Two main reasons:

1) The economy is teetering on recession mode. If we went on "strike" this would definitely push the economy over the edge. Just look at those axle union workers, how many people had to be laid off because those people were striking. The trickle down effect was huge, imagine what it would do if we went on strike, boycotted, whatever. This effect would further punish us. It would be counterproductive.

2) Our image would further erode. We already have image problems.

What should we do? Well that depends on our goals.

High fuel prices

Everyone is talking about fuel prices. Fuel cost is now by far #1 the biggest expense, and in some cases is more then all other expenses combined.

My solution is for everyone to slow down to no faster then 60 mph. Also, ensure your equipment is in good shape, and do not idle. Ever. Idling costs are about $5 an hour right now, almost twice as much as picking up a phone and making a long distance call, and leaving it off the hook! Anyone wanting to buy a "classic" truck right now is INSANE.

Should we get congress or the president to slow down all trucks to less then 60 mph? Absolutely NOT. This should be an individual business decision. I do NOT want the government running my business.

So now we've done something amazing, reduced our fuel cost, but if everyone did this, something else amazing would happen. The price of fuel would go down. Why? Because there's less consumption.

Cheap loads

Many people are talking about the cheap loads. Simply refuse to haul them. If you cannot stay afloat with the rate given, why do you haul it? The most important thing is to know your cost, and your expected profit. I know what loads work for me, and I try to stick to them. I do not deal with brokers, so I cannot comment further.

Racking up the miles

This is also part of the problem. You heroes out there doing 14,000+ miles solo are contributing to the excess capacity problem. What we need to do is cut back our miles, try to get more per mile, and to reduce our costs per mile. The end result will be the same money, but with less miles. Slowing down helps.

Anyone agree/disagree?

 

I agree. The other day I had a plumber out to my house and I told him what to charge and he left. I am in dump trucking and am absolutely dumbfounded by people lowering the hourly rates lower now than it was 10 years ago. You are correct, slow down,and start refusing the cheap stuff. But unfortunatly every broker that calls me with a job at a cut rate has no problem finding someone to do it after I refuse.

 

My suggestion is to get all the driver trainers to drive solo. Eventually the supply of cheap drivers will dry up and rates will rise also.

 

This is crazy... so there are two things here. Have the driver trainers not train? so you are complaining about wages for a company driver are low because of the "cheep" labor. if that is the case why would a trainer give up half his pay to work harder? so he could better the industry wages? you really think someone is going to do that? :roll:

also the point about lowering your miles and go for higher prices is a good idea... only if every owner operator would do it, and if EVERY company fleet goes out of business. The great pumpkin now has got a fuel fleet and other companies are brokering their freight because they don't have enough trucks to deliver all their loads they have so much business.

I am sorry to say but when the economy suffers the small business owner is the first to go.

I think the only way to survive a small recession as an owner operator is to specialize. why compete in what everything everyone else is doing? The only ones that will survive are the small business owners that separate themselves from the pack. Now if that means extremely better service or specialized service? or anything else that would help keep a shipper using you and you alone. how about placing their ad on the side of your trailer? something? you just can't do the same thing over and over and expect things to be different

as far as getting O/O and company drivers to try and have a uniform front There is NO WAY. everyone has separate situations and when it comes down to it they are going to do what is best for them and their family.

Lets start really thinking about what can be done... I mean seriously thinking about. not just throwing stuff off the top of our heads.

 

I work for a small company we had 2 trainers they booth stop training. The Company keep trying to get more drivers to train drivers, not gonna happen.
What a difference, we are getting respect.
Work for us.

 

I'll give you that I could see how it would work in your particular situation. Did your wages increase?

 

Schneider can still do well in this cheap freight world, because they all run cheap centurys with pure fuel mileage specs(2.64, direct drive 10 speed, 12.7 detroit). I'll bet their fleet averages around 7.5.

They've been prepared for this for 6-7 years now. Their older trucks weren't specced this good.

Try to find an orange truck that idles. Just try.

They had the foresight many years ago.

 

Who wants to bet "classics" prices are gradually heading SOUTH? Anyone keeping tab on prices?

I pitty the hoods.

Soon enough the mucho machos will trade-in their 'get-out-of-my-way' fuel hogs and opt for "a sissy" (-sissy, mentioned somewhere by a mucho macho in another thread) rig.

Even one percent fuel improvements are starting to look good enough.

Hang on to your hats, it's a long ways DOWN!

God Bless all

 

Funny you mention that Allan, because I was thinking about that the other day. Is there a way to find out what their fleet average is? or any company fleet mpg for that matter.

The reason I was curious was because the driver is a huge mpg factor as well, and let's face it, most company drivers aren't going to worry about it as much as a truck owner would. So I wonder how it all washes out.

 

Yes, I looked the other day at prices and it doesn't looked liked they've dropped for the new "hood" trucks.
Looks like fuel might be starting a downward trend along with the rest of the commodities so we'll see.