Socratic question

I would rather average $3 per mile.

 

I'll take less miles for $3, Alex.

 

If you run less miles your cost per mile for fuel will not change, unless you have alot more idle time. But if you can keep your idle time down there is a gain at the end of the week in fuel savings for running 700 less miles. On paper yes, your other costs will go up per mile. I even have my plates figured out into a cost per mile. Its hard when you sit back and look at a scenario like this and think what most everyone else thinks. "more miles equals more money" More gross maybe, but less net. Last year when I started pulling for Mercer I had the attitude of get out there and run as many miles as I could. But from the very first week out, for the first time in my career I was looking at the load board myself and calling all the shots. So I decided to not run as many miles, but focus more on the rates and lanes and see how I could come out money wise. To say the least I have been pleasantly surprised.

 

Using your numbers from above here is something for you to think about. $3pm, 1800 miles per week is 90,000 miles per year. A gross revenue of $270,000 a year. Avg fuel mileage of 6mpg is 15,000 gallons at a cost of 3.60per gallon for a total of $54,000 in fuel. $2.30pm, 2500 miles per week is 125,000 miles per year. A gross revenue of $287,500. Avg fuel mileage of 6mpg is 20,833 gallons at a cost of $3.60 per gallon for a total of $74,998 in fuel. You will save $20,998 in fuel by running less miles, but will gross $17,500 more by running more miles. So at the end of the year you will be $3498 ahead to work less, and that is just fuel alone, no other maintenance figured into that. By the time you figure that into it you will be even farther ahead to run less and make more per mile. It is a hard concept to grasp until you have seen it spelled out, and very rewarding once you have lived it.

 

$3 ....with 20,000 max weight....now ya talkin!!!!!

 

Heres a question on topic that I had to ponder just yesterday. Dispatcher calls me at 3:30 pm and offers me 2 loads out of Louisville:
-load A from Louisville to Little rock 550miles(450)loaded for $1100 weighs 20,000lbs
-load B from Louisville to Atkins VA 350miles(345)loaded for $1100 weighs 43,000lbs

which one would you take?

 

Err on the side of fewer miles if all else is equal. The saved wear and tear on your engine, transmission, rear end, and tires are grossly understated in this example.