Walk me through this...

I'd suggest avoiding dry vans altogether. You'll be stuck in the cheapest segment of trucking because you don't really know what to look for in that segment that's paying well. Flatbed would be so much easier to get a rolling average of $2.50+ a mille on the hub miles but again, do you know how to find loads and price that? Others may disagree but if I was running a 17 trucks all flatbed company under my own authority I'd be really disappointed with anything under a $2.50 per mile average on all miles, and I'd really be shooting for the $3+ range. Of course I have no idea what it is to run that many trucks if it is even possible to pull those numbers, but it's #### sure what I'd be shooting for if I was in that situation.

 

Don't know who your using but the rates from the appleton/green bay area to NO area are 3000+ from the shippers. 19-2000 back to Chicago/WI is about right for cheap fish.

 

Just a wild guess but hauling out of a port with no Twic needs a escort.

 

You're also at a distinct disadvantage in that you have no seat time and are only looking at rate per mile when pricing. You don't know what questions to ask about a load and might end up taking loads that appear to have a great rate per mile but end up being a turkey of a load because of other cirrcumstance such as tons of extra time lost loading/unloading that you never thought to get detention pay hammered out in the rate, or unloading fees, or tolls, or just plain bs that goes along with some freight in general. If you are booking all loads yourself you'd probably benefit from hiring a professional dispatcher. Preferably an educated one with experience as a driver.

 

would you consider leasing your flatbeds to a large carrier like mercer or some of the others aand let them do the leg work,while you can sit back and learn your operation a little better

 

Had to get a twic. Mrs. Foreman gets pissed if she catches me hiring escorts.

 

Does anyone have any info on Roehl? I am hired on by them but dont start until May after I complete roadmaster here in Orlando.

 

Look under Good and Bad Companies and scroll till you find info on Raehl, You find stuff. But this thread here is Tiffy's thread on her own company.

 

If you want to stay on Hopper....

http://www.foltztrucking.com/
check them out. They have been in business for a LONG time.