Current Van rates dropping, is there an end to this?

I see loads to California for less than $2.00 a mile. Loads coming out Long trips for $5.00 a mile. Makes sense.

 

I've started going after more direct freight. All of my loads out of the house are direct now. I get an extra $400 for the same load direct vs broker on avg. Just had to go knock on some doors and make some calls. It's not a huge amount, but it's that much more in my pocket for the exact same load.....that I'm gonna haul anyways. So I'll take it.

 

That was one thing I always wanted to do was to get my own freight(direct customer stuff vs broker). Ive had my authority about 90 days and have 1 direct shipper who keeps me pretty busy. They are a rigging company too so they have stuff going on all over the area I like to run.

I hadn't filled out a broker packet in about 2 weeks!

 

Good points about direct shippers. However I am lazy these days and if I want to take several days off or a week or 2.
Then I do as I please on spot market.

 

I've been chillin' for a month! That's why I was shocked when I started looking for loads to find the rates have either dropped or there just aren't as many out there... I also enjoy not being tied to a customer but I see the benefit of having one to get you out, away from home. If nothing pops up by Friday morning, I'll take an early weekend and go polish something, lol!

 

I do the same. I'm out for two and home for one.....usually. I'm not obligated on direct. I just get an email list of the loads they have available and if I want one, I call them and take it. I'm just cutting out the broker.

 

It gets better, I haven’t filled one out in three years.

 

Things change in a blink of an eye; don't they?!

 

That’s all the Brokers do, they get set up, and get a list. No reason why anyone can’t. Just depends on the Shipper, and if they want to deal with a few or a lot of different Carriers and Brokers. Whether it’s worth it to them.

 

My buddy who lives in the Chicago area says the same thing as you. We have a theory the big urban areas are all being kept fully stocked so no riots or everyone in big cities remains under the illusion all is well while most of the rest of "flyover country" suffers shortages of everything. I'm 90 miles from Nashville and 65 from Chattanooga about 60 from Huntsville. All the area Wal Marts in small towns around here have lots of empty spaces on the shelves of products they can't get. Dollar Generals and it's the same story at grocery stores too. Any of you living in an area where you don't have shortages of products are fortunate. It's definitely not like that everywhere...