELD affected the whole industry. It didnt raise rates at all. Companies are more efficient with data and drivers have become more robotic for Corporate profits lowering truck rates IMO. Company im leased to runs us point A to B with just enough time to fuel and take a leak anymore than that your late and reschedule the load.

 

It spiked rates to the highest in history. Then the market adjusted.

 

Do you think the rates are going to raise again? Or stay where they are?

 

The market is cyclical. It will always go up and down and will never remain constant. That never changes. The only thing that changes is just how high the peak is and how low the valley is in the cycle before adjusting the other direction.

My best guess for where rates go from today is the remain fairly constant for the next year. And that's ok, rates are pretty much average right now when compared to the last 25 years. Neither great like the guest half of 18, but also not terrible like we saw in 07/08. Heck it's not even as bad as the last downturn of 15/16.

 

While I agree there are a lot of cheap fly by night carriers out here I don't believe any immigrant driver is doing it for 300 a week. Even the illegal guys down here in Florida that snuck across the border in the back of a truck and speak ZERO English demand more than 300 a week.
The no English, no papers, no know how to do anything day laborer farm hands that you pick up in front of the Mexican store/restaurant get more than that.

10 bucks an hour cash is the going rate. And that's for a guy that can't even drive my tractor in low gear to mow down the weeds. But they got strong backs and aren't scared of sweating.
Point is if im having to pay 10 an hour for a guy with no papers, no English and literally not enough driving skill to run a freaking old farm tractor, I can't believe you can get one with a clean (even if it's under a fake name it has to be a good license to get insurance) , tiny bit of English and the ability to drive a truck (no matter how poorly) for 300 a week. 700 maybe. Id even believe 600 in some cases. But 300? No way.