Is the Hobby Trucker in trouble ???
#11
11-22-2008, 01:14 AM
Right after I purchased my step deck a lot of people decided to do the same thing. Rates dropped dramatically. I have been giving serious consideration to buying more equipment due to the lower costs. There are some good buys around if you can get the money. Unless you can get very good pricing and interest rates you may not want to go into much debt. Rates are likely to be low for a few months. Equipment payments raise the cost of running a truck. It may be difficult to make high equipment payments during this time.
#12
11-22-2008, 01:32 AM
That is what I am hoping I can do is pick up a good used reefer for cash and hold on to my step deck. The only reason I am hesitant on purchasing a reefer is like Gman stated about step decks, everybody and their mother will purchase one and drive the rates into the ground. But it would be nice to have so I could utilize the reefer when deck freight slows down each year. You can probably tell I have not made my mind up at this point as what to do.
#13
11-22-2008, 01:34 AM
That is what I am hoping I can do is pick up a good used reefer for cash and hold on to my step deck. The only reason I am hesitant on purchasing a reefer is like Gman stated about step decks, everybody and their mother will purchase one and drive the rates into the ground. But it would be nice to have so I could utilize the reefer when deck freight slows down each year. You can probably tell I have not made my mind up at this point as what to do.
#14
11-22-2008, 01:51 AM
That is what I was afraid of. Maybe I just need to hold on to my money and ride this one out. It just gets so boring hanging around the house. To damn cold to go fishing. Momma did want the living room, dining room and kitchen painted. That sounds to much like work. Damn now I need a nap :zzz:
#15
11-22-2008, 01:52 AM
A friend of mine bought an insulated 53' Great Dane dry van for $4,500. He also owns a flat bed with a side kit. He is planning on giving up his authority and leasing to a carrier. He will probably lease to Landstar. I am not sure that he will be any better off than running his authority but Landstar does have a strong freight base. Landstar also hauls a lot of brokered loads just like the rest of us. I suppose how well he does with them will depend mostly on whether he can get with agents who have enough direct freight with decent rates.
#16
11-22-2008, 02:02 AM
If enough people buy reefers it will drive prices down just like it has with step decks. To be honest, it has less to do with the type of trailer than the willingness of people who are willing to give their services away. You don't need to cut prices to get business. If you continue cutting prices where you are not making a fair profit it is only a matter of time until you go out of business.
#17
11-22-2008, 02:07 AM
If enough people buy reefers it will drive prices down just like it has with step decks. To be honest, it has less to do with the type of trailer than the willingness of people who are willing to give their services away. You don't need to cut prices to get business. If you continue cutting prices where you are not making a fair profit it is only a matter of time until you go out of business.
#18
11-22-2008, 02:15 AM
I think we are going to see a lot of weed thinning during the coming months. I have received several notifications about equipment auctions from GE Credit. They are one of the primary lenders for class 8 equipment. I would guess you could get a very good buy in a truck or trailer at one of their auctions. Some are on line.
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