Hopper loads just don't pay enough

I parked my truck at the beginning of May and took a company job as a local live chicken hauler until loads and rates pick back up.

The past year has been stressful trying to keep my own truck busy at my desired profit margin. I refuse to run my equipment for pocket change.

I don't blame immigrants for low freight volume and lousy rates. I blame the fools running our country, and the fools in this business that don't own a calculator. Most non English speaking truck drivers are running non desirable van freight coast to coast. There is still plenty of demand for company truck drivers, just not as much demand for the amount of carriers for the shrinking freight volume i.e we have too many guys that want to be the boss and not enough that want to be a company driver.

I chose to park my truck because I was being outbid by basically everyone. The funny thing is I have no personal debt, no children, and no truck payments. I simply refuse to run my equipment for garbage rates. What most don't realize (until it's too late) is how fast a trucking business of any size can and will burn equity taking low paying or even less than break even loads.

When it comes to hoppers, not long ago I posted a discussion about Prime Inc (among other non traditional companies) getting into the hopper business. I mentioned that I didn't think they would last. Most on this forum probably thought I meant Prime's drivers couldn't handle the work.... What I actually meant was I don't believe there's enough meat on the bone in the hopper industry for a company like Prime Inc or their lease drivers. Personally I wouldn't recommend running a hopper to anyone pursuing a trucking business unless they were a farmer, because the equipment (for the farmer) can be used for both businesses. I knew bulk freight was in trouble about 6 months ago when I started seeing guys showing up to unload hoppers of DDG wearing pajamas instead of work clothes and a seed hat.... Now it's just a waiting game.

I made 184k in about 7 months and i did not work that whole time. Only thing that got me was KW and Pete sitting on my truck for 4 months over a 1 1/2 weeks repair. The right brokers can make you money. Hell i hauled alfalfa for 95 to 150 ton from by omaha to a bit into oklahoma. That is great pay for a short hop. Hauled a lot of corn a short distance for 50 to 85 a ton. Just got to get the right loads.