400 trucks posted and only 352 loads in houston,tx

I see your point... My point is since you should already know your fixed costs, including fuel, then you at least know almost to the penny your costs to DH to a better load. So with a little math you can figure right now what the better load works out to be.. For example... You are in an area where freight is at $1.50/mi... But you can DH to an area 300-400 miles away for whatever your fixed costs are and pick up a load at $3.00/mi so with your DH it works out to say $2.40/mi... Youll know that right away so this eliminates the gamble of possibly losing 2 days waiting for better freight. To me that keeps you moving more efficiently and in control of your own destiny instead of letting brokers control your work week.

If you became an O/O because you wanted the freedom to run your own way then why hand that control over to someone else? There will always be those moments where you are at the mercy of the spot market but for the most part if you know your costs of operation then you can always know what any load within any radius of where you sit will bring to the truck. being an O/O is all about freedom and control so be in control.

 

Usually when i go into TX, I get a good rate. I then DH out to LA/AR and get the same amount of revenue on a load back to Chicago as the loads coming from TX with 1/3 of my miles being empty.

it doesn't take rocket science to figure out which load to take...
from Houton to Chicago paying $2,500
or
a load from Little Rock to Chicago paying the same.... and usually I can get MORE out of AR

 

I was always alittle surpised you didnt try hitting those lanes harder before. If you can pull escorted loads from your home area you'll have the chance of building a relationship with the same escorts which makes everything much nicer.

 

That is my whole point. Someone came in with the theory "A load on my trailer I'm making money" and hauled it for that rate. Now the broker is expecting everyone to be that sucker!

They've made it so easy to own a truck now that this is where the problem begins. To many get into this business and don't understand what it takes to make it. Yeah hard work is one of many things it takes, common sense is another. Most people lack the latter of the two!

Its funny you mention knowing your fixed cost. I figured everything up, added in my regular household bills too just for the heck of it. I even bumped in a truck payment higher than I would normally have and a trailer payment. Believe it or not, it wasn't near as high as I figured it would be. I personally think that is another problem is guys figure it up that they can run for less than 2.00 per mile and they do.

It amazes me something this simple most out here can't figure out... I've deadheaded out of Dallas because I won't haul 1.50 a mile freight to an area where I got more money. In the end I lost out on a few hundred dollars, but if you actually figure it out, I saved money by running empty miles.

 

Speaking of Tx. rates. There is a Cadain trk. parked next to me here at the trkstp.
Has a step. Said he sat all week in the Dallas area. One person wanted him to go to Ok. and get a full load going into New Brunswick for 4400. Nope he said. Right now he has a partial on. 10' on the lower deck. Said he's getting 5800. and will try and fill it out in the Trononto area Monday morning going on east