My adventures at CRST Malone

As far as money,I do a profit loss every month.Usally it cost me between 75to 1.05 a mile to operate not counting any pay for myself.but it includes everything I spend on or for the truck ,the difference is how much any repairs are.i do have a step but it's paid for.So if most guys were honest there costs are going to be close if they include everything they actually spend a month not just generic numbers.so if your cost was .85 and you ran at $1.50 you made .65 a mile if you compared that to a guy making.50 as a company driver with good benefits,vacation,paid holidays a retirement plan or 401k that company matched it would be very close on who was really doing better.But you have to remember some don't live in areas where good company jobs are.But if your wanting to own your truck and your under the impression that your going to make a lot more money in most all cases it's not going to happen in fact there will be weeks you don't clear anything

 

In my opinion most guys that do good asO/O seem to have one of two things in common they basically live in the truck with no family or there wives have good jobs.again this is my opinion if your trying to lease or buy a truck as a bread winner of the family it is very risky I personally wouldn't recommend it.Me personally didn't do it until my youngest left home.

 

I appreciate your input. I would say that $1.50 for flatbed rate is very low and I'd think not very common, at least in my 4 years with the company I'm with it is. My friend does a LP with the company I'm with and he won't move the truck for anything that isn't $2 or more. But he pulls alot of things that are $3-$4.

 

Yes your right a 2 a mile rate is common but that doesn't count the empty mileage you drove to pick it up.imo very few are averaging 2a mile for all there miles they run. you can get 3or 4 mile on occasion put not both ways.I can get 4 a mile from Charlotte to Miami on occasion put your dead head back to savanah about 500 miles because your not likely to load anything in south FL.and also a lot of those 3to4 a mile loads or oversized or short runs with multiple stops.And you also have to figure in LP guys like Malone operating expenses are going to be more than.85 a mile with a trailer payment every week and truck payment every week and mileage charge for maintenance and all the other deductions.I pretty sure there paying about $1000 a week for everything not including fuel.And like I posted earlier these are generic numbers that's what I call them because these are the bare minimum numbers it's not what you actually will spend

 

About my statement earlier.About clearing even.65 a mile if you were doing a LP for example those are best case senecio just common sense would tell you most LP guys aren't doing that,if they could actually clear .65 a mile LP companies wouldn't have the turn over they do

 

Well, first off, you have to be very disciplined and a hard worker to make any money in this business. Their are alot of folks that get into this industry because they think it's going to be easy money. Once they get out on their own they realize just how easy it is. And they usually quit shortly after and then throw whatever company they were with under the bus on any media outlet they can. I think you're a glass half empty guy, which I don't think anything is wrong with that, it's good to hear the worst case scenario type situations. I think that if you're a good worker and responsible that you would probably be a valuable asset to ANY company and therefore be successful WHEREVER you chose to go.

 

1000 a week is about right starting out but if you stick with it in about 6 months some things do drop off .will you have a good pay every week NO you won't you like to go home every week. i would say don't lease because you pay for everything. can you make money yes but you will earn it. will you make 2 dollars every mile no . if it's only about the money dont do it.

 

freight is good but if you only want more money work hard where you are at. its not all about monet being a lease op. or ower op. its a whole different mind set because you pay for everything. thats the main thing you need to know

 

Thus we keep getting the word to new drivers and others. Because eventually they will start having even more shortages and either change or be out of business. This has happened before in many many US companies.

 

Agreed...100 percent!