How do I stop running empty?

Running empty is when your truck costs you the least to operate. Best mpg and least wear. Given the choice I would run as much empty miles as possible. It's all about the numbers, would I drive 500 miles for a great paying load, yes without hesitation. Some people will not as they consider it lost miles. You just need to know that the load pays enough to your pocket to justify the deadhead. Know your numbers and the cost of your operation. Alternatively you can just look for lighter loads that pay acceptable rates more local and make up the revenue in gained mpg.

 

Right Danny, if I was gonna wait in Denver for a good load I might as well have my mailing address changed to Denver!

Like Kenny Rogers song - "gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em".

 

Good load and Denver, shouldn't the filter pick that up? IT should look like this, #### #### and ######.

 

Jf I had a dollar for every time this discussion (if you can call it that) has been held on this web site I could afford a hell of a weekend in Vegas. Just a couple of points & I will never look at this thread again;

1. Every situation is different. When I ran tanker it was 50% empty miles & the money was good. I have a couple of friends who make decent livings hauling lumber locally, only loaded one way. Rail trucks, deck the trailer & head back to the mill.

2. There is a very simple formula to determine whether you should continue to operate your business. I learned it decades ago in a community college small business management class. It works perfectly to decide whether to accept a given load out of a certain area. I've never seen anyone on this website describe anything similar to it.

3. How come everybody on here struts around bragging about how much they make per mile & nobody talks about how well they control their operating costs?

 

why is it always of importance when a mercer driver complains?? lol myself, I stopped running west coast. if you do the rates coming back or cheaper, you may have to sit a few days etc. but if ya don't know that before ya go, you did it to yourself.


hers the deal , at mercer you have complete control to pick your own loads, if you pick the wrong one and end up in a bad spot, you did it to yourself, but you always have those that think no matter where they go , a good paying load should be waiting.

some never learn otherwise, and never get anywhere, they just moan and groan, gripe and blame everyone else but themselves.


snowy if ya keep ending up in bad spots, who is picking your loads for you? look in the mirror and talk to him

 

If you want to minimize your deadhead, then start looking for your next load as soon as you get loaded. It isn't always a bad thing to deadhead. If there is enough money on the load then it might be worth the effort. You may also need to think outside the box. Change your forumula or business plan. You might think about doing LTL's to get out of a bad area. I used to run California and would often put together some LTL's to get a decent rate rather than run my truck for $0.90/mile with a truckload. Hauling LTL's usually takes more effort than truckload, but the money can be worth it. It make take a couple of days to put something together. You can also lose your shirt doing LTL unless you watch what you are doing and where you go.

 

Ha!!!!!!!!!!

 

open deck loads are harder then heck to find to the east coast. just about everything around here delivers around here. and anything that DOES go that way. don't pay to make a profit.

BUT

once in awhile i DOOO get something SOMEWHAT east. but then i get a call from one of our agents throughout the country. with a REALLY GREAT PAYING load that brings me right back to the west.

AND, SOMETIMES, that great pay comes with a plea for help so they don't look bad with their customer.

i had been saying NO. but one can only feel like an A HOLE so many times.

and isn't part of ALL YOUR SPEACHES. to make friends with the brokers and agents. ?????

so, what you gonna do.

i dom't like being around here. been doing it as a company driver for 2 years and i'm burned out. tired of the area, tired of the mountains. tired of spending more time shifting gears then driving.

but i'm not going to sit around either. if it pays at or above my minimum. and goes to a decent place. LIKE YOU ALL PREACHED. then i'm hauling it. depending on where it goes.

 

You just don't get it and it appears you never will.

I'm predicting another unsuccessful lease purchase deal and being from the "west side of the country" will be the excuse.

 

snowy, who are you leased to?