How are they doing it???

So, three weeks into running under my own authority, I've become vexed. I thought I had it figured out. Using DAT rate indexes, I saw that dry van national average was at $2.01 per mile. My figures came up that it would cost me $1.44 per mile to run, so I opted for a deal I found on a truck and dry van trailer as a package. Five loads, highest I've been able to get has been $1.85 per mile, but the other 4 have all been in the $1.65 range. I use DAT, internet truck stop,and get loaded. Quite honestly, internet truck stop and get loaded have not produced one profitable load yet; one load seriously offered at $1.14 per mile!!!
So, the original question; how are people driving these newer rigs with a much heftier loan payment than mine able to run so cheap? And, since I know I have to run for $1.44 just to pay for my truck and overhead, how and where do I get loads that pay a decent rate? I feel like at the rates I'm finding on the load boards, I am one blown tire away from disaster. Any realistic advice or opinions are appreciated.

 

Check with Farm2Fleet; maybe they can help find better paying loads. Some drivers that work through them, post on here and are doing real good.

 

Where are you running? Are you looking at the rates for individual lanes, or just looking at that national average? When are you booking loads (how far in advance, what day of the week, what time of the day)?

Your first 3 months will be the hardest due to the limited pool of brokers, but do a good job and ask to add them to your list of references so when an important load comes up, you can sell your service.

 

the problem, is relying on dat rates, which are over inflated to reality.

your not the first poster to ask that question.

 

People don't give feedback on rates other then large carriers so they are inflated. Most of the load boards make it hard to report what rates your getting by making you fill out every single detail of the load then I'm sure they sell that info.

 

Rome wasn't built in a day. If you opened any other business you wouldn't expect to be rolling in dough after three weeks. It takes time to find repeat business. Don't screw up and sooner or later the loads will find you. In the meantime, be frugal and keep your costs down.

 

Some drivers run $250K+ "working" rigs chromed and polished to within an inch of their lives and take a week off several times a year to attend truck shows with the whole fam damily.

I have absolutely no idea how they manage it.

 

find a load into Brooklyn, those will pay more than $1.85

 

They're not working for rates like that if they're staying in business long term. Where are you running at? In many markets right now it shouldn't be too difficult to get solid rates with a van. As long as you aren't too far south. Lots of open checkbook stuff out here between now and mid January it's money making time for vans. Do you listen well? Do you haggle? What sort of runs do you seek and are you willing to do what others don't care for? Overnighters, multi-stops, etc? You worried about reaching some daily goal and getting pushed into accepting losers because of it? Let go of that you don't need a daily goal. Are you stuck on miles think? Like rank says takes some longer than others to get a routine down on that part of it.

 

OK, I do believe I said, "Realistic" advice. Brooklyn? Better chance at seeing God!!! I went to Brooklyn once when I drove for Marten...ONCE. Good thing there weren't any scales coming out, the amount of spray paint on my trailer would have put me over by about 5,000 lbs!!! Darn near couldn't even see the Marten name on the trailer!!!