Used trucks are cheap and not selling. Companies closing and brokers too, rates are down. Cheap cheap loads are getting hauled. I have seen this before. A real good indicator that economy is slowing. Trucks move everything. When it starts going south the rest of the country does too.

I've noticed this week the local economy has become more competitive, people are getting to bids and doing jobs almost the same day. I'm still booked out a month but I expect to not work as much this winter.

My dad retired back just before Christmas and his truck is still sitting beside my garage. His primary problem is that his truck has an expensive Thermoking add-on and the banks arent willing to honor that upgrade as part of the price so loans arent gettting approved. Originally asking 45 now its down to 35k

Its a good time buy a used truck if you write a check. Pretty iffy if you need loan.

You'd think that regardless of the price of s truck an owner-op that actually works will pull in easily six figures in income would be an easy loan to write.

Tough to make six figures when rates are so cheap.

Yep. We’ve been in a recession for 2 years. Things will continue to get tight. John Deere sales were down 11% last time I heard

6 figures gross if its closer to 100 than 200, which right now is going to be the case, does not leave much in your pocket.

Don't forget electronic logs are now mandatory. Everyone thinks the reg is reasonable except those of us that operated for decades without them. Sleeping for three hours while waiting to load does not take time off the 14 hour rule. Sleeping 3-4 hours to dodge rush traffic same thing. So driver must spend 4 hours driving through Chicago instead of sleeping 3-4 and doing it an hour and a half. Trust me me when I say its bad right now.

22 year old kid driver that was in here this week told me he is making 130 a year driving for someone else . And he is home everyday.

Speed limit is 75 on the interstate here. Going to a job yesterday I came up on a company truck governed at 65. I just stayed back about 100 yards as I knew we were coming to a construction zone. 45 MPH speed limit. Right lane closed and a giton ramp in the middle of it coming from a loves fuel station. So when we got to the sign I hollered at him on the two way to come over I was not going to pass. Another bonehead with no two way or maybe an Iranian I don't know but he stayed in the right lane all the way to the barricade of flashing arrows then jerked the wheel into the left lane, never slowing down in spite of the potentially dangerous on ramp with big trucks trying to accelerate. These idiots are the norm now not the exception. Racing the clock because of electronic logs.

gross. not take home. or he is lying

Who checks electronic logs? DOTs? I am sure folks are already lying on them somehow.....more regulations means honest people are hindered and those not honest will find a way around it.
I wish some of the Ukranians and Russians around me would go broke.....hundreds of truckers around Sedalia who have chopped up tractor trailers all over here building half million dollar houses on 3 acre lots and ruining farms....they have been the most significant push of land prices around these counties for over 10 years. About all of them drive trucks and their kids dont even finish school many times and just start driving.

They are getting interest free loans and subsides that your kids don't qualify for.

If you dont like what they want to pay you,,,dont haul for them.

only the very well to do folks are doing well.

when I was growing up there was a solid 'middle class' and the mom's stayed at home for the kids.

now the government has raised the kids (for many years) to be woke and ya'll will wonder why we will have a first lady potus who is a commie.

Not much "Union" trucking any more so,,,who do you blame it on now?

Unions companies went under during good economic times. They could not compete.

I am just trying to point out that our economy is suffering. Symptoms always start in transportation.