Deadbeat DeadHeading .... .. .

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Matthews, Apr 26, 2007.

  1. Matthews

    Matthews Medium Load Member

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    Apr 5, 2007
    Akron,OH
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    HINST: They all look at the TOP number which they can with little overhead. And We look at the Bottom numbers.
    Off of that load they will get their moneys FIRST and for most!

    I've noticed our Carrier starting to Deadhead the trucks on Average around
    60 - 100 Miles to get a load worth paying.



    This in my eyes is loss of revenue. I've cornered the dispatch and Besl Transfer management on this issue.

    Their reply was: Well matt, The load picks up in Erie,PA and delivers in Cincinatti,OH for $740.00 Whats the issue?

    I say my issue is my truck's are dispatched out of AKRON/CANTON/CLAVELAND, Not even Close to erie.

    After it's all said and done, and the carriers Cut is out of the pie the trip looked good but is slowly looking worst.

    FUEL @ 3.00 PG - Dead HEAD to ERIE @ 125 Mile = $90.00 - 30 Gallon @ 6MPG.
    Now to Cinci from Erie @ 340 Mile = $204.00 - 68 Gallon @ 5 MPG.

    TOTAL Load payed $740
    -90.00 DH Miles
    -204.00 LM
    -----------------
    $446.00 And the Carrier get's his cut too!

    Thats Why ( I ) was ######## about the deadhead.
    I'll see the invoice on this load from a friend of mine who ran it. ( we refused ) the load.

    I know, i know.... We could have gotten a Backhaul out of Cinci but I was just being a #####! And wanted to STICK with the ( DONT ) deadhead my TRUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :biggrin_25513:

    All the best,
    Matthew

    PS,
    I'll give the Carrier a ( 50 / 60 ) mile Dead head only.
    That cost's me around $25.00 to get the load.

    Am I being to much of a PRICK about this? Lemmi know your thoughts!
     
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  3. dstockwell

    dstockwell Light Load Member

    278
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    Oct 11, 2006
    Georgia
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    They should be paying the deadhead...
     
  4. Matthews

    Matthews Medium Load Member

    315
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    Apr 5, 2007
    Akron,OH
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    Nope, nope, nope.....

    Most of Besl's loads come with a nice FSC to the load. Which in most cases cover your Dead head miles.

    But Im starting to see in more cases than most now MORE unpaid miles.

    I just wanna know, am I being a brat for not taking loads over 500.00 - 750.00 .. Do to the many DH miles.

    Do the math :
    If you drive 125 DH the cost will be around $60.00 or more.
    My FLD get's a GREAT 6 / 6 1/2 Miles PG Empty.

    If your truck gets 4 MPG? Oh crap thats almost $95.00 YOU invest in DH fuel just to get the load.

    Thats why now Im putting the brakes on the DH miles we will run for the LOAD. I think it's FAIR to give them the first 50 / 60 Miles only!

    If not the cost's are to great, if the load isnt over $750.00 for 400 Miles ran.

    :biggrin_2558:
    MATH on the trips: ADD total miles, divided by your trucks MPG say (4-6)
    then EQUALS. Now TIMES that number with the cost of FUEL. You'll have the bottom NUMBER that the DH, or that trip will COST You.

    All the best,
    Matthew
     
  5. dstockwell

    dstockwell Light Load Member

    278
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    Oct 11, 2006
    Georgia
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    Guess its hard to say if its acceptable or not. Really depends on if its cutting your margin to thin. You have to make money either way you look at it, so its either ask them about the increased DH, or see if your margin can stand the hit.
     
  6. Bullwinkle

    Bullwinkle Medium Load Member

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    Jun 11, 2006
    Texas
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    How much do you normally make on 450 mile loads? Is this a normal length of haul for you?

    For me, it boils down to the average rate for the freight that you haul. This load, including deadhead, pays $1.59/mile.
     
  7. Matthews

    Matthews Medium Load Member

    315
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    Apr 5, 2007
    Akron,OH
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    You are so right on this HIT as a rate.

    Where I am ######## is I try like hell to get the Carrier to load the truck OUT of the dispatch office of AKRON,OH and run DH for 40 Mile or so.
    Remember, I've gotta pay a driver too! When the DH miles exceed the Payed miles is where I've got ISSUES!!!!

    $2.00 is the RATE ( I ) like to see..... no less ...And that's NOT including FSC.

    All the best,
    Matthew

    PS,
    Im a HARD headed hillbilly boy that hates CHEAP FREIGHT.
    :biggrin_25513:
     
  8. Bullwinkle

    Bullwinkle Medium Load Member

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    Jun 11, 2006
    Texas
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    That's not a fault, that is a quality that is needed in this industry :)
     
  9. coastie

    coastie Road Train Member

    Matt.

