Is OOIDA worth joining?

Well, I'm a one truck show (well, one and a spare), and I am for larger weights. So your mega carrier argument doesn't hold. The rate argument is spurious, if the law changed, rates would be very minimally effected. It would take some time for people to get the right gear to haul larger loads, and by that time attrition will have stabilized the rates. We have been running 105K loads for decades now in the PNW, and rates are the same here as anywhere. So the rate argument doesn't hold.

I compete with my product on a delivered basis with other producers. By hauling at weights over 80K my prices are competitive, and my product arrives at market in better condition. That, and it's good for the tweety birds, because we burn less fuel per ton, it's better for the roads because we carry less weight per tire..... etc, etc, etc.

 

I have to go with Rollin Coal on the weight deal.
we can be 89,000 on a standard 5 axle rig, and just add axles to go up. The same with doubles, I would like to meet the guy that got that business started, if a guy pulls 2 loads he should be paid for two loads, but that back trailers rarely pays half of what pulling a single does.
The more weight the more wear and tear on components, and more fuel, there is no way around it, it is what it is.
I am on a unique deal, my price per load covers the first 45,000 pounds of freight, break that and I get a raise, and another at 50,000 and so on, but the guys that are leased on, gets the deal a load is a load, if it is a huge load they kick in a little for the extra fuel. I don't like wearing my junk out for fuel, as far as I am concerned, I should get extra fuel money for pulling one of their 4 axle reefers back empty, plus a helper to chain up dragging them sleds. lol

 

Sounds to me the problem is your deal, not the load weight. Maxi loads in the PNW get paid more than standard flats. If you get paid by the pound, hauling more pounds pays more.

 

You are rught, well close. I get as much as the heavier loads, but I just run the extra freight, so when it slows down, so do I. I have lots of friends pulling mostly 89,000 pound loads or less, and lots of them pulling 105,000 mud haulers, and then the tanker guys are running 115,000 pounds, The mud and tankers are paid by the pound and do get more per load, but with the extra maintenance, these companies have it figured out to where at the end of the day everybody has the same nickle to hang on to.
I outlawed heavy loads for years when I got paid by the weight, and would rather just pull 80,000 pound loads anymore if I could, and running the lower 48, always found most freight that would max the weight paid me less than light weight freight, once I got away from farm freight. Just my experience, your mileage may vary.

 

Well, I'll agree to disagree. There's never really enough attrition in this industry and the barriers are forever too low.

 

For what you guys pull all that weight for up there, similar rates can be had grossing 80k in most other areas of the country. Legal flat rates in the PNW are mostly a joke.