It is better to Deadhead than take cheap freight

I did. That was an extreme theoretical example to demonstrate the phenomenon. LOL
I meant, if I had a choice....

 

Freight rates are what you make them. I'd bet the guy running a 9 axle RGN would scoff at four bucks a mile anywhere. It's all relative. If you're making margin that allows you to live, then do what you do.

 

Darn, the rates for flatbed and stepdeck have gone down a lot since the beginning of November. Just called Landstar on some stepdeck loads out of NC area to MI and they wanted to pay $1.60 a mile. Now lots of van rates from NC paying $3+/mile to midwest and PA.

I am wondering if it is worth it to buy a Dryvan to work during the winter months since Dryvan are so cheap nowadays. The problem with Dryvan is getting rid of it because there are too many of them flooding the market. Also, most neighbours frown upon Dryvan parking in your yard while flatbed trailers arent so noticeable.

 

Well if you’re using spyder logic I don’t believe you could DH 1000 miles and do as good or better.Us his example $2500 El Paso tx To will use Columbus OH that’s 1640 miles breaks down to $1.52 a mile this is what he said a stupid driver would do.Now he would DH 1086 miles to Memphis to pu a unrealistic $2500 on 588 miles flats from Memphis to Columbus actually pay close to $2 a mile but say he did 20% better then average and got $2.40 a mile and round up 588 to 600 miles so more realistic amount from Memphis to Columbus is $1440 So he drove 1674 miles for $1440 breaks down to 0.86 a mile in his words the 1.52 a mile driver is stupid then what is a guy who runs for 0.86 a mile

 

I wish everyone thought like you. I'd have less competition for the good patting freight.

Edit to add: and everyone knows i used round numbers and random futures to illustrate a point.

In reality the el paso load pays a buck thirty a mile with 4 stops and finals in Massachusetts. And instead of memphis it might be little rock, or Shreveport, or waco. Or even tulsa. But at the end of the day i will be generating practically the same revenue with a heck of a lot less loaded miles and land me in a better area for another money load.

 

Real world example from last spring: a friend of mine lessed to the same carrier as i am loaded sone cheap ### ac units to get out of a bad area going to the Boston area. I think he was in South Texas. The route took him straight through louisville. On our load board was several loads picking up right in Louisville going to the boston area and it paid 50 dollars less than that load that had a thousand extra miles on it.

 

So lets say a load out of Minneapolis going to Cleveland is offered to me at 1.40 on 800 miles=$1120 or say I could DH to Chicagoland 400 miles and grab a load going to Cleveland paying 2.60x400=$1040. So you made $80 more on paper but when its all said and done I made more cause I didn't lug that heavy cheap load those 400 miles from MN through Chicago. Obviously saved on fuel/wear and tear

 

Here is a real example from today. Loads coming from Tacoma were running $1200 back to Montana where I need to be. Looked around and found a load from Idaho to Montana for 1500 so I deadheaded my other truck to Idaho because my direct customer has another load for me.

 

The longer you do this the more you will find that those cheap shippers are also the most pia ones. Can spend a whole day getting that cheap load on. So dh not only didn't cost you anything it makes you money by having that extra time to get another good paying load on. The cheap ones are also the first to file a claim one the piddly wink stuff that a good paying customer doesn't care about.

 

As I said earlier DH can make since I personally DH half my miles everyday.But I also run for a direct shipper that the DH is accountant for in the rate I get so I can reload every AM. but I would still do better if I brought something back. But with everything there is a line where it becomes costly you can be under the impression because your empty those miles aren’t costing you money but the difference isn’t that much you will get better mpg what a whopping 10 mpg the engine is turning so wearing those parts the tire savings would be so minuscule you couldn’t measure it.Its a tractor it is built to carry a load.saying DH 1000 miles in a week is going to be at about 30 to 40% non revenue miles a week imo that’s to much. You can come up with imaginary situations like wait time who says that 1000 mile DH load isn’t going to have a issue .