Market rates: By Carriers, for Carriers

As far as my personal needs as an o/o,
each day spent in a truck must - on average - return at the very least $500.

If I care to work only one day in a week, I won't leave the house unless after returning the same day home, I'll have $500.00 left from the Gross after fuel and tolls.

Or else, If I can return $2500 or more after fuel and tolls in 5 - 6 days, I know that that week was utilized properly. Anything achieved above is a bonus.
But I am looking for such a mosaic of loads that would enable that. I don't expect someone pay me that on my command.

 

I don't know that lane's rate potential.
I never had luck with Kansas outbound.
But if I had a load lined up out of Kansas City putting me back home...say for $1000 then I would think like this;
It is a 2 day trip and over 100 gal of fuel.
Pa outbound, so can't expect too much, so I'd expect at least $2000 but rather I'd look on how many trucks are posted to go there and tried maybe $2600.
However, if I lived In Kansas City and wanted to get home. I'd take even $800, if it was only one load left on the board.
I don't think that decision can be done based on a formula but only on a rate potential om that day.

 

Except that there is another ugly slogan, I keep repeating all the time:
You don't tell the market what it pays you, the market tells you what you get paid.
Your quote seems to be too optimistic if it is dry van. Maybe a year ago it would have coincided with the market rates back then but today I am not too sure....probably not too much.
I get it that through some equation you arrived at that quote, and let's say for the sake of argument that it is fair and optimal rate for all the parties involved: You. Broker. Shipper. And last but not the least Consumer.
What is the practical significance of it if no broker or shipper will be willing to pay you that?
Do you believe that finally someone will call you and agree on that rate, if it is much higher than what other poeple ask for?

 

How heavy will they let you leave and how well do you know your way around the scales?

 

Another ridiculous thread

 

Gotta shoot for $1000+ per day after fuel. $500 left over per day is McDonald's worker money at the end of the year

 

If it were only true ant that easy.
No McDonald worker makes at least $2500 after 40 hours of work and even with additional 30 hours of overtime.
I take $1000 after fuel too if available but if it isn't, $500 is not the end of the world either.
Are you still averaging over $3 per mile with at least 1500 miles in 5 days?