From the Office to Trucking

The 46K load was taking me out of route (and other annoying Port delays) that's why I turned it down.

If I had taken it, I would have grossed more, by the time I re-route to home, ... BUT, WAIT!..THERE'S MORE!!! ... after thinking hard about it, the weight "weighted" hard on me, so I said screw it. --- I always believe in listening to that inner gut feeling. I dont tempt fate.

I'd rather gross $5,300, heading home, with a working truck, THAN chase $6,300 and end up calling a tow truck, plus repairs.

You know, the old adage, .... a bird in hand?...

 

While I like the lighter loads also, if your having or even worried about having to call a tow truck because your hauling 80000 lb loads then you need to work on your truck a little more. Mine has over 2 million on the clock and I haul them on a regular if not daily basis. Just learn to be easy on your take offs and stops.
Like @zmster2033 said if the pay and out of route were reversed which one would you have chosen? Given those loads you had an easy choice. I am so used to hauling close to 80k (most of our customers are in the steel industry) that if the pay is right I could care less about that. Obviously if you have a choice given the same, or close to the same, money you will take the light load. But I ain’t holding my breath waiting on a light one. Just show me the money for the heavy one and we’re all good.
There is a lot more that goes into it than $ per mile but by my calculations semester is at $3.07 per mile and your at $2.20 per mile. 87 cents per mile is a big difference and I don’t know how much time either one of you have into making that check or how many short loads he pulled, but given the 2 yours looks better for the gross but his looks better for the bottom line. He just needs to get his miles up a little.

 

@mc8541ss

I hear you. I get what you are saying. I'm just not ready to start getting hit hard with major repairs, ... yet.

I'm still building up my maintenance account. Once I get it where I want it to be, then I can "venture" out to the 40K+ side. My truck is light is 29K lbs (Truck+Trailer+Fuel). I know I can max load out at 51K ... but dont wanna try it out yet (hahaha)

 

Decent rate per mile now you just gotta get your miles up a little.

it can handle it and it’s designed to handle that and more. You just gotta be smooth with it. Once again I do agree that light loads are better given comparable money. No Doubt!
I also have 2 other trucks. One can haul 50 k the other 51k. One place we haul for pays oversized rate for anything we put on over 48k. He hauls a lot of heavy loads. And we both love it!

 

Is that right??? hhmmm

I guess I need to learn overweight permit process, and maybe learn flatbed work??

decision, decisions...

 

Full disclosure here while he is pulling the heavier loads his fuel mpg’s has dropped from a solid 7.2 to 6.4. So be mindful of that. And like you stated earlier your maint cost and tire wear will go up a little but the difference in the rate more than covers that. We’re not doing it just to break even.

 

I always choose lighter loads if they're available for the same rates as heavy ones but really, the trucks can take it. They are built for it as stated by MC above. I just hauled 77,500 (paper load) for about 750 miles just because I hadn't pulled any weight in awhile. None of my last 10 loads were over 20k. I think it's important to mix it up and pull all different loads to stay sharp on your skills. I don't worry about the truck unless there are some really big passes on the runs and I'm in the east so that doesn't come in to play much.

Nax, I thought I had the record on light loads a week or two ago at #2900. Looks like you beat me. I did blow my RPM out of the water last week though on 23 miles for $400, or 17.39/mile.

zmster, you're doing REALLY good man!

 

Google it! Or just call them. They have great customer service.

 

@RedForeman touched on it a bit a page or two back.