Why oh why are you drivers taking this cheap freight????

To me you would make more money dead heading less. Dead heading more is more time consuming, you are running against the clock. just my .02

 

Explain, I'm always willing to learn something new.

 

don't go to markets that are dead holes. Dead holes will contain MORE truck capacity than there is demand from freight. (1000 trucks dropping off, then competing for 200 loads out)

Seasonal changes will decide what markets are hot, which are cold.

A dry van will have different markets than a reefer.

A dry van with wood walls with have a different market for duraplate walls.

Large distribution centers like to work with large carriers.

Small businesses like to work with small carriers.

An independent O/O has a different market focus than a mega carrier. One is more flexible to the spot market, the other is dependent on dedicated lanes/customers.


Just some areas......

 

These threads are always entertaining to say the least...

What you and so many others fail to realize is eventually your $3.50 a mile rate will soon be the $1.30 a mile rate with your train of thought. I know you don't think so or you wouldn't be spouting off about you "Law of Averages". I live in an area where at one time you could fall out of your truck and land on a decent paying load, not anymore, why you ask, because of guys with lack of knowledge and their "Law of Averages" theory. Same happened in Detroit area also.

So now to pick apart your "Law of Averages" theory..... Here we go.... By using your theory your truck can never break down...... So say you're doing the $3.50 a mile down then $1.30 back, then the unthinkable (to most of you) happens.... the truck breaks down! So now you're down for a day or so and you don't get your miles in.....? Tell me how that "Law of Average" theory worked out for ya now? So instead of delivering on Friday, so you can reload your 3.50 a mile run, you can't get unloaded till Monday. The 3.50 a mile run has to be moved Friday, the broker posts the load on the board. Another guy with the "Law of Average" theory comes across it..... "Hmmmmm I hauled up for 2.50 a mile so I can take this for 1.50 a mile back". So there goes your 3.50 a mile load, down the road, for 1.50 a mile...

So here we have it Ladies and Gents, this is how rates go to crap. Now these numbers I just used I didn't figure any up I just used what was previously used and made the other numbers up to do nothing more than prove a point.

I'll say this and I mean no offense by it, but the theory of "Law of Averages" is used by those who are to lazy to seek out better paying loads, afraid to set a night, and those who think "A load on my trailer is money in my pocket" types. Alot of these types also don't think about deadheading 300+ miles to a better paying load that in the end will probably be the same miles. Personally I'd much rather run 300 empty miles and only do 500 loaded miles than do the whole 800 miles for the same money...

It costs less to run empty than it does loaded so why run 40% more loaded miles for the same money.... don't really make much sense does it? You should really think about it.

 

Forget that, after the last stop, I'd put it in the wind empty back to that shipper and line up another 4 stopper. Retirement account would love that !!!!

 

Only issue with it....

It's a sealed load....

 

Yop, you are correct.

But I never said you automatically said, "Take the cheapest load" now did I. I didn't say, "don't sit a night" did I.

You can't simply view it from a single load point of view. Doing so limits your choices. Your 800 miles paying the same as someone getting a load right off the dock is not better. Your own admission.

and in the end, you are "averaging out" your miles as well justifying deadheading 300 miles as well.

It's a regular pissing match to discuss this one. one that gets new posts on it weekly 4-5 times.

If I am running more local/regional loads, I expect to see my revenue higher, but my miles down. When I stretch the legs, I expect to see the Per mile rate drop, but the miles go up.

I may cover more ground by not bumping the docks, but there is a fine line of balancing the two together.

I work each month to maximize my profit, cover my fixed expenses and minimize my miles (variable) expenses.

 

Well, I like Rolling Coals model better...However you want to do it is good. Us old geezers will continue to roll on down the road.

 

Where people fail is they try to run a one truck operation with your theory and I've proven it can and will fail, you just didn't address it. Where you are also wrong is not looking at it from a single load perspective. You have to look at every single load when you are just running a one truck operation, if you don't, your chances of failure increase greatly!

What I stated about the 300 mile deadhead is just common sense, but I can see it isn't so common anymore! From what I gathered from your statement is you would much rather run the 800 miles loaded instead of 500, Uh ok.

A big difference in this whole discussion is those who actually have to work and secure a load versus those who just swing doors and bump a dock.

 

Sure.....

Just cuz you say so.


Explain it then.


Instead of being insulting about it.