Did everyone go out of business? seems this forum died..

Don't be sorry, gotta know when to fold 'em
If I leave now I'm left with a profit after 3 years. My setup worked really well just before #### hit the fan.
I can still make a profit if I ran now but not enough to cover any big repairs or screwups so it will be exactly like gambling. Earn hundreds till the casino eventually takes it all.

I love custom builds. I have a few more I'd like to try. One day...

 

Great should we also share all the pictures of Semis running into #### they shouldn't? In fact there is an entire channel on youtube called Bonehead truckers with idiots in big trucks running into ####. Your point that you saw 1 hotshot guy do something stupid is rather silly considering the amount of Semi crashes there are every single day and the fact that the MEGAs put people with zero experience behind the wheel the day they get their license, but somehow you think simply driving a bigger trucks makes you professional?

 

Don’t ever take comments by me not directed at you personally. Had the same guy shown you the same lack of professionalism and put your ability to earn a living in jeopardy by striking your equipment twice, you may have a few choice words for him. After 35 years doing this profession I am fully aware of the same lack of professionalism shown by some in 18 Wheel Rigs.
My comment was to Rideandrepair who commented about someone block him recently. The fact that they were a hotshot also was the reason for the location of my post. Had I been on the Carhaul page and had he spoken about a carhauler doing this to him and had a carhauler done this to me the same day, guess what page I would have posted it on? The Carhaul page. When I see something stupid a carhauler is doing, guess who I show or tell it to first.? A carhauler. Imagine that!
Do I hate hotshots? No is the answer because I have friends in the business, who happen to be successful doing it. They started with one pickup and a trailer and now *They are brokers* you probably hate them, but I don’t.
Guess what page I post on when I see a jacked up flatbed load? The Flatbed haul of shame is the correct answer. Do I hate all flatbeders? No because I was one at one point and I have many friends in that industry. I usually send them the picture first to get their comments.

When someone makes a comment about the unprofessional actions of one hotshot, think to yourself how you are glad you don’t do that. When someone who isn’t in the industry tells me about the reckless driving of truckers, I think to myself how I am glad I am not like that.

 

We survive because if your smart your getting a fuel discount (I just got $1.03 off the pump price.) and at least the National average fuel surcharge, plus I’ve slowed down to 62mph. On this trip from Georgia to Texas I’m getting 9.1mpg. That’s how we survive.

 

Good deal, I also see you was here in 09 the fuel was not as bad like now, however the loads were paying less as I recall.

 

They were..

If you look at the average rate during the trade war for instance and the fuel price then, the average rate today is still high enough today that you're making more money per gallon of diesel. When I last did the math, a month ago it was over $8 more income today than then per gallon.

No idea about 09 but when I did the math on surviving the trade war vs this I realized it's not as bad as it seems. Yes, it sucks to pay that fuel bill, but I'm also getting more money on my loads.

 

Same here, nothing personal. I was commenting on fuel prices, not expediters. Didn’t even notice what forum it was posted on. As far as stupid moves, I’ve made at a handful just today myself. Lol. It only counts if something gets damaged.

 

Wow! You have bought a lot of equipment & invested a lot over the last couple of years. You really going to throw in the towel?

 

Like I said before, know when to fold em...
I made great money over the last 2.5 years. I averaged $1 a mile profit for most of that time. I paid cash for my truck and H&T bed, over $100k.
Since January I was struggling to make a good profit. I started earning around 30 cents a mile after expenses with no money left for maintenance/repairs. I was earning about $150 a day before taxes which is absolute dog doodoo for time, equipment and risk involved in trucking. If I keep driving I am putting miles on the truck for free. One good breakdown, even though unlikely on my truck, would wipe out months of "profit". Essentially working for free.
Currently I am earning about the same money working part time with 0 risks or expense. I still have my CDL and my truck, I can be back in business in 30 days if the market changes. I have free parking, costs me nothing to let it sit for a while.
I folded up my towel neatly and put it aside, haven't really "thrown it in" yet

I have bought a lot of equipment but I also sold them at nearly what I paid for them. Sold my ram for 45k after 2.5 years I paid 60k for it, apart from maintenance I haven't had to put a dime extra on it. Lost 5k on my first trailer and 10k on my second trailer. I sold my third trailer which I bought new for a $3k profit after a year and a half of use. My current truck is currently worth about $35k more than what I have invested in it.
All in all, I am in the green right now and to continue would put me in the red in 6 months. If my truck sells for near my asking price I would walk away with about 200k saved in my pocket after working 3 years. Not too shabby

 

I am seeing more and more RV Transporters in my area everyday.