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

TCS card has pretty good discounts and network in your part of the country.

If one of you is driving the truck now, you might be okay if you can start putting some money away. You just need to treat the driver as free labor starting out, put fuel in the truck to haul the load, pay the overheard expenses, and put up whatever is left over as fast you can until you can really see where you're at, because there will be maintenance and repair and taxes later. Not time to go buy presents or toys when you look up and see 30 or 40 grand sitting in the truck account because it can go away fast.

 

I ran 2200 miles a couple weeks ago and spent about $950. Average PPG about $3.25 and around 7.5 on the MPG. T-680 and I shut it off and use the bunk heater and keep it around 65-70

 

You should get away from factoring. If you truly need the money right away it would be better to do quick pay. Most brokers have that option these days.

Also on fuel card you should shop around a little bit more. I use RTS card and it has decent discounts in that area. Also Nastc has a pretty good set up as well and very close to the something as my RTS card depending on area. Every dollar saved can make a big difference.

 

I usually bid loads and leave the house each week based on how hard I feel like running, how much money I need and how many days I want to work. I don't do this like a lot of people. I used to always have a goal of $5k a week. If I'm closing in on that by Wednesday I'm pointing generally, or specifically, towards the house. I don't run for miles, I run for money. I don't enjoy spending any more of my life in a truck than I have to to make my financial goals. I'm not building an empire. No interest. I'm doing a job I love that pays well but that doesn't mean I want to do it 24/7.

So, that said, I used to always leave the house with about a 5k goal. It was easy a couple of years ago. Nowadays I am usually happy with a 3.5-4k goal per week. This is gross. It's a nice living in my part of the world. I could work harder if I wanted to, that is if I felt like dealing with more bad weather, traffic and soulless brokers but generally by Wednesdays these days I've about had my fill.

Million ways to truck, find one that fits for you. It will always be a one man/one truck show for me. No employees. No long term commitments. Paid off equipment (at least most of my career). Little responsibility past the tax man and the DOT.

 

Sure, if you’re running 1,000 miles a week No way in hell you’re running under $1,200/week fuel if you’re running 3000 miles.

 

I'm a tanker guy leased onto a major carrier.

My single O/OP business nets more than $5500 a week when I'm out in the lanes running.

I did not get into business to lose money

AVG gross to the business for the year should start at $200K.

 

Who said 3k miles? I average about 1500 a week I guess and that's one fill for me, about $600