average per mile

As others have said, everyone's business model isn't the same. It's up to you to figure out what you need and what works for you. You can go broke just as easy sitting and waiting for a $2 a mile load as you can hauling $1.10 a mile ones all over. You need to find out what your cost per mile is and look big picture to put stuff together.

As an example, last week I bounced 360 miles to help a friend who was short trucks, I hauled two 90 miles loads into an auction barn. I did it because I called a connection I had and lined up a 180 mile load that had a 140 mile bounce but it emptied right where he could reload me with calves back to KS. I knew what everything was paying and I knew it would work before I committed to either of them. I grossed $3750 on 1592 total miles because I didn't let the bounce to do 2 short loads scare me.

I guess that's mostly a long rambling way to say you need to figure out what works for you and what doesn't.

 

Lots of variables to learn. What area are you looking at running? Out an back or wherever the loads take you? Are you looking for dedicated work? Regional?

Like said earlier, now that you have your own authority, you HAVE to know ALL your costs. Break them down to per mile. Include everything. Breakdowns, tires, PM's, everything. Don't forget to include YOURSELF. You have to pay yourself. Add it all up, and that's what you have to make.

Don't forget that you will have to be flexible at times. I'm trying to run out a little further and see how it goes. But I'll probably just go back to running from Chicago to Houston and back.

 

$10000 a week gross between two trucks is doable. Like others said your expenses is what's key. I gotta guy in my neighborhood that pulls reefer with his own authority who said I can run under his numbers and use his customers and brokers as much as I want and could make $5000 easy running NE but I hated doing reefer so I'm gonna pull a skateboard. His method is using the loadboard as his last resort. He just uses brokers and his customers. He said most of the time they're calling him everyday with loads.

 

A good reputation is priceless, it will be like word of mouth here.

10000 a week is a good goal. Honestly, I don't know if thats realistic or not. I pull a tank and unless everything lines up just right, there's no way I could hit that goal every week. Maybe close to that every other week, but not every week. I definitely am hoping that you can, that's for sure. (cause then I might bug you about working with you)

 

What kind of freight are you looking to move?

 

Refer? Dry van?

 

Almost forgot. I had a customer that I 'made it happen' for. When I quit the place I was leased to, the customer tracked me down (reputation). We negotiated a descent rate. Soon they had extra work that they couldn't cover. I stepped up and they knew what I was capable of (reputation). Gave them a good rate, because I treated them the way I wanted to be treated. Then their corporate side showed up (greed). I tried calling them. Left messages. Nothing. Two weeks later I told them I was done. They played me. But, I still got the last laugh (usually, he who laughs last thinks slowest, but not then). Saw their driver at the loading rack. The other company's driver hadn't delivered a load in a week. I was doing 2 a day.

Moral of the story, this is a business, nothing personal. Either way.