Realistically

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by SmartDriver, Mar 6, 2013.

  1. SmartDriver

    SmartDriver Light Load Member

    75
    47
    Oct 26, 2010
    Stockton, CA
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    As an O/O what kind of miles per year can one expect to see at $2+ a mile... I know as a company driver I was getting 2500 miles plus a week... can I expect the same running my own Authority, running off of loadboards and a couple of brokers. It will be more than just myself trying to book loads. My wife will also work the boards while I am on the road... She is a stay at home mother, so she will have the time while the kids are at school. I am just weary that waiting for $2+ a mile would cut back on the miles..

    I could also be mislead about what my Cost per mile requirements might be. I am looking at an operating cost of $1.10 per mile, not counting my pay. No less than $1.50 with pay included. But preferably I would like to stay above $2 a mile. Not to say that I wouldn't take less, I am using the $2 a mile as an average rule of thumb. I do realize that there are areas that have cheaper freight, i.e. CA, Fl, areas like Chicago I have also heard is slow... So I do realize that there are times when waiting for $2 a mile might be unrealistic. Just looking for some information... Thanks in Advance.
     
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  3. mavljc

    mavljc Bobtail Member

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    24
    Jan 9, 2013
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    Almost all load board freight is brokered. Very few shippers post loads. The ones that do are looking for cheap haulers. Chicago is one of the better areas for open deck freight.
     
    herfinharry Thanks this.
  4. DThompsonNGI

    DThompsonNGI Light Load Member

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    18
    Apr 9, 2012
    Norfork,AR.
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    LOL good luck. Rates are way down.
     
    herfinharry Thanks this.
  5. FLATBED

    FLATBED Road Train Member

    At your estimate CPM of $1.50 / mile with wages in the least amount you can pull a load and not on any steady basis for is $1.89 / mile.
     
    SheepDog and herfinharry Thank this.
  6. herfinharry

    herfinharry Bobtail Member

    29
    9
    Jan 31, 2013
    Springfield, MO
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    Freight is just too #### low $$$ and costs are too #### high $$$$. I am a 64 year old driver with my own authority and all my equipment is paid for but still find that I could sell hot dogs on the street and do better. I thank God the kids are grown and mama has a good job or I would definetly get out of the business!

    :biggrin_25523:
     
  7. SmartDriver

    SmartDriver Light Load Member

    75
    47
    Oct 26, 2010
    Stockton, CA
    0
    So what kind of rates are we looking at these days? So what I am hearing is that it is better to lease on with a company? It is no longer realistic to bank on a $2 a mile average? I mean I understand that there is cheaper freight out there. If it is really that crappy then I need to rethink my intentions. I used to hear of people pulling in close to $3 a mile or more, although that wasn't the norm. I could operate at around $1.75 per mile but that wouldn't be my low point to shoot for. @ $1.10 per mile operating cost it would still be $.65 to me. Out of that $.65 I would be taking health care and retirement out of. That is the main reason why I am trying to look higher than $1.75.

    A couple of points that someone could shore up for me.... maybe I can tighten up my operating estimates a bit. I have insurances at about 5K a year. I have a maintenance cost of $.18 per mile. Are these numbers about right? I am guessing about $3K for tires. Just for the truck. These are my best guestemates based on the reading I have done on the forum, and talking with some other drivers.
     
    herfinharry Thanks this.
  8. FLATBED

    FLATBED Road Train Member

    Maintenance cost vary depending on age of equipment the 5th year of a trucks life is VERY exspensive and is 1 reason fleets rotate there trucks before the 5 years , what you haul and where you haul it also play a factor in the costs.
     
    SheepDog Thanks this.
  9. Guardian Freight

    Guardian Freight Bobtail Member

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    Feb 15, 2013
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    I am sure prices vary. I priced out an insurance quote today with OOIDA $7243/year, $1100/down $600/month.
    If you lease onto a company typically you will just need bobtail insurance, the quote for that was $804.65/year $134.99/down $64.99/month.
    If you are finding insurance at $5k, plase share where you are getting it from, because I have been shopping.

    If you go to OOIDA, they have a cost per mile calculator. Hope this helps some.
     
    SheepDog Thanks this.
  10. SheepDog

    SheepDog Road Train Member

    3,480
    2,084
    Nov 30, 2008
    Sand Lake, MI
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    Realistically, you questions are too broad and I think your numbers are low for someone buying a truck. So that leads me to ask; how much are spending on a truck? How much on a trailer? What do you plan to pull...flatbed, dryvan, reefer, tanker, stepdeck...? My number is $1.66 and that is all fixed/variable expenses, household bill's of $1500 and $35k to pay me. $1.33pm just to cover fixed/variable's. To lower that number you would have to have a paid for truck/trailer.
     
    BAYOU Thanks this.
  11. FLATBED

    FLATBED Road Train Member

    Love when you hear IT'S PAID FOR I CAN WORK FOR LESS
    :biggrin_2559:Even if the equipments paid for , you still need to set aside $ to eventually pay to replace it over and above your maint fund..
     
    SheepDog Thanks this.
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