Hopper, Dump O/O's & Drivers

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by wheathauler, May 31, 2009.

  1. wheathauler

    wheathauler Trucker

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    Mar 10, 2009
    Hutch, Kansas
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    Yep, the storm is heading our way. In our upteenth winter storm watch. I use winter blades and they still look like yours sometimes.

    Diesel up to 2.93 here. The rates aren't matching the run up in fuel that's for sure.
     
    Last edited: Mar 19, 2010
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  3. Luis

    Luis Medium Load Member

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    Swear I saw diesel for 3.50 around here yesterday...
     
  4. Pawnd

    Pawnd Medium Load Member

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    Apr 8, 2009
    Chasing wind
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    Seems you need a lot more heat.
     
  5. Pawnd

    Pawnd Medium Load Member

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    That's the problem, the rates and surcharge doesn't change as fast. I don't care what the price per gallon is, it needs to be stable and the rates adjusted to it. They have never adjusted to the last run up.
     
  6. kajidono

    kajidono Road Train Member

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    I'm burning up as it is. :biggrin_2553: The whole design just sucks. I had so much ice built up that it was holding the blade over an inch off the windshield. Of course I'm out on two lanes where I can't stop for miles. I'd expect this on an old truck but not one that's only three years old.
     
  7. wheathauler

    wheathauler Trucker

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    Mar 10, 2009
    Hutch, Kansas
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    Hauling grain they never even mention surcharge. Just so many cents a bushel to supposedly cover everything. Frankly I'm amazed there are still so many hoppers around when the rates are 1.00 a mile or less on many loads.
     
  8. highside

    highside Medium Load Member

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    Feb 6, 2010
    Kansas
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    Wheathauler, the problem with $1.00/mile grain is that usually there are plenty of guys using it as backhaul so they'll haul it for little of nothing, making it difficult, no, make that impossible, for someone in your position to be competitive on a bounce rate.

    There's a big grain company in Enid that gets all sorts of grain hauled to town from the south for less than $1.00/per mile ONE WAY! There's always more freight going south than there is north, and they know that guys heading back home will pick their grain up even if the rates is a joke, because they're running the miles back north anyway, and all they've got invested is their time.:biggrin_25510:

    When we started 8 years ago, we tried to stay busy locally and just couldn't do it consistently, so we ventured into dedicated regional hauls, and it's worked for us (although it brings it's share of headaches, believe me). I've got to give credit to anyone who can survive on strictly local work...it's not an easy task!
     
  9. HwyPilot

    HwyPilot Medium Load Member

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    May 31, 2008
    Northern Georgia
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    I was working on "backhaul math" a few nights ago. Let me run it down again to you folks, and see what you think.

    My rig gets 10.2 to 11mpg running deadhead at 63mph, without too many mountains, curves and traffic.

    Loaded I see anywhere from 5.8mpg running 70mph and/or climbing, to about 7.4mpg on a good run at 63mph. Average is about 6.6mpg between these 2 numbers.

    Let's say I have a 300 mile deadhead, or I can run it empty and get to my next real load faster. We'll forget about loading and unloading delays, broken down equipment, etc. and just call it 4 hours for load and unload (suuuuuure), and time to sweep out.

    Average mpg empty (10.6mpg) divided into 300 miles = 28.3 gallons = $82.07 at 2.90/gal.

    Average mpg loaded (6.6mpg) divided into 300 miles = 45.5 gallons = $131.95 at 2.90/gal.

    Net difference in fuel is 17.2 gallons, or $49.88, more to run it loaded.

    It will also take at least 20% more time on the road due to climbing, stopping distances, coming up to speed, scaling at weigh stations instead of bypass, etc. We'll assume it would take 6 hours to run it empty, and 7 hours and 15 minutes to run it loaded. With the 4 hours load and unload (on the best day ever) it comes to 11 hours and 15 minutes. Then we add the time it takes to bill it forward - let's say 45 minutes.

    Let's add up the real cost of this 300 mile backhaul:

    So far we've delayed getting under a paying load for an extra 5 hours and 15 minutes, and invested 6 extra hours in our workload - plus, if anything does happen (and rate-cutters are notoriously cheap with equipment maintenance - good chance something breaks before you load or unload) you're delayed even more from that decent load - or you could lose it due to scheduling. If you take the load, you're also encouraging them to do this, instead of making them struggle for a day or 2 and maybe raise the rate, or having to deal with someone just as bad as the rate they're paying.

    17.2 gallons of fuel at an average of $2.90/gallon = $49.88, delaying a good paying load by basically a day unless you run your books and yourself a little hard, and an extra 6 hours of work. So what's the return?

    300 miles at $1 a mile is easy to figure out = $300, so you've gained (in theory) $250.12 for your time. At an extra 6 hours, that breaks down to $41.69 an hour (hah!).

    On the other end of the stick, you've worked your tail off all day, probably been delayed somewhere and had to deal with that, and now you may or may not show up on time for a good customer who actually pays for service! All to cover half a day deadheading, and $82.07 in fuel. How much could you make, in that same 6 hours, under that load running a decent rate?

    For my 2 cents worth, I decided it ain't worth the trouble, and I'll go ahead and take a 300 mile deadhead and be under that decent rate load 5 hours and change earlier, without the extra headaches.

    If you lose the load that's paying a decent rate, what have you lost as a result?? I'm not a gambler, and I'm not a greedy man. I don't encourage people to cut rates by taking their loads when they do, and I don't like dealing with penny-pinching folks that like to squeeze the #### things until Lincoln screams. In short, I've decided to accept a crazy long deadhead, instead of dealing with a cat and mouse game that may cost me what's actually paying the bills.

    Just my 2 cents, and feel free to tear it up! I told my freight agent I didn't want to deal with anything under 300 miles - I'll drive it instead - with the cruise set - in the big hole the whole way - listening to the radio and flying through the scale houses!
     
    7mouths2feed, dairyman and kajidono Thank this.
  10. wheathauler

    wheathauler Trucker

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    Mar 10, 2009
    Hutch, Kansas
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    I remember when you guys were doing local then you ventured into mids and meals if I remember right.

    Actually until a year ago and the bottom feeders arrived I stayed busy local year round. I hauled to Colwich for 3 or 4 years all year round.

    I am having to go further out now and developing more contacts.
     
  11. RW.

    RW. Heavy Load Member

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    Jan 18, 2009
    west central IL
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    Is that price for a complete radiator or just a new core?

    Why is it that it seems like in a semi, (our KW's at least) the defroster can't hardly keep up when its snowing or a cold rain. Even with the fan on high and temp to hot, I usually have to crack the passenger window and turn on the windshield fan to keep the glass from fogging over. But if I was in a pickup in similar conditions, it would keep the glass clear just fine, not even breaking a sweat. I've never figured this out. :biggrin_25515:
     
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