Taking my trucks to JB Hunt!

I agree with you on the point of leasing to anyone for $0.90 + fuel surcharge. That is way to low and a person has no control over dispatching. Now running for percentage is different and getting a real choice of loads off a load board can be way more profitable. As many know, I'm leased to Schneider on their Choice program and I averaged $1.48 (to me for all miles ran) last year and so far this year I am at $1.85 (mostly cause I have stayed on the east coast and haven't bobtailed home from 300 miles away like I did 5 times last year

Is it the best? At the point I don't see anything as a whole better for me.
Is it for everyone? Nope, cause many guys that own trucks have no idea how to run their own company.
Are there benefits? Yes, a little fuel discount (that some of use are trying to get increased), a real choice on how and where we run (as long as its legal), and no haggle over home time.

I'm by far not a cheerleader for Schneider or the mega carriers, but I am making real good money considering what I'm doing and the type of economy we have going on in our country. I have also talked to many small carriers, but they just don't have either the freight or pay to support what I want. I have looked into running with my own authority. Unfortunitly way to many companies look good on paper and have decent credit ratings, then they show up as bankrupt here lately I have decided against pursue in for the time being. Also factor in the way some of the brokers are cutting into rates it makes the decision real easy.

 

I'm currently leased to a 500 truck all O/O LTL carrier for the last 5 months that at one time someone had to retire to get in to. I've averaged 1.13 per mile for 49,000 miles due to the long deadheads between terminals, slow freight, company's rate cuts and the company having made it so difficult to get a broker load approved. The Choice fleet is closed, yes? I really wanted to get on the program but it was never available to Florida based trucks. Many carriers won't lease FL based trucks, period. Of which I am one. Anyone have a suggestion about what to try next?

 

Pullingtrucker, that's good to hear and good to hear your making decent money with a mega carrier. FWIW, this re-enforces what I have always hear about SNC - that they're not in the same class as the true bottom feeder outfits.

 

Mark, I'm am in a little different situation than you are and think that the company where you are now would fit much better for me than it does you. If you don't mind me asking, what are the outbound loads from the Atlanta terminal paying you? I am also assuming that you probably have a dry van trailer right? I would be pulling reefers.

As for your quandry, try talking to Diel Jerue in Ocala. They are a reefer carrier/broker and haul alot of foliage loads outbound from south Florida.

 

The Choice program is closed to anyone wanting to come over...even from the mileage program. This is the last I knew. Some of the guys on this program are looking at going back to mileage which I don't understand their thinking. They just need to change where and how they run. I also don't understand why Schneider wouldn't lease a FL based truck onto this program...heck its your money, time, and effort to dispatch yourself, not theirs.

Don't think just because I'm doing good means that Schneider isn't a bottom feeder. They have many many problems that will be their down fall sooner or later if not addressed in the near future. Also they will also cut rates, just like the rest of them if they are given the oppurtunity. The reason I'm doing well is because I keep my options open on my freight lanes, times of operation, and many other factors. I also make sure Schneider obeys by the contract that I signed...many guys don't do that thinking they are doing SNI a favor. This "favor" means nothing to a mega carrier and will never be repaid unless it benefits SNI. I have went rounds with them twice in the past 4 months about loads getting rejected or reconsigned. I state that I booked the load going from point A to point B for X amount of dollars...not to point C for the same money even if point C is in the same city/town. So far they have been obeying the contract and we have settled the disagreements within a couple of hours.

 

the only way to make money with them....well not make money but be ok is to do there hybrid plan.they dont tell you about it but its ok.they atleast pay for a good amout of the dead head.i stoped messing with them myself.i did it for about 6 mths.it got to the point were i was waitn on them to find me loads.they got mad at me cause i would call on of my own brokers i know and pull jb s trailer with another brokers load.i hate waitn when there is no reason

 

I was wrong

 

That was random.

 

The main thing is you pulled your trucks. experience is the best teacher.

 

Yup....accidentally clicked on the wrong thread....sorry, ya'll. (insert embarrassed smiley here.)