Is the Recession over?

[RostyC]

Two weeks ago I negotiated a decent rate out of York, PA (not far from my home), It was the first load I called on.
Last week, the Tuesday after the holiday, I spent all day looking for something going west or south out of the Baltimore area. Everything I called on was cheap, like GMAN said 1.00 to 1.20 and they weren't budging at all. The best I found was 1.41 and they wouldn't budge off of it.

I had one lady chuckle at me when she offered 700.00 and I said "well, I guess 1600.00 is out of the question then". I politely turned her down.

At the end of the day 4.30 or so, I found a local run that paid decent for the next day.

Now this week I got something decent out of Baltimore to pick up tomorrow morning for NC.

Bottom line: the economy is slowly trying to gain ground but is still volatile. I talk to a lot people in other industries and this a common theme. Up one day,week, month down the next and so on.

I was reading that used truck sales are up and that market will eventually get tight. I believe new units are up as well but not as significantly. More due to emissions, and companies being apprehensive about buying those trucks.

[Bigmon]

A lot of it is psychological. A state of mind. You can't fill your truck with a load of recession. It goes back to the depression era mindset that has infiltrated today's society. The shipper has not been convinced your services are worth it.

[GMAN]

A lot of it is psychological. A state of mind. You can't fill your truck with a load of recession. It goes back to the depression era mindset that has infiltrated today's society. The shipper has not been convinced your services are worth it.

Part of the problem may be psychological, but even if that is true it ultimately is a self fulfilling prophesy. The previous depression was caused by a failed banking system fueled by unrestrained high risk speculation. That is what essentially got the current situation started.

It is difficult to convince a shipper that your services are worth paying $2/mile or more when there are those who are willing to haul that same load for $1/mile or less. As long as some are willing to haul for free there is no reason a shipper should be willing to pay more unless the time comes when there are no trucks available that will haul for those cheap rates. It goes back to supply and demand.

[heavyhaulerss]

I dont think the recession is over. even if it were, there are too many people under a heavy debt to recover with a economic recovery. so we will not come out of this recession like the others. housing, credit, personal savings. e.t.c. usually a trucker would know ahead of time & predict the slow time for his/her type of freght. for me, I can no longer predict. my co, I am leased to, has spurts of running 3500 miles one week & 900 the next. of course there is almost always a load going somehwere, if your willing to haul for a cheaper rate, or go into a area that is hard to get out of. the flatbed side of it is very unpredictable from my point of view & my location. it is kind of like the stock market. years ago you could predict with in a certain degree of error, then came the erratic swings, just like now in trucking, just like the econony. were on a roller coaster ride in all aspects of life, everyone wondering where the next drop,next curve,the next fall,the next climb will be. & some are just closing their eyes, just hoping they will make it thru the end of this recession.

[Rev.]

I had a fairly lousy week this past week, so I guess that means the recession is back. So far I've started this week with a decent paying load out of the Northeast back into the Midwest, so I guess the recession is done again.

[Joey Shabadoo]

Funny how $2.00/mile freight is Nirvana to so many here.
My uncle was pulling $2.00/mile freight in 1974.

[GMAN]

Funny how $2.00/mile freight is Nirvana to so many here.
My uncle was pulling $2.00/mile freight in 1974.

I don't think anyone suggested that $2/mile freight was Nirvana. He pulled $2/mile freight back then because rates were regulated. Everyone pulled for the same rate back then. There was also less competition. When rates were deregulated it was every man for himself. I have driven under both systems. There are advantages to both. It would be great if everyone pulling for the same rates. We would see most of the freight go to those who provided the best service rather than the cheapest rate.