Can you expand on that thought? I am from the northeast and running flatbed from tennessee to NC and back right now but want to run 81 to 88 thru albany back into MA etc. Is this a good or bad lane to be in? I have my own loads to haul out southbound. How bad are these truck only tolls in rhode island? I already know maine is outrageous with tolls and prefer to avoid metro ny/nj. Still leaves upstate NY, CT, MA, NH, VT. Is there a living to be made there?
I don’t go far west as 88, or 81. I can’t comment on that. Philly to New England is a good lane for flatbed. NYS thruway is healthier tolls than the mass pike. Rhode Island only has 2 tolls up yet, $3.25 each way on 95 down by exit 3/4. VT... I don’t know about Vermont. I never heard anything good about freight there. Can you make a living running around New England: yes. Has a lot more to do with who you know imo What are you taking outbound? Does that customer have local lanes? I see distance runs paying the same as local runs a lot. Like a LOT. CT to Pittsburgh, CT to CT at a very similar rate/ mass to mass at the same price as mass to Baltimore etc Where do you live?
I live in middle tennessee and the truck i presently drive is based there. The trucking side of the company exists primarily to move the owners quarry stone into carolina, then take sticks and bricks back out to get more stone next day. Theyre low rate but always convenient for paying the trucks return. I am not complaining, its not terrible, but for the hours and effort the pay isnt great and im 1099, not contributing to retirement etc. The owner is confortable with the way things are, and his crew is not hungry at all, so im kinda stuck with 25% LH on a lot of $600 loads, and away from wife and kids 4 days a week for it. I run flat out that whole time to have 3 day weekends. Tend to load unload reload daily and i get in 300-400 miles a day driving with my clock maxed out. Its a stepping stone atleast but i dont like hauling lumber past all the CAT plants thinking i am the guy for lashing down that odd load and getting it there intact. I have been moving my own equipment as finances/family life allow, for 3 years, 990 miles one way. Thats a long deadhead and an even more expensive backhaul. But i am a new CDL and dues must be paid. I just hope its not forever.
What are you saying? You’re a company guy n want to own your own? Or you want to run the northeast as a company hand? Or what? New driver or old, there’s plenty of jobs in mass, ct, ri. Gotta be up here to get them tho.
im saying id like to haul from southeast to northeast once or twice a month to see family and am curious if its a good lane to run or not. It wont ever happen at this job either way.. TN to NC is all i will ever see. I prefer to stay a hired hand until i know what i need to know.
