any advice for a new step decker?

It's all good Chris, I laughed my arse off when I saw your reply. I thought it was too funny. It's hard to catch sarcasm through text

 

Now on a serious note, to run a profitable business, you need to look at averages instead of single rates and loads. Sure the load might pay $1.50 coming out, but if you were smart, you got $3 coming in, so your average for the entire run is above $2 mile now. Just have to work the system as a business man.

Like I've said in another thread, I've gone down into Texas recently with a load for $3.50 per mile. I knew I was going to get stuck with cheap rates coming back out so I found one that weighed 2,600# and paid $1.75 going back to Ohio. I averaged $2.50 for the entire round trip.

Not saying hauling for $1.75 was right or wrong, but in the end I know what I need my gross to be to cover all my expenses and household bills and savings. I have a set # I strive to reach each week and if a $1.75 mile load gets me to that # then I will take it. Call me what you want, but in the end I am making a good profit and running my operation in the green and that's all that matters to me.

 

everyone has a different cost of doing business, there is NO single right or wrong rate to pull for. it all depends on ones cost of operation. some folks have a knack for running a lean and cost-efficient business.

some simply spend a great deal more personal money each week, some dont do as good a job as others at preventative maintenance and spend more on repairs etc.

some folks who average 1.75 a mile load and empty can make more profit than some folks getting 2.40 a mile.

i also can get rates that seem unreal , 4 to 8 bucks a mile, but they are no where a consistent norm. not anywhere near for the avg operator.

myself i look for consistency, last year i avg just about 1.95 a mile for all miles ran.

this year i am doing a little better. i know who like to run east west only that avg lower for all miles but still run a profitable operation.

some of you are to concerned about what the other guy is getting ( or claiming he is getting) than knowing what your exact costs are and then shooting for a avg per mile that will get you there.

chrisbecker, i in all honesty would be very careful of anyone that promises over 2 bucks a mile on actual speedometer miles loaded and empty, even if it was in writing.

and you also have to understand that posting on a forum is a lot like a truckstop counter, at the counter everyone that sits down is getting a higher rate than the last guy that sat down.

some talk rates just so they dont want to be the cheap guy at the counter or the forum.

it all depends on the individual and how he runs his business there is no magic number.

it is like 2 guys working at the same plant making the same money and same hours, one is doing well financially and has a nice house etc. the other is always broke, has crappy credit, and lives in a hole. whats the difference?? the individual

same thing here, no difference, no magic number.

 

Well said

 

I'll second that... Well said

 

I didnt say anything about all flatbedders running cheap freight and i'm not out spreading rumors. I simply stated hes going from a bad situation and doesnt know what the rates are in flatbedding. And yes there are cheap butted rates everywhere in flatbedding. If you look at his post hes talking about 2 per mile being a good rate going into Cali using a stepdeck. That frustrates the heck outta me as again, he doesnt know and will take it all day long.

 

Epic troll is epic! SHC, you make me proud daily fella!

 

I'm glad you finally chimed in, been awhile since I have seen one of your posts. Hey Chrisbecker, here's someone that could probably make you some money if you were to do some research and quit making ASSumptions.

 

Sorry, I've been lurking. Been busy trying to build our customer base the last couple of weeks.

 

Cant blame ya there and things have all the sudden gotten way busy again in which I am very happy about. I was getting lazy with a little break in between loads, LOL