When it's $1.48/mile versus .48/mile why not aspire to be an o/o?

I just am finishing up a load
700 miles for $1400
Minus lease fee 15% = $221
Taxes at 15%. $178
.85 per mile for fuel and maintenance = $595
Which leaves $406 for 3 days work
Took me 3 days due to 2 tire blow outs!
Not happy about these numbers
Seriously going broke fast

 

Them typical numbers for you?

 

Well not really
Just complaining I suppose
Usually I get really good loads from this outfit
Just trying to figure out why I'm so broke!

 

Di

Didn't you post a truck for sale a few mos ago?

 

You can remove the 15% for taxes, with your operating numbers you ain't gonna owe uncle sam a penny. 85 cpm for fuel and maintenance? That is insanely high.

A few notes. 2 bucks a mile isn't a good rate in today's market. So far this year i have only had 2 loads that cheap, one was from south Florida, the black hole of black holes for flatbed, and the other was in a crap but not terrible market but i had to back to my good paying freight i was already committed to. In hindsight, i should of ran back empty. typical backhaul crap. And those numbers are after my carrier takes their percentage.

A couple numbers for comparison: my fuel costs for the year are 38 cpm, that is higher than average cause I've been running nothing but heavy loads across the mountains. Interstate 77 grossing 79500 lbs does not make for good fuel mileage. My maintenance costs are currently fairly high, I'm having to spend quite a bit right now due to the previous owner neglecting this 20 year old truck. However once i finally get her caught up i expect it to drop back down to the 15 to 20 cpm I'm accustomed to.

 

Hey @spyder7723 Do you think Flat bed rates are staying up cause Oilfield is starting to pick up? Or something else?

 

Combination of many things. Main factor is the demand for trucks due to an increase in manufacturing and construction. Combined with a decrease in the supply factor due to elogs. Oil field picking back up is a minor effect compared to those 2.

It's always cyclical. A good stretch followed by a bad stretch. Make the best of the good days and bank what you can so you can survive the bad days.

 

5 mpg at $3.00 a gallon is about .60 per mile plus another.25 per mile for maintenance is .85 per mile. If anything I think I'm estimating on the low side on the maintenance.

 

Why are you paying 3 bucks a gallon? Unless you run strictly California that is extremely high. Also why do you only get 5 mpg? This isn't 1980 where running a 2 stroke detroit and v8 cats getting 5 mpg was acceptable. Even my fuel guzzling xl gets over 6 running max weight in the West Virginia mountains.

 

The money must be good or you wouldn't have stuck around for that long. You own the truck & trailer but you run under their numbers? Is that the arrangement of being "leased on" with them?

What's your work/life balance like and what is your average net income after all expenses?

And lastly, how long did you drive for before you felt comfortable buying your own rig?