Dead Markets

Well, well, well... You just described my potential operation....lol

I'm not getting into trucking to "work hard", so yes, I'm lazy, like all humans, I'm quite lazy - How do you think humans come up with inventions? To attain efficiency in work, and not work hard.

My operation is cheap. Weekly FC of $350 (Insurance). Truck is paid off, I do self maintenance.

I NEED to be home (for my other business, during the day), so 100-150/mile quick run is exactly what I need. I *may* run further SAT/SUN, but gotta be back for Monday AM.

I'll do the $500/150 miles runs during the week - as long as it's NIGHT RUN. This just adds more revenues to what I do during the day - that way, I dont put all my eggs in one basket.

I'm gonna leave @BoyWander to explore America (he's single) while I get back to a warm bed +hot & bothered wifey every nite.

 

I can tell you to start running Chicago to South Texas and South Texas back to Chicago. It's going to have a higher rpm round trip than FL for the winter. IL-AZ and back isn't half bad either if you have a Reefer.

EDIT: And yes the unloading and reloading in Laredo/Mcallen is going to suck. Make sure you focus on learning who to bribe at the various shippers and receivers you go to around the border region. Learning Spanish is a very good idea if you're good at languages.

 

November and December are the best months of the year. It's gonna be busy till the last week of January. Then it dies

 

It depends. This year I think we saw our peak a month or so ago. I'd be surprised if Christmas ended up being bigger than produce this year given that produce was accompanied by multiple major hurricanes.

 

How long have you been doing this? When I first started I would take 100-150 local van loads paying $500. Anymore I view them as a waste of time and loss of revenue. Seldom booking anything under $1,000 for a long while now. I like being home often too and make it a point that happens but I really got tired of busting it so hard for so little on the $500 van loads. But I know lots of drivers will knock them down all day every day.

 

There's no way Nov/Dec aren't bigger. The internet drives it every year and the growth is always there.

 

I mostly run shorts too, but usually 300-400 runs for 1k or so. $500 seems like a waste, especially if you get jammed up. Also a lot easier to deal with e-logs when you're not running 3k miles every week. I usually go home with nearly 30 hrs left on my 70 on Fridays..

 

Short miles here too... When busy a long week is 1100 miles, all in IFTA, including screwing around time finding a Walmart or an Outback, heading to the yard, or whatever. Some weeks I may not break 800 miles. Those are the best paying weeks.

 

Not long. That's why I guess I'm not jaded (...yet).

I think (which appears to be contrary to most truckers anyways) that the potential for higher rates is around the corner.

Now, I'm I saying that $500/150 miles is lucrative? No. But if I can get a drop/hook gig that will allow me the efficiency, then yes, I'm all in.

If it's using my trailer, then numbers will change (go up) depending on time spent under load.

I'm not under pressure to "make my $3000/mo" truck payment, so I dont have to run miles, or be at the mercy of shippers/receivers whims on when I can/cannot leave.

If they abuse me, I'll just remember Uncle Bush said....