As if truckers didn’t have enough to worry about when it comes to the rising price of diesel fuel, now the decreasing of retail sales is hurting them, as well.

With fewer loads going to stores all across the country, there has been less for trucking companies to haul. That means shorter paychecks, layoffs, and company shutdowns that most people were trying desperately to avoid. There are fewer imports coming into the country, as well, and the slump in containerized imports shows that this trend is likely to continue. It looks as if things are going to get worse for trucking companies overall before they get better.

The peak of the shipping season usually starts late in the summer and runs through November, but this year the shipping season has been slower than in the past, so there really was no ‘peak’ to it. Those who buy goods and services are concerned about this, but those who deliver those goods and services are also worried, and they are often overlooked when it comes to who is suffering in this economy.