cheap freight vs dead head

Excellent post. "SERVES ME" sums it up

 

I usually wont do this but,Im feelion' helpful sorta speak......

Im going to give you guys some 'RAW' numbers on my Current week and a half haul...

Here it goes, I'll welcome all criticism and/or praise.

a lil slow right now for me..I pull a flat w/tps..

Picked up yestersay in Towanda,Penna going to Billings,Mt on Monday for delivery....1952 miles, Squeezed $3448.63 all inclusive

Then I'll be picking up in Lovell,Wy going to New Castle,De approx. 2,025 miles paying a modest $3500 (Flat Rate) fuel is averaging $3 per gallon right now....

I think I did ok................

Like I said, I usually don't flash people but, These are 100% Honest rates I will Bill the customer..... Id like to hear some honest thoughts

 

Remember this is a business, so any way to reduce costs and bring in a better profit at the end of the year is reason enough.

When I was doing my dedicated hazmat loads, I would pick up a buck a mile loads going to the same city as my dedicated load came from and when I was done with the last drop, I would pick up a load in that city for a buck ten a mile going right back home. It was all ltl freight that was not going to get picked up as a tl so it was good I would make an extra $300 a week from it.

 

There we go!! Someone posting the real numbers. Thanks!

 

I will NOT take any load for less than $1.76PM unless...... I already know I have a load at the drop, that coupled with the 1st load equals at least $1.76PM

 

I have what may be an obvious question to some but I need to ask. When you are talking $1.76 do you calculate any dead head miles you might encounter? I mean there is always something coming out of Florida or Cali but what about Garden City, KS?

 

Is it Pete?

 

The $1.76 I speak of is ALL miles,,,,LH & DH Of course ACTUAL can be and usually is, different that estimated LH & DH added together.

 

Thanks, I'm just getting back into trucking as a company driver but its possible I'll look for my own rig next year. I'm trying to track whether I can justify the investment compared to what I can make as a driver.

 

The only "cheap" freight I haul is partial loads or I run empty if needed. I see more cheap loads that go in a box or on a flatbed. A partial light load will normally cover at least my fuel cost and most the time it is quick to load and unload. Less time involved. Also when I do this it is because I have delivered a good paying load to pickup a good paying load.
Most trips, I have loads lined up for the week or 10 day trip. I try to keep my dh under 15% for total trip or if time permits between loads I will do several ltl's to get to next full load.
2014 $2.61 pm, 2013 $2.90 pm. 120,000+/- miles per year.That includes all miles I drove.
I don't sit and wait for a load. When sitting I like to do it at home.