Whats the climate right now?

I've been driving a 26'/26000 lbs gvw truck since August of 2020. I was doing really well, making $5000-6000 a month, until Christmas time. I expected my take home to drop of for a little bit but it has been dog S&#+ ever since. My dispatch keeps telling me there are no loads or they're not paying enough. I was really excited to find a job I enjoyed and that was paying exceptionally well relative to any other job I've had. But now, I'm spending way too much time sitting around not making money.

I don't look at the load boards so I have no way of knowing what is or isn't out there. Is the trucking industry kinda bogged down right now? I want to know if I should get out or stick it out?

 

Methinks you should find a new broker. Rates are skyhigh atm to the point anyone with a truck should be rakeing in the money like a fat guy at an all you can eat cake buffet. And i say this as a cake loving fat dude.

 

You don't have a regular tractor trailer?

 

I'm guessing you haul a lot of automotive expedited freight in that box truck. With the shortage of silicone chips and almost every new car dealer lot I see is practically empty of new vehicles it should be no surprise you can't get any work. The way covid disrupted JIT supply chains was a massive shock to the system that everyone was unprepared for. We all just take it for granted when you point and click to have things shipped they're just going to show up when you expect them to. A massive weakness was exposed. I would expect significant changes to the industry in the upcoming years to try dampening down those kinds of shocks. I don't think that bodes well for people who make their living expediting time critical freight. But I could be wrong.

 

Not yet. If I can make money again I can take some time off to get a Class A. Seeing as I need to make appointments to take all the tests and need to make sure I can afford to make it to the AZMVD FROM WHEREVER I am. Right now I'm feeling kinda stuck.

 

Yes, I do mostly automotive parts, factory equipment, electronics, furniture, I even took a plane from WWII across the country. Most of the loads were expedited shipping when I first started. Lately most of the loads I do get usually have unusual amounts of DH, weird pick up/drop off times and too much time to get to my destination.

I should also mention when I first started I was taking loads that "I shouldn't have." They were paying good money to take loads that would go over my hours. I basically just stayed on the road and slept when I felt the need to. It was working great for me but DOT and our insurance wasn't too happy about it.

 

If that's the case I'll just leave the company. I'm the ony driver right now. And I'm trying to help my buddy keep his company going and get it off the ground. But, you know, I need to make money too.

 

Nah, people have short memory. About as long as their dick. They’ll keep moving things overseas.

 

I just learnt myself about sleeper birth provisions. That might help me out quite a bit.

 

The chip factory in Japan also had a fire. I guess they make the majority of world chips. Took em a month to repair.

Between that and covid.

Recovery of anything inventory and back to normal isn't expected to happen till mid 2022.

I'm ordering a new pickup. After home refi gets done. Cheaper then the used market right now. But delivery is 3 to 6 months.