Do OO prefer lighter loads due to wear and tear?

Heavier loads are harder on tires in the summer and burn more fuel but as long as you are smooth with the truck I dont see and more wear on the truck and trailer however I have found that the light loads pay just as good as the heavy loads normally but there is always exceptions for the rules

 

Light loads are best unless you’re traveling through high winds or slick surfaces.

 

I could care less, with the crappy plastic trucks today being excessively buried in areo crap, flooded and then burned down with emissions and micromanaged by computer.... tears em right up.

I like to be heavy. Otherwise our roads slam, bang and tear the truck apart on every concrete plate that was installed back in 1962 or earlier around here. It also buys bridge crossings when they restrict by wind. Etc.

Believe it or not I don't do very well with light loads.

 

Trucks were engineered to handle heavy loads.

You might save a bit on fuel, but that has more to do with the driver than it does the load.

Being empty on a dry day without wind is fine, you can pass everything on the road with the right truck, but, if it's any other conditions, I'll take heavy.

Your Dad's thoughts on staying under 35,000 comes more from just wanting to reduce hassles and complaints, but, depending where you are, it may be slim pickings on loads.

I have always been a big believer in having a weighing device built into my truck and trailer and keep everything lubricated so you can slide the load forward or backwards...not only help keep you legal on axle weight, just makes the load RIDE better, which puts less wear on tires, suspension and shocks.

 

I think he thinks that if he can load so and so, and so and so is gone a few days, Mr Thumbs Down can relax and snooze a while.

If Mr Thumbs loaded those Oregons due next day or whatever.. he would be much more busy. Maybe that's the motivation to turn those down.

 

It's a good practice to consult the driver on load details before booking. But, few companies do, then wonder why their guys are disgruntled!

Anytime you see something that doesn't make sense, there is likely a very good explanation.

Given the choice between 2 loads paying the same per MI rate, you have to look at the rest of the puzzle.

For example... What are the rates to return or at least get you to the next load? How likely is the load to cancel? Do the pay a TONU? Are there a lot of choices or just the one load? How quick do they load or unload? Is there involvement from the driver to load or unload? Or, do they just lounge in their truck?

 

Do you do long haul, regional, local or ?

We haul anything 45,000 or under. We would miss out on a ton of loads and revenue by putting ourselves in a box of only under 35k. That makes zero sense to me. Trucks are built to haul that much weight, the extra wear would be extremely little and the extra fuel mileage is not that big of a deal. The extra money you will make makes those issues not even worth talking about. As far as overweight issues that’s why they have scales at every truck stop. However, if your drivers have some common sense they really won’t have to scale very often and will have no problems.

Sounds to me like he is stuck in old habits and leaving significant money on the table. Sometimes a fresh set of eyes can do a lot of good.

Edit: fact that he calls and asks the drivers is odd. Are they owner ops or something or do you own the trucks? How are they paid? My drivers are on salary and then mileage after a certain amount of guaranteed miles. They go where it’s the most profitable to run the truck. No input whatsoever. They drive and I run my business.

 

Exactly...the short hauls are more work on the back office to keep the truck rolling...invoicing, etc.