    Before I say anything I do enjoy reading your post. They are very informational.

    In another thread of yours I may have been or sounded as I was agaisnt the type of operations you are working. Short Hauls. It does work for you but not all.

    But Deadheading what does kills many of the Short Haul Trucking. So I have to agree not taking the load. Why haul a load if it does not pay all your expenses?

    I said in the other Thread I have driven for a guy in the similar type operations. I pulled Flat beds and Reefer for him. Your responce was he was an Idiot, True he was in many ways. His main problem was equipment, second was forced to deadhead to much. When everyone wants 48 and 53 foots he was trying to do it with a 45 foot trailer. There fore I end up deaheading the miles I just drove back to Atlanta or Gainsville for aload from Charleston, SC..


    I'll be looking forward to more of your eventures.. Stay Safe..
     
  10. Brickman

    Brickman Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    12,905
    12,201
    Sep 17, 2006
    WY
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    Like was mentioned before it varies a lot depending on the type of operations you are in. When I was OTR I thought nothing of dead heading even 200 miles to get a load paying what I wanted going to where I wanted. I wasn't going to mess with 10 $300 loads when I could deadhead 200 or even more and pickup a load going clear across the country for $5000 or more.

    For your type of ops you are probably on target to keep the dead head under 100 miles.

    "And this one time at band camp......................" :D :D :D (I couldn't help throwing that in) I dead headed from Vegas to Ft Lewis WA. I had taken a pretty decent load in because Landstar was having a driver appreciation there and gave away tickets to one of the big Nascar races there. Being in the early spring there wasn't much freight moving in the western states that I wanted any thing to do with. After a day an a half I hit the road for Ft Lewis WA. And was under a paying load headed east where I knew I could get reloaded no problem while some of the other guys I was in Vegas with were still sitting looking for loads 5 days later. You might say its stupid to dead head that far. You could be right, but after a couple of days of sitting there becomes a cost associated with NOT MOVING.
    I wasn't going to haul .97 a mile 48,000 lbs must be tarped freight.
     
  11. Matthews

    Matthews Medium Load Member

    315
    14
    Apr 5, 2007
    Akron,OH
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    Thanks for all the good reply's!

    Im not sure whats up with the Carrier these days. We've been averaging in a 300 MILE radius around $2.00 to $2.25 PM Plus 100% Fsc.

    The freight is not general. Typically it's REBAR, PLATE STEEL, sometimes overweights, and oversize freight.

    I do know the Carrier is taking on more o/o's in this area and around the Columbus,OH area's too. Maybe that's a good reason why our freight rate's not really going down but the DH miles are increasing? Sounds like it to me.

    After talking to our branch dispatch office, they want us to give more DH miles and not refuse the loads do to the backhauls they ( ARE ) providing.

    I've explained to central it costs me moneys to pay dh fuel plus 26% driver pay and that's why in the past week's I've pulled the guys from 5 plus loads. I just was not seeing the return on the bottom line after all the E/C's to run the truck's.

    ( I ) myself am able to do the longer DH running sense I dont get a paycheck anyways.... lol But paying a driver $500 per week, plus all the DH fuel burnt? What the hell?

    Our average outime is 1 night or less. So, I guess it's crunch time?
    I've called a few trailer rental places to check the FLATBED availability like I do every sumer, JUST to see how many in the area here are running F/Bed.

    Well, Result's show: 3 lease company's have 0 available trailers! EEK!

    I do agree, that even at 100 Mile DH on a decent load the trucks can get $1.50 Plus per load not including the fsc on the load. So, I would agree with the majority and will try widening our DH zone a little farther than 50 - 60 Mile.

    We'll see how the carrier can load the trucks and at what rate if we give them another 50 miles to our DH zone. Meaning We'll DH 100 or so MAX.

    At that we'll have a whole $60.00 ( GUESS ) in DH fuel for a decent load.
    I will assume, that if Besl Dead head's the truck 100 mile plus the load's going to exceed $700 plus, for a 300 or so mile run.


    PLEASE IMPUTE on this:
    The guys on the other hand may not like the DH miles because they work off of a %. This may be my only issue. Or, I guess I myself can go get the DH freight and return it here for the Guys to finish the load?.

    I would like to still run the load's but again, Im not so used to the DHing miles in which the carrier is starting to run the trucks!

    All the best,
    Matthew

    :biggrin_25514:
    THANKS again for all the great responses! Advice is a good thing, and Im willing to change to keep the engine running strong!
     
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