I agree. Its just another load. When I was an O/O, I was always looking for a load. If it was the first load, 3rd load or the last load... When I called about a load.. It was just a load.. going home or not. Back haul.. I agree, it shouldnt be a word we as truckers use. Its a term that brokers came up with (if the truth could be known) to get you to haul a load for a cheaper rate than it woulda been paid if it was just a "load". When you take a load as a back haul, you're just giving the broker/shipper a discounted load. A "load". Agreed.
If you use the term backhaul the chances of it paying good is about as good as a blind man playing scrabble with gypsies, it just won't happen. Good luck its an all new game out there, just look around you, see what I mean?
Years ago, my brother and I were remodeling a woman's house. Contracts, performance bond, permits, insurance, the whole deal. The lady comes up to me and offers some "side work." Well, I told her that we would have to add the extras she wanted done to the contract, and again she mentions something about "side work." Off the record, no contract, under the table at a cheaper rate, side work. "See, there's just one problem. I have to pay works mans comp, I have to pay for fuel and maintenance, building permits, licensing and bonds, building materials and labor. Sorry lady, I don't do side work." Call it a back haul, call it a favor. Whatever you call it really doesn't matter, does it? It's another load. If a load does not pay for the time that it occupies on your trailer, don't pull it. The issue isn't fuel, it's the time involved. Had a driver tell me about a load he picked up in Wisconsin going to Edmonton, paying around $7000. He delivered this load on a Sunday, and would be paid for that load that Thursday. I would have bounced but he wanted a back haul so he could keep more of that $7000. So he waited. He gets his back haul going from Saskatoon to Greenville,SC for $.88/mile, loaded miles. 400 mile bounce, 2000 miles loaded. He got dispatched on that load on Monday, loaded on Tuesday. How much time will he have on that load?
I like to backhaul, usually it is a daypack with 3 liters of water, a fire starting kit, some snacks, a knife or two, my light weight rain gear and binos, it wears well on my back when I haul it. What I really like to backhaul though, is a 125lbs of moose hind quarter to my camp in September during hunting season, now that is what I call a backhaul.... LOVE IT!