Just wondering how others are seeing freight these days? It seems to me that freight availability and rates are down from where they should be this time of year. Only a few weeks ago, there was an abundance of freight out of my area. This week has been soft. I was offered a load from Alabama going to New Mexico. While on the phone someone else booked the load for $300 less than I was offered. AMAZING!!

 

my lanes have been dead all year. had maybe 2 good weeks this year. however, the "dead" lanes seem to be busy and decent paying. i'm noticing when people are booking loads cheaper i'm getting calls that the truck "fell off" the load. and i get a call to see if i'm still around.

 

I have had to change the lanes where I run completely the last year.

 

i'm almost to the same point. i'm sure not getting the rates i was.

 

Freight has been soft at home this week. I have not had much to get me to hit the road.

 

I scrambled to find a load yesterday. found one that delivers on sat. but I could pick it up today. I figured i'd find something local to get a bit extra. found a real decent load ( I think anyway). had to deadhead 57 miles, pick up 27klbs, run it 68 miles away, drop it 42 miles from my pick up tomorrow (which actually i'm being loaded now). that short run gave me $300. some say not worth it but for me it for 1 got me to where (close to) I need to be and paid for my fuel for the trip.

 

I booked a load earlier today that pays well. I am supposed to load on Monday. I may also have booked another load that I can put on toward the end of the week. I may not know about it until Monday. If not, then I may be able to take another load from the place that I am picking up on Monday. Other than these, freight has been really slow.

 

whats weird is this week (of course after I find a load) my phone is ringing non stop for freight. I don't know if it just a surge or what.

right now i'm in talks trying to get a new customer and I hope change my lanes.

 

You guys running vans or flatbeds? Rates right now for us are way better than we were seeing this time last year. My trucks are all flat, step, and RGN's, but our average rates are right at $3 a mile for our flats right now. More for the RGN's and of course more for anything wide and heavy. Almost everything we do is construction, pipeline, or oilfield. But we've had the huge contracts with the big cons companies for many years. Just seems to be an not only busier, but longer summer for our freight this year than any other in the last 6-8 years.

 

i'm running a van.. vented van to be exact. right now i dont think i'm making as much money as i was this time last year. however, i did take a risk with taking my own customer over broker work. the rate isnt as good but i dont have to search for freight most times. when i do though it seems freight is still very slow and the rates are down... a lot.