Anyone have any updates on flatbed activity? What are freight levels and flatbed rates looking like right now?

 

I'm kinda courious as well, given that Arrow went belly up.

 

Flat bed freight rates are still not where they need to be but there is freight. The problem is that it jumps off the boards regardless of the rate. I had hoped that rates might take a jump with the Arrow failure. It is still too early to tell if it will make any sort of impact. When you think about it, 1,000 trucks isn't much of a dent when you have 3-5 million trucks in the U.S. I don't have any idea how many of those are flats. If flats comprise 20% of the total that would mean that the Arrow closing will only take out a small percentage of trucks. Less than 1% capacity. With greater publicity it might have more of an impact. Of course, if one or more larger carriers also faltered then it might have a greater effect on rates.

Over capacity is still the problem. As long as there is so much excess capacity rates will continue to stay lower and freight availability will also be low. You can still make a living but owner operators and carriers are closing operations at record rates. You will still need to operate lean.

 

Flatbed freight must be pretty good. My dad is making more now than he did when he started. He always has a load planned and ready to go. He was in TX busy with Landstar making good money last week.

 

I dont think flatbed freight is up overall. I dont think arrow would of went out if it was. it may have went out but, it would of held on longer if freight was moving with good rates. I remember when eck miller went out. right now there are good day's & bad. good weeks & bad. for me anyway. it's not a.. freight is moving well again, it's more like, so far so good, considering... could be a false recovery too. ever have agreat 2 weeks or month & then all of a sudden, you got noth'in ? thats what I am afraid of. with me, I just dont see a GOOD reason for freight to be up. looking at all my indicators, I dont see steady feight. I see spurts of it. a good year would be great.

 

If I ever pull a flatbed or stepdeck again My main product will be Rock. Good pay in it.. I will not have to go far to load it from home, since it my home town main product.

I have seen the curbing being shipped out, and I hauled Tombstones for one of the Companies, and regret leaving that job.

But the rest of the Flatbed is dead for me. In the last 10 days I hauled one load. Sat in Sweet Water TX 6 days and been in Hutchinson KS now since Friday. Glad to get rolling, but will be leaving out empty for a 650 mile Deadhead, then sign on to a different Company, then more than likely have to deadhead back to Atlanta to turn in this step Deck.

Been very bad 2 months.... Let's see in 2 months less than 10 loads. Yikes

 

steps and DD freight seems to have dried up again in the Neast. Kinda typical for this time of year anyway I guess. January Blahs I figure. The year end rush is over. Will probably be dead until mid March with a little blip in the last week of Jan and Feb.

 

Flats also. This week is awful. I've done one load, a short one. Going to look for some drywall work to tie me over.

 

Copper used to be $1.80 to $2.15 per mile,.....and then the Arrow flats started rolling in and the rate went all the way down to less than a dollar. Glad to see that some cut throats get into trouble.

 

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JUST WHERE THE HECK HAVE YOU BEEN HIDING DAWG???? :angryblue: