Trucking observations

[Ale-8(1)]

Had to make a run to Louisville this morning from the Cincinnati area on I-71.

From where I-71 branches away from I-75 in northern Kentucky, we noticed literally dozens -- dozens -- of semi flatbeds running northbound (toward Cincy) with no loads. Seriously, I quit counting at two dozen. On the return trip, we noticed the very same thing, only it was southbound (toward L'ville) flatties, if not quite so many. What the heck?

Also noted what appeared to us to be quite a large number of newish, plain, unmarked, white "box trucks" going in both directions. Leases? Rentals? Private hauling to avoid commercial shipping?

And finally, we noticed that quite a few of the conventional closed semis headed in both directions were quite "spry" in their handling, overtaking cars and even other rucks on the upgrades which is unusual. We suspect they were running empty.

Any comments? :?:

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

If those flatbeds had been loaded one way or the other, I'd suggest they were satisfying some pent up demand for goods caused by the pandemic. But empty both ways? No ideas there, unless they'd already delivered loads that took a while to unload and the trucking companies were just realigning their inventory, like when U-haul has drivers bringing empty trailers back to CA?

Rick C

 

[Pat-inCO]

Now, now, now. Those flatbeds WERE loaded.
Load of post holes; probably for Chicago. :shock:

 

[Big Old Boy]

I had a steep deck and a lowboy ran a lot of empty miles going to get high dollar loads cheap fright was not my thing.

 

[Hawk-in-Wi]

cheap fright right now that's about all there is, is cheap cheap and even cheaper fright

my brother who is still a O/O says he's seen loads listed on the load board as low as 40 cent/mile

getting even a half ass rate outbound is getting hard to do

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Is there any significance to the fact that we saw all those empty flatties, or is it just that they were so easy to notice?

Does the Cincinnati/Louisville route have any bearing on it?

 

[Mobuck]

A few potential answers. Since many businesses/small manufacturing enterprises are shut down, the "backhauls" may be more scarce resulting in "deadhead" return runs. In my area, the windmills are still being erected w/o stoppage and flatbeds are specifically configured for hauling those particular parts so not really able to do backhauls. There may be some sort of load specific nature going on with those trucks. As mentioned, there may be some shifts in need for trailer types in different areas. Some manufacturing has no real warehousing--the finished product/item goes directly onto a trailer to await delivery.
The plain white trailers may be fresh out of a rebuild yard or "storage" units pressed into service to meet demands. Manufacturers who are still working may need to use those for temporary storage with the option to deliver w/o reloading into another trailer.
I heard from a pro-trucker that some companies had raised the acceptable truck speed by 5mph or more and he hadn't seen a truck stopped by the cops for 2 weeks. His company had lifted the "get a checkmark by your name" speed on their computer governed units.

 

[Bull Barrel]

Aren't there auto plants in IN and OH? They Are gearing up to reopen.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

In my area, the windmills are still being erected w/o stoppage and flatbeds are specifically configured for hauling those particular parts so not really able to do backhauls. There may be some sort of load specific nature going on with those trucks. As mentioned, there may be some shifts in need for trailer types in different areas.

The plain white trailers may be fresh out of a rebuild yard or "storage" units pressed into service to meet demands..

These all appeared to be the generic, run-of-the-mill flatties, nothing special.

The white trucks I mentioned were not semi trailers . . . just "box trucks" like you'd expect to see with "U-Haul" or UPS or FedEx decorations. They mostly appeared newish, not "repaints".

 

[Montelores]

These are trucks operating under contract to the U.S. government, carrying construction materials and supplies to a classified destination, hence, no return loads.

The drivers have been given top secret classification, so they aren’t able to discuss their loads and destinations, under penalty of federal incarceration, possibly firing squad or family abduction and torture.

Part of the project involves a fortified, defensible bunker for the federal elected officials and upper-level administrators and certain select state and local officials who are in the good graces of the federal bureaucracy, for having abetted the clandestine federal policies which the Uni-Party has promulgated, under cover of partisan bickering.

This bunker will be self-sufficient, powered by cold fusion technology, which has been available for years, but was kept secret to protect certain regimes and petro-interests around the globe and domestically.

There will also be an on-site biological conversion unit, which will be able to convert any carbon-based life matter, living or dead, and also in various states of decomposition, to nutritional supplies, capable of feeding the population equivalent of a small country.

Most advanced countries around the globe, which have friendly relations with the U.S., have similar facilities, built with information and technology shared by the largest tech companies from the U.S. The “tech titans”, who have assisted the government in the mission to undermine the will and independence and free-thought of the American populace, have reserved places in the bunker.

