From desk to own authority part 2

[rank]

That was a good post IMO Steve....that one about the start up costs. It's no picnic trying to make a living on your own authority. Gotta be smarter than the average bear.

I must agree with all the others about a home base..pick a good flatbed frieght area. The ports seem to work well for us....Baltimore, Newark but I imagine Portland would be a good area for the Chinese/Japanese stuff. Machinery coming off the boats often require SD's and I find the rates are are a little better... possibly for that reason.

I went back a read all your posts. According to what I can figure, you earned $9100 on 5600 miles (approx $1.60 for all miles) on the first trip.

Second trip was about 8100 miles but don't know what rate you got for the last trip out of the copper mine so I can't figure the number.

$1.60 for all miles is pretty darn good I must say. If you can keep your expenses to $1/mile, that should mean about $60,000 before taxes, health benefits, insurance etc.. Almost makes me think I screwed something up.

[RostyC]

rank, are you taking any freight out of Baltimore on a step? If so are the rates good? and is there an abundance of it?

[rank]

No not everything out of there is good. There's lot's junk too....lumber UCK! Steel and aluminum is crap. But that's flatbed frieght anyway. We have better luck with stuff that's 10' tall and won't fit on a skateboard. We're still able to get $2 - $2.50/loaded mile (400-500 miles) going to Ontario from Balt-Philly-New York. Not that I think that's great, but it's better than a buck and a half.

I saw a good SD load the other day if you do LTL. 3 picks in NJ, two drops in Mississauga ON and one in Hamilton. I didn't call because we couldn't get a truck there, but I bet you could get $1500 on 500 loaded miles.

Doesn't make much difference how good the load is paying from one state. Once your out there, YOUR OUT THERE. You make get $2.50 getting out but getting back or another load when your in the middle of bum F%^$ nowhere is another story. Lets see someone go out for 3 weeks and tell us how they did traversing the country. Many will post there great rate but that's it from what I believe.

[hamboner]

No not everything out of there is good. There's lot's junk too....lumber UCK! Steel and aluminum is crap. But that's flatbed frieght anyway. We have better luck with stuff that's 10' tall and won't fit on a skateboard. We're still able to get $2 - $2.50/loaded mile (400-500 miles) going to Ontario from Balt-Philly-New York. Not that I think that's great, but it's better than a buck and a half.

I saw a good SD load the other day if you do LTL. 3 picks in NJ, two drops in Mississauga ON and one in Hamilton. I didn't call because we couldn't get a truck there, but I bet you could get $1500 on 500 loaded miles.

That doesnt seem that great for all those stops. My dad pulled a load out of Atlanta that loaded at one place and had a drop in Nashville, and a drop in Memphis. $1150 for that one a flat. That is way above average for the Atlanta area though. Also, we have been moving equipment out of Chattanooga on a DDRGN and have been getting $3.50 a loaded mile to haul legal loads on that.

Steve is right though...it depends on the day and where your at! My dad has been around long enough to know where the hard places are to get out of, but still ends up in those places from time to time. I like what GMAN says about pulling cheap freight out of bad areas though - As long as somebody hauls it, it will always be cheap freight! I dont think that will change anytime soon, but I wish alot of these people that haul for a loss would get a lil wiser!

[ssoutlaw]

No not everything out of there is good. There's lot's junk too....lumber UCK! Steel and aluminum is crap. But that's flatbed frieght anyway. We have better luck with stuff that's 10' tall and won't fit on a skateboard. We're still able to get $2 - $2.50/loaded mile (400-500 miles) going to Ontario from Balt-Philly-New York. Not that I think that's great, but it's better than a buck and a half.

I saw a good SD load the other day if you do LTL. 3 picks in NJ, two drops in Mississauga ON and one in Hamilton. I didn't call because we couldn't get a truck there, but I bet you could get $1500 on 500 loaded miles.

That doesnt seem that great for all those stops. My dad pulled a load out of Atlanta that loaded at one place and had a drop in Nashville, and a drop in Memphis. $1150 for that one a flat. That is way above average for the Atlanta area though. Also, we have been moving equipment out of Chattanooga on a DDRGN and have been getting $3.50 a loaded mile to haul legal loads on that.

Steve is right though...it depends on the day and where your at! My dad has been around long enough to know where the hard places are to get out of, but still ends up in those places from time to time. I like what GMAN says about pulling cheap freight out of bad areas though - As long as somebody hauls it, it will always be cheap freight! I dont think that will change anytime soon, but I wish alot of these people that haul for a loss would get a lil wiser!

That 3.50 for a RGN trailer is still a little cheap for the price of having that type of trailer!

