Is it possible to make good money hauling containers (intermodal)?

They do intermodal down south I know. They have a small terminal in Memphis, I noticed the other day.

 

I saw an ad in the local paper recently, .30 cpm fuel surcharge. 1.10 loaded .85 Empty.

I don't see how those guys are making it on that, One breakdown away I suppose.

 

So what are the rates for containers.?

 

he just posted them that's the avg out of sav,ga they however pay much more than that loaded on a flatbed, it aint hardto figure who is getting ripped

 

I posted my rates few weeks ago in the northeast

 

from south Kearny,nj:
to Easton,pa 242.63 plus bridge toll (128 round trip) 1.89 per mile
Edison,nj 152.23- (54 miles round trip) 2.82 a mile
Hackensack,nj 135.84- (32 miles round trip) 4.25 mile
Millville,ny 1121.13 (748 round trip) 1.50 per mile
Millville,nj 406.56 (244 round trip) 1.67 per mile
Melville,ny(long island) 421.23 including 200 for long island surcharge (84 miles round trip) 5.01 per mile

 

Short haul rates should be based more a daily rate due to all the time wasted loading/unloading and in/out gating along with time lost in heavy traffic in your area. If you are not grossing a minimum of $800 per day you are hurting and a great day would be over $1,500. Hard to have a great day with those rates.

Wear and tear on the equipment will be a lot worse along with very poor fuel mileage in a heavy traffic area of the country that makes for higher operating cost.

Good luck to anybody with this kind of business plan.

 

After tolls and fuel im taking no less than 1800 weekly so im ok with that

 

Good rates are all about prospective. Everyones business plan is different. I tried Triple Crown a few years ago, wasnt for me. I pull van now for a mid size carrier an Im happy an do well. I make $1.49p mile. They pay tolls, plates, fuel tax. Fuel discounts 30-55cpg. Insurance discounts. I take home $2300 avg. Im happy with that, it suits my needs. Other guys would tell me they wouldnt turn the key for it. Too each his own.

 

I did it for a year & 1/2 I grossed between $2700 - $3100 a week and got this great idea to go back out on the road and didn't make any more$$ and didn't like the long wait at the docks so I went back to what I've done all my life (bed bugging)running the coast and that was the biggest mistake I ever made because it doesn't pay anymore than hauling containers and I'm gone all the time and work my butt off. The answer to your question is you can make a living hauling containers and the good part is your home every night off most weekends. If you pick the right container company. I'm about to leave North American to go back to containers because they suck and I hate the road anymore. Hope this helps.