Under $2/mile loads with $6/gal diesel.

If I was a shipping director and saw a new $200,000 Pete I would think oh no, I'm going to be the one paying for that!
I better get some quotes from an older Freightshaker

 

Well, then you have another subject to debate on.
I never approached a shipping director.
I am sure some of the members did
I'll be all ears.

 

But seriously, if I am a shipping director and you're a shaggy guy with a baseball hat while you knock on my door, I am biased right there.
The ugly freightliner would be the last straw.
Some shippers don't have to care about shipping cost as much as you think.
To them it is like another cleaning service bill.

 

You have to factor in vacation, sick time, insurance, and any other misc perks the companies give you not just the rate per mile (dont forget to add an extra 8% to pay the extra taxes also).

If I dont make $1.20 a mile after all expenses, I would go back to being a company driver...

 

This is very true I think in the dry van market. I think the Flat bed market is a lot different. I have had a couple people try and get me to get a flat bed to pull direct freight for them. I have never had anyone want a dry van. I really should move to flat at some point. I know I could do a lot better with direct customers and even pay.

 

It’s not just approaching someone directly about work. Whether some here want to acknowledge it or not, some people actually pay attention to trucks. My old flatbed boss painted his trucks the same way since the 90’s, they were easily recognizable. How many people called when they needed a truck and his trucks stuck out in their mind? Who knows? But the trucks were his calling card. Personally I’ve been in conversations before and I’ll tell someone who I used to work for and if they’ve run the Northwest at all they usually say “oh the blue t800’s”.

Personally I think someone should drive what they want, they’re the ones in the truck not me. But it seems like every time this topic comes up it always gets boiled down to either the truck doesn’t matter or the truck is everything. If you’re dealing with brokers and don’t ever see an actual human anywhere then appearance doesn’t amount to a hill of beans in most cases.

 

Maybe at the places you frequent. But I’ve made my comment on that.

I don’t care what brand or model your equipment is. If it is ragged, it is ragged for a reason. An abundance of money is rarely the case. You can be DOT legal and still be an eyesore. Yep, some places don’t care. More power to ‘em, but I don’t want to be associated with them if that’s their attitude. And it’s always, always the cheap places that have the most BS and hassles. Because you’re nothing to them. You want to pull freight for people that don’t think any higher of you than gum on their shoe? Don’t be surprised when you adopt their mentality. By all means, blend into the crowd and make zero effort to stand out.

You’ve got multiple people telling you that there is more than one way to skin this particular cat.

 

You don't worry about me being a part of the crowd. I am not the one complaining here.
You're already special and above competition. You are not worried about duct taped trucks stealing your business but those two members were.
And I found it hilarious, if not contemptible.
Better share your wisdom of standing out with them.

But don't tell me that you're such a special pick by the super places you frequent on the merit of your polished chrome alone.

 

All I am saying is that a Super Owner Operator with his Super Truck does not worry about bums riding trucks that look like they're worth less than $10k stealing their business. He should just spit and carry on. Otherwise, he is just a laughing stock.

 

This is why I've tried to share calculations. I want to see folks doing well enough to spend real time with their families.