Quote:
Originally Posted by GMAN
I have been staying fairly busy. I could have done more but had to take 4 weeks off with my wife. Rates are not what they should be but we still have freight to haul. Rates are not flat, but there are still many who try to move their loads for $1.50-1.70/mile. I turned down a load going to the Bronx for $2.25 this morning. It isn't enough considering the tolls and deadhead. So far they are having difficulty finding any takers. I don't know about flatbed freight being hot this year. A friend of mine was getting better rates with a van than I was with my stepdeck the first quarter. Initially, I thought that Arrow would have had much more of an impact than it did. When you stop and consider the number of trucks on the road, Arrow was nothing more than a blip. I felt that the psychological impact would have helped, but with the economy being down so low anyway it didn't seem to have a noticeable impact. We have been doing very little with the military this year. I seem to be hauling everything but military lately. Menlo Logistics took over much of the military shipping and killed some of the rates to the point where it isn't worth hauling. Menlo is a division of Conway.
I am not killing myself running, but am having some good weeks. Hopefully, the freight will hold up for a few more months. We usually see a drop off in the winter for flats and steps.
Man, I'm just so unplugged with everything. What's an oil change cost nowadays? No idea. Price of fuel? I just go to any TA Rates? I just know my rate, 30 cents per practical mile (32 cents per rip off mile, but I like to go by the actual rate). Yeah, I know that's a low rate, but it's all no touch, great lanes, and there are all of one companies with a hub 3 miles from my house.
I guess I should have know about the impact of Arrow, I just remember Landstar was pushing flatbed hiring when I was considering them again last spring.
I hear you on the wife, God bless her. I'm glad to hear you're working, too.