New o/o looking for advice.

With this statement in mind, you really should be running the Midwest, then loading back home every three weeks or so. Or fly home. And don't be worried about lack of experience with a flat, most carriers will train you in a day. And honestly, it's basically common sense stuff.

 

In all honesty it sound like the first thing you should do is fill out OOIDA's ready made spreadsheet and really figure out your costs....after that, figure out if you'r ok where your at, if not, do some more research here and figure out what to haul...(probably make the most doing flats or tanker) then research some carriers here and last, make some calls.

Good Luck!!!

 

I have a headache.

 

ATAs survey of member carriers, the carrier report that their cost per mile average is $1.67/milefor all miles. if you are not making that then you are losing money,

 

That figure doesn't determine whether he's making money or not. Knowing what it costs him to run and making sure he produces more revenue than his break even determines profitability.

Costs vs revenue is what determines whether or not the OP is "making money"

 

If I was you I would run south east and Midwest and try and load back home every third week, I live in Alabama and I run all the way up to the California border, all over Arizona Utah and the like, and it's kinda hard to get loads back east but I stay out two-three weeks regularly, and flatbed frieght is sloooowww right now, and side curtain loads pay good but not enough of them to justify having one, stepdeck and you can hual containers, equipment, flatbed loads, a little of everything, and most of the time 3 bucks a mile or more... Landstar has loads from east coast to west coast all the time for step van and reefer, I'd save your money and have a good three four week cushion bc it takes time to switch companies, but I don't know anything about mercer, I just know Landstar and I am very very happy here and I run all over the place..