Who IS Busy Right Now?

We do the same trips on the same schedule, regardless of how much or how little mail is on the trailers. I can't imagine a steadier or easier driving job than being a USPS contractor.

Ditto here in SW Virginia, hiring drivers and getting busier. Expecting things to become very busy in about a month I'm told.

Still on the lookout for ya. I’ve seen that wagon with the mismatched mud flaps around that you have pictured on here. I’m sure I’ve passed you at some point.

We’ve been steady too. Since the weather was pretty mild this winter (so far) the heating oil has been pretty slow and the gas/diesel deliveries have been higher than usual for this time of year. Hoping it stays warm and everyone spends their tax returns on gasoline for road trips.

Although dispatch says loads are slow, they keep me moving. Maybe because I made it plain if I’m going to be away from home I expect to be working. Otherwise I’ll retire.

Sorry I’ve been busy this last week and didn’t respond, thank you for the replies. Gives me some options to consider if things don’t work out too well here but I’m just waiting things out. We should be picking up as soon as the weather gets warmer and we got some foreshadowing of that this week with the last couple days being especially busy. I actually used my entire 70 hour clock this week for the first time ever at this company so that’s a good sign

Up until about a year ago I used to haul mail part time. Company only did trips between a bulk mail center in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, about 80 miles round trip. One Sat I worked and ran 3 trips. Of the 6 legs I actually hauled freight 1 time and that was just a couple racks of mail. Bob tailed once and pulled empties 4 times.

We do the same trips on the same schedule, regardless of how much or how little mail is on the trailers. I can't imagine a steadier or easier driving job than being a USPS contractor.

I have been sitting for five days in Jurupa Valley, CA trying to get a load. I had 50 on my 70 when I parked. My DL says that we are 200 loads under booked. Southern Cal. is normally busy. But, imports into the port of LA are down 41% from this time last year, and the port of Long Beach is down 38%. Another issue is, negotiations are still going on in those ports for a labor contract. So, shippers are shipping to other ports. To complicate things, my company is giving loads to outside carriers for power only. I read that some o/o are selling their rigs in this area. I know this is the slow season, but it i have never seen it this bad. I also read that many of the warehouses here are full, that they are not able to ship any product out due to low demand. I certainly hope things improve soon, or I might have to develop a plan b and c.

I have been sitting for five days in Jurupa Valley, CA trying to get a load. I had 50 on my 70 when I parked. My DL says that we are 200 loads under booked. Southern Cal. is normally busy. But, imports into the port of LA are down 41% from this time last year, and the port of Long Beach is down 38%. Another issue is, negotiations are still going on in those ports for a labor contract. So, shippers are shipping to other ports. To complicate things, my company is giving loads to outside carriers for power only. I read that some o/o are selling their rigs in this area. I know this is the slow season, but it i have never seen it this bad. I also read that many of the warehouses here are full, that they are not able to ship any product out due to low demand. I certainly hope things improve soon, or I might have to develop a plan b and c.

I am curious. Are any of you having to sit in So. Cal. I spoke with a JB Hunt driver in this area last week. He said that he is still busy. If so, I wonder what other companies are doing differently.

5 days waiting for an outbound out of Jurupa?!?!? OMG that's bad!

Yes, Imports into the ports here are way down. Plus, labor negotiations are ongoing at the ports here. The good news is, it's my home terminal , so I get to sit at home. The bad news is, we get no layover pay if it's at our home terminal. So, I am limbo. I can't do anything with my free time. I have to keep my self on stand by, waiting for a pre plan.

I have been sitting for five days in Jurupa Valley, CA trying to get a load. I had 50 on my 70 when I parked. My DL says that we are 200 loads under booked. Southern Cal. is normally busy. But, imports into the port of LA are down 41% from this time last year, and the port of Long Beach is down 38%. Another issue is, negotiations are still going on in those ports for a labor contract. So, shippers are shipping to other ports. To complicate things, my company is giving loads to outside carriers for power only. I read that some o/o are selling their rigs in this area. I know this is the slow season, but it i have never seen it this bad. I also read that many of the warehouses here are full, that they are not able to ship any product out due to low demand. I certainly hope things improve soon, or I might have to develop a plan b and c.

I am curious. Are any of you having to sit in So. Cal. I spoke with a JB Hunt driver in this area last week. He said that he is still busy. If so, I wonder what other companies are doing differently.

Our son Michael drives for Marten and has stayed busy, had two round trips between Stockton and Utah and then took a load to Jurupa Valley and sat for 12 hours before bring a load to Sacramento before going on home time. He comes off home time tomorrow and has an early load headed back south. Sometimes his manager will have him do some local deliveries around Jurupa Valley if he has to wait a bit longer for a longer trip and he gets paid daily rates for that. Today's paycheck was $1700 gross and he just got 6 days of vacation time added since he just hit his 2 year anniversary.