I see why trucking is going the way it is...

Thats funny Rollin, your operation and mine are very similar. The truck I currently have will be two years old in August and 70,000 miles just rolled over the clock last week.
Im all for working smarter, not harder! Lol.

 

I read 2 pages of replies, got a question.

Back in my day the small trucking outfits would haul about anything to get to California, sometimes only breaking even on the load out, just so they could haul a load of produce back, making their money of the return trip.

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10-4 rocky! Don't be too hard on those brokers though, they need to make as much money as we do in order to replace their phone and laptop next year! Lol

 

So nothing much has changed since back in your day!

 

Back in the day fuel was about 48 cts a gallon . repairs costs were lower. A new truck was around $50 grand .. Freight rates were not based on mileage then but on weight .A great system that you made money on. Produce from CA and FLA back then did pay better,less hassle. Cost of living was low,.
I could pull a drop deck or flat bed from Chicago to Nashville and put in my pocket $1100 and then haul back from that shipper to Chicago for $1500 cash to me .2 days work. Not happening today.

 

Trucking is a competitive business. ...but at the same time....it should be a profitable competition. ..1.20 a mile is just not going to cut with all business expenses plus personal expenses. ...heck even hot shot drivers make over 1.20 a mile...I dont believe a truck is supposed to move any where under 2.00 a mile...if I wanted to take home 1500 a week I would be a company driver....

next thing is the idiot program.....he drives 72 in a 75 so he is a idiot.....he at home every weekend so he is a idiot...he has wife and kids so he is a idiot....he shifts at 1600 rpm so he is a idiot....he dosent drive for swift so he is a idiot. ...
DRIVERS we keep America moving....just because our company that we lease to or work for is in competition dosent mean we have to be....I mean you can hardly get a call out of where the bears are sitting at any more.... We all out here for the same thing to work and make money....companies try to keep us separate so they can keep us under they wing and continue to get over on us....STOP PUTTING UP WITH B.S POLICIES LIKE NO IDLING AND TAKE A STAND...

Next thing you dont know everything about trucking...I dont care how long u been driving you dont know everything. ..so please stop with the if its not done my way its wrong

please take showers they are free

Just a couple of things I wanted to get off my chest...not talking to anyone in particular just the way I see it as well

stop being for yourself.....help others.....respect others...treat ppl how u want to be treated

 

one thing that gets me. is how some will bounce half way across the country for good rates. because some won't pull for anything less.

say no to cheap frieght. sure. we all get that idea. but free fuel. doesn't really make that good rate that good. as some people have mentioned ALL miles figured into your operating costs.

there's a limit to how cheap most will haul. but sticking to your guns becuase your proud. and won't settle for anything less.

some of you talk about poor money management when it comes to success or failure. but no one talks about breakdowns being the biggest reason for failure. or the fact that they'll spend $1000 in fuel chasing good rates.

there are lots of areas in this country where you'll find nothing but cheap freight. most times the rates are good getting there. but some would rather bounce empty back to good rates again. did that good rate really work out that good. if your throwing money out the stacks to go back empty.

how about if your leased onto a company. and the only loads they offer. are in the lousy side of the country. so you find your own load to the other side. and the best rate your going to find is 10 cents shy of 2 dollars. the average being a buck fifty. and once you get there. you have to say NO to all them decent paying loads by your company. becuase they all bring you right back where you don't wanna be. on the lousy side of the country.

some won't haul cheap freight. some have a limit as to how cheap.

cheap frieght comes with the territory. rates are only good one way. does it happen on a daily basis. no. but it does happen.

now, i can see not hauling out of the dakotas. you at least make something to bounce somewhere. but, places like montana, wyoming, colorado, new mexico, and nevada. if you can find a buck fifty. you done good. and a buck fifty positive is better then a buck fifty negative.

driving 1000 miles because you won't haul cheap. there's a line between not hauling cheap. and burning up fuel hauling empty.

 

Yes I know the difference. A "fixed cost" is "acostunvaryingwithachangeinthevolumeofbusiness". A "variable cost" is "a costthatvarieswithachangeinthevolumeofoutputwhileremaininguniformonaper-unitbasis,ascost oflabor"... Neither of us is talking about variable cost, we are talking about the amount you need to earn to cover the cost of doing business. My point is that it is different for everyone, his point (I think) is that it should be the same for every owner in the industry. **edit** Not sure why my copy/paste from dictionary.com ran all the words together.

OK, I thought you were saying that nobody can be profitable at $___.____ per mile. Maybe you meant to say that YOU could not be profitable at that number.

 

I swear to God I promise on my life.....my Tm sent me to arizon....had a load coming out but it only paid 1.40 a mile....he said thats disrespectful come back empty....I felt good about that. ..made a statment that we dont haul cheap freight...rather deadhead 1000 miles then to be disrespected...

Alot going to say ima idiot but hey im doing my part to get rid of cheap freight...lol.....HELP ME

 

breakdowns are not the biggest cause of failure, its poor money management which results in not having money to take care of inevitable breakdowns