Thinking about buying a truck.......

Yep that's what your up against Rollin. It's why I sold all of my trailers that had doors, too.

 

Here's to hoping he'll just keep on keeping on with that high dollar coast to coast operation.

 

#### my cost per mile is averaging $1.12. Couldn't stand much of that good $1.60 gross. We have been coming back from Salinas to Atlanta for $5800 that's not super and it could always be better.

 

Credit crushing bankruptcy courts & repo guys must be a part of that narrow minded, old, nonfunctional & limiting structure as well. Where in the **** do you think the Baskin trucks came from to begin with?

There is so much wrong with these posts, but the honesty in why the rates will never change is all right here. Interpretation of profit must be extremely grey area.

 

Quote Originally Posted by milskired View Post
To take a load from anywhere on the west coast back into FL better pay a ton more then 5K.... Seattle to Miami is 3400 miles, that run would cost somebody 7K if you have a good paying load out of southern Florida. If not I don't think anything less then 8500-9K would be worth taking it for. Then again I am not an O/O, just a driver who hopes to one day be one who would not be working for pennies, just dollar$.

 

Every time I see $2.70-$3.00 loads going down to Florida I get tempted until I pull up available loads in a radius. With a percentage coming off the top and knowing I'd probably deadhead all the way up to SC, or ATL for a reload for the life of me I just can't seem to make it happen. Nobody wants to pay $4+ to send a dry load down there and I see a lot of loads disappear that only pay $2.35-$2.50 way down into south FL - who does that? I think we have met him, it's the guy who profits a dollar a mile on a buck sixty average hahaha. I've heard so many sad excuses from brokers about "well you don't want to pay $8 for a loaf of bread and $10 for a gallon of milk do you?" no but it really ain't my job to be a bulwark against inflation either. That doesn't end so well for the drivers who proudly work for free.

 

Its thought processes like this that make me think being a broker could be a very lucrative business. No wonder rates are where they are. Sheeesh!!!

 

I should also add, before someone hammers me for it. Really there is no reason for anyone to pay $4 a mile dry down to anywhere FL when there are likely some who have connections down there and can get a decent rate outbound. Forgetting the trucks that get baited down there on low $2 rates. And not to mention at times of year when some outbound reefer rates are good. Those guys can make good on a rate like that going in. I don't think this is that time of year though. I have no clue about FL markets and that is why I never fall for broker trickery on FL bound loads. I also have a sneaking suspicion the vast majority of spot trucks that do go down there on $2.50 a mile do not have anywhere near $2 coming back out and really just took the usual broker bait of tall miles and $2+ freight to a total deadzone. More likely they grabbed a fuel money 50-60 cents a mile reload, if they could even find one, and learned an expensive lesson (or probably did not learn anything at all) Next up North Dakota hahaha!!

 

If you're planning on going fully independent, best figure a minimum breakeven cost per mile of $1.50 not including your wage to drive. That's based upon running 100000 miles a year. Add a .45/mi wage, and you're at $1.95. Don't forget the 5 - 10% difference between paid miles and actual miles. Then factor in about 15 - 20% deadhead loss.

Now, how optimistic and excited do you feel about that $1.60/mi gross revenue freight?

The suckers in this industry who are buying that crap from sly brokers are simply underestimating their costs, and what they think is good profit coming home is merely borrowed equity running out of their equipment. You might as well keep your company job at .45/mi and buy a truck and trailer, then sign the titles over to the broker of your choice.

It must be a great time to be a broker!