Have trucking conditions peaked?
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Trucking conditions in the U.S. worsened in September, to their lowest level in a year, according to the FTR Trucking Conditions Index.
It’s the first time the index, at 4.58, has fallen to single digits since December 2017. FTR attributes the decrease to stabilization in freight rates and demand, but notes holiday shipping should keep volumes, capacity, and rates healthy through the end of the year.
“September is a near-term outlier that mostly reflects an unusually rapid stabilization of the spot market due to capacity gains, ongoing completion of bid cycles, and continued adjustment to the electronic logging device environment,” said Avery Vise, vice-president of trucking for FTR. “A strong economy and labor market should make for a strong fourth quarter heading into a promising 2019, but it’s likely that trucking conditions have peaked in the current cycle.”
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There are more drivers than freight right now . The only thing stopping a freefall in rates is that construction companies are paying better money than driving truck. E-LOGS have reduced milage for U.S. drivers this summer by 20 percent compared to summer of 2017
I’ve been in the trucking industries for the last 45 years in different levels. I’ve been employed as professional driver for some of the larger trucking company’s in
Canada I have owned trucks,managed warehouses for freight company’s
The thing that has always bothered me is it is a very cut throat business very competitive and back stabbing is very real when it comes to rates and load
You and your equipment are under a microscope every
Mile of your trip from pinot A to B by the public and law enforcement agency’s the over head is high and rates are low
With all this said There should be no such think as a back haul rate.A load is a load no matter if you are taking it form the destination point of which you unloaded your load or the same city or close destination of where you unloaded going back to the same city you loaded your for haul or close destination to where you picked up your for load.Trucks don’t run cheaper on the load back home and maintianence,is demanded in shorter intervals
I agree Roger. It starts at the top with trucking companies. If you contract an electrician to complete a job, he bills you hourly for all work completed. The same should apply in trucking where the truck is billed out for what it’s worth. This is on the backs of the owners and Managers that settle.
Well I’ve been in the trucking business about as long as you have the both the same story. It’s turned into an imaginary get rich cheap schemes for people that want to hire unqualified Drivers at ridiculous rates . Due to safety concerns in and around the transport industry . Trucking as per se should be regulated strongly, regulated the same as the airline industry . What’s the difference whether it’s an overtired under-trained driver that runs into a Bus full of children or aircraft is crashes . Or young under trained Cowboy truck driver just a fresh out of school paid too little, sliding across snow-covered icy roads smashing into your car. The reality is Big Business controls the trucking industry with lobbyist from the government forced the trucking industry keep the rates down keep the profits down. They have to go back to minimum rates for transport. Minimum rates for contract drivers. The complete and total abolishment of paid by the mile or kilometer as such. And no longer should there be a flat rate fee if it takes 10 hours to deliver a load to should be a minimum per hour regardless of where it goes. All employees in the trucking industry should be paid overtime and lay over time. In my opinion good truck drivers cannot be made or trained , it’s more complicated than that it takes a special skill and temperament to be a safe truck driver.
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You are so right we need minimum rates for each truck of 31,000 kg or or 31 passengers or more that are a charter bus or truck load of $55.00 per hour plus fuel and tolls We need a minimum wage for O.T.R. truck and bus drivers of 1.9 times minimum wage and overtime after 10 hours per day and double time after 13 hours per day. All hours of the work paid to the driver and or the owner-ops. We knew this 13 years ago. Larger trucking companies put profits above safety. E-LOGS are not the answer without minimum wage rates.
I like how you called the load broker pimps. If we have truck problems on the road and have a service call out were at a loss right now. We can’t make enough money because the broker keeps it all. Fuel go’s up rate stays the same. Fuel drops a little fuel go’s dawn.
Only thing I know sold to lowest bidder cheap frieght deregulation caused greed up top money does not get to people on the road or families that cont on income ask your political mindset to define economy when money stops getting to workers or drivers. Phone callers and double brokered frieght is to blame. Shame on them all Ps I do not mind people getting stinking rich just not in s weakened
If there is so much freight and not enough trucks why do I sit for 6-7 days very time I am in south western Ontario. Wait I know why cause I won’t haul freight at a loss the load brokers(pimps’) want to sell loads at less money than I got 15 years ago