Finally got my own truck

Joking.... Or see about getting e-track and logistics posts installed in the trailer, and offer enclosed transport??? (That one was serious)

 

The boat is already on a trailer, just needs to hitch up and go. I've pulled loads from the UShip board using my RV and my Excursion, I can honestly say that I've never had a bad transaction. I'm currently overseas but when back home, I usually pick up loads to pay for wherever I'm headed.

Thread jack aside, loads that already have a trailer seem to be easy pickings and they're so light that it doesn't even work the truck.

 

Let me rephrase the question. Where is he supposed to drop and park his brand new trailer he's already hooked to that he uses to haul freight while he goes to pull someone else's? Are you sure it would be just fine sitting in an abandoned lot in some Cuban part of town?... Curious what sort of insurance you carry while hauling with your Excursion?

 

Congratulations! Set aside the M & R faithfully. Watch the trends, be careful where you park and trust your instincts! You will be fine. Life is good...not easy!

 

I apologize, I didn't understand what you meant. Having a trailer would seem to be even better as that would open him up to even more loads. Again, from the outside looking in, it seems like an enterprising guy would build a set of ramps so that he could drive cars/motorcycles/cargo up onto the flat bed. There's quite a few vehicles trying to get out of Florida, it seems like that'd be an easy way to solve his problem and also offer a discount to the folks looking to hire someone.

As for my Excursion insurance, I had my normal vehicle insurance and my umbrella policy that covers everything I own/drive. When I asked my insurance if they would care about me occasionally hauling furniture or a car for someone else (for hire) and would they still cover me in a wreck, she kinda laughed and said not to worry about it until I was doing it every other week. Even then, I set aside money to pay for any shipping damage that I caused (thankfully there was none).

 

As a quick example, just checked and there's a 2012 Harley paying $600 from Miami to Pittsburgh. Not that he's headed to Pittsburgh but that just seems like an easy pickup along the way.

 

It's cheap because there's more trucks
Looking for loads then there is loads to pull.
Supply and demand.

 

Having had a bit of experience with them, I would respectfully disagree with your perception of how the system works.

Here's how it played out for me; I was headed to NC from NY to visit my parents and accepted an offer to tow a garden tractor that added 60 miles overall to my route. This "load" paid $400 and once I arrived, they gave me a code that when entered into the website, released the money that the client had already deposited. I knew I was headed back a week later so I bid a couple loads and accepted 2 engine blocks that added just under 100 miles to my normal route. The engines paid $450 and same thing, once I arrived they gave me a code that released the funds. So overall, $850 for going 160 miles out of my way and the hassle of towing a 4x6 trailer. Also, there's no benefit for the client to try and stiff you since they've already paid the site.

All that said, if you know that you're going to be in FL on a certain date, and you know the rate going back out of FL, what's the downside to picking up a couple private loads that will easily outpay and also weigh less than what's commercially available? I'm not trying to convince you, just genuinely curious why you would pass up better money when it's available?

"And we don't book more than a day in advance." Since you have a reliable truck, what's the reasoning behind this?