What's your number?

Dry van or reefer goes like this:

Add yearly costs for all fixed expenses. Truck pymt, trailer pymt, IFTA, FHUT, insurance, book keeper, etc. Add everything you know in advance. Don't forget your taxes and retirement, but leave off your regular wages for now.

Go to last year and get your overall miles. Subtract 20% (just to be on safe side).

Take the expenses number and divide by the miles number. This is your FIXED cost per mile.

Next, decide your pay per mile-profit varies by region. Add to your fixed expenses.

Next, take the avg diesel price and divide by your anticipated mpg. Add that and the cost of any reefer fuel to your running total.

That number is the minimum you must have per mile, including any FSC.

This is the simple version. There's more to it, but that gives you an idea. Your book keeper should be able to help with this, but ultimately, if you own your own truck, you gotta know this inside and out.

Great question!

 

With a step I try to be over $2/mile all mile the oversize loads is what helps keep that number up

 

I think 2$/mile is the minimum of decency. Less than that ONLY if is a regular client that ask me for a favor ONCE IN A BLUE MOON. What is under 2$/mile are steps into the hole. The more under 2 the faster to the hole. I did the calculation countless times in various ways and still the same friggen number: 2$/mile.
The the American brothers and sisters is a bit different coz the accounting is not as brutal as for Canadian people. For an American driver is a bit better so 1.9-1.8 $/ mile would make it from time to time.

 

I usually look for $2.50 per mile, gross, loaded miles, under 43,000 pounds, no oversize, straight 48 foot flatbed.

 

you must be enjoying your time off because i dont see any loads paying a flat that

 

For local work, under 300 total miles, I need to be at 800 to the truck per day. 2.25 for legal outbound freight, market rates usually about $2 for inbound freight. Point to point when I'm out is 2.50+.

Non-escorted OD NEEDS TO BE .50-1.00 more after permits.

My rates will also change based on weight, height, tarp, weather, and delivery times and type ie crane load at 3am.

Given all of the above, I stay pretty busy and my revenue per odometer mile stays above $2 year round even with crazy deadheads.

 

Kind of a loaded question due to alot of factors, not the least of which bring how many miles do you DH to get that rate, but anyway......

I suppose my number would be $2.50 under the right circumstances. I figure my cost at $1.65 before DH. Profit of $.85/mile x 500 miles = $425 before DH, tolls, meals, income tax and risk. At some point you're better off staying home.

It's been quite a while (years?) since I can remember moving a legal load on my steps or double drops or less than $3/loaded mile. Most loads are 500 - 700 miles in the northeast.

EDIT:
To be fair, I have my own outbound that gets me to a reasonable freight area. Without the outbound, I'd likely be out of business.

EDITED again to add income tax...can't forget that.

 

Don't have one!
Depends on where I'm at,,,how much I got goin' in there, & where the next load goes.
Overall,,,$1.70 a runnin' mile (all miles loaded/empty) to the truck with a flat.

 

it's out there just have to find the right place. friday picked up plastic pipe in lincoln, NE bound for deshelr 108 on the hub $450 in 4 hours