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As some of you know, I own a small refrigerated freight carrier business. We have 6 trucks/refer trailers of older Freightliner and newere Western Star sleeper cabs. The Freightliner's are 2018 with 500,000 miles (not that much for OTR trucks) and are breaking down on a weekly basis with parts being almost impossible to find, most have a several week wait. It has gotten so bad that I had to let go of three very good, very loyal drivers because it was simply not possible to keep them on the road and make a profit. It was literally more economical to park the trucks and pay the payments + Insurance than to try and keep them on the road. This was before the fuel increase which rates have not caught up with yet!

That being said, I saw this problem on the horizon last summer and placed an order for three (3) brand new Volvo VNL 760's with a full maintenance lease through a Penske dealer. The trucks were scheduled to roll off the assembly line first week in January and we would have replaced the Freightliners and not skipped a beat. Fast forward to mid March and my Penske rep. won't even return my calls because he says he doesn't have an ETA and is not being given one by Volvo. So I called Volvo and spoke to a very nice woman who informed me that they would be canceling ALL Q3 deliveries and new orders as they have no more room for partially completed trucks waiting for vital components.

We are a small carrier with little to know overhead ( buildings, back office support, mechanics, logistics etc) I simply do not know how these larger carriers can survive in this climate. Driver's get paid either on a % basis or a per/mile basis, either way if the truck is down they are not getting paid. We are starting to see/hear of things unraveling. This is simply trucking, farming and other industries are going through the same situation.

Anyhow, just though I would share,I wish you all well!

As some of you know, I own a small refrigerated freight carrier business. We have 6 trucks/refer trailers of older Freightliner and newere Western Star sleeper cabs. The Freightliner's are 2018 with 500,000 miles (not that much for OTR trucks) and are breaking down on a weekly basis with parts being almost impossible to find, most have a several week wait. It has gotten so bad that I had to let go of three very good, very loyal drivers because it was simply not possible to keep them on the road and make a profit. It was literally more economical to park the trucks and pay the payments + Insurance than to try and keep them on the road. This was before the fuel increase which rates have not caught up with yet! That being said, I saw this problem on the horizon last summer and placed an order for three (3) brand new Volvo VNL 760's with a full maintenance lease through a Penske dealer. The trucks were scheduled to roll off the assembly line first week in January and we would have replaced the Freightliners and not skipped a beat. Fast forward to mid March and my Penske rep. won't even return my calls because he says he doesn't have an ETA and is not being given one by Volvo. So I called Volvo and spoke to a very nice woman who informed me that they would be canceling ALL Q3 deliveries and new orders as they have no more room for partially completed trucks waiting for vital components. We are a small carrier with little to know overhead ( buildings, back office support, mechanics, logistics etc) I simply do not know how these larger carriers can survive in this climate. Driver's get paid either on a % basis or a per/mile basis, either way if the truck is down they are not getting paid. We are starting to see/hear of things unraveling. This is simply trucking, farming and other industries are going through the same situation. Anyhow, just though I would share,I wish you all well!

(post is archived)

[–] • 5 pts

What kind of parts are breaking down.? Are they more electronic components? Or plastic components or are they metal components like swing arms and things like that? I just wonder if it's possible to 3D print any of that stuff or to cast some metal parts or that sort of thing.

That's very good insight though I wonder if all other trucking companies are having the same problem. Imagine they are if you are. What do you hear from other trucking companies.?

[–] • 3 pts

The parts range from AC compressors, tensioning pulleys, Inlet sensors. The majority of our fault coded come from the Exhaust treatment systems. If the exhaust temp sensor is faulty it can shut the entire truck down. Yes, we are hearing feom other companies they are having to mothball significant parts of their fleets

[–] • 4 pts (edited )

You are not alone. I have family member who uses box trucks for their business. Parts are short and don't bother trying to get a replacement truck anytime soon. They are at the point they are ready to just sell their assets, close the business, and retire.

[–] • 2 pts

I keep telling people it’s not near as bad as it’s gonna get. Just by how much of the population is still deep asleep is how I gauge this.

[–] • 4 pts

I am utterly astounded when I try and talk to friends of mine about the coming shitstorm. They are either willfully ignorant or simply don't care.

[–] • 1 pt

One day they will, and that day is coming.

[–] • 0 pt

You chose not to try? You’re a small business with little to know?

Your story is confusing.

[–] • 0 pt

I am trying...at some point you have to make business decisions based solely on the numbers. The numbers were saying it was impossible to keep somewhat aging trucks ( 2018) on the road and remain profitable. The real message in the post is that spare parts for over the road trucks are becoming increasingly more and more difficult to source. If you are a fleet carrier with 150 trucks, trailers, back office, Insurance, drivers, buildings etc. it is becoming harder and harder to keep these trucks moving.

[–] • 0 pt

I feel ya brother.

[–] • 0 pt

I appreciate it brother...it is nice to see there are many, many good Americans out there that see the "rot" and are preparing for whatever comes.

[–] • 0 pt

Must be hard to let go of loyal and dependable drivers especially in these hard times. Parasitic government employees never have those problems, they live off of you and every small business in the country that creates REAL tangible wealth or services.

As for the Volvo trucks not being completed, its likely because of a shortage in electronic components. Its just a guess, but everything these days whether its a car, pickup, truck or farm tractor, they are full of UNRELIABLE electronic GARBAGE which makes us extremely vulnerable. Cars and pickups leaving you stranded on the road is more common than ever before. Farm tractors that just quit in the middle of the field while you are working land or go into limp-mode because of some error code. All you can do is drive it to your farm shop and wait for a dealer serviceman to show up and have to diagnose the problems then charge you 6000 dollars for a new replacement engine computer. I remember from the early 1980s many well maintained transport trucks could easily make it to 800,000 to a million miles without too many issues, bendix replacements, differential bearing oil seals, air conditioner parts, u-joints were the most common. These were reliable without the electronic components. Now they want everbody to drive electric vehicles loaded with more electronic junk.

Basically, everything is designed to be unreliable to keep the dealerships in business and of course instantly shut down transportation and agriculture across the country with just one good EMP. My two cents.

[–] • 0 pt

It was so very hard, I pay at the the extreme high end of the trucking pay scale ( higher than the so called best paying jobs in trucking) I sincerely appreciate the job these men perform, away from home, family for weeks if sometimes months on end, sleeping in a truck, showering in truckstops, not home cooked meals! ALL of my guys made over $110,000 last year but it comes at a HUGE expense. There were several week ( high maintenance cost weeks) I did not pay myself. I am in contact with every single one of my ex drivers and plan on bringing all of them back as soon as I can.

[–] • 0 pt

Its obvious that you are devoted to your employees by the mere fact you mentioned your sacrifice of not paying yourself. The mark of a true small business owner, its difficult in making these decisions when your employees are like part of your family and you care about their families too. God bless.

[+] [deleted] • 0 pt