RV Transport Companies

I had to do a deep dive on this one so here we go. In 2012 I spent 71 days out on the road. Manly between April 1st and the end of June when the season was just about over. Of the 71 days I spent 24 days, (more than I thought) in hotels for a total of $1893.60, (78.90 average a night — higher than I thought it would be). The rest of the nights were in the units. Even under the best circumstance if I spent 60 out of the 71in hotels that amount would have been $4734.00.

There would be no way under any circumstance that any one who is driving can take a $4.7 thousand hit to their profit. I now believe that more drivers are sleeping in units and in the trucks than I originally thought. I remember on one unit that I took to Utah that had a sealant of some kind on the lock. I found a way to get in through a compartment door that opened at the other end under the bed, (good times). Walked out of the unit in the morning by the front door and locked it behind me never disturbing the sealant.


As I said before the sleeping in the units issues will be a thing in the pass shortly. A acceptable standard of not using the fixtures, (toilet, heat, ect.) will be more the norm in the future if not all ready. Manufactures are all ready packaging the main bedding in boxes for the dealer to set up. I believe its just for this reason.

 

I spent only 400.00 on motels last year. I did not spend any time in an rv except for checking vents.

I have a bed built into the truck.

 

But the question that has to be asked is do you make any money doing this?

OK you do 10k or 15k a month, does that equate into say a buck a mile? Half a buck?

 

Roadmedic: You kind of made my point. Why should anyone doing RV delivery have to pay anything for a hotel night. It should be part of the compensation. It’s clearly not built into the current model like tolls and washing are. At the end of the day we all know that only our ingenuity keeps most of us ahead of the curve when it comes to profitability. Sleeping in the units 4-6 nights out of seven is, for many of us, another profit center.

As a sessional part time delivery driver I will take every opportunity to add to my narrow profitability, now and in the future.

 

I can take a run and make money each and every week. It is a far cry better than most make at the trucking companies.

I can go to Yellowknife NT and profit over 2200.00 for the trip. I can do the same running to Newfoundland. It is good enough money that I only work 3-4 days each week anymore.

 

After my last trip a two day run made $700.00 for wife and I pocket what's left of the advance. I drew a $200.00 cash advance and still have another $another $200.00 on my fuel card

 

Remember though.

You cannot make any money doing this.

 

I did a edit on this

 

I spend $0.00 on motels and eat out of my truck but I do shower at truck stop which I going to do right now before ai pick up my next trailer

 

So lets work a little backwards here. I am taking some liberties since I don’t have all of the information so please adjust accordantly.

You were out on a two day run - assuming that you drive 500 paid miles a day at 1.25 a mile your contract amount was $1250.00 (credit) Your fuel cost was (at 4.00 a gallon/161.54 used at an average of 13MPG), $646.15 (expense). Your pull out fee was $25.00 ,(expense). Your truck replacement/mataintance account gets $120.00 (expense). Days out expense for 2 - $200.00 (expense). Your1099 (quarterly tax report) expense is 20% of the gross amount - $250.00 (expense).


I’m sure that I left out some other expenses but it looks something like this on a balance sheet.

Credit amount
$1250.00

Expense amounts

$646.15
$25.00
$120.00
$200.00
$250.00


Total expense
$1241.15


You loss (credit minus expense) is $(8.85)


It only feels like you made $700 but the math does not add up.