what to charge for short hauls

If its a easy load of shingles just strap and go and don't put me behind or miss the next load yes I'd take it. Just today I D/H back from Houston Bennett has loads of pipe coming from the port going to STI in Buna just 35 miles north of beaumont paying $450 and I passed because of the time I would end up having in it. I load at 7am going to corpus christi 300 miles $1,400 ill drop it and head back home and pick one the next day.

I haul loads for $2/mi all the time sometimes you just have too I D/H 685 miles two weeks ago to pick up a load that paid $5/mi dropped it that same customer sent me right back out for same money only hauled two loads that week only worked 4 days grossed $6,700 and did 2,680 miles I call that a easy week.

The most local runs I've ever done in one day was five and I'm talking a full day and only has happened once if I could do that everyday I would but that don't happen.

 

cost plus $75/hr.

 

Local is tricky. In my area, FL, I bid it out at a full days rate, unless it is in Orlando or going to Orlando and under 60 miles one way, in which i charge 3/4 day, otherwise it's full rate. Y'all can haul all the $400/ less than 200 mile runs you want. Not me, unless I'm booking 2-3 each day. To the OP, I imagine AR isn't the easiest place to ask for full rate locals, but it's always easier to start high and come down vs start low and raise your rates.

 

Is that all direct? Seems like every time I have ever sent a truck to Texas I can never find anything that's paying more than 2.10/mile if I'm lucky loaded. I realize youre over on that eastern half and most of what i have seen coming out doesnt pay real well always told go down on monday and run across texas a few days and boom out on friday. Last time one of our trucks went down there it was pipe down to sherman. Bounced over to Lubbock, sent back up to alliance, round trip rate total was about 1.65 load out of alliance I had moving got moved before I could get it. I could handle that though 40,000lb pivot going down to Sherman, 12000lbs of pipe coming up to alliance. Total fuel bill was only $800. And to think I gave flat bedding up for a while.

I will agree if it was a gig like shingles hauling that to the same place 5 days a week my truck would run 3-4 loads a day. In a perfect world it would be that easy. That week you had does sound pretty easy good week sounds like cheap on fuel too with all the empty miles. Is that the first time you've had that run? Beats the hell out of yanking a box around for 3200 miles for the same price burning twice the fuel that's for sure.

 

Running shingles for GAF requires a tarp on all loads.....Even if you're going just across town.....

No way shingles are always "Strap and go".....

 

My truck stays posted on ITS I get at least five to ten calls a day and there are lots of weeks I never even haul a broker load. In fact next time I'm not driving I'm calling and dropping the dat board just because I never even look at it.

Most inbound Texas freight pays $3/mi but unless your east of 45 your screwed and will end up with dead head miles. I use to think I was doing good going out to midland/Odessa for $1,800 on 600miles but after my trip back my all miles would end up $1.40 or worse so I stopped that early on, yet brokers call me at least once a week with that line "I've got a good paying load" I say what's good paying they say $3/mi next thing I say let me guess its going south or west Texas than I explain how that's not good money and won't haul there @:-; for cheap.

You win some but I never loose some because you can't miss out on something you never had in the first place!

This year I'm setting a record for me least amount of miles with the most revanew. I did my IFTA this weekend so far this year I've drove 36,000 miles and with out looking at quick books I know for a fact I'm well over that $100,k mark I hit that in may and really haven't pulled but two oversize loads this year.

The thing is I don't and can't make the money over the road as I do at home when I stay out for a few weeks my revanew goes up but all miles drops last time I stayed out I made $14,000 in two weeks spent $4,140 in fuel drove 6,000 miles I pulled out on a Friday and didn't make it home until the Friday after that next one so 15 days and trapped every load but two out of nine loads I moved but sometimes I just need to get away from the house!!!!

 

$100 per hour, no permits required. Permit fees pass strait through to the customer. If heavy then charge more for fuel wear/ tear like $125 per hour. Also its when I get in till I get out back at the shop. This way it does not matter what hassle loading or unloading, the clock keeps ticking.

 

I may not be a flatbedder, but I base my rate on how much I want to profit that day. If that little short load is going to limit my ability to make the money I wanted to, I don't care if it's good for what it is. If I could do a few short runs in one day, I wouldn't mind it. But, if it's going to wind up being my whole day, then that load is going to pay me the same profit I would be looking for a full 600mi shift. Load/unload time plays a big part in that.

Only short load I've done was $800 for 160mi. That's about the lowest I wanted to go. It was a good day. And that was a dry load in a reefer about 36k total.

Just figure what it's worth to you. If the broker/customer think they can do better, let them try. If they find it. Good for them. If not, they know your rate and where to call.