The Dry North

That's the one thing I hate about being based in the Southern Tier, the lack of money coming out. Not saying it isn't there, but I'm in the same as you, light loads (furniture) from AL going into the Northeast. Never took the time to establish any contact leaving the northeast. I had a load a few times from Albany to Winchester VA, paying avg 1400 (picked up sunday and delivered Monday night), then straight up dropped to 700. I called on a few loads from Carlisle going to Rome, NY that should be minimum 1000, but broker said 600...
What's said is I spent the month of April doing about 30% deadhead and my net revenue was 1000 less. Hard to imagine that going empty south doesn't cost as much as many think, and quite frankly if someone NEEDS to haul that 550 load for whatever reason, then I'd love to know their secret. I've sometimes seen loads going to the Target DC in VA that paid well (for going south approx. 2.20/mi) that I had to pass up on. Also there's a company out of Scranton (Azek I think is the company) that paid extremely well going south. Last year for January to March I was running 2 a week south because it was paying 2700 a load. It was heavy, but the money was there. I know they're still there and I'm sure not paying AS much, but the guy I was going through jumped ship.