mercer transportation

Great answer.
It's level playing field for the most part here. Trust me I know that a guy with a zip code digit can get a load over a 4 digit truck all day long if it falls that way.
My issue isn't the "old bs new"
My issue was guys that tell you that the first in first offer system is loophole proof.
I've ran into too many drivers here that could care less what number they are on the board, if they want a load they call an get the load they want PERIOD!...
This one guy who's based out of MS says whenever he's home an wants a load out of there he NEVER gets in line for a load he simply calls his agent an within an hour they have him a load. I've had guys encourage me to do the same thing. Get acquainted with your local agent an you'll never have to ever worry about being in line for a load. But that's all he're say...
Nobody honestly knows how an why people get loads here. Some guys do it by planning accordingly an working the system to their favor. Some guys are so deep in a relationship with the agents they don't ever have to look at load board just call an see what the agent has an magically the load is placed in their lap.

 

if you owed $2K-4K a year on your IFTA you were doing something wrong. When I ran my own numbers and had a small fleet my quarterly IFTA was NEVER more than $20 due and often I had a small credit.

 

Ok now you are the person I need to talk to then. How on earth are you getting away with paying only $20 a quarter for fuel taxes

 

Well unless, you're not claiming all miles.

 

Or maybe you got some type of credit for having a small fleet. I only had one truck an two other guys joined me later down the line. But even before they came aboard I was paying 900-1000 bucks every quarter

 

Luck!! If a person shops for the best wholesale price, only travels in a few states, and that cheapest wholesale price happens to be in a state with the cheapest fuel tax, then you're gonna pay. No way around it if you're doing correctly, not wrong!!

 

That's the thing. I don't look for wholesale fuel because I know you're either gonna pay for it at the pump or thru IFTA.
What I'm still stuck on is how he's getting away with 20 bucks a quarter!!!!! Lol.

 

Manage your fuel purchases just like the big companies do, know what you purchased in each state vs miles run, and have your drivers adjust, as needed, where they buy fuel. Buying the cheapest fuel available does not benefit those who pay their own IFTA since that is the cause of owing money at the end of the quarter. I'd make sure I bought in NC (home state for the trucks & drivers) and PA, both higher taxed states but not ridiculous like NY. That would balance out lower price states. A simple spreadsheet would keep track of the fuel & miles and at any point I could see if I owed money or had a credit. From there it was easy to just have a driver or two get more fuel in a higher taxed state and keep things in check. I was never very fond of states you had to file and pay by miles traveled, like NY, made more complicated by trying to keep toll receipts handy to eliminate fuel tax for miles traveled on NY Thruway. What a P.I.A. that was.

 

The tax grabbers believe in equality - we all pay as much as they can get from us. The little guys get no breaks (just broke).

 

When you are responsible for IFTA you should always buy the cheapest wholesale price. You are going to pay tax regardless.