what lanes are you currently runing?

The usual open deck lanes.

As for rates,.. certain areas are paying better than others. Usually do a lower rate to get into the better rate. Then hard ball once in the good rate area.

The other tactic is to develop a list of preferred brokers that cover the lanes you know that work. Then call to see who has what and going where. I'll often pre-book 2 - 3 loads ahead of schedule.

Hurst

 

If you've been running coast to coast on dry van freight, then I'd have to say that anything would be better...ive never seen a load from the east paying enough to go out west. One time I got lucky and got a light load from gulf coast to Seattle for $2.70/mile and was able to avg $1.45 back southeast. It was barely worth it.
Won't go to CA period, and they won't pay me $3/mile to AZ.

Summer I been running southeast but now that's drying up so I'm staying Midwest. Currently in WI and I hate it here, but oh well.

 

Very Broad question.......
What lanes do we run huh?

Welp. I've stayed in the same lanes for a very Long Time Now- 12 months a year.
If I Pulled a Dry Van- I Would only work Local with it(Cartage Work-LTL or maybe 100-150 mile truckload radius)- Not enough money for the 400-1200 mile trips-Too much competition these days.

But I Do Flat work- My Outbound is Chicago and I service the Midwest and East Coast- And Back

 

650 mile radius of Indianapolis. Also run 200 mile radius program as well. It seems you get any further out and it's trouble getting back. Where your located in the US makes a big difference.

Btw I don't know how the west coast and back guys do it. Texas and back for that matter. Unless your under something extra special.

 

I just got back in the reefer biz and have started running the southwest from Nebraska .
After years of running the northeast the sky high cost of tolls and cheap outbound loads has made me say to heck with the northeast ...not worth the hassle any more .

 

I do the same exept I dabble in the 800-1000 mile range, as noted you better have something lined up before heading out. I do a tri-route about 50% of the time, most of the time for sure if I go past the 700 mile mark. In general I get home every week to at least do a 34, 72 or ....

Side note, this looks like a good lane!