Flatbed rates i was quoted today

I haven't even started yet and my break even is $1.33 just for fixed/variable I only have a $1500 a month household bill, eveythings paid for. Been looking at load boards for days and I am just not convinced that I can average $1.66 pm. These people that go out and lease for $.90/$.98 pm and have a few $1000 in household bills, per month. There aint no fricken way they are going to make it, and if anyone of them read this,,,,plz tell me what you are doing to stay alive a year, 5 years.....10 years!

 

A lot of people are under the impression one call haul cheap ,if they haul a lot. Now I know that's a mighty skewed way of looking at it,but it's true. Recently I had an O.O. friend of mine who was raised in the business say to me "I would rather get a dollar per mile and drive five thousand miles per week as to get two dollars per mile and drive three thousand" He actually said it. I was speechless for a moment ,then I said "if your dad was still around he would smack you right in the head ,have you lost your gosh darn mind" But ,that's what he is doing ,driving until he can't stand up ,and hoping he doesn't have a flat tire. We always had several different types businesses going along with the trucks,and as most businesses do we always at least tried to double our money. Fortunately I am in a position where I am not totally dependent on the trucks. We will run what's left until the wheels fall off ,and if the kids or grand kids want to upgrade it's on them. But I think they know better. If not we will make flower planters and boat anchors out of the equipment. I know a few old die hards with paid for trucks,but I honestly don't think this as a viable option for a business venture anymore. Unless one spouse has one heck of a top notch job ,and they just use the truck as a challenge.

 

In my opinion, hauling quantity over quality (lots of cheap vs less of good pay) will cause the demise of most companies in the end. Sure, it can be done, until either the driver or the truck gives out. The O.O. friend who was raised in the business had to have had brain damage to have that sort of mindset. There really is no other explanation. It's scary to ponder the possibility that there are other truck drivers (or trucking companies) out there with the same thinking (brain damage).

Wow! Is it really that bad out there? Things must be worse than I have knowledge of. Yes, for me, trucking has always been a challenge (a good challenge) - no doubt about that; however, at least for me, it's always been a challenge that paid. Am I just lucky? I've lost money in many foolish ways; however, I don't think I ever lost money from hauling well-planned and dispatched freight.

Yeah, I was pretty dismayed earlier today when it costed almost $500.00 to fill one tank ($4.15 per gallon). Another observation - has anybody ever noticed freight rates seem to go lower as fuel prices rise?

I have noticed a very slow start to 2013 relative to previous years.

 

Yea but think if he would run 5000 miles a week hauling $2/mile freight. Then he'd be making a killing and wouldn't be killing the rest of us.

 

From what I have seen, the longer the miles the cheaper the rate. The shorter the miles the higher the rate... Seen two loads for over $3pm on less than 200miles...lol All the ones I did the math on for over 500 miles were not above $1.55pm That's fine with me, I don't plan on running more than 500 miles each day anyway and plan to get a load a day, 5/6 a week and no less than $1.66 pm.

 

Lol there used to be an old saying "if the run was long enough,you would have to pay the company to haul it" which sadly becomes true in a lot of cases. Too many truckers don't realize a small hole in a boat is still a hole. In other other words,the hole still takes on water just a little slower than a big one.

 

Just so you know, a load going 200 miles should pay you $1,000 gross on avg. $3 mile isn't even worth starting the truck on short miles.

 

That's why we generally won't load the truck for less than $2/mile (dry van). I sat still for a week in February waiting for a load, and still did better than $18K revenue to the truck on 7600 miles for the month. Don't capitulate.

 

I understand the reason behind the need to be firm on my rates. Sitting a week would be hard but than again, that would depend on where I would have to sit for that week. I commend you on your convictions and pray I can stay true to my own.

 

It's not difficult, as long as you get yourself out of the paycheck-to-paycheck mindset.