Run empty, run cheap or sit the weekend.

Option D: Run empty to an area that has decent paying freight - bound to be less than 1500 miles away. Tell the cheap freight broker that you're going to bounce empty, but that if he wants his load moved you'll do it for $X. If he doesn't budge, make good on your promise.

 

OK this may come across a little rude but it is intended for many and not just you.


Why on earth should anybody ever ask this question. You should have a business plan (and not talking about spreadsheet with numbers on it) that tells you what you business model is. Is your business model based on a rate per mile by the load or what you average out over a week/month/quarter?

Your business plan answers that question. And if you don't have the plan or the ability to create one then dedicate every free moment to learning about and creating that plan.

Far too many O/O's understand the operation of a truck but not the operation of a business. If you can change from having bought a job to running a business you will be stunned at the prosperity you will achieve.

 

the business plan is simple. either make money or don't.

can't get any easier then that.

 

Can't speak for the OP but it does happen, for instance, take a good paying load to some nether region of the country.

The only reason that I took the load was because I had a load in that area that was available, on the trip out there, the return load was cancelled, it happens, now the truck is sitting in a low freight area without anything lined up.

Normally, if this happened to me, I would route out truck to an area that I knew that I could load on Monday, but probably not move than a days drive away.

That way my driver gets paid to drive for another day, then I would have him sit out a 34 reset on sat nite/sunday and have all hours available on Monday am.

Just how we do it, I try my damnedest not to haul cheap freight, I have no problem bouncing a truck for a day to get to a better paying load.

JMHO

 

I'd say F-it and go home!

 

well, as has been said, its a sucky situation to be in, but it happens all the time

i am presently in upper mass, pondering the same thing

paid good coming in, garbage out

there are a lot of factors, right now, give me $1.20 lightweight for an overnighter and i will go anywhere

 

i used to do the "go home" thing

it costs

 

You said that it paid very well to where you are. If it really paid THAT well, then it must have paid enough for you to bounce to an area that pays better than the area that you are in. A little thinking goes a long long way. Just like those going into NJ. You always make sure it pays enough to go in THEN back out, just an example. Not enough hours in the day to ALWAYS stay ahead...But thats life of an O/O. Be safe out there drivers.

 

This is the best approach and one that I follow. Currently I am taking a load to Nova Scotia and it pays good enough (all figured into the rate) for me to bounce back out 1200 miles to a place where I know I have good paying freight that will take me back home. If I score something while there then all the better but I planned on nothing so no cheap freight, no sitting and the bounce already paid for.