So what does a load really pay?

Sorry, it hasn't worked like this for a while. You have to be likeable too.

 

This is why I’m self employed

 

Fact is we can’t tell you what he is making because we don’t know. We can tell what we would haul it for. We don’t know if he is in direct or getting loads through a broker. Even if he is in direct some places pay different carriers different rates. Your bargaining power should have nothing to do with what the load pays unless you are paid percentage.
Just like the o/o has to decide if a load is worth hauling you have to decide if it’s worth it to you.
Your bargaining power is in what the other companies are paying their drivers. My drivers averaged 63 cents per mile last year for all miles but they get paid percentage. Hope this helps.

 

Hourly>percentage>milage. True hourly would be the holy grail, especially if it was city traffic driving.

 

I have always looked at what it paid a year/days in truck.

 

Last job was hourly. It would have been great if it wasn’t paying crap per hour.

 

@Trucking in Tennessee National average rates for reefer right now I think is $2.63 per mile.

 

By that do you mean total miles, or do I have to deadhead 50% of that load to pick up another?

The answer is yes, I deadhead 150 miles for the backhaul, and then another 80 to get loaded again. The back haul pays a flat rate, It's $506 plus $75 fuel to the truck for 200 miles. The $1,289 was the rate for that other load, I get 75% plus fuel surcharge.So altogether it's about $1,600 for 750 miles. I won't complain, but I know rates are better than that.

 

You're getting a percentage of contractual rates vs constantly fluctuating spot market rates. Sometimes that security of the steady predictable rate is more valuable in terms of dependability.