Truck Load Rates Halt 8 Week Slide 2.0

Discussion in 'Freight Broker Forum' started by Scooter Jones, Mar 7, 2020.

  1. TallJoe

    TallJoe Road Train Member

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    I am sure it is in a median for a spot market based independent o/os - year to date. I would not be surprised, if it is much better for some other folks. Reefers and flats must be way better than this. I wish I had a reefer but...THOSE LUMPERS!!!!

    I am really grateful for your suggestion on QuickBooks online. It has been a great upgrade in tracking the finances and staying on top of things in terms of projecting and dosing a workload. I don't meter myself with revenue per mile or profit per mile any more - those are good Kevin Rutherford disciples.
    I am only interested in aggregates. They are the only meaningful thing as to what I have in the bank, in the end of a day.
    BTW. I am glad, you are able to have a business that works better than this. You get to see Blue Herons at your yard, play with your dogs, and eat your wife's diners everyday not to mention grandkids and family of course. Good for you too.
    I wish I could do the same. Maybe one day, a lighting strikes my grey head, and I'll get an exit idea too.;)
     
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  3. Scooter Jones

    Scooter Jones Road Train Member

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    I was pretty busy yesterday with my son and I missed the part yesterday where you are essentially calling me a liar about being a trucker/owner operator?

    That's not cool...

    As to hiring a driver and putting him/her in my truck, have you ever done that? Especially in today's demand for drivers? It is not that easy. Not to mention the dispatching, running payroll, babysitting, hand holding, and ultimately the liability.

    Ain't got time for any of that right now in my life. Besides I don't need the money.
     
  4. Scooter Jones

    Scooter Jones Road Train Member

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    The guy on 6 acres behind us built a nice big pond. It's a veritable bird refuge back there, especially during the rainy season. There's a sizable family of of Canadian Geese that had babies back there a couple of mos ago. They're off somewhere else now, but they'll be back.
     
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  5. TallJoe

    TallJoe Road Train Member

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    Hiring a driver with assumptions that they are to meet your own workload and performance is more than naïve. This is not a rental condo... Chicago based fleets get calls from people who want to be hired on 1099 and demand....70 c per mile. There are other things to consider too, for instance, constant lack of peace of mind with these drivers. What if they crush into someone or make a cargo claim. Things like these are not about potential loss of revenue, these more about "do I want to sleep well at night, at this point of my life.
     
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  6. jason6541

    jason6541 Road Train Member

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    I am in Omaha and freight has been strong I just bounce around Midwest and home on weekends. Ran 2000 miles this week and grossed 6200.00 been enjoying the time off. Freight to CA has been good
    But can’t hardly stand the land of fruits and nuts .
     
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  7. Scooter Jones

    Scooter Jones Road Train Member

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    Exactly right, Joe. To me, running one truck with an employee driving it, isn't worth the trouble. If I were a younger man, I would have considered running a fleet with multiple trucks, with at least 8 to 10 trucks to make it worth it. Not now.
     
    Last edited: May 29, 2021
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  8. Scooter Jones

    Scooter Jones Road Train Member

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    Back to the fundamental basics of what this thread was kind of all about in the beginning. Being your own boss and running your own truck really isn't that hard. Of course it has its challenges along the way. But no job or career is without its issues, that's life.

    Making a good living, "good living" being a relative perspective, as an owner operator, is within reach of the average JoeBlow like me.

    Even playing the spot market when rates weren't as inflated like they are now, making a 100k a year is very doable. This last year, double that amount is very attainable as an owner op. Having a personal low cost of living like we do was definitely a plus.

    I achieved my goal when setting out 5 years ago when by establishing my own authority, bought a new truck and trailer and stepped out of the boat. Which was to pay off the equipment, make a decent living, set aside a little cash for a rainy day and to balance my business & personal life in such a way that I could experience some measure of a quality of life doing it.

    Other's mileage does and may vary....

    Whether or not anyone has benefited or gained any insight by traveling along for the ride on my journey, who knows. One thing is for sure though, I've made some good friends behind the scenes on this forum. I mean some really good people. And that's a pretty cool deal in my book!
     
  9. loudtom

    loudtom Road Train Member

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    I started with paid off equipment, and I probably work only half of the year. I think we're at around 250k miles in a 4-5 year span running a team truck. It also allows us to do dumb stuff like deadhead into Florida. Scooter's situation really isn't that far fetched. As hard as I try to stay out 2 weeks and only take 1 week at one of our properties, it almost always ends up being 2 weeks off or more. This has been going on since long before Covid-19.
     
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  10. SteveScott

    SteveScott Road Train Member

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    You're doing great Joe! Sounds like some of us are all running about the same miles for the same pay. I was out 5 days this week at about 3000 miles and a bit north of $10k. The two weeks prior were less miles for considerably more pay, but that was just luck and timing. It would be nice if these rates held for the summer, but I don't hold out much hope. Things have a way of dropping quickly in this business. Imagine a year's worth of income at the current rates. That would be over $400k gross on one truck and trailer.
     
    Last edited: May 29, 2021
  11. Midwest Trucker

    Midwest Trucker Road Train Member

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    Wish they would quit extending all of the exemptions. My gut says many are running willy nilly. I can’t imagine the squeeze if everyone was on the same playing field. Rates could be as high as another dollar per mile I’d guess.

    I expect things to stay as they are atleast through beginning of next year. Get it while you can.
     
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