The Death of the "Buck-A-Mile" Backhaul
#31
08-22-2012, 01:30 PM
I'd be lying if I said I held back the tears on the last ride. But right now the risk versus reward just isn't there for me in trucking. I also have to do what's best for my family. I'm keeping the truck either way. If I don't truck again it'll make a nice RV. 
#32
08-23-2012, 04:20 AM
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 17,097
Well, this can be a tough business. For the last few weeks, rates have been dropping as has the amount of available freight. We expect that in a presidential election, but it seems to have dropped sooner this year than is the norm. I expect things to get much more difficult over the next several months. I hope that I am wrong in my assessment. It is not a time when I would want to take on a lot of debt.
#33
08-26-2012, 08:40 PM
I think business owners are scared to death right now. They see the damage our Dear Leader has done in four years when he’s had to exercise restraint because he wanted to get reelected. If by some unimaginably bad twist of fate Obama gets reelected, what do you think he will do when he no longer has to answer to the voters? Even if Romney wins the election, Obama will have nearly three months with no one to answer to. How much damage could he do in three months? He already has marginalized Congress, threatened Supreme Court justices and shown he is perfectly happy to accomplish his goals via illegal and unconstitutional regulation and Executive Orders if he can’t get his way with the other two branches of government. My guess is that freight will continue to slow not just until the election but all way ‘til Inauguration Day, and that’s if Romney wins. If we are faced with four more years of Obama, I think all bets are off. In the event of total anarchy, or a complete collapse of our system, anyone interested in coming to Southern Illinois and helping farm my small acreage is welcome to contact me.
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#34
08-27-2012, 07:27 PM
Thanks!
Texas can be difficult to get out, but there are opportunities within the state. I know of freight coming out of Tyler and around the Metroplex. Neither pay well, but it would get you rolling without a lot of deadhead. Once you get your feet wet you should start to find better paying loads. If you want to pulls flats, Landstar and CRST Malone both have freight out of Texas and offer some flexibility as to running. Other carriers are Mercer, Bennett, Texas Motor Freight, Lisa, etc., Of course, you could run your own authority. Interstate authority costs $300. Texas intrastate authority costs $200. If you want to pick up and deliver in Texas you will need the Texas intrastate authority. Living in the state, it would be a good idea to have authority in Texas as well as interstate authority.
It will be expensive running your own authority, especially starting out. I would suggest you check around and see if you can find a carrier you could lease to initially until you get your feet wet as an owner operator. If you run your own authority you will need to front the money for authority, insurance, base plates and permits in addition to the start up costs for fuel, etc., Many carriers will front the cost of base plates and take out small amount each week until they have been reimbursed. They will also pay for the liability and cargo insurance. If you lease to a carrier you will only be responsible for bobtail or unladen liability insurance and if you finance your truck you will also need collision or comprehensive insurance. If you go with one of the agent based carriers that pay percentage, you will find that they offer more flexibility when it comes to running. Since you live in Texas the Dallas Truck Show is going on this week. I believe that it starts Thursday and runs through Saturday. If you can get by the show there will be dozens of trucking companies that will have recruiiting booths set up. It will be a good opportunity to talk with a number of carriers face to face in a short time. We are in the corner of Texas between Shreveport, La and Texarkana (each about an hour away), and about 3 hours from Dallas and Little Rock. We can get to I20 and I30 easily and when I 49 is finished we will be about 4 miles from the nearest exit. I think no matter which way we run, we should get back through here regularly. Being near Shreveport we were hoping to have a positive conversation with Tango, but that was the only recruiter that did not want to talk to us! : ( Keep the suggestions coming!
#35
08-28-2012, 05:26 AM
Edit: I done went and said something political in the civilian section of the forum and I thought better of it and deleted it.
I think I made it a week though. It ain't easy being a politaholic. Do I get a lollypop or something? I'm going to try for 2 this time. Just between you and me I'm thinking the smart money bets against me. Last edited by MichiganDriver; 08-28-2012 at 01:16 PM.
#36
08-28-2012, 11:29 AM
Well, this can be a tough business. For the last few weeks, rates have been dropping as has the amount of available freight. We expect that in a presidential election, but it seems to have dropped sooner this year than is the norm. I expect things to get much more difficult over the next several months. I hope that I am wrong in my assessment. It is not a time when I would want to take on a lot of debt.
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