MEMPHIS AND FLATBEDS

Nope, Just shopping around, Doesn't hurt to keep an eye open.

 

Load to truck ratios are important to me. I always look at that info. The catch is just because you have a 15 or even a 25 loads to every 1 truck ratio doesn't mean that sky high rates will happen. You will see guys pissing and moaning about an 18 loads to every 1 truck ratio where every broker is lowballing them with $1.30 freight. But ask them what the volume trends are for that area and you get a blank stare.

It always depends on volume. Volume has to surge abruptly beyond the norms. Then a 10 or 12 loads to 1 truck ratio will be a smoking hot market. You have to know what is the usual volume for an area compared to what would be an unusually high amount of volume for an area. That's the most important info to me, volume.

And a person needs to watch volume in any given market every day to learn. A phone will ring nonstop on a posted truck in a very good market from 7am or earlier all the way up until 7pm. And for the longest time it seems anymore in most of my best areas it has been unusual to get any calls after 5pm. For me these are key things among a few other things.

Mr Prime earlier today sounded very ill at ease when he explained what sounded like a dire situation for him. I can always tell when I got a fish on the line. Sometimes they do get away though. Not this time, lol!

 

One thing asked earlier in this thread is whether flatbed rates TO Memphis is paying anything. Any answers to that?

Regarding the rates quoted by the OP, I might be interested ONLY if the loads were headed in the direction of OKC. I run flatbed to the oil patch. If I ran a load to a rig in PA, I might consider stringing a load to Memphis and grab a load from there to make it home.

The PROBLEM is stringing loads like that has cost me in lost revenue and time. Your customers would have to work with my schedule or it is far better for me to deadhead back to OKC to get in line for loads that can pay over $10 / mile for short hauls or $3 / mile for long hauls. I refuse to dick around with broker loads that want to tie up my truck, unless they are willing to pay $500 per day for sitting with my thumb up my hiney waiting for the receiver to open on a Monday morning.

 

I just looked back: $35 for basic on ITS for carrier, I'd imagine DAT is similar, tho I cancelled that a few years ago.
I should probably cancel ITS lol I have literally never booked a load off it in the couple years I've had it.
Just post up my truck and have recreational leisure time when I do pickup for strange numbers.

 

I'm with you, I will take my refer all day long, but I have 2 other trucks one running flat and one van, the deck makes more but he has a lot more work with tarping, binding ect... And that deck doesn't move for less than $2.80 a mile!

 

Huh? I'm at $2.48 loaded miles almost all load board freight. Just a regular flatbed.

 

I'm at $2.48 loaded miles almost all load board freight. Just a regular flatbed.[/QUOTE]
Whats ur deadhead%?length of haul?what region ur running?.
Without the whole picture $2.48 and $2.8 a mile dont mean nothing.

 

Not really. Just hit my first full year with my own truck. still stubliling around. I have higher expectations than $2.50 mile and I'm sure I can beat as I move forward. I routinely get over $3 mile for around 4 or 500 mile loads off the board. Nothing special loads.