When Trucks Stop America Stops

Everyone knows the economy is bad right now. With this article I will attempt to show just how badly it effects the trucking industry.Most trucking companys pay their drivers by the mile, a few pay a % of the load value. So basically when we are not moving we are not getting paid. There are exceptions to that--we get layover pay after the first 24 hours, this amounts to about 1/4 of what could be made if we were hauling freight.

I delivered Tuesday in Baton Rogue, La. at 1:00 pm. I went to the closest truck stop to wait for my next load. At 3:00 pm my dispatcher told me to head for Houston, Tx. as there were no loads available for me in Baton Rogue. While in route to Houston I
received load information for a load from Houston to Sorrento, La. approximately 284 empty miles and 296 loaded. It was to deliver Thursday am. That load was canceled before I could get there. Next load was from Austin, Tx. to Allentown, Pa. 428 empty and 1649 loaded, this load also canceled. By this time I am very upset to say the least. I have now sat from Tuesday to Thursday without earning any pay to speak of. My next load, this is the one I am on, was to pickup in Houston Friday and deliver on Monday in Greenville, SC. 284 empty miles and 933 loaded. (the empty miles are from Baton Rogue to Houston) This means I will finish this week with 1200 miles less than I normally do, and 1500 less than I shoot for. Really hurts my paycheck.

Everything you buy has at one time been delivered on a truck, trains and ships cannot deliver to the stores, so when truck loads get slow or stop the economy is already in trouble. Another sign is when trucking companys quit hiring drivers. This industry typicallyhas a 110% turn over in drivers so they are hiring all the time just to keep the trucks full. None of the major carriers, that I know of, are hiring.
Several carriers are consolidating their freight lanes and closing terminals. As the compitation for loads progresses the price per mile,that the carries are paid, will drop. WHEN THE TRUCKS STOP AMERICA STOPS The produce that is in your nearest store did not come from your local farmer it came from Texas, California, Florida, Oklahoma even Mexico just to name a few. And it is the same with every thing in that store. I will try to keep this post alive so those who are interested can follow. Thanks