July did not pull the blows. Unstable rates. Tensile capacity. Diesel spikes that tested the flow of cash to all. For small carriers, it was either a month of smart moves – or heavy lessons. What separated those who protected the margins from those who quarreled to survive? Discipline. Strategy. Execution.
In this record, we break out what small carriers got, where they went wrong and how to use the July market as launch for smarter, lean operations that are referring to the top season.
Carriers who won in July did not chase a burden in five countries. They stayed close to home, worked repeated strips and locked in constant power or short load time to keep the wheels moving and fuel costs were operated.
A true example:
One fleet with 6 trucks in Tennessee declined loads of 800 miles in favor of a narrow 250 miles triangle. By week three, they were locked in daily work with a regional food distributor – high frequency, predictable rates and lower risk of maintenance.
The prices were not great, but the stalling time was gold for the carriers who used it wisely. July was when the smart owners collected the phone – not just for loads, but to follow the brokers, to log in with the old senders and build real relationships.
Tactical move:
Carriers who have updated their sending list, “Lane’s reports” and scheduled two weeks of searching for already see better offers.
The heat in July not only tested the engines – it also tested the drivers. Smart carriers noticed an upward braking, accelerating violations and HOS errors. But instead of punishing, they trained.
Winning script:
“Let’s take a look at your last time. That 68 in 55 used our CSA – next time, to facilitate it through that construction zone. If we miss that unsafe driving result, we qualify for a better contract that I am now bidding. You’re key to it.”
Small changes in the conversation have led to real results. Fewer violations. Stronger results.
Gross means nothing if the network is wrong. Holders who followed a mile daily in July were able to see problems early when diesel jumped in the middle of the month.
One insight into the carrier:
“We noticed that we were spending $ 0.12 more on mile after moving the fuel cards. We replaced the mid -cycle vendors and returned to the right track before the damage deteriorated.”
Lesson: Eye apple every item from line. Especially when the rates are thin.
Those who finally missed excel and stopped printing Bols from the stop -camion? They ran stricter options, followed KPIS a week and waited until they were invoiced how much they earned.
If you are still writing readings of mileage by hand, July expose you.
Carriers who cleaned and collecting with real TMS tools not only moved with load – they were moving forward.
Many carriers jumped into cheap thinking “At least we move”. But they did not use the profitability of the trip. They did not calculate the right toll, fuel or risk risk. And they burned.
Reminder: The load paying $ 3.50/mile, but nothing is a trap – especially in July.
You do not fix the results of the CSA in court – you repair them in the cabin. Carriers who skipped security meetings or waited for violations to be added, are now considering inspections that cost business activities.
Rough but true:
If you haven’t talked to CSA with your drivers in the last 30 days, you’re already behind.
If you passed July refreshing the load board instead of making at least five new contacts with the sender per week, you wasted a golden window. The brokers were overloaded. Senders needed help. But they only awarded contracts to the carriers that appeared.
Missed opportunity:
Small carriers who sent through E -So with data on strips, FMCSA images and local sender insurance certificates? They received feedback.
Some carriers panicked when they saw the softening of the market and took just over $ 2.00/mile – even if they destroyed their week. Others got greedy on warm strips and sat empty as better offers passed.
Truth: Strategy beats emotion. Always.
Diesel Spike didn’t have to surprise anyone in late July – but very small carriers got caught by guard, especially those who skipped monthly fuel projections.
Error of one owner:
“I budgeted the prices of spring fuel and missed again. We were short $ 6,000 by the 20th of the month.”
What to do now: Turning July lessons into August Strategy
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Revision of every mile you drove: Where did you warm up? Where did you lose?
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Schedule of weekly security conversations: Make a CSA part of the culture, not a reaction.
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Build a Sendering Q3 list: you need 25 minimum contacts. Achieve weekly.
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Re -execute mile costs: Adjust for fuel trends in July and overhead spikes.
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Block access time: minimum 2 hours/week cold reference or is -s.
July give small carriers a choice – adjust or absorb the damage. Some leveled the back office, trained their drivers and cut the fat out of their stripes. Others were turning the wheels, hoping to bounce the rate that never came.
Don’t let next month catch you with the same bad habits. Take wins, fix the misses and make your best month. This market is not easy – but with the right systems, the right way of thinking and the real action, it is still obtained.
The post Recap on the market in July – what small carriers did properly (and incorrectly) appeared first on Freight waves.
