Flatbed rates i was quoted today

You have to look at every load different. If you are quoting a load going some wherethat there is no good out going freight then quote the one going in to cover a dh out.

 

Which that kind of knowledge will only come with time... So it is safe to say that the job is a lot harder for a new o/o? My simple mentality is if nothing was coming up I would take what I could get just to cover cost of getting me someplace else.

 

HAHAHAHAHA. That's funny. Are you new?

 

thats why there are so many cheep loads

 

Problem is, you rarely get enough going into these unbalanced areas to compensate the average while coming out. What you end up with is a lower profit than a company driver.

Most owner ops have no idea what there true profit is over a 5 year span. Some lose money, many break even, and a few make a profit but sit too much waiting for favorable loads.

Another thing about backhauls: One guy's backhaul is another guy's money run. When you have guy's running backhauls for fuel to reposition their truck in a better area or to get home on time; it KILLS rates and makes this an impossible business to be profitable. Too bad operators don't have a gauge on their dash that shows profit just like they have a fuel gauge. Money is harder to gauge; many are running their truck into the ground and the money they take home really isn't their money. It is, or should be, the truck's money. For fuel, maintenance, replacement, insurance. But they take it home and spend it, and go broke because they agreed to run too cheap.

 

If you know you are going into a dead area, find something besides freight to bring out. Rust free cars and pick ups are popular in the rust belt. Maybe bring containers out of Cali full of hay for the starving cows in Texas. Then sell the containers.

 

I'm in the trucking business, not the trading/farming/car sales businesses. I don't go into areas that won't maintain my target average. The numbers must be predictable and they must work. Also, the rates may be right, but the load/truck ratio is too low. Again, I don't go there if I predict to lose money. If everyone ran their truck like a business, the rates would come up to serve those areas. I'm not a charity; I'm 'for profit'. The money is there, the brokers either have it or can negotiate for it. It all comes down to how many knuckleheads are out there killing this business. I try to specialize and run niche areas as much as possible to cut out some of the competition with knucklehead operators. Other than that, I operate debt free so I can park it and work for a company to make more profit for my time if need be. It's got to get pretty darn bad, though, before I take that option.

 

There is a half ##### gauge that most just dont use Rockyroad, its called a calculator LOL. Too many O/O's can kill the rates because they dont have one or they do and just dont use it. I mean also when so many of them dont know what there fixed costs are that doesnt help either so they see something like 1.50 a mile and they think its an awesome rate! Failure just down the road!

 

Not to get off topic but blind is right if your willing to do it. The rust free cars from the SW is HUGE up here in the midwest. My pops bought a 87 blazer in Lake Havasu for 1700, worth in Chicagoland area, 5,000 easy. Rust free runs AWESOME, 4x4 and a 350! I was Stationed out there so when I went home for leave I talked to my dad and we bought a brand new trailer to put it on. Sold the trailer back here in IL for 500 bucks profit! LOL I would do this if I had my own authority and I couldn't find anything worth a darn to bring back towards home but other then that I wouldn't. Just my thoughts on it though. Blazer is sitting currently and has a almost new western 8 foot plow and a 4 inch lift and new tires. Sweet truck and has yet to plow! Spotless though!.

 

Well if you are business minded you can do that.
If you just want to drive a truck and not think out side the box then its not an option.
It is good that many don't want to operate out side their comfort zone because it leaves the options open for entrepreneurs.
Its survival of the fittest and those who can adapt are more likely to survive.