Rates?

In '07/'08, I was leased on to Jones Express doing .90 a mile loaded/empty plus fuel surcharge, which was about .50 pm, if I remember correctly. (fuel was $4.81 gal). Truck payment was $1937 monthly plus all the normal expenses related to trucking. My personal expenses were about $1600 monthly (rent, car payment, food, utilities). I started with about $6000 in the bank in September and bailed out in April, and I still had $6000 in the bank. So, for 8 months, I "treaded water" so to speak, making my truck expenses and personal expenses, but not getting ahead at all. This was doing 2700 miles a week, Ca.-Ok. and return and being home Friday night-Sun Night plus a few hours Tuesday morning. Single. Now If I wanted to run 3500-3800 miles a week, and not get home, that extra 1000 miles would have put me ahead. Of course, I have learned how to manage my $$$ over the years. That plays into it in a big way.