I'm thinking of bailing out

[solo379]

I may be over simplifying the problem but can't you just go where the work is instead of waiting around for work in your local area?

Yes, that's how it suppose to be done, unless you have some "special deal" is going on.
But here is a problem, the rates you see on those "boards", is a loaded rate, per "book" mile.
It doesn't include DH, and actual "out of route miles". And that will drop that rate for 15-20%.

For example, my average "loaded book mile" rate for this year is $1.91 a mile. Yet my "all hub miles run" is just $1.61. And that's including all "extras", FSC, stops, detention...etc.
If you work for brokers, those "extras", may be hard to get.

Another problem, is that you have to maintain a certain gross, per day average. 2 buck a mile freight, would do you no good, on a 2-3 hundred miles loads, cause most likely, that's all you will be able to do, in that day.

You see, i've said it before, but will repeat again;-Everything in this business, is not what it seems from outside! And "paper" numbers, never match the real ones. And that "rule" ignored, got a lot of folks in trouble! :?

[LOAD IT]

This is more of a general question and not directed towards Mudawg. You all know I know dick about the industry but I see lots of posts about people in trouble and not making it due to cheap loads. I belong to a few load boards and I just went in to the internet truckstop and did a few checks. I may be wrong but they are many places I could go if I were in trouble. I could run 7 days a week between PA and OH for example and I see rates that are actually posted anywhere from $1.40 to $1.70. Even at $1.40 and running back and forth would be more than enough to keep one out of trouble. You would have to stay away from home for maybe 3 or 4 weeks at a time going to where the work is. I may be over simplifying the problem but can't you just go where the work is instead of waiting around for work in your local area?

Steve, The guy that got in trouble spent too many days waiting for the freight to come to him. You must preplan your freight. The point here is plan, most dont have a plan except $$$$$$$. They dont understand they have to plan to make the $$$$$ and tweaking the plan and running OH<-->PA may be necessary. Posting the pity party here is definitely not part of the plan or necessary

[GMAN]

One reason a lot of owner operators get into trouble is that they only want to run in one specific area. Freight can change according to the season. For instance, when the weather is cold and snowing, some won't run in those areas, so rates tend to be higher. Rates may actually drop in the sunbelt during that time because of so many who want to stay out of the bad weather. This is a business, and things happen. I am not sure why you would need to spend $25,000 on a rebuild, jdtj63. Depending on what needs to be done, you should be able to do it for somewhere between $9-15M. You may be able to replace the entire truck for that amount of money. An engine is the most expensive part of this business. Once you have a new engine, it is almost like having a new truck. At least you could avoid the large truck payments. What type of engine to you have?

[SoCal79]

I'll tell you what I did, been dump trucking for ten years and got the slow pay no pay old truck blues, I got them so bad I sold my truck and went to work selling cars only made about $50 a day. Got the itch to drive again and pay at least half my bills so I drove for Budweiser at $16.50 an hour I stayed only a few months. All this took place over the course of 11months. Thank god I was able to save most of the cash from the old truck I am back in it with a renewed excitement,kind of like a self initiated kick in the butt, I have had the best 2 years ever and keep trucking in fear of going back to working for "The man". Didn't know what I had till it was gone,you need to do what is best for you,for me it worked out just think it through.

[Mountain Flyer]

Definitely a slowdown in the past couple weeks, and the rates have gone from poor to abysmal in my run areas ( OR WA ID NV UT).

[GMAN]

Sometimes, it becomes necessary to move to a different area to find the better paying freight. Rates have been soft for a couple of months, now. I am seeing a slight upturn in some areas.

[Mountain Flyer]

I wish I could move to another area Gman... I am still stuck running my 300 air mile circle, which limits my run area. Hoping that come Dec. 5 when my insurance makes it's one year mark that I will be able to get that restriction removed... :?

When Ultra Lights first came out we use to watch them give instructions at the local Mall on Sunday because they were closed. It was a semi pulling a flatbed with an Ultra Light tied down with ropes and a chair sitting in front of the plane for the instructor to give the student instructions. The plane could probably move maybe 5 feet in any direction.

[GMAN]

Well, Mountain Flyer, at least you only have about one more month. I hope they lift their restriction. I am sending you a pm on someone you may check with in your area.

Can't remember if your with Progressive but they only do a 300 mile radius no matter how much experience you have so I think you could be stuck with them for 2 years until someone else will handle you.



