The journey begins - purchased a truck.

After I had booked the wheels, and as I was running them, I received 2 load confirmations and 3 phone calls for the frames - after I had called them and scheduled the 29th, and obviously after they had erased my previous appointments. I can't wait to see what has happened there - because it doesn't appear that communication has changed.

Yeah! Drop in and have some free pizza as we stand around moaning about rates and pondering the ways of the universe!!

 

April accounting

Well, all my settlements are in, and I had the time, so I ran the numbers for April. Now, remember -

JAN - Spend boo koo, no miles
FEB - Spend boo koo out the wazoo, run almost no miles
MAR - Still spending money, but now floundering around in equipment I have no business operating, with half a clue of what I'm doing.
APR - Finally comfortable, so parked up at the truck stop telling everybody how great I am.

Key figures -

• Total revenue $17,780
• 9,719 miles
• $1.83 revenue all miles
• Fuel .34 cpm
• Expenses are 32% of revenue, we keep 68%

Better than last month, for sure. Not as good as I want them to be, but gives me something to aim for, right? And this now means we're out of the hole, and the business is showing a profit.
Back to KY for some more frame punishment.

 

10 - 4 !

Yes, I still clearly remember the sound you made when I said "$1.35 all miles for March" - some things etch themselves on my mind.

Problem is that the opportunities keep clashing with the frames. I'm still a little greedy - burns me to think of returning dead empty to E-town every time - regardless of the paid round trip.

 

Yes - I'm thinking the same. Problem is - I don't know until I deliver if they're going to put empties on me going back, so it requires an eye on the load alerts from KC - East, and then a quick phone call and decision when I'm in KC, as I typically have about an hour and a half on my elogs to pick something up and shut down. If I get empties on, then game over - return for the regular rate.

The scheduling from the E-town end has hopefully improved - I like to space them 48 hours apart, but if shipping is delayed, then the 2nd (and 3rd) appointment are blown out, which requires another call to the land of the temp worker . . . more confusion. Safety would call for 60 hours apart, but I like to keep pretty busy, rather than stretch 3 runs in 6 days into 3 runs in 8 days.

If I'd gotten out of the house yesterday I could have taken something over there - but I had some things to do here; so I'll take the empty return this week to be able to shut down 8am, with a clear 10 ready to run at 6pm Wednesday.

 

Haven't figured up the paid vs. d/h - just been mentally paying more attention to it. 90 day average MPG at 7.1.

Yes - the frames could be looked at 2 ways - $2.41 all miles, no d/h, or $4.82 loaded, 50% d/h. 6 of one, half dozen the other.