What are we doing wrong?! This is long but the backstory is necessary :)

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by WWWx3, Mar 5, 2025.

  1. Siinman

    Siinman Road Train Member

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    That is extremely high.
     
  2. WWWx3

    WWWx3 Bobtail Member

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    Ok, fair enough but perhaps I am not understanding the question. If that is the case, dumb it down some more for me. We are operating at a negative with
    GROSS RPM $2.21
    CPM $2.39
    NET RPM ($0.17)
    This is based on total monthly mileage, gross income and expenses.
     
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  3. Siinman

    Siinman Road Train Member

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    OOIDA has a great spread sheet that they created years ago. Use it to figure out what your true costs are. Cost Per Mile - OOIDA. Unless you have your own stuff set up.
     
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  4. wichris

    wichris Road Train Member

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    LOL. You just want to hear what you want to. I listen to that every day.
    You have no idea what any rates to areas are, just depend on your "dispatcher. Who OK's those loads? You? The dispatcher? Your driver?
    You have no idea what the rates are in the area you deliver. Just depend on that dispatcher.
    You have no idea on how to control your costs.
     
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  5. JonJon78

    JonJon78 Road Train Member

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    Thanks for the afternoon comedy read...

    Just wait until your freightliner needs a major repair or the experienced driver you have tears something up or gets in a bad wreck...

    You'll wish you had gotten out of the business you've been running just to stay "afloat" long ago.

    Let's go open up a restaurant and then go to culinary school afterwards :eek:
     
  6. Brandt

    Brandt Road Train Member

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    You could try improving the freightliner MPG. Diesel is usually the biggest expense and if you improve your MPG you can keep more money for your business. Usually just getting the driver to slow down will make big difference. Running the truck in direct drive gear will help. If trucks are spec for MPG from the factory you set them up to run the most efficiently at 60-65. Some will setup truck to run 55MPH if they really want MPG. You buy Low Rolling Resistance tires.

    A guy named Kevin Rutherford had radio show in satellite radio all about making money as O/O. He’s on Facebook now Lets Truck. He has website Let’sTruck.com

    a driver named Joe Morrow on facebook is crazy into MPG has special spec Volvo and I believe he gets 10 MPG and just got his new Volvo Purple Haze the newest truck Volvo just started making this year. He seeing what he can get from this truck. It spec to run very low RPM and slow speed like 55 MPH and low rolling resistance tires and lift axle and Volvo turbo compounding.
     
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  7. WWWx3

    WWWx3 Bobtail Member

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    I assumed it was but is this normal with the recent large expenses we had OR is it still too high? When we ran the hotshot, our CPM was 1.48 but a Freightliner is more expensive to fuel, maintain, etc so I did expect an increase in the CPM, just didn't expect it to be that high.
     
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  8. WWWx3

    WWWx3 Bobtail Member

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    Ok. I appreciate your constructive responses and I will take a look at this spreadsheet! Thank you
     
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  9. WWWx3

    WWWx3 Bobtail Member

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    Hello, Wow this is very insightful! Yes, fuel is our largest expense so any opportunities to reduce it will help our CPM.
     
  10. Siinman

    Siinman Road Train Member

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    No idea without seeing the numbers. You have to dig into every number to see what is going on. No one can help you until you have solid numbers. From the outside looking in it looks like it is a failed business and needs to go under. Do your driver sit a lot or is he taking everything he can to get his pay check. Whom makes the plan on keeping the business profitable day to day? Spot market has to be challenged every day doing a load. Have to be willing to sit and not take #### loads. Understanding the way trucking lanes work and what area to be in and what area to deadhead out of to get to a better paying load. All basic but needs to be done with a lot of caution.