Slowest time of the year pulling a van?

‘23 and ‘24 were the worst third quarters I’ve had besides ‘09. This year sucks but better than the last two. Guys that are still doing this with truck payments and no mechanical abilities must be running their trucks and themselves into an early grave right now!

 

Depends on the sector your in. For rock buckets the 2nd and 3rd quarters are by far our most busy tine of year. First half of the 4th is also a madhouse as everyone rushes for road salt then it dies till the last half of the 1st quarter because no one is landscapeing in winter.

 

This spring started out insanely busy with freight in the areas I run flatbed. The last 6-7 weeks volume has really dropped and spot market rates in what is normally the best of those areas are down roughly 25-30%.

Luckily the best area for me is at home, so I don't mind waiting a bit for the right load.

 

Yes and yes. Q 4-1 is usually all scrap salt and a handful of down south loads because snow. To what degree varies but late Q4 early Q1 is always basically dead and maintaince level loads with a sprinkle of decent loads.

 

It's dead across the board, flats are slow too.
Historically for me the slowest time was Mid Feb-End of April, but this year beats everything (not in a good way).
I truly have no idea how people with payments are making it doing spot market today.

 

I got all that and just discovered that one truck needs a new bull gear