Most people who pull reefers tell me that their rates are down. I spoke with one owner who told me that he was only getting $0.70/mile to go from the east to west coast so that he could get his reefer loads. However, if I had a reefer I have a shipper that told me that they could keep me busy year around with decent rates. I was somewhat tempted, but am not sure that I want to deal with reefers. If flat rates go down dramatically during this winter I may rethink my decision. Reefers are not cheap. I would want to have some assurances that I would be able to do better than with a flat or step in order to spend that much money on another trailer.

 

The Hell you say. No matter where I send my reefers, we're getting our azzes kicked. These rates are from 1980. I know lots and lots and lots of people pulling reefers that all agree with me. I also know lots and lots of people who have folded this year because their reefers werent making even a living wage.

On the other hand, its not only reefers. Its flats and vans too right now. Rates suck everywhere. There are still a few good paying loads here and there, but its certainly not the norm.

 

Is it just me or does anyone else see a disagreement coming pretty soon from Big D. In my crystal ball I see Big D getting way above average rates and all of his associates doing the same and all of you reefer haulers that are getting otherwise just dont use the right customers and dont know the art of negotiation. Anyone else seeing this argument coming very soon without any proof to the contrary? Thats just my guess on the future of this thread.

 

Nah...... I honestly do not give a rats azz..... If others are relying on broker rates for their freight and can't stay in business, then so be it.....Thinning the herd is good for those of us who know how to adjust and adapt in this downcycle...:thumbsup:

 

Your miles and rates are relatively unchanged? And running out of the NW? What are you hearing for xmas trees this year? CHR bid a customer of mine $3000 PDX to Chicago. Didn't even mess with a FSC and those are for loads running from the end of November to the middle of December.

 

Miles and rates are down 4% from this time last year.... Not that bad considering.... Xmas trees are going to be about the same this year as they were last year. The mexico tariffs really spooked the growers. As for CHR... let them hang themselves with the grower by booking the fly by nighters.... I have been busy with watermelons, cantalopes, spuds and onions out of Hermiston and Ontario this summer and into the fall.

 

The sad thing is, someone will gladly haul those for $1.00 a mile. Possibly less.

 

Nope, 4% is not bad at all. My rates have held up but miles are way down. I wasn't going to work my ass off chasing rates. We were prepared to sit the year out but didn't have to get that drastic. It's been rare that I've seen a brokered load out of eastern OR for more than $1.50/mile this year. I don't look that hard because I don't go out there anyway, but I keep an eye on it. How are you doing getting back? As bad as NW rates have been this year, they've been worse on the return.

My customer doesn't do trees, but if you're shipping anything out of the NW during that time of year, trees set the rates. I doubt CH will cover those loads easily. They're just trying to get a foot in the door and they'll gladly pay out of their pocket to do so. Those loads aren't configured for my operation, so I wasn't interested. Plus, there's enough volume and with CH trying to get the cheapest carrier they can, there is above average potential for a service failure. They've already had some issues brokering stuff this year.

 

I hope CHR has to eat some of those cheap loads. Last year they went in on some of the nursery business where we haul and cut the rate almost in half. I would not haul them, but it did impact the number of available loads. It was a battle to keep rates up when these people and others are going in and cutting rates so drastically.

 

Yep, you have to know when to pick your battles these days. These loads are something new for this company and when they told me what CH had bid I said, "I can't touch that and probably nobody else will either...you might as well go with it." I figured the best thing for me is to have CH somehow drop the ball, so I encouraged them. I know what kind of service you generally get for bottom feeder rates. I just hope the percentages flesh out, lol.