Landstar

I get it about not hauling "cheap freight," and that is a never ending argument. The other problem is that what is cheap for one driver is a great rate for another. When I tell someone my average rate it tends to be lower because I include all miles including deadhead. I stay out of the areas that historically offer low rates. That means I stay out of the West, Texas and Florida. In my case what has allowed me to do well is to concentrate on Midwest loads that are under 350 miles.

 

There are always exceptions to the rule. So in fact it is true!

 

The other big problem with a lot of these drivers who own their trucks or lease or whatever... Very few of them even know what their operating costs are therefore you're running a business blind... You have to know what your operating costs are to know what you gotta make and many don't unfortunately

 

Very True......And what makes it more shattering, These Large carriers Welcome low knowledged folks with trucks to Lease on with them....They want guys with trucks(I don't call them owner-operators) To lease on, Don't question anything, And make juuuuust enough to get by, All while the carrier is strongly benefiting from thier presence of moving their customers freight.They don't even want you to do your own iRP,IFTA etc...

 

What you say is true. But as a guy who taught me a thing or two back in the 70's said remember I said 70's. Larry Triana's words, I work for $2.00 per mile and do not worry about operating costs, they take care of themselves.

 

And yet many whine and cry when they are required to take a PROPER COMPANY ORIENTATION along with a basic business course before the carrier will hire them.

You see it on here all the time with the basic questions getting asked over and over

 

I left my last carrier because they no longer wanted drivers who knew something about running a business and wanted to run my truck like a company truck. As I pointed out to them during the lease purchase, I was paying them $480.00 a week for the privilege of telling them what they could do with that 40 mile load that was going to pay less than $120 and take half a day to complete.

At Landstar it's your responsibility to find loads that pay what you need to make money. In my case I also have to balance being a presence in the home. That means I really can't go out for months at a time. I understand that limits my income, but this isn't my first rodeo and one thing the other businesses have taught me is that if you don't run your business, it will run you.

 

"if you don't run your business, it will run you." it will also RUIN you in many cases

 

Funny, some of the same folks that know what they are doing as you call it, claim to only haul direct freight from shippers. Then two days later, they are posting in the broker forum about how they got stiffed by a broker, or my favorite, "These brokers are crazy, they are only paying 1.25 per mile for tarped loads. Most of the guys that are leased to a good company are still getting Good rates due to contracts the company has.

Not calling you out at all. I just find it funny that people think you cant be leased on to a carrier and make money. Many of these leased on guys are knocking Own Authority owner operators out of the water. Especially if you are only hauling broker loads, admit it or not, brokers are keeping 20% most of the time.

 

Normal business practice has always been a bare minimum markup of 10 & 10 ( 21% ) on any transaction regardless of what type of work