Am I Right On My Cost To Operate

Using that 1.83 number and if you have 20% empty miles, you need close to $2.20 or so to profit. Follow me?

 

i probably should read the rest of the thread before replying but here it goes anyway

insurance is way too low unless your leasing to a carrier then probably too high

my tires and repair costs run way higher than your numbers but then again you probably are not running 24 tires the weight im carrying or driving down cow trails that are called roads in the rain and the mud so who knows.

just what pop'd out at me

 

Unless we are talking strictly coast to coast trucking, I don't think a driver can expect more than about 80k loaded miles. And if running regional it's likely to be closer to 55k.

 

My health insurance is just below $1,000 a month.
That is for me and children , with a $5,000 deductible , so it could cost upwards of $17,000 a year.
Thank you Mr. Obama

 

Wow, how old are you and how many children do you have?

 

2, daughter that is 13 and a son who is 6.

 

My family premium more than doubled also.obama care was never about anything but forcing higher cost on the rest of us. socialist centralization of wealth.

 

And just to add some more food for thought....since it is a business, and by definition, a business must make a profit, that means there are taxes to be paid. Most people think the business side of the ledger doesn't need to make a profit because they are making money from the $52K in driver pay BUT someday you may want/need to get out of the truck need to pay a driver then what?

Picking numbers out of thin air here, but if we say you averaged $2.50/dispatched mile x 80,000 miles = revenue of $200,000. Subtract from that expenses of $1.83/mile x 100,000 all miles we have expenses of 183,000 and a pre tax profit of $17,000. Not sure how much tax you would pay on that (or even if running the business is worth the the hassle for $17K) but you need to figure it in, because if you don't, then you don't have a business you have bought a job.

 

I don't see per diem expenses, I.e. food. Although that IRS deductable number is $59 day, I actually spend $20. You might be on the road for 300 plus days, x's $20 equals about $6,000.

 

I would definitely go more conservative on the miles 110-120k. That maintenance should be .10 if its an emissions truck. Fuel figure on .42 to give some cushion (based on 2.75 @ 6.5mpg) Remember how fast they shot up before and that surcharge can sure drag -ss catching up. Variables can change in the blink or a series of "ah hell" moments that will tap into reserves fast. Also you will need to set aside 38% for the tax man (DOT and IRS).