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Overdrive
| October 2014
RIDING THE SPOT MARKET BOOM
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tana-based TFI Logistics broker Dan
Metully, "I don't think I've seen a more
favorable climate for carriers, at least the
smaller ones that we primarily use." He
cited a recent offer on a 55-foot piece for
a standard removable gooseneck trailer.
The carrier quoted $40,000 for the
711-mile move. "I've never seen such a
thing," Metully adds.
More and more, independents are get-
ting the message about using data to, in
Muhammad's words, "maximize profit."
Thayne Boren, Internet Truckstop vice
president of sales, points to a profusion
of new carrier subscriptions to
its load board service – 2,500
more year-to-date than last
year.
"We're seeing a lot more car-
riers enter the spot market," he
says. "There's enough freight
to go around, and the load
board portion of that has really
picked up."
Owner-operator financial
services firm ATBS' numbers
for the first half of 2014 show
continued growth in indepen-
dent owner-operator income.
After posting a $6,000 gain in
2012 to reach nearly $56,000
in average annual income,
independents held that gain
in 2013 and look to do so
again in 2014, even with the
tough wintry first quarter, if
second-quarter figures hold
through yearend.
Speaking at the Overdrive
Partners in Business seminar
at the Great American Truck-
ing Show in August, ATBS
President Todd Amen noted
the tight market overall and the
regulatory blizzard that's made
trucking more difficult over the
past few years.
The primary difference,
Amen said, is that though costs
continue to rise, pay from carri-
ers and rates from brokers and
shippers are starting to break
in favor of leased and indepen-
dent owner-operators.
"Life is good," he said.
Owner-operator Rico Muhammad
specializes mostly in the Southeast
with a mind toward securing direct
customers.
