I have a few theories why rates don't rise.

Not to mention

Not to mention as a 1-10 truck guy they aren’t even gonna answer your emails consistently unless you happen to have trucks sitting where they need you. Both @Banker and I are on complete opposites of the spectrum, and we re both doing well which shows it can be done with the proper company.

 

You call them big boys, I use some other names. But it doesn't really matter because you aren't the 20 or 80% I was referring to.

 

I am not completely sure what your point was. I am not being sarcastic, I am simply doing my best to describe what is currently available to me and those I associate with.
A friend of mine hauled broker freight for United Road. At first he liked it but then eventually quit doing it and leased on to them. After leased on to them he netted more than he did hauling for them with his own authority. It only makes sense to me that he gets better loads now than he did before. Having your own numbers in carhaul isn’t always the most profitable option.

 

I'm not sure how this is for other O/O car haulers, but I can say this from my POV. When I was hauling whatever and wherever the ability to really hone in and track the most effective and profitable rates and track expenses was significantly more difficult that it is now that I haul the same types of units/loads to the same location, same highways week over week, month over month. Having the same routine makes those numbers real easy to track and when even the slightest change occurs you see it instantly. And when you're able to get into that sort of situation you can more easily determine what YOU specifically need to be profitable for your way of doing business.

On a side note: The mentality of "something is better than nothing" is BS! Accepting cheap freight does nothing except to cause brokers/shippers to continue pushing cheap freight. Why do they do it? BECAUSE THEY KNOW SOMEONE WILL TAKE IT! I will drive empty every time before I put cheap freight on my trailer!

 

I always though the general rule with cars was $1 a mile minimum, so the more cars you haul, the more you make.

 

The longer the distance the lower the price per mile each car. You commonly see a 9 car load paying $450 going 50 miles that would be $1 per mile, if those are suction cars the time loading makes that rate garbage. Going 2000 miles to the west coast brokers try to get them moved for 35 cents a mile. $6,300 for 9 cars going 2000 miles, and these days some people call that a good load

 

This how they rolling in the car hauling business these days?

 

And that was the guy that waited two days to break even .

 

Not all of us, but I do know a few carhaulers that started out with smaller rigs and worked their way up.