How are O/O making a living at $1.00 a mile

I'm sure there's the rare l/p that can work, but the low mileage rates and the sliding scale you're practically doomed.

 

$1 / mile will only be sustainable in the short time and is doomed to fail in the long run. I was leased on with Swift and Schneider running Team and got over 20k miles per month. I had no problems getting loads because Teams gets first priority. Had no truck payment because I cashed a 3 year old truck. Ran my truck to the ground in less than 2 years and when I needed to rebuild my motor, I went out of business. $1 a mile looks ok when there are no maintenance required and no truck payment. Add a truck payment and repairs, and downtime and you'll be making negatives.

 

I've been very quiet on TTR for awhile because I have been reduced to driving a MINI-VAN, hauling the same "freight" that i was hauling in a 24' 6 wheeler early this year. My contract rate has not changed, but i am no longer required to carry any insurance other than personal auto. I still run 10,120 miles per month @ $1/mile, my fuel cost is about $25/day, maintenance is oil changes and tires.
Yeah, this won't last much longer, but it has been a great year so far and I'm home for approximately 16 hours per day. I'm not about to tell what I'm hauling, but i will stay put until the dream is over.
That said, $1/mile on 18 wheels is charity work no matter what.

 

Their fuel isn't that cheap. I pay the same for fuel that the megas pay.

This is the #1 reason I'm an o/o. If I guy gets into being an o/o strictly for the money he will soon be disappointed unless he's had nothing but very crappy jobs before hand.

 

I've been saying this for years whether is a L/p or o/o running for 1.00 or less a mile is setting you up for failure.Sure there is a select few that have made it,but I bet they have hardly any home debt or wife has good job.Im not against all L/p just 95% of the ones I seen that pays .90 cpm to run a reefer what a joke!Company makes 2.50-3plus a mile and gives you .90 now tell me who's making out.

 

$1/mile+ fsc...

They're eating ramen noodles and PB&J for months on end. They sleep in the truck with the windows down in 110 degree heat. When no one is looking, they go inside the truckstop restaurant and fill their pockets full with the saltines crackers on the salad bar.

 

I really hope your mini-van doesn't fuq you over. My father tried doing some sort of currier and delivery work many years ago after 2008, the work van he bought screwed him over big time. He then massacred the family mini van. Long story short, personal cars weren't meant to run hard every day. He needed to invest in a heavy duty work van but by that time didn't have enough saved due to previous repairs on both vehicles. He was getting business from knocking doors and ringing numbers but couldn't get enough.

Anyways, good times. Good luck.

 

I drove a minivan once 3000 miles Daytona Airport to Spokane Airport after my 2012 was totaled in Florida I'll never drive another one but I was able to carry as much gear as I could pull out of the truck

 

Challenge....

I'd like to see a full breakdown of 2016's operating expenses for a true independent O/O. Meaning you pay fully for your own authorities, plates, tractor, trailer, insurance, repairs, maint, fuel.... EVERYTHING.

When thats posted we can do line by line what an l/p is truely getting.