Can I make a living with this haul?

Have you got a loadboard subscription yet?

 

I just looked up some loads for you from Russellville. Decent amount of freight coming out of that area. Quite a few 300mi or less loads paying 4-5 a mile

Van loads were 610 total loads within 75mi radius

 

What board are you using? I didn’t see anything close to that on DAT.

 

DAT. I typed in 28-31st 75mi radius. 609 loads to be exact at 4pm

 

Weird, I even have reefer added and I don’t come up with even close. Was yours to anywhere?

 

Honestly if you have your own authority you don't want to be locked into anything.

If it were me I would try to figure a way to do it more that it works for you and it helps them.

So if for example you can use them whenever you need them or if they really need a load moved and they call you maybe you can help them. Or maybe you can use them for a load outbound whenever you need to but you're not bound to them to always have to do that.

I don't know how far you are going but it might work for you just to do their load and then come back with another load and if you can't take their load the following day maybe do it on a different day or however that works out for you.

Sometimes you can be home every day but even though you technically can you tend to make more money I think even locally if you don't. I realize you have the family situation and what not but it is not always easy to go and come back the same day and be able to do that that so it brings you right to home base every single day. Sometimes there are places maybe you can find locally that you can do less well-paying loads that you can do but a lot better money is to be made in making a triangle. Sometimes you can find a load that is farther but it crosses your house and you can stop there for the night.

I don't know your situation but it might work out better if you are away two nights a week but then you're home for 3 days or so.

Or maybe you're out for one night and then you do something local that doesn't pay as well so that you are home.

But especially if you have your own authority and your own trailers I would not box yourself into one person's freight unless it really makes you a lot of money and it works for you.

That is the whole idea of having your own authority is that you have the freedom and dexterity to pull whatever loads you choose or you do not choose.

And you can choose what is most profitable and what works for you.

 

Yeah that'd be why I had anywhere. There was a good mix of short hauls in there.

 

I have a friend who pulls that stuff in a different state. Relatively low overhead on his equipment and he's struggling. Be ready to float your fuel cost for three weeks till you get paid.

 

I never truly have understood the Menifee to Russellville wood yards. All you see is cobbled up junk running in and out of there. I’m Just east of you in Damascus. And at least three of my buddies have tried it. Guarantee you’ve been offered a Springfield Missouri load. 5 mpg strait up hill. Even the oilfield company’s (future) tried it to supplement there income when it stopped- purchased 10 wagons to drop and hook- and it still failed. I’d snag a reefer. Russellville to KC for 2k. Kc to Russellville for 15-1700. Stay in that next day delivery range. Work 3 days a week, have a 4.50 running average. And head for the barn. Don’t sell yourself short.