new southeast o/o HELP

nobody here hauls containers, at least not anymore. That in itself should tell you something

 

Are you running regional or local. Do you pick up at the terminal, or at the port. If at the terminal, how much drayage charge are you paying for doing this. Are you being paid by the mile or percentage. If mileage, how? HHG, Rand McNally, or other. Do you have to pay for cargo insurance, tag, fuel taxes? How much do they charge to file your IFTA taxes, do you pay for permits?

You will have to pay for B/T and Occupational Insurance, how much? Will you get detention. Are you loaded both ways, or just one way. Are you getting fuel surcharge. Containers only pay surcharge for LOADED miles, so if you deadhead back, no surcharge. Containers are notorious for blowouts, flats, brake and light problems. If you have to check out the chassis and box at the port, expect a long delay.

The miles you are talking about are very hard to get with containers. Look up the companies safe score and see what their rating is. If it is high, expect to be inspected a lot. Also, take into consideration that containers have ribbed exteriors and usually underinflated bias ply tires. You can expect your fuel mileage to drop 1/2 to 1 MPG pulling one.

I posted a lot, but these are things you need to add up to figure your cost per mile. Always check paid miles to actual miles on every trip. You can be off as much as 25 miles each way on a 150 mile trip, which will put you in the red. You have to stand your ground, show the terminal manager on paper what you cost of operations are, and refuse those loads, or you will soon be an ex-O/O.

 

Delete, please.

 

home every night clear 2k a week hauling containers......sorry sounds like a fairy tell. Good luck though wish you the best.........you getting shafted on FSC at .15 too should be min. .28 to .30 at this current time.

 

I'm a current container hauler in the Charleston area. Been doing it since as an owner op since 2001. I have been leased on to companies that had enough freight to avg. over 3000 mi per wk. but what usually happens is once you get comfortable making close to 2 grand take home someone will come along and underbid and take freight from the company.
A lot of drivers talk down on container haulers as the bottom of the barrel, but I love it. I have 2 young kids so staying out is not an option. I save more money being home daily than I did OTR. There is nothing like home in your bed or shower and eating your wife's cooking instead of truckstop food! Most of us do runs that have you home before rush hour.
My experience with pulling out the port have been pretty smooth usually less than 40 mins I'm in and out with my next load. I don't haul heavy loads cause its not worth the risk of blowing a chassis tire.
There are hundreds of container companies in Chas. area. If you find the ones that go to Atlanta daily I think you will have no problems reaching your goal! Good luck to you!