Freight Rates & Areas?

This being my 2nd year as a dispatcher looking for freight for my driver. I must say these are the worst of times to be looking for loads, Since we live in the big dirty, my suggestion and what im going to tell my driver is to drive up and down 95 till spring comes. Cause if you think your going west and coming back happy, you having something else coming. The west is dead, texas is dead. The only places worth going right now is the Illionise, Indiana area and up and down 95.

 

Potatos out of North Dakota are pay $2.00/mile right now, but freight going in is somewhat limited - cuz everyone wants in on that action.

I think it's a good time to have a reefer. Glad I don't own a skate or drybox right now..

 

Bad thing is, this is common knowledge that is known by all the brokers and the business savvy shippers. They know why you want to get to certain otherwise obscure areas at certain times of the year. They take advantage of their knowledge just like the savvy owner operators do.

Try getting a broker load to Florida during potatoe and melon seasons. Rates mysteriously drop 50% inbound to Florida almost overnight when spuds and melons start moving outbound. That is through the large cut-rate brokers anyhow.

 

I was cashing out at 2.45 per mile plus fuel for 45k of spuds(paid by weight) from Florida to Binghampton,NY last spring. I am curious to see what those Frito loads are going to pay this year.

 

I wouldnt know. I have never once ever used a broker to get into Florida. However, I've no doubt about the broker rates dropping on Fl freight, especially durring springtime.

I becomes a supply/demand issue. Brokers are competing with other brokers for that Florida freight. The rate drops only from a supply and demand point, not cuz they (majority of brokers) are trying to dick the trucker.

This is called capitolism, though many truckers don't seem to agknowledge it.

 

I agree with you completely. I was just making the point that for those who use brokers as a major part of their business model; it will all even out and come back to the averages due to exactly what you described.

I also did not have to use brokers too much, and when I did take the loads to Binghampton, I would get a good paying broker load back to Chicago or another location where I could get good paying, direct shipper frieght to Florida.

 

$2.45 comming out was sweet, but of course fuel was double what it is now.

Were these spuds bulk on the floor, or in totes?.

(either way, by the hundred weight and you only took 45,000??.......grin!!!)

 

Bulk on the floor going to Frito Lay...they paid fuel surcharge on top of that 2.45. was between .35-.40 last year for fuel. When spuds dried up in north Florida, I started hauling bin watermelons from south Georgia to Michigan for 2.25 plus fuel. Now that there was my gravy. I could deadhead to Chicago area and get 2.50 plus back to Atlanta. Too bad that stuff is seasonal huh?LOL