DAT, loads dropping even further?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Olec, Feb 21, 2025.

  1. Olec

    Olec Bobtail Member

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    No loads on DAT again for my lane.
    Are the rates dropping to sink even further?
     
  2. Kenworth6969

    Kenworth6969 Road Train Member

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    Yes, February has been disaster.
    Early January gave us false hope.

    On the load board all the time.
    Watching people take loads at any price at soon as posted, especially on Friday.
     
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  3. Short Fuse EOD

    Short Fuse EOD Road Train Member

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    Howdy Olec,
    If the lane you have is a backhaul, I would consider trying to find dedicated freight for your backhaul. If you are like me, my direct freight sends me all over the place so I have to utilize the Spot market on my return hauls. If you are utilizing the Spot market as your main source of income, I would be making phone calls, emails, or visits with the goal in serving a direct customer. The consistency will make things easier. The Spot market is just overages. Scraps nothing else. Hang in there.
     
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2025
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  4. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    This has been discussed many times; it is going to get worse before it gets better.
     
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  5. abyliks

    abyliks Road Train Member

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    What makes it your lane? How long is your list of things you won’t do?
     
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  6. Olec

    Olec Bobtail Member

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    Some do have their lanes if they also are dedicated on a regular basis serving their customers. It isn’t all SPOT market for some.
     
  7. Olec

    Olec Bobtail Member

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    That’s a nice response.
     
  8. Short Fuse EOD

    Short Fuse EOD Road Train Member

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    to get the best advice in this forum. Give a summary,-such as region, trailer being pulled, etc. then ask very specific questions. Then you could get some decent answers. Otherwise you’ll get a whole bunch of people rambling their personal feelings. If there is a member in the form that gives really good answers sometimes you can PM them and get further contact with them for guidance. Just keep in mind, that not everybody on this form is successful or has been successful for years. Be careful on the advice Each of us have our own scope of work and it can be fragmented. But there are some good folks around here.
     
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