Don't let anyone discourage you.

Down here it's just not enough manufacturers that ship intrastate that's not gobbled up by the medium size carriers and then the one truck Owners who take 1.10 short miles just to be home every night. Heck we have enough trouble leaving the state. I'm with @Hurst though, it's no way I'd be moving from where I live, born and raised. I sacrifice a little home time in order to live how I wanna live so it works for me.

 

How much time are you investing in those $200-$300 loads? I used to work my ### off covering 2 or 3 local hauls in a day at $450 a load. Some days it would end up being one load. It sucks. I won't touch anything under 100 miles for less than $600 anymore everyone screams "$6 a mile and I calmly explain it isn't miles it's time. I'm lucky if I have 6 hours in the load". Of course they know that but they can't make 50% or better margins if they don't sell on rate per mile. Then they hang up and try to sell it for $300. $450 used to would book loads like that all day every day. The time invested barely makes it worth $600 there are easier ways to make money, or I should say less stressful more rewarding.

 

If he is happy and he is making what he wants I guess that is all that counts.

 

I have discovered a few local shippers to get me out of the state.

But like @TaylorMade407 stated, Fla is a difficult state to work locally.

We have gobs of retired truckers who are running the last legs of their truck and all they do is short hauls. Rarely more than 200 - 400 mi. They are only interested in making and working enough to pad their social security checks.

Then you have the guys who run trucks that are barely legal to even be on the road. They run for $1 mi. I have had guys brag to me that they gross $800 - $1000 a week. They are obviously not putting anything back into the truck.

We have thousands of these guys to compete with here in Florida. This is why its very difficult to get into a local gig. Its not like I havent made 100's of calls, only to be told they have enough trucks or they pay the equivalent of $0.95 a mile. Its just not here.

Hurst

 

There are always people who discourage you, and I've heard it too - if you can't fix your truck yourself you will fail, if you get a newer truck with DPF - fail, truck payment - fail, etc, etc.
Well I just got my MC after driving for 6 months, didn't wanna lease to a carrier and pay 25% for the privilege. I got newer equipment. This past 7 days my gross will be $5200 on 2560 total miles (including empty), and basically sitting for 2 days. All expenses right around $2000 ($600 fixed plus fuel, maintenance cost, tolls, etc). Last week I grossed $4600 in 5 days driving around 2500 miles.

 

It seemed like loads going to Florida paid really well so I thought it would average out, but last week I see 1000 mi to FL for $1700 and it looked like someone took it. Unbelievable. 1.70 going in and 1.00 out, 1.35 average. And that was for Reefer.
I guess everyone wants to drive down and enjoy nice weather. I will go to Wisconsin or PA instead.

 

Hell you don't have to go to Florida for nice weather. Suppose to be almost 70 Christmas day in upstate NY.

 

really odd this year isn't it!! I think some of the bushes, that get good sun, are even confused.

Anyway, as has been mentioned, Time is Money. not miles..
Well I guess Miles is money, going out the stack in added costs!!!

Point is you can't make more time so use it wisely.