Cheap Freight Doesn't Exist

So I am thinking correctly, at least for me, for the most part. I will just need to fine tune it once I get there. Thanks!

 

yes, bill it is the most revenue for the least amount of miles model , but with that I don't do it from load to load. I use my monthly goals and quarterly goals to improve things,

for example if I avg 2.00 a mile on 10,000 miles, the next time I try for 2.00 or more on less miles.

 

One Thurs Morning I was in Tulsa looking to head to HOU. there was a load paying $700 where I was & heading almost to my backyard. Broker said, "its a backhaul and I know you want to get home anyway"Decided to sit it out. About an hour later a hot load going toward south east leaving me about 250 miles from home popped up , broker needed it out and was willing to pay $1200 but the load was about 60 miles north of where I was. I figured I could grab the load, drop Fri am and either find a load home or ride empty 250 miles and still be better off than that $700 load.

I can give you more examples but you get the point. Ill drive right by stuff all the time and let it sit. If Im busy doing the cheap work, I wont be avail when the good work pops up.

 

You have to be willing to go out and find a customer that will work with you and pay the rate that's right for your business. To many people want to just be handed a good rate off a load board, and are afraid to negotiate with brokers/shippers.

 

you just summed my long post up.thanks-

 

or the service they do not provide.this topic is being discussed quite well and will most certainly benefit those reading it.

 

not at all. My record spotless( knock on wood) DAC and DL. I been out of OTR over 3 years. And no one will hire even tho I had previous 16 yrs. hauling everything from lowboy,flat,reefer,permit . And last I checked roads,freight,mountains,weights,speed limits etc. hasn't changed. But even if I did get a call they want me to train again for months at .25 cpm and that isn't happening.

 

what makes you think I'm going to have a tough time starting out? Majority of you o/o 's on here brag that your averaging more than 2.00 mile all hub miles. Well my total cpm is 1.12 . So your telling me that isn't possible to average 1.12 pm? I might be new at owning but surely not new and just jumping on this wagon. I've done my homework for a year. What makes you think I'm not better than you at this job of great service you think megas can't or font give? Don't fool yourself Skate. If they didn't give decent service they wouldn't be huge like they are and have the direct shippers we can't get. So please before you try to cut me down you need to know me personaly and know my qualifications. Just cause I ask questions on here doesn't mean I'm a rookie. Ever think I'm getting others opinions and reassuring some of my decisions? I'm positive I will do a better job of service than you and make more money doing it. For one my equipment won't be century old and I won't be taking weekends off as I plan on running a company and working as I should. Besides I don't have a single bill like you most likely do. So ANYTHING above 1.12 is pure PROFIT.

 

Very well said. My ONLY reason I been off otr over 3 . I have 16 previous years off and on hauling everything except tanker. Now not a single call cause insurance reasons they can't hire me. And even if they did I'd be like a rookie and go thru months of training for .25 cpm. And leasing really same thing. Landstar etc...won't accept me for being out that long either. What gets me is trucks shift same, roads are same, speed limits same, freight still same. Who's to say I haven't still been keeping my skills up? Just not on record doesn't mean I been sitting on my arse.

 

Day of the week is a big factor. Length of DH is another, but the biggest is what do you have lined up and how much time do you have to get there. If you don't have anything already lined up then you're DH is aimless. If we're just DH'ing anywhere we have to look at other things..So, we look at day of the week, if it's Mon you have to consider how many trucks are also empty. You can just wait it out, it'll get better on Tue....and Tue, Wed, and Thurs are all great days to find loads....Friday is a day that is a lot like playing the old game of "chicken"...lol...the brokers know that if you don't load on Friday, you're stuck until Mon...and we know that Mon can easily turn into Tue...lol...But, I know that if the broker doesn't move his load on Friday, then he's looking to have that load sit until Monday as well....so it becomes a test of nerve. Who's gonna blink first and swerve at the last minute and buckle...who's going to accept the terms? Is the broker going to give up the $$$, or am I going to accept a low rate???

But let's go back to the DH idea, where are you DH'ing to?

I'll DH 600 miles to pu $6 a mile loads with some legs. I've DH from Dallas to St Louis for $6 a mile on runs going 1200 miles....but those are the email contacts, you never, (or very rarely), see those loads posted up on broker boards. That's why I stated that it all depends on what you have lined up and how much time do you have to get there? If I had an extra day I'd pu in Dallas and deliver in St Louis, IF, and that's the big thing, IF, IF I had the time....

If I was sitting in Dallas and didn't have anyplace to be, I'd be sitting in Dallas until something came up on my radar screen. I'm sure as hell not going to DH to St Louis just to sit over there...lol...

So it all depends.

And every day is different.

Nope.

DH=loss. Let's look at my 600 mile DH... let's just say the 600 miles used 80 gallons of fuel, 80x$3.80=$304.00...

DH is loss. Maybe not dramatic, but it is always loss....

Unless there is something to DH for, like $6 a mile.

Exactly right.

Nope, you're thinking just fine. If there's nothing to DH to, that's going to cover the DH, then the DH is loss. If you can cover your loss, that's always the best option, but there's a lot to consider....