Schneider Choice Program

You are not going to find many people who understand the independent side claiming discounts as the major factor in being more profitable. With little effort you can get all the discounts carriers offer and in many cases better discounts.
Biggest one I hear people talk about is insurance. But it is less a discount as it is trading top line revenue for the carrier picking up some of the insurance. And for what an O/O does pay for if it is insurance mandated by carrier it is often insurance with poor coverage features. But at SNi you can pick your own.

 

I can only speak to my experience with Crete. I can buy insurance from any company I choose. They are very competative with anyone else, and from experience, they are very easy to work with in the event of a claim.

Again I state, it's not what you gross, it's what you net. And when compairing other O/Os net to mine, whether independent, percentage, or mileage, not many do better. Infact, during the econonic slow down many went out of business, but I'm still here. I'll be the first to admitt I'm not getting rich, but I do have a steady income and cash flow (it flows in, then it flows out :-} ).

Over the past month with the FSC being high I've averaged $1.45 for all miles. Once you consider deadhead, HHMG miles (I'm paid on practical miles), and the broker's percentage, most independents or other percentage paid O/Os aren't doing much better in the dry van segment.

SCH is doing a good job of running smarter, not harder. And if I lived in his part of the country I'd be doing the same thing. I've yet to find any company that pays on percentage that will work for me. Why? Because of where I live...South Texas i.e. Miami. Freight comes in but not much leaves, and what does leave is low paying. This means that anything I would gain rate wise while running the Mid-west I would lose when I leave home, thereby making any change in who I'm leased to useless. Medicine Man can vouch for the rates leaving SoTex.

 

I just booked two loads that will get me to the twin cities. They both are $1.35/mi with only 10mi deadhead between them. that's the best I could do to get out. If I tried to do it with a single run it would be like $1.18/mi..
you have to consider though that I will get close to $2/mi coming back even if it's one long load. I could do better if I want to do it in a few loads

 

My point proven. Thanks!

 

although I've been averaging $1.85 on my loaded miles running around in TX. problem with running within tx is trying to keep the dh down. with short runs it only takes one good dead head to seriously lower your overall per mile rate which the last few weeks has been $1.48 on all miles for me.
this week I messed up and ended up deadheading out of Taylor TX to houston, that's gonna hurt my rate on all miles but in reality it's not that much DH. and I can get 9mpg with an empty wagon

 

The loads going inbound to loudon, tn are recycled scrap paper usually 41,000 plus (kimberly clark) the loads coming out of there are lightweight finished product papertowels, toilet paper etc. Just curious how some of them paid..

 

Actually, I experience the complete opposite. I get better mpg with my cruise on. My boost stays under 7psi, I maintain a constant 60mph and I have not experienced any of the high temps you speak of. Keeping track of all my miles and fuel used (not computer, actual pump use) I avg 6.2mpg the last 2 weeks. Every load I've pulled was under 25k except for 2 of them and they both were about 40k and I managed 5.6mpg on both of them. You also have to remember that I have a flat top truck and pulling a van trailer also, so I think I'm doing ok.

As for the mods, I already have the fuel wire done since day 1, and after speaking with Kurt numerous times, once he flashes my ecm to the 550 BS file, I should gain .5mpg easily. I also plan on a manifold and bw turbo upgrade before the end of the year

 

I can beat the cruise every time i religiously watch and drive by the gauges. You don't see egt's in the 1100-1200* range? Mine was that bad. Constantly running the engine fan to keep water temps down. It sucked. Youre actually getting decent mileage for an MBN stock. You might pick up .5 mpg with those add ons but i wouldnt get my hopes up too much. realistically a couple or maybe .3 is more like it. I'm pretty much a flattop myself no roof fairing on a t6. you'll love the power with those upgrades. if i was in a hood with a big radiator like yours i'd flash it 7CZ..

 

I am confused by what you are saying. Rentz, you are one of the better posters on this site, so I wanted to ask you to clarify. Anyone else here please chime in, too.

Miami, TX is Northeast of Amarillo, right? So what do you mean by South Texas? Why do you consider the panhandle area South Texas?

Second, I would have thought that the DFW area would be a great area for freight both coming and going. Likewise Houston. You are speaking of van loads, yes? What about Flats?

My very limited experience seems to have lots of loads going in and out of Texas, but then I do not know anything about the rate being charged, either.

I would have put DFW as one of the top cities in the US (alongside Memphis and Chicago) to live near and be based out of as an O/O. My goal is to be an O/O when I have learned enough as a company guy and would look at companies like Mercer or Landstar. Though any company that pays percentage would at least be on my radar. DFW and Houston are the two cities my wife and I are looking at the most.

Thanks for the input!

 

What he meant was san antonio is just like miami florida. Lots of freight into the area but nothing coming out really. And everything that does pays about $1.15 a mile.

DFW and Memphis are the same, good rates in but meager rates out. Chicago and NYC are about the only really good areas, and then you still have to stay in the 250 mile bubble