Truck Load Rates Halt 8 Week Slide 2.0

Normally I use Chemical Guys Tire Kicker. But that stuff is whatever Danny’s puts on.

 

All the freightshakers held together by duct tape are taking off for inspection week.

 

I know it all pays the same, but it bummed me out to have to drop my trailer and grab one these new Wabash’s. I’m hoping they’re just leasing these and they’ll disappear as the trailers they’ve ordered trickle in. I won’t even be able to see this thing in the dark.

 

I backed my truck into my driveway about an hour ago and I’m on strike until June 15th. Been pretty quiet around here which either means it’s bad for everyone or everyone is just plugging away.

My revenue so far for this quarter to my truck is down a dime from last quarter, but my fuel cost is cheaper now that we’re getting cost plus pricing at Pilot, so when it all shakes out I should be about the same at the end of the day.

 

Nothing good on the board here. The run I've doing the last few months was put on hold for this week.

The company my dad worked for about 10 years ago is putting another frac crew on in this area next month they're looking for trucks. Got a number to contact them. Still got the tag axle out back and the wet kit off the 99. Oilfield is picking up around here

 

I was thinking about how it is with other lines of businesses...If you were in a different business...for instance, in construction...a plumber, an electrician, or a backyard fountain builder, would there be a time of distress due to things being slow, or too much competition undermining your livelihood? Most likely so...
If you were a barber...a good barber with established clientele, positioned near the Village Hall...that's probably recession-proof. How to become a barber anyway? Are there any continuing education courses for that? It is a sort of an art and trade...sort of being a doctor...the looks doctor. Or a dog barber, is that a niche, you think?

I guess the more established you are - the more you can show for your work, and the less recession prone your business is.

In the trucking business, the hard part is that it is difficult to show the fruits of your trade, the customer testimonials - oohs and aahs - and such things. A builder will show a building, a gardener will show beautifully grown apples, and a landscaper will show a tasty front yard, ... what can a truck owner and operator show? It is not like you can give them, your potential customers, a product sample or a catalog.
OK

 

Clean record, no cargo claims, clean truck when you show up, dressed PROFESSIONALLY before you even step out, Rolodex of numbers of past customers/brokers that are satisfied with your work…. I could go on and on. Your “product” you are showing off is a service. Like the barber, it takes years of skill to build the clientele, and that’s only if you’re good enough to garner that kind of business.

The best advertising isn’t the kind you buy, it’s the kind you pay for.

 

What type of trailer do you pull?

 

Flatbed is what I’m best with. Hopper if rate is good.

Or if the phone rings needing a hero to rescue a bullrack.

 

Thank you for trying to answer but I was touching on something else or rather attempting to describe a phenomenon that can hardly be changed. If, BTW, someone got inspired by your post, they can find more on Letstruck.com and listen to Kevin Rutherford podcasts. In terms of how to present yourself in order to earn business, there they can find such common phrases by large amounts, he has been preaching them for years. Some people need it, and that's good. After all, common phrases are not empty phrases, it is a must to know them.

However, there's an undeniable plight of being another truck in the ocean of trucks, otherwise known as a spot market, especially the dry van segment of it.
You are just one of those fishermen boats, as often described in Hemingway's novels, nothing pretty about them, nor they instill much confidence as to how they can manage to float. What matters is the fish you have on board to sell, whoever catches it first and gets to the shore is the winner.
All is up to the fish in the water, the amounts of it there. No more, no less...Your fishing ropes can't be too brittle but nobody really cares as long as you bring the fish fresh.
The fish market man, the buyer/ we call it a broker, is a ragged cloth man himself, and like a fisherman, he too, smells fish and salt. He could not care less how you comb your hair or shine your cowboy shoes...

Dry van spot market...if there is fish in the water you get on the boat and sail out to get it, so that when it is gone, you pull your boat on the beach sand and save it, dry it up, don't let it rot.
Its up to the fish, if it is there you are doing good, if not... you sail in vain.

I don't post it to complain but explain how it works here...if you think that you want to do the load board spot market freight, that is how it is.