woundering

I can think of one company you forgot.

To address the O/P first question, you can not do business with JD directly. I had one of my ex-contractors attempt this while still working with us. He offered them 3 trucks and they politely told him that this was not enough capacity for them, and followed up by notifying us.

I would agree with Cluck that this is not a good time to get in the RORO business. You are 3 years late to the party. Things were great in 2010-2012 because capacity in this part of the market was decimated in the recession and there just weren't trucks out there. Now every fleet has been pouring capacity into the market, and independents are buying steps and RGNs. The gravy train is over and has been for a year. I am not sure how long things will be soft, but it will be years not months. Carriers have to figure out a way to offer something others don't to make it for the next couple years.

I also agree with what triplesix is saying. Walk before you run. Take the time to learn and don't skip steps. Company driver then o/op. Flatbed then step, then specialized then heavy haul. You aren't going to get rich quick in trucking. You might get lucky and make it work for a while, but sooner or later you will have the big one.

 

Thanks x10. I always say you make money when you are going in a different direction than everyone else.

 

Oh Mr. Pape. I'm sure you're not calling your people Lower! Lower! Lower!

 

Let's just say I have different expectations than some of my competitors. Like I said you have to offer something your competition doesn't. If all you have to compete on is price, the only thing you can do to gain business is cut rates. Not my style.

 

depends on the rate. There are a few loads that I run that is 50% deadhead. the customer is just charged enough to cover it. for instance I have a run going out of Pittsburgh pa to Spokane wa that pays me over 2 a mile for all miles to go to Spokane loaded and back to Pittsburgh empty. the load goes twice a year once in june and once in November/December.

 

there is always exceptions craggy but in general seldom is it a good deal to run home empty. And if you would have picked up a return load for even a $1/mile your trip would have paid you $2.50 a mile. That sounds better to me. $4500/yr better.

 

Thats exactly what they're betting on. Take a load out to a dead zone and the brokers all think, "the stupid truck driver will pull the loads for $.80 cpm to get out of a bad area. And they're right...they know that someone will pull a load for $.40cpm.

 

Capacity is up and rates are down. That is not a good time to start buying equipment.

 

I don't pull a load for under 2 a mile. and for this customer its deadhead back to get them their trailer back. im just saying that if you plan on hauling for one customer specifically and plan on deadheading back adjust rates accordingly

 

And that post shows why rates are junk. It amazes me that someone would take a $1 a mile rate. Sad