Almost 4 months in...

Great start. are you happy with how your doing?

I can think of alot of ways to change things up, but that's the most important question to ask first.

 

Can you add a coffin sleeper would it be worth it?

 

Your costs up front may be less, however remember, you are offering a specialized service(or so it seems). As "expedited" you should be at the upper end of the pay scale. I understand about not pricing yourself out if business, but that mantra goes both ways. You can't offer exceptional service for get it there whenever prices. Best of luck to you!

 

The most powerful tool in your box is the willingness to always say no on any given load. Even good ones. I either grab a cheap load coming back home or deadhead back that way every time. My load taking me out has to pay for that no ifs, ands, or buts. I have a sleeper. I don't care to sleep in the truck either but having that inflexibility (not sleeping in the truck once in a while) severely limits you and therefore has you at their mercy. You need that flexibility. You need that leverage.

 

Are you truck load or just running that 20' flatbed on your bob tail?

 

From what I can tell of your avatar pic, you are running a flatbed straight truck, correct? What do you have 24-30 feet of bed length?

I would think that you are doing pretty well for that setup and 50% empty. You're not going to see a TON of profit, but your operating expenses should be low. You can probably pull .50/mile profit out of it, be home every night and be your own boss. It's not all bad.

Now IF you could stay out 1 or 2 nights/week and instead of coming home empty, come home loaded, you would see that overall per mile rate increase quite a bit. You'll have to be very selective with your running area though. It's not like there is any guarantee there will be a load to get you home from that area on any even given day.

 

In my limited experience the best profits come from working with direct shippers on a regular basis. Its a little boring,but the work is steady and i consistently beat the spot market. I would increase capacity though. Maybe throw some pushers on so you can haul full truck load weight even if you don't have a full size deck. Their is alot of steel to be hauled up their and you can easily fit 48k of steel on a 20' deck.

 

I only stay out 2-3 nights a week on avg to get my #s. Off most weekends.