My Journey Continues

In November I was very picky on what loads I took and would dead head 400 miles to take a load paying good or sit for 3 days waiting. I averaged $3.11/loaded mile but didn’t make any money. This month I decided to just keep the truck running. With fuel coming down I made a mental note that $2.50/mile should be the floor. I left home (Fort Worth) on Saturday November 26th.
11/27 Drop in Billings, MT
11/28 Pickup in Greybull, WY 12/1 Drop in Stroudburg, PA
12/2 Pickup in Philadelphia. 12/5 Drop in Brookings, SD
12/6 Pickup in Sioux Falls, SD. 12/8 Drop in Greenville, SC
12/9 Pickup in Athens,GA. 12/12 Drop in St. Louis
12/12 Pickup in St. Louis. 12/13 Drop in Beresford, SD
12/13 Pickup in Sioux Falls. In Mt Vernon, IL for the night and will unload at 0600 Friday morning the 16th in Birmingham. I have a pickup scheduled Friday noon in Chattanooga with a drop in Phoenix on Monday and a pickup Monday afternoon that I’ll drop in Texas on Wednesday and that will be it for the year. This trip will be 9 loads, 2 required 4’ drops, 2 were under 10,000 lbs, 3 others were under 20,000 lbs and the heaviest was 42k. I’ll be around $2.70 for all miles loaded and unloaded. After fuel, an oil change, insurance and yard rent I’ll be a little over $20k for 3 1/2 weeks. It’s hard to say what net profit will be over time but I’m happy with $1.95/mile left after the above expenses. And I realize this was my first month of serious running so maybe this will never be repeated. But I love working the boards in the evening. I love negotiating for my services. I love the hunt!

 

I started my career in a 150 Pawnee so I get the analogy. However is $20,000+ in 3 weeks after fuel and insurance spinning wheels not making money?

 

In November deadheading ate up a lot of fuel. I only ran 5000 miles. I didn’t lose money but when I said I didn’t make any it’s because for the time spent I could of worked at McDonalds. Part of the learning curve. This month I didn’t sit at all and my longest deadhead was 120 miles. All my resets were accomplished with a load on and combined with a 10 hr. Also with my fuel discount I’m averaging $2/gal less this month.