Truck Load Rates Halt 8 Week Slide 2.0

Going to Lowe’s and Home Depot. I’ve done them on racks with wheels before. Easy money. Sometimes picking up empties, making it round trip. Since I gave up my steady food load out, haven’t missed the food warehouses. Trying to avoid any load that’s a hassle. Who needs it?

 

Rule of thumb says 10% of load on tongue. Ideally 13%. Add some anti sway bars also. Even then, they’re squirrelly. 5th wheel only way to go. Happened so fast, glad you weren’t involved.

 

To those who will ready this thread 20 years from now.

Dear Future O/O of 2041.
I hope, I am still alive when you read this. And I had better be, because when 70, I'll get the most of my Social Security benefits and well...there is a reason why I work hard now to begin with. I imagine myself on a slick WHITE yacht (I'll name it "White Volvo") somewhere between Florida Keys and Cuba...smoking one of those fat cigars. I still have to learn sailing...but that's a side note.

We are doing good. April started just as strong as any other month lately. For me, personally, it has been the the best ever streak. It is has hard to describe the current freight market situation without being accused of bragging. Therefore, I'd just say that those who can't make it now, or feel that they struggle, they will never make it.

The Covid-19 pandemic, whatever to think of it, created economic conditions under which the transportation industry is a great beneficent, perhaps second to Pharmaceutical and Medical fields. Many owner operators took advantage of hefty government hand outs and loans, thus strengthened their cash reserves and confidence. The current wait time for a new truck exceeds 8 months and even more for a stupid dry van.
The interesting thing, that the current situation somewhat mirrors the one from 2008. That crisis, initially disastrous for the industry, also created a trucking boom that was only comparable to the one wee see now.
Back then, some of my friends - back then still company drivers, seized the right moment, overcame their fears and grew into sizable fleets now.

BTW. I am curious, if all of you are riding those ugly Tesla Trucks and how that is working out for you

 

In before you change your mind

 

Crickets in here. Everyone must be on the money still.

 

That and a million little projects around the house that just need finishing and nailing down, and are generally impossible with an eighteen month old kid all up in the way, lol.

 

We're all mowing grass with our former free time.

 

I have to mow my grass tomorrow and not looking forward to it. I don't know why, it takes me all of 20 minutes. When I was a kid growing up in Ohio, I had to cut 8 acres a week. For some reason I enjoyed that.

Rates are back up here in the west. Pretty easy to find $4 per mile in my lanes whenever I want to run. Only working 3 days this week after taking 5 off, then off all next week again while the wife is visiting her mom.

 

Kentucky Blue Grass here. I once watched and watched that lawn of mine, trying to find the blue color in it, wondering why the heck they were calling it blue since it all looked green to me...but one day I did. I did see the miracle - the green lawn turned into blue. Next time it happens, I'll take a pic and will show it to you.

 

Bluegrass does great in areas that get fairly frequent rain. In drier areas not so great. My yard is a mess, and will probably be gone entirely by the end of the summer. We had another dry winter here, and I fully expect them to start rationing water, and increasing our water rates yet again.