2016 is a wrap! (RV drive-away delivery)

2016 is a wrap!

This is just a high level view of my 2016 RV delivery season.

2016 was an all “drive-away” season. No towing. I towed a small ford Ranger pick up for my return back to elkhart. I also can sleep in the back of it - I have a camper shell on it.

Again - I’m seasonal - only delivering from middle of March to mid June. I did go back for two weeks at the end of July as a favor to my dispatcher.

Here is the re-cap. First off my goal is to stay under my social security cap of about $19,000. I can earn up to the cap without giving up part of my social security. Mission accomplished.

The high level view goes-

Total Paid miles- 22,320

Days logging, (driving) - 56 - (335.0 miles a day logging)

Gallons per mile on all RV’s - 9.2

Average pay per mile - .84 cents

Total revenue - $18750.00
Non reoccurring revenue - $ 1200.00 (taking drivers back to Elkhart and charging them) All total 19,948.00 (Note - the $1200.00 in driver delivery fees is not included in the below calculations - hey its my money for being a good guy.

Daily Expenses when delivering and returning to Elkhart (per day) Fuel/Food/Anything else - $257.00

Total Expense - $ 14392.00 for a difference of - $4356.00. This does NOT include tax obligations - yet.

I can do a deeper dive later in the year when I do the taxes, but for now this is a good representation of my past year. I suspect that around $1800.00 to 2400.00 will be due in taxes. It would bring the net down to about $2000 - $2700.00

 

Strange question but...... the first day I logged was March 29th. The last day was June 1st. Went back for a few weeks in July 11th and went back home to Texas on July 27th. I did not drive every day... just logged... like we are required to.

 

I think in its “season”, (mid Jan to mid June), you could make a living at it. Of course a “living” is subjective. Just like many trucking jobs there as so many “got ya’s” that it is discouraging to new or first time drivers. Out of the 12 people I had orientation in 2012, none did it full time and I am the only one still doing it seasonal.

It’s a great transition job if you are thinking of going into the industry as a whole. You can get a pretty good idea of the industry and then decide if you want to progress to OTR.

I want to make sure I come across having an overall positive relationship of my place in the industry. I have been criticized for being a downer as far as RV delivery is concerned. The way I do it works for me.

Keep in mind I’m almost 63 with time on my hands and an adventurous sprit.

As far as pay - they paid 50% up front and the rest after you Transfaxed your signed BOL. This year I never had a back haul - in 4 years - only 2.

 

Slay - Thanks for your response.

I’m still, (at the end of the day), only looking for someone to pay my wandering around the country a few month out of the year. Surprisingly I’m what the delivery companies want. This industry still promote itself as “see the country and get paid for it” - expectation meet.

Very few year round RV delivery drivers exist. Ones that do deliver all year their workload decline dramatically in the summer and fall.

I don’t think this is so much a “cheep freight” issues - as you know there is no representation or organization that supports the RV drivers - not saying that there should be one - I’m just saying. We are still independent contractors who sign an agreement every year to provide a service to the industry.

I plan on doing this for a few more years. Every year I see more new drivers entering this trade - at the same time just as many are leaving. The barriers to enter are low.

I agree on your tax assessment - I alway go high when estimating. I still have to pay 14% on net just for Social security! Of course I think its strange since I get it back in next month SS check.