Average price to haul freight?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by bowman316, Sep 24, 2011.

  1. bowman316

    bowman316 Medium Load Member

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    Dec 3, 2010
    aberdeen, md
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    I have been doing some research on becoming an owner operator. But it seems nearly impossible to get concrete numbers on how it works.

    these companies just give you general details about it.

    I was wondering what the average price that a company would pay to have someone haul their freight.

    Like that would a company like Walmart pay to have an independent trucker haul freight with their own truck and trailer?

    I assume it is the same they pay the big companies to do it, but by the time that their O/O hauls it, the company takes a cut out.


    But are we talking like $1-2 a mile, or more like $4-5 a mile for dry van freight?
     
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  3. bowman316

    bowman316 Medium Load Member

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    aberdeen, md
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    yea, calculating the costs is not too hard to do.
    but i'm trying to calculate your expected revenue that you take in.

    how much do you get paid per mile to haul freight?
     
  4. KajunTankerYanker

    KajunTankerYanker Light Load Member

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  5. grizzly

    grizzly Medium Load Member

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    You might make that in the tanker industry but that isn't even close to what a dry van would make. Dry van is the most competitive sector of the trucking industry so the rates are much lower.
     
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  6. BigBadBill

    BigBadBill Bullishly Optimistic

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    I only see that from direct or desperate shippers.
     
  7. tobie town trucker

    tobie town trucker Light Load Member

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    $3.00 isn't unobtainable. You could get on a dedicated account, but the $3 is usually one way and empty coming back. Still its good money and your equipment is only under stress 50% of miles ran.
     
  8. rbht

    rbht Heavy Load Member

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    I am running flatbeds and getting $2.50 a mile and higher going both ways 95% of the time. The only time its a little less is comeing out of New England and nothing less than $2. But this is 98% direct shipper freight. The van side is up and down depending on the area and availability of trucks. My freind runs vans and his rates are all over the place some as low as $1.50 a mile some as high as $3 plus a mile just depends on the customer and how bad they need it moved. Thats why i dont do van work because the rates are to unpredictable.
     
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  9. BigJohn54

    BigJohn54 Gone, but NEVER forgotten

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    You need to research some places you are looking at. The numbers given so far are on the higher side but not out of reach. You haven't defined your type of operation (lease or authority), if lease then type of lease (percentage or mileage) and type of trailer.

    If you are talking van then you should average about 1.30 - 1.40 CPM on a mileage lease, about 1.50 - 1.80 CPM on a percentage lease and about 1.70 - 2.00 CPM with authority. Reefers and flatbeds should average higher.

    If you are going to make it on a mileage lease you will run lots of miles to lower the cost per mile of the fixed expenses. The variable expenses like fuel and maintenance are always the same cost per mile. The fixed expenses like truck payment, trailer rent, insurance, license and permits will cost less per mile as you run more miles.
     
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  10. gravdigr

    gravdigr Road Train Member

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    nice, thanks this thread answered a few questions I had as well.
     
    SHC Thanks this.
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