I may have said too much already...

Monty

 

[Don Lovel]

These are trucks operating under contract to the U.S. government, carrying construction materials and supplies to a classified destination, hence, no return loads.

The drivers have been given top secret classification, so they aren’t able to discuss their loads and destinations, under penalty of federal incarceration, possibly firing squad or family abduction and torture.

Part of the project involves a fortified, defensible bunker for the federal elected officials and upper-level administrators and certain select state and local officials who are in the good graces of the federal bureaucracy, for having abetted the clandestine federal policies which the Uni-Party has promulgated, under cover of partisan bickering.

This bunker will be self-sufficient, powered by cold fusion technology, which has been available for years, but was kept secret to protect certain regimes and petro-interests around the globe and domestically.

There will also be an on-site biological conversion unit, which will be able to convert any carbon-based life matter, living or dead, and also in various states of decomposition, to nutritional supplies, capable of feeding the population equivalent of a small country.

Most advanced countries around the globe, which have friendly relations with the U.S., have similar facilities, built with information and technology shared by the largest tech companies from the U.S. The “tech titans”, who have assisted the government in the mission to undermine the will and independence and free-thought of the American populace, have reserved places in the bunker.

I may have said too much already...

Monty

The reptilian Rothchild & Soros master plan, RFID tracking is by brain controlling nano robotic devices in the Bill Gates' vaccine. And now the large scale Adrenochrome harvest will commence. Tin foil is for baking potatoes, it's not just hat material any more.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

I may have said too much already...Monty

Entirely so. :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Montelores]

I may have said too much already...Monty

Entirely so. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Thanks - I just wanted to tell the truth, before it's tooooooooooooooo...............

Arrghhh!

Help!!! Get off me!!!

ai9oudh973br f
Vmef ,bf. 

 

[Ale-8(1)]

I may have said too much already...Monty

Entirely so. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Thanks - I just wanted to tell the truth, before it's tooooooooooooooo...............

Arrghhh!

Help!!! Get off me!!!

ai9oudh973br f
Vmef ,bf. 

I was gonna warn you about those dark blue (not black) helicopters I saw headed your way, but . . .

 

[kodiakken]

Now, now, now. Those flatbeds WERE loaded.
Load of post holes; probably for Chicago. :shock:

I bet they were hauling sailboat fuel!!

 

[blume357]

thanks Monty, I knew someone would get to the truth eventually...

you still there? huh... what was that noise.....

OH Sh..........

 

[JFB]

given this is already way off original topic.

I've heard the truckers are having a hard time since their "normal" places to eat are now backed up with take out only and places to pee are limited

 

[Mobuck]

"I've heard the truckers are having a hard time since their "normal" places to eat are now backed up with take out only and places to pee are limited"

In some cases/places, yes this is a concern. Many of the state maintained rest areas are closed. The trucker in my family carries his snacks, drinks, and pee bottle in the cab in case he can't find a place open.
From my observations, the "Pilot" & "Loves" truck plazas and Casey's/BP/Aeyrco convenience stores are open with number of occupant restrictions. Over the past 3 weeks, we've driven over 2000 miles on both 2 & 4 lane roads w/o having an issue finding a place to buy gas or use a restroom.

 

[Cooperhawk]

We had a small trucking company a number of years back and we would often run empty trucks to an area that needed the help. Usually hauling concrete culverts for a road construction or something like that, but if it wasn't far away we'd let the drivers return home for the night.

Freighters these days have very powerful trucks. I mean very very powerful.
Also a lot of the freight doesn't weigh much. Like breakfast food, ect.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

We had a small trucking company a number of years back and we would often run empty trucks to an area that needed the help.

I can see that as a possibility, but it wouldn't explain the fact that we were seeing the trucks running empty in both directions. :? :? :?

 

[Rick Courtright]

The white trucks I mentioned were not semi trailers . . . just "box trucks" like you'd expect to see with "U-Haul" or UPS or FedEx decorations. They mostly appeared newish, not "repaints".

Hi,

I see lots of USPS trucks in my neighborhood doing Sunday deliveries for those cooperative systems with UPS and FedEx. Amazon's out there like a swarm of bees every day, too. I see brown trucks every other day of the week, but maybe one "FedEx" marked truck a week. But there are lots of white trucks from regular utility van size to 20' box size running up and down the street. They're unmarked, or maybe have a rental company name on the side. Drivers are all wearing FedEx uniforms.

So maybe those plain white wrapper trucks are going to wear FedEx colors soon?

Rick C