Now that the recession is over (what?), what have carriers/drivers learned?

Okay, let's take another approach! Let's just take it for granted that the economy sucks, will continue to suck, and that there's no-way no-how things will ever get better. Now, if we assume that life will suck in perpetuity, that we will continue to struggle through, continue to be dragged through life kicking and screaming, what are some things we can do to at least continue sucking in air (dirty as the air might be), to at least keep up enough strength to continue ######## and moaning, to make it worth even the minimal effort needed to grunt? Any suggestions for survival? Any rays of hope?

 

Like president change didn't get elected?... As soon as he runs out of bush did it... he will look into it...

 

Trust me after 4-6 weeks...our NEEDS are both the same! and don't cost a thing! LMAO Just doing our part for the economy! HA HA HA

 

Now that right there is good info! 'Cept they're not hiring in my area anyway.... ####, ####, ####!

 

Yeah, kinda like ordering a Civil War Chess set thru the mail, You get a piece every 4 to 6 weeks, you don't know what kind of shape that piece is gonna be in when you get it, but you still gotta pay the handling charges.

 

She was not a mail order bride...she may be getting old, but not civil war stock!

Yep, that's about right! Once a month...if she is in the mood! Maybe!

Again, about right...got to have the lights out...it's by memory, No lookie--no touchie!

Talk about Finance Reform...man she already gets the paycheck through direct deposit...you mean I have to ante up more to boot?

 

I don't really think that in this case you are going to find much difference between the trucking business and othe businesses. The businesses that survive the current economic climate are likely to share certain traits.

Any company that survives has to be in good financial shape i.e. well capitalized with minimal leverage and adequate cash reserves. If the company was in shape prior to the bust they stand a much better chance of surviving the down turn. This of course would apply to O/Os and drivers too.

Any company that has survived to this point is in the position to experience some growth.

Arrow goes under. Okay when they failed they left customers that still need to be serviced. A well managed company will go after that business to the extent that they can even if they have to add equipment. As long as they can add the new business and minimize the risk. One company's failure is another's opportunity. Ditto employees and contractors.

I think right now that the strategy for a "successful" company would be one of risk management rather than industry inovation.


just my $0.02


............. Jim

 

well, one of swift owners is getting sued by the National Hockey league for $ 6 million bucks. Expect swift to hustle up some more loads to pay that off.

 

Ouch!

 

Oldnewbie.....

Another thing that we might be gonna see (to get back to your topic ) is teams.

It seems that some companies are trying to team as many trucks as possible.

It makes sense from a business perspective. You can move more freight over a given period of time with a team truck than you can with a solo truck. Or another way to think about it is that a company can move the same amount of freight with half of the trucks e.g. half of the capital investment. Either way it should work out so the company sees more profit. Maybe not a higher margin but at least higher gross dollars.

You can shorten delivery times with a team truck (that's why a lot of expiditer trucks are team ops) which should theoretically increase sales for the company. Again increasing revenue.

Maybe this is the new paradigm for the industry in the coming months/years?


................ Jim