From there website.

Trucking Businesses We Insure


We can insure you if you use your truck in any of the following businesses:

* dirt, sand and gravel hauling
* logging
* local trucking, including courier and expedited freight
* tractor-trailers (up to 300 miles)
* auto transportation and hauling

[Outta here]

You know, it's too bad with the driver shortage only expected to get worse that a able willing guy who wants to be an O/O can't make it with all the things working against him, fuel, brokers etc.
You'd think if someone was willing to offer his services to the industry he'd be sure to make it. Granted it is a business and there are always those who can screw up a good thing. Not sure if I made my point the way I intended.
Might be a differ ant topic or thread but what about using C H Robinson as a broker. I met a guy a while back who had his own authority and used them.
He said he didn't even want a call if it didn't pay better than $2.00 /mile. Not sure if he was bullsitting

[Mountain Flyer]

I would sure like to have $2.00 or more per mile on a regular basis.

[GMAN]

You know, it's too bad with the driver shortage only expected to get worse that a able willing guy who wants to be an O/O can't make it with all the things working against him, fuel, brokers etc.
You'd think if someone was willing to offer his services to the industry he'd be sure to make it. Granted it is a business and there are always those who can screw up a good thing. Not sure if I made my point the way I intended.
Might be a differ ant topic or thread but what about using C H Robinson as a broker. I met a guy a while back who had his own authority and used them.
He said he didn't even want a call if it didn't pay better than $2.00 /mile. Not sure if he was bullsitting

CH Robinson has a reputation for having cheap freight, but they do have some decent paying loads. You will find different rates based upon the capacity within an area, time of year and type of freight. The more specialized the freight requirements, the higher rate you can command. I have met independents who only haul for CH Robinson. Most pull vans. They seem to have more van freight than anything else. They do have quite a bit of flat bed freight. It is not unreasonable to expect $2/mile to haul freight. It may require additional leg work, however. It may also be difficult in some areas of the country. There are some people who are afraid to sit so they take the first load that is offered, regardless of the rate. That is the reason some rates tend to be suppressed. These brokers and shippers know that they can find someone to move their freight for next to nothing. Then there are those who plan and work to get the higher paying loads.

[TiredOut]

I'm one of those guys that's been in it for a long time, tried it every which way but loose, do ALL my own repairs including, but not limited to, services, brakes, most of the engine work I've needed, electrical, just everything and anything to save a buck. And I did. Bought a '97 in 2000, drove it and paid for it, and ran it 2 more years while enjoying the "no payment plan", and still ended up having a hard time.(This isn't my first rodeo, just telling the latest story of my adventures in truckin'...) The maintanence costs associated with a used truck, in my situation anyways, were excessive to say the least, even with all my sweat equity. But I justified it with continuing to say, "at least she's paid for..."
I was getting deeper in debt with the KGB (I mean, IRS,) due to the fact that it was hard to retain that reserve quarterly tax money when I was having trouble paying all my bills due to the spike in fuel costs. It wasn't for lack of effort or knowledge on my part, it was just a matter of economics as I see it. We all love what we do, and continue it because of that love, and that's honorable for sure. But sometimes, when things get "out of shape" financially and we find ourselves struggling harder than we used to, it pays to stop and take a survey of what's going on. I certainly did one day, and saw that I wasn't producing enough surplus revenue to allow for equipment replacement, or have a decent cash reserve for emergencies, etc. It's a good rule of thumb to have a cash emergency fund of 3-6 months of operating expenses including household expenses on hand, in case of a major hiccup in work, revenue, etc. With that said, it's obvious a lot of us are running close every week/month.
I parked the 'ol gal 6 months ago, and adjusted my once-ignorant attitude to enable myself to be gainfully employed, and since then, my wife and I are seeing that the 8-9-1000 bucks a week I bring in is actually sticking around now, instead of morphing into a set of steering tires, or fuel, or one of the many other incidentals related to this sport.
I'm not getting rich working for the man, and even lost my job suddenly last week and am scrambling for another one currently, but I can't muster up the 5K I'd need to register, insure, tire-up and fuel my 'ol Pete again, so it's off to the breadline once again...
Mama didn't say it was gonna be easy...

Thanks fer listenin'.

My wise Uncle Bill always said, "The harder you work, the luckier you get..." Ain't that the truth guys...