Flatbeds Rates

[Freyst]

I just got rates from my owner operator. He wolud like to haul the freights for the following rates:
miles expences price for load
200 $247.00 $531.00
250 $270.00 $580.00
300 $295.00 $634.00
350 $320.00 $688.00
400 $344.00 $740.00
450 $369.00 $793.00
500 $393.00 $845.00
550 $418.00 $899.00
600 $591.00 $1,271.00
650 $615.00 $1,322.00
700 $640.00 $1,376.00
750 $664.00 $1,427.00
800 $689.00 $1,481.00
850 $713.00 $1,533.00
900 $738.00 $1,587.00
950 $762.00 $1,638.00
1000 $787.00 $1,692.00
1050 $811.00 $1,744.00
1100 $836.00 $1,797.00
1150 $1,009.00 $2,169.00
1200 $1,033.00 $2,221.00
1250 $1,057.00 $2,272.00
1300 $1,082.00 $2,326.00
1350 $1,107.00 $2,380.00
1400 $1,131.00 $2,432.00
1450 $1,156.00 $2,485.00
1500 $1,180.00 $2,537.00


What do you think?

[LOAD IT]

He is out of touch with reality. His rates are $1.69 to $2.65 per mile. Flatbed rates havent averaged $1.69 per mile since October 2008 and they have been diving ever since. Lets hope for the usual rise in rates between February and July, but with this economy, I doubt if it happens. Tell him he needs to lower his expenses, I like his chart.

[Freyst]

He is out of touch with reality. His rates are $1.69 to $2.65 per mile. Flatbed rates havent averaged $1.69 per mile since October 2008 and they have been diving ever since. Lets hope for the usual rise in rates between February and July, but with this economy, I doubt if it happens. Tell him he needs to lower his expenses, I like his chart.

LOAD IT,
thank you for response!

So, what the avarage rates today for flatbeds?

[Les2]

The big question is... what kind of material? Is it just steel bars, coils, plate or something alittle more special? You don't need to say what it is but you get the point.

Another thing to keep in mind. Is the stuff a PIA to load? Like having a bunch of coils and some plates along with other stuff? There is some stuff I haul that is a real PIA but the rate reflects that and makes it worth it. If it had just a standard rate I'd never haul the stuff!

[Justruckin]

When I hung it up last year, flat rates were hovering around .80 to $1.50 a mile. But there was little freight, so at that point, it did not matter, it was a lose lose situation all the way around.

I wish I had something better to state, but that is still about the way it is out here. You may get a decent rate in one direction, but odds are you will lose that when dead heading and, God I hate this term, "back haul rates" are factored in.

Here. look at this, and check out the freight tonnage index, that tells the real story. http://transcoretrendlines.com/?utm_...m_medium=email

[Freyst]

When I hung it up last year, flat rates were hovering around .80 to $1.50 a mile. But there was little freight, so at that point, it did not matter, it was a lose lose situation all the way around.

I wish I had something better to state, but that is still about the way it is out here. You may get a decent rate in one direction, but odds are you will lose that when dead heading and, God I hate this term, "back haul rates" are factored in.

Here. look at this, and check out the freight tonnage index, that tells the real story. TransCore Trends

Justtruckin,
thank you,
very useful information!

[LOAD IT]

LOAD IT,
thank you for response!

So, what the avarage rates today for flatbeds?

The rates depend on where you are, where its going, what the product is, is it a PIA? Where do you run and what do you haul? I dont think your O/O is doing anything and is going to use you to find his better rates and you will make little, because he will get most of the pie. Do you like crust? I would get away from him, and let him starve, he will be back, hat in hand.

[RostyC]

I don't think they're that far off. Some of the rates he gave you is close to what I've been getting. However, rate cutters have and are still doing their damage to some of our freight.

Perhaps the guy wants to be fairly compensated for his services. He maybe left a little room for negotiation in his prices.

[Justruckin]

I don't think they're that far off. Some of the rates he gave you is close to what I've been getting. However, rate cutters have and are still doing their damage to some of our freight.

Perhaps the guy wants to be fairly compensated for his services. He maybe left a little room for negotiation in his prices.

I spoke with a buddy of mine, they are doing some high dollar freight with conestoga wagons, mainly GM, Ford and Chrysler. They are getting great rates out, roughly around $3 average, but are finding no freight coming back. So they dead head 50% of the time, and just go home awaiting the next load.

And my other buddy, talked to him yesterday, running a conestoga for another outfit, he averaged $3.11 for all miles hauling automotive in MI, OH, KY and IN. The outfit he is leased to seems to have a bit more freight.

