Who’s in and who’s out?

I understand what you're saying and I'm not disagreeing with you. When you say the east coast, I'm assuming you're talking about the northeast, because the southeast and midwest are not like you're describing (parts of midwest could be considered east or west coast, depending on classification).

But again, simple math, a 7-9 hour driving day of 420 miles per day (so this accounts for heavy traffic in the northeast depending on run times), times $0.73 CPM is $306 per day, $1533 per week, $79,700 per year.

Are you saying LTL linehaul drivers in the northeast, especially on I95, don't get at least 420 miles a night?

If not, at certain LTL companies you have to work the dock if you have a short linehaul run, so wouldn't the hour or two of dock work per day after a short linehaul run get them to about 80k gross per year?

I can't imagine anybody on linehaul in the northeast is making less than 75k gross per year, although maybe I'm wrong?

 

It definitely occurs in the Midwest, South East, and South Central as well.

Take Chicago. It's 90 miles to Milwaukee, 200 to Oshkosh, 170 to Madison, 350 to Eau Clair, and 430 to MSP Heading west it's 170 to Rock Island and 340 to Des Moines. South east it's 126 to Bloomington, 190 to Springfield, and 290 to St Louis. South east - 190 to Indy, 288 to Louisville, and 280 to Cincinnati. East bound (and down) - 90 miles to South Bend, 169 to Grand Rapids, 200 to Lansing, 140 to Ft Wayne, 235 to Toledo, 290 to Detroit and 335 to Cleveland.

Going out and back 600 is the most any sane person would plan on, 550 is more reasonable. Looking at the distances - a lot of runs less than 400 miles (either meet and turns or hub turns). And that's just looking at the major population centers - plenty of service centers closer in. Think O'Hare, Midway, Joliet, and Gary - plenty of freight moving between those neighborhoods.

Out of my barn the shortest run is 228 miles total with about 4 hours of dock time. Still beats the city guy with the most overtime - barely. I know a couple of guys whose 'linehaul run' is 40 miles. City guys defintily make more than they do - but it's short term pain for long term gain.