Big shift recently. Outside the big mega carriers, almost every otr rig is a foreign rig. American guys are gone. Really only American trucks out there are vocational or mega. Still see American guys in the prairie states, last hold out as if you take out vocational or mega about every truck you count at the fuel isle is no longer an American company. Otr segment is now non domicile foreigners. It’s now up to them when they decide it’s not worth it to leave or not to change the otr spot market. We American carriers have lost. ATA must be happy as the little guys are out. I am still here as I haul mostly agricultural. -But do use spot market on return hauls, and that’s were I feel the burn.
Who’s in and who’s out?
Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Midwest Trucker, Jul 21, 2025 at 8:50 PM.
Page 2 of 9
-
austinmike, SL3406, Siinman and 14 others Thank this.
-
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
-
28 years under my own numbers since 1997. An old friend called on the phone yesterday explaining that his cousin surrendered his authority, got a good company job and never looked back…………until he lost that job. Now he bought another truck, reinstated his authority and is frustrated to hell that the world is treating him like he just fell off the turnip truck (brokers, insurance etc.). I told my old friend “that’s the biggest reason I haven’t quit yet”!
-
Nearly lost it all at the start of the year when my last truck exploded after i dumped a bunch of cash into it, then buying a replacment. But im still here and slowly recovering. Freights been kinda hot and cold though. I have had weeks i gross 15k and weeks i barely gross 1k. Just depends who has freight.
Honestly though..... as much as i love driving i cant wait till i have my commercial pilots license and can leave this dumpster fire of an industry.Crude Truckin', Siinman, broke down plumber and 9 others Thank this. -
austinmike, Siinman, Midwest Trucker and 6 others Thank this.
-
-
-
-
A few independents I know have managed to run this spot market for 2 dol a mile for the last 3 years or so because their equipment was paid off and their liability insurance premiums weren't high. That's good for as long as the equipment does not give out. One major repair exceeding 10 Gs and they're out. That's what happened to one of them. He surrendered his truck to the towing company, rented Enterprise car and went home. The broker had to repower the load.
-
Still hauling our own stuff to market. No real choice. The big pain points have been poor dealer support and replacing a long term driver. Took nearly a year to find a capable hands on driver who isn’t always looking for a greener pasture.
Siinman, Midwest Trucker, Rideandrepair and 1 other person Thank this. -
I’m actually trying to yank my hydro tank today because I finally realized how much I hate doing that just as muchSiinman, dirthaller, Sons Hero and 2 others Thank this.
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
Page 2 of 9