2024

I’ve congratulated myself thru many hard times. This year will be no different.

 

Screenshot from a friend yesterday -

 

Its really not that bad. Yes this is a contraction of the industry but not as bad as before. Although after manufacturing resurgence under the Orange Dude, and then the Covid catchup craze, where freight moved like ive never seen. Anything after that stuff seems bad. Still not as bad as 08
When drivers were laid off.

 

Not to derail - but in the same vein, though probably beating a dead horse.

House insurance - SW MO - we dropped safeco at $3k/year, went to Jasper County Mutual. $2,400/year.

This year’s renewal - $3,000. Rental property did the same.

Auto insurance, 2 vehicles - Safeco to Progressive, renewal is $300 higher than last year - annually.

Buy a half beef every year. 2 years ago was $2.25/lb finished weight, then processing/packaging fee.

This year - $4/lb plus processing.

Along with a pork, we have $2,700 of meat in the freezer for the year - or $52/week for meat.

Then $80/week for home and auto insurance. Then $60/week for property taxes. Then $170/week for health insurance.

Theres $360/week for basic food, insurance and taxes at home.

Waged or Salaried jobs in this area - $30k to $50k in general. A few exist over $100k. I don’t know how people are surviving without going into debt right now.

I’m pulling a load now that 2 years ago I kinda sneered at - $6/mile for specialized freight. Well, not now, I got bills to pay.

Above figures - are without debt. No mortgage on house, loans on cars, credit card debt - nothing. But I’ve seen the overall cash holdings decline $20k this year.

Essentially eating into savings - or at least ‘cushions’.

I’ve noticed this forum got super quiet lately. Those that have weathered the storm before are doing what they do, and the ones that haven’t, or didn’t tuck back in the good times, are probably suffering.

The mainstream media says a lot, but from what I see from our level, things indicate otherwise.

 

In our area - Bass Tracker laid off 180 employees a couple of months back.

That said to me - when finance is 7% on a boat, folks don’t really need it this year. Or don’t have the cash.

Certainly not as bad as 08/09, but I feel a similar vibe.

 

What's that old saying? I've done without for so long I can almost do anything with nothing.

 

No doubt I have struggled finding decent stuff on a regular bases once out of my area. I have no problems leaving my area because I know the places that still pay decent. I am trying to work more and more this summer because I believe this winter is gonna be the worst we have seen this cycle we are on.

 

wonders when and if trucking will get better than what it is now. my guess would be a year or maybe two once we get the #### show out of the white house!!!