Current rates are now below fleet operating costs! It's official!

what do you mean, "Subjective" If you haul loads in USA and you live in Mexico, I believe you. Look my 2018 Great Dane reefer is paid off , my 2016 Freightliner truck is paid off, I am 100% independent o/o, I live a very frugal and simple life. BUT it doesn't mean that I can accept what brokers want to pay!!! , just because my operators cost are minimum !! if I run based on my operating cost , probably 2.5 dollars per mile it is ok, I"ll be helping brokers and shippers and I will destroy the rest of you guys!! so, this is not about you or me , this is about this industry, pride , dignity, respect to ourselves. If you don't need the money , then park your truck . if you need the money , then do the right thing.

 

I rather do that than bending my knees.

 

Me too. I have a run I make 1 day a week that pays about 2k (572 miles round trip @ $3.50 a mile). I have had this run for over 3 years now, every week without fail. It pays my truck payment and insurance, covers the fuel and leaves me a few hundred left over. And then I will do the occasional local thing - not every week mind you, just when I find something that is good enough for me to take my PJs off and put my jeans on for. Did one yesterday - 90 miles round trip from the house to the house paid $500.

Thats pretty much all I have done for the past year and a half.

 

I took a little road trip last week out to AZ and NV from Midwest in my Car. Trucks are still flying down the big road at or above speed limit. Except the mega #### box fleets. So fuel and crappy rates must not be hurting to much?. So happy I sold the equipment over a year ago.

 

I agree with you but I agree with him too. I took 'operating costs are subjective' to mean that fuel, insurance and cost of living is different in different parts of the country. My equipment is paid for too, about the same age as yours, my life is pretty simple and I'm debt free except for the mortage but from what I've heard cost of living here in the SE is a lot cheaper than elsewhere. Fuel is cheaper too, a big reason I'm staying closer to home these days.

 

Regulated by the hour and paid piece meal it's always going to be a race against the clock. In reefer world don't be late unless you're ok with $300+/- late fees and being shuffled off to the side for hours on end as a work in. New trucks do really well on fuel at high speeds anyway. Of course even better if you slow down when you can.

 

Exactly.

Every owner has different level of costs, it is subject to their situation.

 

Depends. If you're talking about flanging up, we have our own torque up. But the customer still uses 3rd party 50% of the time. And the one I'm heading out for now has flanges already installed on the flow cross that matches our pressure control, so it's just a matter of stabbing on and running. 5k gear, 30' of lube. Super simple.