What would you quote? multistop nursery load

What did it pay and do you feel it was worth it? No sense in being all secretive about nursury stock. People either haul it or they want no part of it. Would like to know what are going rates for it with most so I at least know I'm not underpricing. Last year this time of year I came out of Hulbert, OK and finaled an 8 stopper in Owensboro, KY which took 3 days total for $2,250 gross, left me feeling cheap. Don't want to make the same mistake. Looking at $2,000-$2,200 on a little more than half as many miles than that load, with the same 3 days, that feels cheap also. Especially with the mess they leave in the trailer. Just want to know how much they can be pushed up.. Longshot here, anyone want to pass on some nursury contacts who load dry vans pm.

 

Personally I like nursery stock loads and I do like to tailgate them. Gives me an excuse to get outt of the truck and do something. I bid them differently according to the direction they are going with typically 100 bucks per stop. i have (not once) been somewhere who was not excited to see me and quick about unloadinng. How to bid? I think you are way overestimating the time on truck. I believe you will easily have it off in 3 days so therefore I would be priced somewhere around 2500 to tailgate the stuff and possibly less if you don't have to tailgate it.

Depends on where and if you are into that kind of stuff. I like meeting people and doing a little work sure can't hurt my mid section.


Jay

 

Depends if you like them or not. Not everything is strictly about money.

 

I don't mind doing them. I even tailgated that KY 8 stopper last year which delivered at Farm and Fleet stores, with an ankle sprain. They had 2 to 4 helpers at each stop but I felt if I was there hustling,thru gritted teeth lol, it would speed delivery up and it did. I don't mind the work but I hate to do it cheap,nursury stock are work from a dry van..

 

There is no question they involve a lot of work. I just enjoy them and will bid them at possibly less than I should. I'm some kind of sicko. lol

Jay

 

I think masochist was the work I was looking for. Spent a lot of years as a dairy farmer, how bright can I really be? Grew up in a german labor camp.....er........I mean on a dairy farm with good parents......we worked for the sake of work.

 

I know people are reluctant to share rates, understand that sort of thing. Like I said though people either haul nursury or they don't cause they know it's work.. Someone not knowing who books one,well they figure out pretty quick if they got taken advantage of. Having a general feel for where/how others price and rates they push for helps us all push for a premium. Jay, maybe I am wrong here, do guys really cut throat on these loads? With the hassle and work involved? If you learned others were making $500 more than you on average, would you continue working for less cause it was fun? In the world of one pick, one drop "lazy man's trucking" guys will cut a rate by 50% and stick a knife in your back so fast.. I find it hard to believe that happens with nursury knowing what it entails

 

Like someone else said I think you may be overestimating the time involved. I do nursery alot. My last one was 8stops Fl to SC Loaded one day in florida, had them all off by the next evening!!!

 

RC,

No, I don't believe they are under cut like other loads. I think ultimately its a decision of what you think is a fair rate, what you know you will do it for and if you want to do it.

This is no different than selling corn. I've sold a lot of corn and beans for less than what the cash market was. Why did I do that? Because I sold at a profit. I know for a fact that if I operate at a profit, I will continue to operate as long as I desire. Period. Nothing else matters.

You make a profit and don't mind the task at hand........why do you care if someone else may have gotten more that you? or less than you? You really only have to please you.

I think you are overthinking this. Do it or don't. You are seasoned enough to know a level of profitibility that satisfies you. Bid that and don't look back.

Jay

 

Honestly how realistic is it to have 24 hour receivers for it? Wal Mart is 24 hrs at every store? Farm and Fleets close around 6 pm... I can't see mom and pop garden centers being 24hrs. That's 2.5 to 3 days minimum on an 8-10 stops load without 24 hrs rec'ing. Maybe i just need to learn this the hard way. I intend to push aggressive on rate.