Let's play a game.

Been a long time coming... congratulations! Now do some real trailer truckin.

 

Just realized that you edited the OP. I responded to @Oscar the KW post because he was talking about his day rate. I do it the same way as he does.

In your original post, you said $600 for 550 miles. I’m thinking start to finish 12 hours, best case. Depending on when your clock started, that puts you delivering the next morning. If your day rate is $1000/day (and that’s not being greedy), can you risk being stuck on that load overnight? The day rate should cover everything involved. Tarps and securement, the truck, your pay AND profit.

And cheap loads are almost always heavy.

 

Congrats on the IFTA!

 

I don't know your market at all. We do better with short haul ~200 mi radius. I'd focus on finding some direct customers in the 100-200 mile range and offer them the personal service a mega can't.

Most times coming back empty for a great rate still. Find your niche. Doesn't have to be a flat. We're making more atm than most flats are

 

I did this last week. I was heading home empty. I was offered $800 to run a load roughly 300 miles back to home base and I turned it down.

I know the shipper and receiver and they are always a headache. Also, taking it might have meant getting home the next day due to my hours. I trucked it home empty and had dinner with the wife and kids. I keep my costs low so decisions like this are an easy one.