From when you started out independent about 6 or 7 years ago (?) until now how much have your rates come down, or have they? Are you still two trucks?
Some numbers for new O/O
Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by DUNE-T, Aug 23, 2018.
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OP paints a much more realistic picture than what some guys at the liar’s counter try and do. ATRI has done research and some of the industry mags put out studies as well, each year. Their numbers are all pretty similar to what the OP said and what I see in my operation as well as when I was a dispatcher at some large fleets. These studies and articles are called “The real Cost of Trucking” or similar names. My numbers may be distributed different than the OP example but in the end result is the same, around 17k break even. My insurance will go down next year, and I’ll have the new trailer next year and I’m hoping to shave a few hundred a month off the costs.
Rates are similar. Rates are good and there is plenty of of freight right now. However, there have always been guys that swear up and down they average $4 a mile and have costs of $1 a mile or less and there always will be. You can hear them calling into Rutherford’s show all the time and he doesn’t call them out, which annoys me. I don’t like misinformation. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. I just want people informed and if they still want to do this, good for them.SheepDog, darthanubis, CorsairFanboy and 2 others Thank this. -
Well anyone claiming a $1 a mile costs or less or $4 a mile average from regular freight on all miles.... .....common sense says that is BS. However the funny thing is $4 a mile freight or better isn't as impossible to find as some people always seem to think to themselves. That's what they want you thinking, you lost half the battle already. It's not always on lousy low milage runs or to deadzones either but importantly it doesn't just magically fall outta the sky. Anyone thinking it will is in for a rude awakening.
You got to have the balls to ask for that kind of money along with knowing when you can get it. Most people are clueless on both counts. It's always a tight rope out here what you can get versus what you can stay busy on profitably as well. Figuring out a good balance there is the key. Give me one over the top load a week, which ain't hard to do, and I can build around that if I want to. Sometimes more than one like that comes along.
You take what you can get as it comes. Know your markets. You can't really know what anyone books but what good does it do you wondering if they do or don't do something? Nothing. A waste of time. Know your own costs and make your own profit. Don't worry about somebody else's operation.Last edited: Sep 1, 2018
SheepDog, Bodella, Blackhorse77 and 11 others Thank this. -
Moral of the story? Your choice of insurance providers can have some far reaching unexpected consequences. Anyone shopping based only on lowest cost is asking for trouble.
Nevertheless, I have gotten to know a few of KR's stars and they're for real for the most part. I agree that there's a tendency to focus on successes and never mention failures. It's human nature. There's a few TTR celebrities known to do that too. Something universally true with these success stories is: however their business model is constructed nearly always differs greatly from mine. In other words, any effort by me to measure my success against theirs is always going to look bad and a waste of time. Like I said in my earlier post: ask 100 different truckers and you'll get 100 different best ways to do it.
So what? Maybe try listening for some of the things these people do that can translate to your operation as an improvement. I've implemented a number of things that have improved my bottom line substantially. However, other choices I make such as lanes, days on the road, etc are the reason you won't be hearing me on the KR show or on here bragging or telling others how they're doing it wrong.
IMO what puts most people off about KR (aside from past product endorsements and that whole "signature truck" fiasco) is the fact that he's selling a proven business plan that many others will offer for free for the asking. What he admits, but never really emphasizes, is that it takes a highly motivated (to the point of being mentally ill) person to accomplish it. KR is one of very few people I have ever met that self motivate at that level. If you ever take the time to follow and learn from his most boastful followers, they are like that too. I'll never be in that group since I am a firm believer in working smarter not harder. Maybe a little on the lazy side too. But, I will never say I didn't learn some things from them and appreciate it.
I'm not defending KR or anything he's done, but really. If he were to drop dead tomorrow two more just like him would pop up. In fact there's a revolving door of people attempting to catch up to KR if you follow any industry social media. What they all don't have in common with KR is that none of them are motivated at his level. IMO focusing on someone's faults is a weak attempt at rationalizing your own failures and will never get you anywhere. Better to observe and then adopt some of their successes as your own.SheepDog, joseph1853, Blackhorse77 and 7 others Thank this. -
$92000 year to date, net before taxes, without TTR esteemed members or KR.
Just think if I did it correctly.SheepDog, Blue jeans, Matt1924 and 6 others Thank this. -
For example, I have had two different agents quote me on insurance. Both quote the policy from the same underwriter (Farmers just for example). One come back at 15k per year, the other comes back at 10k per year. You definitely have to shop around.
I had an agent quote me thru Progressive, 11,400 per yr. I went thru Progressive direct, 7000 per yr. For the same coverage.SheepDog, Blackhorse77, mp4694330 and 4 others Thank this. -
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And then that expensive emission truck breaks... Most go out of business, few survive. Unless they have $30,000 laying around for the in frame. That is a very real reality for many.SheepDog, Blue jeans, just_sayin and 3 others Thank this. -
darthanubis, Blue jeans, joseph1853 and 3 others Thank this.
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