How much to charge for hauling freight

If you have a truck that's paid for.....and no mortgage or other expenses....

 

Hey! mitchtazz I'm glad you asked: hopefully this will help others that may have wondered the same question:

This whole calculator is based on the realistic and average amounts you expect. that is, if you run authority head haul and then back haul every load you would "expect" to run about 14,15 maybe even 17-18 loads a month, but if you run authority on all round trip loads in an average market "from" experience" I know you'll only run about 8-12 loads a month. Using an average miles per load by taking all your last months loaded miles and dividing them by the amount of loads you ran gives you a good average:

Now remember in setting your rate you have to take into consideration how much you "want or expect" to earn for the month--I always say if a company driver can make 3000mo leased on should "expect" to earn 4500mo and authority 6000mo; will that happen if the market is poor "NO", so the input amount you expect "has to be" realistic, but if you include all your expected expense and income along with the average amount of loads you run (use several months to confirm) the calculator will tell you what you need to be averaging for the rate you are charging on each load, and that's the question that many owner operator wonder; and it will be different for each operation based on the way you run, your expense, even your miles per gallon, and your expected income.

I really want O/O to see the value in knowing that, and that this calculator can give them a realistic rate they need to be charging based on "EVERYTHING" specific to their operation "only if" they be realistic with the input information.

Please try it again with this in mind: and please let me know if this was helpful, and if you have any further questions, thanks again.......Jo Bernard

 

That's what I was thinking. I am still new making that so it seemed a tad low.

 

More freight then we can handle over here running between 2.20-3.00 per mile. I think I should lose the trucks and start a brokerage. Hmmm.... I will be a hero offering owner operators frieght paying 1.50 and still leave me 1.00 plus or minus.

 

Ok it makes since now that you explained it all the way.. i didn't know you were using "estimate", and "actual" as inputs. I've never been an owner operator, but plan to be in the fall, so i can't really use any actual data since i have none, so i did everything based off estimates. estimate low miles, estimate 150gal fuel tanks, estimate 5mpg and all of that is a starting point. I then thow my expenses into it which are still estimates except for the authority, 2290. Everything else is an estimate cause i do not have anything solid on it, just quotes.

 

That's good mitchtazz, I'm glad you're gettin the hang of it. This calculator is equally important for those considering the different options and ways of running as it is for those already running them.

It's true, you're right, if you don't have existing averages you have to estimate: "but try to take and educated guess", asking other already owner operators about these averages will not only help, but this make another good case for the purpose of the calculator; that is: it get's you thinking about the real things you are going to be faced with and prompts you to ask those that already have a working knowledge of these numbers.

one last thing, remember when inputting the expense for all annual amount make sure you divide them by 12 so you can use the monthly amounts in the monthly expense input section; other than that I think you're on your way. the more you practice the better, after it all clicks you'll master the use of it really quick and actually enjoy what it has to offer.

You'll be surprised how many that have been running their own authority or other lease situations, don't really have a firm grip on the numbers.

Thanks again and be safe out there.......Jo Bernard

 

No I dont go home mt. And I have a couple of loads that I run every week that pay 250 for 14 miles no touch, Some times I run 3 of those and that columbus trip, most of the time its round trip, some times I run from pittsburgh to Newark De and that pays $840, I dont know what you are doing with fuel but i did that for a while. And that paid 18.40 an hour and I worked like 63 hours a week and my days off were tue and wed. Not the best life, and they paid every 30 days. I Did alot of local stuff for alot of money i worked for dunkin donuts, that paid 25 an hour plus overtime but I unloaded the truck (pallets of bags of flour and sugar that had to be stacked and rotated on store shelves.) That started at 2:30 am and I worked 13 -14 hour days, sure you can make more money but as it is now for me I work most days 5 hours and am off every weekend and am home just about every night of the week. for a grand a week you guys think being an O/O should pay more?

 

I am,trick is to stay away from brokers last week i made $1.85 all miles this week $1.52 all miles and i run flatbed 90% lumber loads new england,ny and pa most of my loads are $2 a mile or more right now.