Have Nationwide Freight Rates Stabilized?

Online, February 20, 2010 (Newswire.com) - A steady downturn of rates that a motor carrier receives for hauling cargo from point a to point b, may have become stationary. A little more than two years ago, rates were very good. An average
minimum cost per mile rate was $2.00 per mile at a low, with $2.35 and up as the normal rate for motor carrier freight. Now we are seeing rates hover around $1.50 per mile average after taking a
plunge to new lows at $1.30 roughly. Bear in mind this is the independent carrier rate, not taking in account large fleets who bid relatively low and ship in volume.

Jim Hudson from JimTheTrucker.com says, " I believe we may have seen the bottom on rate per mile, or at least we all hope so." Jim also adds " I have been lucky lately and have pulled a few loads
with a rate of over $2.50 a mile, but that has not always been the case this winter." In fact, rates have dropped like a rock the last year causing many independents and carriers to go under. We
have seen Arrow trucking go under or out of business leaving it's poor drivers stranded just before Christmas without a paycheck and a truck to drive. The paychecks bounced and the fuel cards were shut off. That was a real dirty trick to play on loyal employees. The whole country thinks the management got coal in their stockings for that one.

Let us all hope that the bottom in rates has been seen, and overcome. The only way is up while our economy seems to improve a bit. Rates may take awhile to come back up, but the nation's truckers hope the wait is not to long. Our trucks are expensive to operate and maintain, there is no other freight delivery mode in place at this time, so rates need to keep up with operating expenses.