Nonsense on that 2,800 miles. You're spending too much on fuel. Take your foot out of the middle of the motor and watch your net revenue rise. Swift trucks, even lease, are spec'ed and geared to get best fuel economy between 58 and 63 mph. Even when I was OTR, I could make a decent pay check at 2,400 miles.
$48,000 doesn't jibe with $221,000. Should be in the $75k-79k range. 2800 miles to make the money you need is every week is tough to get consistently in my experience. I'm usually lucky to get 2200 miles in a week and often it's about 1800 miles. As far as support staff, you have many sources for help. ATBS can help you figure out what your break even point is. Rapid Response can give you advice on running your business more efficiently so you keep more of what you earn. Driver managers and fleet managers are only a phone call away. If you work conservatively 50 hours week and drive 65 and 55 miles per hour, you'll keep $248 more dollars in your pocket fuel wise at 55 or make just $163 more dollars for the extra miles 65 miles per hour produces. 55 miles per hour gets you your 2750 miles and is more profitable than running 65. You mentioned a 400 mile load with 4 days to deliver, not being able to t call it. It's OK to turn down loads like that if they don't fit your business plan. Sometimes our anxiety gets the better of us but look at it like 'I can take a 34 under the load or turn it down and take the 34 worst case scenario if they don't get me another load right away.'
Scottie? your only getting like 1800-2200 a week in mileage? Do you want more or is that working for you?
Results may vary.... A CREngland lease operator and I were getting loaded at the same place up in Sac CA. He was new to trucking, low on fuel and asked if I thought he could make it up to Reno NV on 2/8ths of a tank. I offered that he should just go over to the 49er and get 50 gallons. He got that crazy eyed look as if it would be unconscionable to buy fuel in California. He said he might get 8 or 10 gallons there but never 50; cheaper in Nevada. Lots of truckers are running out east on 10 and 40 on fumes to get to that 'cheap' Arizona fuel. I marvel at the blind excessive ignorance of these guys. A driver running all month between Los Angeles and Spokane buying their fuel in Oregon because it's 'cheaper' will be hammered on the taxes. You're paying Oregon $0.1316 cents per mile for the privelege of running their state already. You can offset that by buying your fuel in California and Washington. I know a guy who would prefer to run an extra 100 miles through Oregon before turning up into Washington because he wants to avoid the hills. The extra 100 miles costs $13 bucks, but the hills probably cost $8 bucks. Little things like this can add up and save or sink your business. Running with students lowers pay by $0.05 cents per mile. Running over 11,000 mile in a month costs $0.09 cents per mile. Wear and tear are potentially increased, dependent on how proactive in teaching the mentor is; does he prefer sleep to teaching? Another danger for the lease operator is not having money in the bank. An accident will cost you $1000 bucks right away for the deductible. A major accident will expose you to close to a $5000 dollar deductible. A driver might work hard for many years with their lease truck then lose it all because they cannot pay the deductible.
Denali, it depends on what the real price per gallon is. Subtract the state's fuel tax from the pump price to see what the real price is. There are times when the price in the Troutdale yard is 80cpg less than at the Walmart DC in Grandview. Washington's fuel tax is 37cpg. It wouldn't be business savvy to spend the extra 43cpg just to pay the taxes...if I'm going past Troutdale anyway. But, yes, you're right: IFTA can be used to your advantage.
Fsc pay a few cents higher for the west coast also, getting more west coast runs would increase your fsc Some accounts don't pay fsc (I.e. dollar tree) Know when to buy fuel and when to fill up
