$7800 ca-mi-ca

Isn't the whole idea of owning your own truck to make more money than a company driver? Therefore you MUST figure in the expense of paying a driver (yourself). If not, then you are covering the costs to move the truck, and the driver isn't getting paid squat. What company driver would accept that?

 

It really is not rocket science, get a pen and a piece of paper and start writing down different loads, rates and miles for a typical week. Then start writing down loads for a week of good paying freight, a week where you sit for a day or two. Obviously the week you you sit a day or two you will have less miles, probably gross the same, and NET MORE. Why? Because you burn less fuel and less wear and tear on your equipment. More miles does not equal more money for you, only for the oil companies and the government.

 

Yes, and you can also drive what YOU WANT TO DRIVE!

 

Not always, re-read what I posted and think about it long and hard. Just because the wheels are turning does not mean their earning. It is a hard mentality to break, it took me many years to realize this. If I can get it through my thick skull anyone can.

 

I guess you will always see what you want to see and not what you should be seeing. I thought I wrote that simple enough, guess not. Its been a long day and I am going to bed, maybe tomorrow I can put it into numbers and see if that helps open your eyes.

 

One thing I've learned over the years is to work smart, not hard. This simply means that if I have to wait 2 days to get a 3.00 mile run as to waiting 1 day for a 2.00 mile run, just to keep the wheels turning, I am better off because my overall pay per mile is better.

 

@ Oscar, I have had that happen exactly as you described before. I was out in Baltimore and there was a large volume of loads on the boards but none of them were paying squat. $1.60 - $1.80. I sat for a couple days and then I got a few calls on my posted truck, did a little short haul 75 miles for $800 and then got a load back to Indiana for $2.85/mile. So I admit that that does work sometimes.

However, I've also been in a situation where I couldn't find squat out of Peoria, IL area one time but found a two part partial from Cadillac, MI down to SC paying close to $4.00 on the 2 parts. So I grabbed the first load I could find going up there without much deadhead and hauled it for $1.75/mile. I'm not proud of that, but it paid my way and then some. And because the MI - SC paid well and I knew I could get a good load out of SC I think it was a good decision.

I guess what I'm saying is those higher paying loads pop up for me too, and I haul plenty of them. It's just that I probably haul some loads you would pass on in between and I make money on those loads too. But you've been doing this longer than me, so maybe one day when I have more good contacts and things I will know that I can wait a few days and a good load will come. Right now it's just as likely for me to find that good load at the other end and keep busy for those 2 days, still making money.

 

you may be on to something. I guess I prefer to think of my operating costs as the actual money coming out of my pocket to get down the road. And realizing that the net is my pay as driver/dispatcher/billing/head of maintenence/load planner/compliance officer/bookkeeper/ etc.... I mean I don't want you to be confused, just because I say my expenses are $1.00/mile that doesn't mean I'm gonna haul a load for $1.01 and think I'm making money. I rarely haul anything under $2/mile.

I don't know, honestly, my goal is to net $2000/wk and right now I'm a little under $1800 on average. But I'm also only averaging 1650 miles a week cuz I took a couple weeks off and I also have had to stop for a few days from time to time to get my paperwork in order, book loads, etc.... I guess I'd like to boost my miles/week up to 2200 or so, but maybe I should listen to Oscar and bust these brokers balls a little harder and try to hold out for the better paying loads, lol. I mean, either way would get me to my goal, right ??