Is it possible to make good money hauling containers (intermodal)?
Discussion in 'Intermodal Trucking Forum' started by Byrds Eye View, Sep 2, 2012.
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'07 KW w/53' Conestoga and Bean Jr. Thank this.
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Where I live, it would take the entire day to run 2 container loads locally. The tollway might save 30 min or even an hour on the day, but, you'd be out $125 in tolls. Subtract your fuel, maintenance, insurance, set something aside for future repairs and major breakdowns, something aside for your future truck, pay for your own benefits...taxes, your probably netting $2,500 a week if you are lucky, and likely, more like $2,200 or $2,300. And, for some, that might seem like a boat load, especially if you are in your own bed every night.
I can get out, run general freight, never see the inside of a rail yard, work the same, maybe a few more hours, be home every night and clear $3,500-$4K. I can pull a flatbed and be closer to $4,500 if not over $5K. Mind you, these are NET numbers, not gross.
If I wanted to sleep in the truck, eat on the road and be home just one day a week or maybe just on the weekends, right now, it is over $6k doing flatbed, and right around $5k, maybe more in a van. Again, net.
Granted, there is always a cost to staying local. It is what most drivers aspire to, not all, but many. So, the rates aren't as great and the cost of being home is long-term profits. But, one person thinks netting $X a year is excellent money, another might say it isn't worth it.
But, here is the thing, if time and experience has taught me anything.
Those high rates don't always stick around. You make money while the money is there to be made. Hopefully you can save a bit of it so that you can make it through to the next boom when they do eventually go down.
But, if all your ever doing is "just getting by" and, just like general freight rates getting tighter and thinner, so do container rates. So, when you are making average or less at best, what are you getting when times are low?
I am always preaching to make money while the money is there to be made because, it may not always be there to be made. And, in my own mind, it would piss me off to know that there is a better way to do what I am already doing that saves me time or effort, or, makes me more money in the same amount of time and effort. But, again, not everyone is wired the same.dancecanyon, BigDog Trucker, Mooseontheloose and 4 others Thank this. -
'07 KW w/53' Conestoga Thanks this.
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Dino soar, Doing_flatbed_nc, Speed_Drums and 1 other person Thank this.
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ChicagoJohn and '07 KW w/53' Conestoga Thank this.
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Does anyone know a good company to haul dryvan in the dallas/Fort Worth TX area?
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Hauling containers in the dfw, tx area
'07 KW w/53' Conestoga Thanks this.
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