big blowout at shipper

Who did you get the load through? If a broker, call them about the weight changing. If direct, call your contact person there.
Weights go up, rates go up, within reason of course.

Martin

 

If he talked to me like that I probably would have punched him in the face!! Anyway, change of weight changes the rate, so if you already agreed to a rate for the 35,000 you need to tell them that the rate must be renegotiated. No need to get all upset about it. You did the right thing by walking away.

 

Your friend was dealing with someone, so it needs sorting out either way.
And cheap freight so long as it's under 30k lbs? Not cool mate, not cool. Bounce anyways and be done with it.
I have found out over the past couple of decades, that the cheap shippers are normally the PIA ones.
I can pull high dollar freight, and get treated extremely well on both ends. I can go into some dump for a cheaper load, and get asked to perform miracles for their cheap crap. Anymore, I just dont bother with the cheap crap.
You can be part of the problem, or part of the solution. Nothing in between IMHO.

Martin

 

I am a company driver, but the first thing I do is to fuel up before I get to the shipper. That empty weight is not for them to pile on more free freight.

 

INTO Ca? Really?
I count on the other way around myself. I get great rates going in, average coming out. You Sir, need new customers/brokers.
$1 a mile? I know you said low paying, just didnt realize it was low paying for what rates were in 1999 when I moved here!
So, if I have this right, you are averaging out at $2 a paid mile, with your own authority? I did $2.44 last year on HUB miles, leased to a carrier pulling their trailer, and so on.
I honestly think you need to rethink your strategies, as I for one think you could do a LOT better than you are currently.


Martin

 

I could PM you of course, but I dont haul van stuff. I haul oversize stuff on a RGN leased to a company our of Mn.
I would be more intent on asking other van guys how they are making decent money if I were in your shoes at this point. Whether they share or not would be up to them. I honestly wouldn't know where to look for good van freight, never pulled it really.
Of course, some would ask why you didn't do this BEFORE setting yourself up in business......and they would have a point IMHO.
Do a search for who is pulling van freight in this owner operator forum, and read their posts. Best advise I could give you at this point.
I really do think you could do a LOT better than $2 a mile average on paid miles.
Do you know how much that trailer and authority cost you per mile approximately? It may be time to rethink some decisions if you can do no better.

Martin