ill make it simple...what truck would you buy for $30k ????

I try to stay west of ILL. I am not afraid to do 1200 mile load either. Feb/March I had some stellar weeks with no real miles and high revenue. I will give it that.

For the period 7/1/12 to 12/31/12, I had a 41% fuel/revenue rate. I was running dry van.

For the period 1/1/13 to 3/31/13, I am at 32%. fuel/Revenue rate. Feb, I sold the dry van and went to reefer. This had always been a planned move for me, just was never sure "when" it was going to get completed. Timing was just right.

I always was under the impression folks wanted it at 35% or less.

 

I try an stop doing anything less than $1500 pay, this has kinda hurt my %, alot of short hauls are profitable, but with a 60 year old driver he cant take to much.

would be nice to be at 35%!!

life in a border town were local hauls are terrible, I mean they are taking these 48k loads 100 miles for $200.

 

ouch. That hurts.

I have a box that I drew. I try to stay inside that box. Mostly MN/WI/IL/IA/MO and the fringes. On occasion, I'll go towards CO/MT/WA/ID/UT and even venture into TX for the correct loads.

 

OK, yes more revenue and less miles definitely helps the %'s look better. I run a typical OTR dry van setup so yes your 41% figure makes sense when you were doing that type of work. I'm looking at a few more improvements this year, hoping to get it down to that or better, and last year my old APU was on the fritx so I idled more than usual.

 

Don;t forget OH and MI on that list... basically anyhting within 500 miles of Chicago is my radius. I have been doing a lot of long haul stuff (just got back from New Orleans to Denver and Wyoming) but I'm going back to sticking with the midwest and doing what i can here. rates are far better, more abindance of loads avaialbale and it's close to home. If I spend the weekend at home, i save $100 in living costs each weekend (fuel, food, and other stuff)

 

buy older truck with low mileage. ppl make that look what year and milion miles mistake , i see it all day long , the less electronics the better. century , detroit ddec3 , 10 speed eaton , 355 rears . cheap reliable , everyone know how to fix em

you should look for 2003 with 200-300 k miles for that money . well worth it, and very hard to find with that mileage ....

 

Buddyvuk did you finally end up buying something?

 

Peterbilt, Cat, 18 speed.

 

I like the old Freightliners around 93-96 with a Series 60 Detroit and a 9, or straight 10 speed. FLD 120's go forever!!!