But, and here is the big BUT. Both of these guys have no idea how long any of this will last. They are all thinking till Christmas or maybe into February of next year. Neither of my friends are very encouraged at what they are seeing right now, but are happy to be making a few dollars in this last quarter. The rest of this year was a total bust just running to break even, and both have just finished with bankruptcies. They kept their equipment, as it was and is paid for, one lost his house and another is selling his to move to Texas where his wife landed a job. I don't envy them.

[Les2]

I spoke with a buddy of mine, they are doing some high dollar freight with conestoga wagons, mainly GM, Ford and Chrysler. They are getting great rates out, roughly around $3 average, but are finding no freight coming back. So they dead head 50% of the time, and just go home awaiting the next load.

And my other buddy, talked to him yesterday, running a conestoga for another outfit, he averaged $3.11 for all miles hauling automotive in MI, OH, KY and IN. The outfit he is leased to seems to have a bit more freight.

But, and here is the big BUT. Both of these guys have no idea how long any of this will last. They are all thinking till Christmas or maybe into February of next year. Neither of my friends are very encouraged at what they are seeing right now, but are happy to be making a few dollars in this last quarter. The rest of this year was a total bust just running to break even, and both have just finished with bankruptcies. They kept their equipment, as it was and is paid for, one lost his house and another is selling his to move to Texas where his wife landed a job. I don't envy them.

Do you believe what your buddies are telling you? I don't, unless its material that is requiring a slider to haul it, and there isn't much that won't just fit in a covered wagon. I can tell you auto freight is paying less than coil and rust bar rates. Atleast the stuff coming out of ohio is! It's disguistingly cheap and the sad part is they want you to expedite it...LOL

[Justruckin]

Do you believe what your buddies are telling you? I don't, unless its material that is requiring a slider to haul it, and there isn't much that won't just fit in a covered wagon. I can tell you auto freight is paying less than coil and rust bar rates. Atleast the stuff coming out of ohio is! It's disguistingly cheap and the sad part is they want you to expedite it...LOL

I believe these guys, as I used to work with both outfits myself. The freight they are hauling are molds, dies, controls and robotics, 3 million in cargo insurance needed to hit the dock. The big 3 are getting the auto plants back up and running as they re-tool some of these plants. There is also quite a bit of line equipment being moved from plant to plant. Most of this is hauled on step deck and flat conestogas. There is also some dry van expedite freight finally moving with some good rates between plants.

But, and this is the BIG BUT, this freight will not last long, and all involved know it.

They just started moving about a month ago and expect it may last into the 2nd quarter of 2010 and then the party is over. Also, much of this freight is short haul, under 300 miles, so the rates may not be as good they look. I know allot of this stuff used to pay us $5+ a mile, sometimes up to $10+ depending on the equipment that was being shipped and when they needed it. It was nothing to get $3000 to run down to Louisville out of Detroit, deliver and dead head back home for another load. They are not getting these rates now as they have been halved+, but still decent coin.

And on Edit: You will not see me running out and buying a truck to jump on board with this bunch. It is still not a bed of roses out there, and no one involved is expecting any of this to last very long. Once these plants are finished, that will pretty much be it. Rates will plummet back down to below $2, if not under $1.50 for all involved above real soon, and they know it. They have been running the cheap freight since 08, and usually dead heading home, that is why I got out of it and two of them, actually more, have been through bankruptcy. As Les said, general flat bed freight still sucks, and there is no light at the end of the tunnel in that regard. And then we have the fact that the economy on a whole is not getting any better, but worse. The above rates are yours and mine tax dollars at work, other than Ford of course. Most of the above work is aimed at GM right now, with a smattering of Chrysler and Ford thrown in.

[Les2]

I thought you was talking about the blanks paying that good...LOL. I remember when scrap dies were paying $3+ a mile and the good ones were up around 5 like you said.

Personally I think things are gonna slow down around Thanksgiving on into the first half of 2010.

I've heard rumors of some big flatbed company about to go under, if that happens it will open up some more freight and may get the rates back up some.

[Justruckin]

I thought you was talking about the blanks paying that good...LOL. I remember when scrap dies were paying $3+ a mile and the good ones were up around 5 like you said.

Personally I think things are gonna slow down around Thanksgiving on into the first half of 2010.

I've heard rumors of some big flatbed company about to go under, if that happens it will open up some more freight and may get the rates back up some.

I think you are right regarding things slowing by the end of November. I don't see any of what these guys are doing rolling into Feb of 2010, but that is just me.

I wonder if that flatbed company is going to be TMC or Maverick? My money is on TMC, as they were slashing rates to the bone when there was no need to like in 2006. And that was before the fuel shot through the roof. They screwed us out of some good rates and themselves when they locked in some goofy contracts at under $1.50 for a back haul, when the rates were already paying near $3. Never liked that outfit.

[Les2]

I've been hearing TMC, but I'd like to see Maverick go with them!