.95 per mile? What am I missing?

Don't take this the wrong way cause i consider you one of the smarter people on ttr. Just trying to understand. Right now with your fuel surcharge you are getting between 1.27 to 1.42 a mile. Why do you find that rate acceptable when its a full buck a mile under current market rates? Even 6 months ago with rates in the toilet, they were still far above that number.

Again this is not an attack. Just trying to get an understanding of the reasoning behind the decision.

 

Do you know the problem with most truck drivers....they live above their means....the exact problem.....could the market be better yes...could the money be better yes...but it aint...so figure out the #### problem.....aka YOU or get out

 

I find it acceptable when tied in with that I get significant discounts on fuel (40 - 50 cents off the cash pump price) and I have no costs when it comes to plates, permits, tolls, etc. I do not have to file the IFTA stuff, and have no out of pocket if more is due. The carrier handles it all for me. I just concentrate on getting the cheapest fuel I can find. And also that I get $38 - $50 an hour for times that I sit waiting on loading or unloading, that also spices the cake. Even occasional shag time I do for the carrier positioning trailers around local pays me about $76 an hour. And I am usually booked 1 to 2 loads in advance, and I didn't have to spend a minute of my time looking for those loads. Loads get offered, and I either accept or decline.

And the spreadsheets tell me things are fine. I pay myself a salary of $800 per week, which comes out at roughly $.32 a mile thus far this year. I suppose that doesn't sound like much, but even after I pay myself that $.32 a mile and pay the associated Income tax and SSI contribution on that since it is employee wages (I am structured as an LLC with an S Corp tax structure with the IRS and I have myself as an employee of my company), and after all my other expenses to operate, my net profit is averaging $.48 a mile. So in essence, my total take is averaging about $.80 a mile.

This year, from Jan 1 to current, I have paid myself $15,450 in salary, and I have netted $25,970 on top of that. So I have actually made, after all expenses and employee taxes, $41,420, again, that is after I have paid income tax and SSI on the $15,450 in salary. All I have is estimated income taxes on the $25,970, with no SSI liability for that, since it is distribution to me of the company profits and not normal income, which my salary is. Now, I suppose that kind of take may not be all that cool to someone else, but I am quite comfortable with it. Especially since I actually get home every weekend and holiday and get to have a reasonable lifestyle outside of trucking. Along with taking a few weeks off per year.

Sure, current rates may be higher, but as an independent, my costs would also be significantly higher. What determines if something is good, is how the net at the end of it all plays out. And also, areas of the country which one lives. It is significantly lower cost of living, and I can buy 3 -4 times the property in Rock's Throw, Iowa for the same money as someone in a major metro area. And living where I do, everything from my light bill to my car insurance is considerably cheaper compared to many major areas of the country. Combine that with the fact that I live dead center of all the major lanes that service who I am hauling for, and it is a fairly decent gig. I will never be Bill Gates, Donald Trump, or Warren Buffett, but I am doing fine.

 

I never said anything about being an independent. I went down that road for almost 20 years and at this stage our the game id much rather be leased to a good carrier.

Your fuel discount is huge, but so is mine, and everyone else's that's leased to a good carrier. The only extra cost we have is registration and tolls. I just can't see giving up dollars to save pennies.

 

Didn't we become owner ops to make more money?

 

Some do...but some just cant handle policies so they go out on their own with zero business experience...and lack the will to try to learn...which sets them up for failure

 

I thought someone was going to start a thread about resurrecting old threads.

 

And this is with us Xpress?????

 

Back up a few posts and re-read. I said Fremont Contract Carriers.

 

I'd be pissed with .95¢ empty , that's not nearly enough money in any circumstance... Let alone sickening when loaded.
Run forest run !!