Does any of this seem reasonable? Cost to run a 3500...

Your fuel cost is low you are basing that at 4.00 per gallon with an avg of 10 mpg ???

try an avg of 6.5 anything after that is a bonus the avg cost per mile is about .61 per mile..
With the rig I am pulling 9 axle RGN heavy haul 3.0mpg to 4.5 mpg is normal

 

What type of work?

 

You realize he's talking about a pick up truck right?

 

He is talking about a 1 ton pickup truck( Chevy, GMC, Dodge 3500)

 

There are people out there running down the road for cheap rates, and if you notice they do not have a life they are on the road for weeks at a time, with no down time....

1.10 per mile is ok with some..
2.00 per mile excites some...
4.00-5.00 per mile you have the attention of a cow hauler..
6.00 plus you have excited the RGN's
and the rates on multi axle would blow your mind...

 

Even with a 3500 if he is pulling a Minfloat in the oilfield for a hotshot company 6.5 mpg is good...
Romero Oilfield Hauling in Lafayette LA, was talking about being happy to see 6.5 and he has a new Chevy 3500 pulling a 40ft gooseneck..

just saying smaller truck does not mean better fuel mileage or lower cost in the long run...

 

Im thinking .61 is even a little low. Id figute more around 70-80cpm for fuel. Specially pullin hills dropping gears all the time itll take a lot of fuel. Id figure a 6.5-7mpg average flat land but in rolling terrain, figure about 4.5 at best. Hell my 3/4 ton only gets 8 flat land pulling a gooseneck grossing 22000 at 60. Last time it went through the smokies grossing 23k looked at the little fuel deal said 2mpg...lucky i didnt burn it up pulling a 3 mile 6% in 4th gear running 35.

As for your other costs youll have to estimate your milage. How many miles are you going to run? And what are you going to do yourself when it comes to maintenance? Oil changes are simple and cheap to do yourself with minimal investment. Along with coolant flushes, etc. As for your tire fund your looking at $800 for the rubber plus another 200 for the labor and misc crap. So a grand a year in rubber. Wth was your insurance quote?!?! Anything over $5000 and your getting ripped my ins. For unlimited mileage, 38500 in physical damage, 25500 in physical damage for the trailer, 150,000 cargo 1,000,000 liability from progressive none the less and at 21 is only 12,500/year. And his moderately busy truck crap aint gonna fly. You want a moderately busy truck better have GOOD paying loads. Cost per mile decreases as mileage increases and visa versa. You wont make it on realistic numbers (bout $1.00-1.10) to operate your 3500 specially if you think you can make it hauling on 1.50/mile freight. Wont happen specially after the irs takes their cut for your taxes. Factor in workers comp/occupational accident, health ins., etc your gonna go broke quick. And yea you dont have to have all that but take it from a guy that paid $2500 to have an mri done on his knee after he fell on the job one screw up and those doctor bills pay your yearly premiums. Your gonna need steady $2/mile freight to make everything work period. Might seem high but i want to make money not lose my arse. Honestly check into hauling cars within 100 miles of your home zip. $100 min+$3 a loaded mile. Id take moving 10 cars a day around the city for $115/car over tromping all over the midwest any day of the week...specially when it only cost me $100 a day to run the truck $950+ in profit seems pretty good dont it? And those rates are what a tow truck is going to charge you