Can I make a living with this haul?

What do you consider a short haul? How many total miles per day, loaded and unloaded.

If you can gross 1000-1200 per day then its possible otherwise I wouldnt waste my time.

I would price my truck without the need for a backhaul as you might not be able to always line one up.

Also consider buying multiple trailers and having one preloaded so it turns more into a drop n hook scenario.

The 3.50 per miles round trip is extremely low for someone with high operational cost.

Good luck.

 

If one could survive on that pay, the company would not be looking to contract out to someone with no experience and is moving to the area to boot.
Nobody local will take the rate, that should tell you something.

 

Have you got solid insurance quotes yet? Make sure you can even handle that expense first before even wasting your time on anything else. Also; who puts food in your kin's mouth when cheap freight like lumber bites you?

 

Some one beat me too it.

 

This might not be what you like hearing but there is a ton of reefer work out of Russellville with zero mountain cold there , con agra frozen foods and tyson foods .
I'm leased to a company in omaha and could be home every other day if I wanted to running con agra plant to plant between Russellville and omaha .
Ft Smith is another hot spot for con agra too .
Lew thompson over in Morrilton is big into tyson in Nw Arkansas too.

 

Oopps Huntsville ark .