What am I missing?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Preacher Man, Jan 24, 2009.

  1. Preacher Man

    Preacher Man Road Train Member

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    If I could gross $2800 to $3200 a month in "salary." I figure the truck is going to cost between $.70 and $.80 a mile to run and that does not include my salary. I can figure what it is going to cost me to reach a break even point. What I need to know is just what are freight rates? If you figure my break even is $1.20 a mile I am looking to do more than just break even. If I run my own authority the major players within 120 miles of my home are Staley, ADM, Caterpillar, Anheiser Busch, Procter & Gamble, Keystone Wire (Red Brand fence), etc.

    I realize running my own authority is more work, but it might be my only choice if I want to make money.
     
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  3. Luis

    Luis Medium Load Member

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    Those major players will not take you they have national accounts with major carriers they probably have accounts with greatwide im sorry to say this but really it's not worth it for now just lease with A company don't lose it all.
     
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  4. 1pissedoffdriver

    1pissedoffdriver Account Retired at members request

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    here we go again...it takes 1.80 to run a truck down the road per mile.many people disagree..try to find the cost per mile formula on the internet and plug in all the #'s

    i have a truck paid for.if i gross my truck 3,000 which is very hard these days in a week i make $100.00 for me before my taxes..know if i had a truck payment off say 1,000 monthly take 250.00 off that.that is 750.00 for me...thats the sad reality...after i pay everything to the penny and cover everything that what it is...

    Why?

    1- rates suck right now...
    2-to many drivers hauling cheap so they sell it cheap
    3- to much deadhead
    simple formula to follow is from the old timers....your pay is 1/3 of gross...the rest goes out....
     
  5. 1pissedoffdriver

    1pissedoffdriver Account Retired at members request

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    Sorry i make 1000.00 for me lmao
     
  6. Preacher Man

    Preacher Man Road Train Member

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    I know for a fact that many of those shippers around central illinois work with a lot of different carriers and most are based here in Central Illinios. Menards even has a sign in the driver's room listing stores that have daily loads that they need delivered.

    I also realize that everyone has a different break-even. The point still is "where's the money?" I know the company I work for gets $1.75 a mile. How do I get my share of the pie? The other question is, is it possible to operate a truck for less than $.70 a mile, not including driver salary?
     
  7. 1pissedoffdriver

    1pissedoffdriver Account Retired at members request

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    no way...its 1.30 a mile to run a truck...after that its your profit..

    2000 miles x 1.75= 3,500 gross to truck

    2000 x 45 cents (driver profit for labor0 = 900.00 for you

    here is the kicker...good luck trying to find loads that pay all miles loaded and empty at 1.75....unheard of
     
  8. Preacher Man

    Preacher Man Road Train Member

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    I'm glad to know I'm not crazy. You can cut to the bone, but there comes a point that you are flirting with disaster. You may be able to get a set of drives for $3000 but if the money isn't in the bank, you've got a problem. I will keep checking for a message on this thread for a driver who can show me that he is an independent contractor with a company that pays him $.90 a mile +fsc and is running at a profit.

    I would also like to know just what drivers get paid that use load boards, brokers and work directly with shippers. I am just looking for general real world numbers not trying to get confidential information.
     
  9. luvtheroad

    luvtheroad Road Train Member

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    We all need to remember that Profit is NOT a dirty word.
     
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  10. PharmPhail

    PharmPhail Road Train Member

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    If you are an O/O and your cpm isn't covering all your expenses, paying for your NEXT truck, and ideally a 2nd truck, it's not building or succeeding, you're just buying yourself a job until the truck breaks down, which it obviously eventually will. 1pod is speaking of it in terms of a real business by those standards, and others are talking about "profit" in terms of being able to eat and pay some home bills. All that is, is the salary portion of the math.
     
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  11. 1pissedoffdriver

    1pissedoffdriver Account Retired at members request

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    i get 65% of the gross from landstar....if the load pays 1.80 mile gross i get 1.17 on that load...if it grosses 2.00 a mile i get 1.30 for that load..on top of that i get .25 cent a mile for fuel surcharge..(only if the customer is paying it) but i will never no because the brokers and agents lie and say no, but pocket the money..nice ha

    i am sitting at home due to the fact there is no good rates out there and it is not worth it to me to run for pennies...
     
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