How are O/O making a living at $1.00 a mile

1200 to 1500 is company driver wages. And they get another 15 grand or so in employee benefits.

Oh and it was under 100 miles. Paid just over a grand to the truck. Burnt 20 gallons of fuel max. And unless your leased to Billy Bob trucking i would practically bet my house your carrier has had similarly paying loads that their lp guys pull for maybe 200 bucks.

As for financing a truck, lots of ready to work, money making starter trucks on the market for 10 or 15 grand. Sure they have a beat up interior and need a paint job, and the engine burns some oil, but they go down the road just fine.

 

I just figured out why lease purchase scams are so popular. So many entitled princesses that are convinced they deserve a brand new truck right out the gate. Same reason so many get ridiculous variable rate mortgages and finance new cars over 84 months. The new facebook generation had mommy buy them a new car when us old guys got a 500 dollar amc beater when we got our license.

 

Shoot, I'm gonna quit driving my truck and try and fleece it out.. seems way more lucrative.. could make money on the sale and only have to pay $1 a mile

 

Man I haven't been in here in a while. I only scanned a few of the comments. I saw a few supporting the 1.00 a mile. My question is why would you? Serious question. I have been playing owner op for right at two months. My best two weeks my carrier had to cut me a check for almost 4k both weeks after fuel. My worst week was 1500 and that included taking out for a repair I had done at our shop.
Has it been easy peasy? No. Had two major repairs already. Even with the repairs I have had I am now paying myself and still have money built up for repairs and have money left over to put back into my business weekly. Again not bashing I just don't understand why you would run for that cheap when you don't have to?

 

I thanked your post for stating the opportunity for L/P operators...

...however...

...when you say you "clear" $1000 to $1500 a week, is that the whole nut "take home"? By comparison I average $1500 a week gross for my paycheck, then get a settlement check that's close to $2000 a week.

Lease operators running for low $/mile should look at alternatives. There are opportunities to significantly increase your income. Three words of advice:

1. Think outside the box.

Yes, this is a cliche, but in trucking it means pull ANYTHING but a dry van.

2. Consider a position that involves one or more of the "Three D's": Dirty, Difficult, or Dangerous. Think tanker, Hazmat, open deck, cattle hauling, etc. etc. ANYTHING but dry van pays more, in some cases a LOT more.

3. Don't settle for per mile compensation. Get a percentage of what is billed to the customer.

If the company you are leased to is getting paid $3/mile to haul that load, would you rather be paid $1/mile or 70% of the billing?

Walk. Away. From. Hauling. Freight. For. Cheap.

 

I agree van mostly sucks and is mostly cheap but when it's a carrier's market vans sure are an easy way to bang out some really good, hassle free money. I do like having one sitting around just in case. It doesn't move often anymore but when it does it makes bank.

 

I clear 1000 1500 a week. Gross ,3500 to 4200 or so

 

I'll look at something else when the truck is paid for maybe. And I don't run dry can.

 

How much of that is net after ifta, taxes, tags and insurance etc?

 

My truck isn't new and financed at low interest. If you want to run an older trick that's great, I love some of them, I also love the Pete 386 body and chose that.