[rank]

Doesn't make much difference how good the load is paying from one state. Once your out there, YOUR OUT THERE.

At least you'd be going one way with a good rate. Beats going out AND back in for cheap like you would in a bad area.

Could also stay regional and wait for a better rate while sitting at home instead of at the truck stop.

BTW, with LTL you net more profit.
$1500 on 500 miles is better than $1500 on 1000.

Well, lets see. My flatbed is posted as available for this Friday. How about some of you high rollers put your money where your mouth is and book me for the next 3 weeks while I'm on the road and see how you do.

Simple challenge for all you guys that run for two or three times what I get.

Anyone?

P.S.

Not picking on you Rank or anyone.

[Colin]

Something to consider about a new place to live;

The last I heard, Nashville is one day's drive away to about 50% of the country's population.

[Red Clay Rambler]

And, no state income tax in Tennessee, thanks to me and hundreds of other concerned citizens who marched/picketed around the State Capitol a few times in recent years. 8)

[Colin]

That's right. I had forgotten about that. Same here in Washington. If I had not closed on a house in December and bought a ton of crap for it, my total sales tax bill for the year would have been about $400... :shock:

[LOAD IT]

Well, lets see. My flatbed is posted as available for this Friday. How about some of you high rollers put your money where your mouth is and book me for the next 3 weeks while I'm on the road and see how you do.

Simple challenge for all you guys that run for two or three times what I get.

Anyone?

P.S.

Not picking on you Rank or anyone.

You leaving with your shipper load or do i need to load you on Friday?

[rank]

Well, lets see. My flatbed is posted as available for this Friday. How about some of you high rollers put your money where your mouth is and book me for the next 3 weeks while I'm on the road and see how you do.

Simple challenge for all you guys that run for two or three times what I get.

Anyone?

P.S.

Not picking on you Rank or anyone.

LOL, my phone bill is $300/month trying to keep 3 trucks loaded with >$2/mile freight and I have to add another to the stable? Not enough hours in the day.

Can you run into Canada?
What can you scale?
What's the spread on the trailer?
What's the tractor wheelbase?
Can you pull for Landstar?
How high is the deck on your trailer?

I'll need your company name and MC number...oh, and what's my cut?

[RostyC]

THIS could get interesting! :shock:

[hamboner]

No not everything out of there is good. There's lot's junk too....lumber UCK! Steel and aluminum is crap. But that's flatbed frieght anyway. We have better luck with stuff that's 10' tall and won't fit on a skateboard. We're still able to get $2 - $2.50/loaded mile (400-500 miles) going to Ontario from Balt-Philly-New York. Not that I think that's great, but it's better than a buck and a half.

I saw a good SD load the other day if you do LTL. 3 picks in NJ, two drops in Mississauga ON and one in Hamilton. I didn't call because we couldn't get a truck there, but I bet you could get $1500 on 500 loaded miles.

That doesnt seem that great for all those stops. My dad pulled a load out of Atlanta that loaded at one place and had a drop in Nashville, and a drop in Memphis. $1150 for that one a flat. That is way above average for the Atlanta area though. Also, we have been moving equipment out of Chattanooga on a DDRGN and have been getting $3.50 a loaded mile to haul legal loads on that.

Steve is right though...it depends on the day and where your at! My dad has been around long enough to know where the hard places are to get out of, but still ends up in those places from time to time. I like what GMAN says about pulling cheap freight out of bad areas though - As long as somebody hauls it, it will always be cheap freight! I dont think that will change anytime soon, but I wish alot of these people that haul for a loss would get a lil wiser!

That 3.50 for a RGN trailer is still a little cheap for the price of having that type of trailer!

That is true! He normally does a lot better with that set-up, but there are about 30+ loads that he hauls everytime that job moves, and about half of them are pulling equipment that is self contained; ie: portable concrete plants and office trailers. All of them pay atleast that and they are all legal loads. From what I have seen most of the RGN freight that pays really well is mostly oversize or overweight and has to be permitted. With that being said.... this time of year you dont gross near as much with those loads cause you have to sit with most of them at night.

[mike3fan]

THIS could get interesting! :shock:

Nah my bet is he just keeps doing it himself.

[rank]

Here's two. You might be able to take both. If they don't work out stay at home and wait for a good rate. Use that time to make phone calls and learn the lanes. Concentrate on Phil, Balt, Newark, Pitt, and North Ohio. The other guys have already mentioned other good areas that I'm not familiar with. In my experience, rates out of OH are usually good but you can't get there....so wait on a load into OH and you should be able to get $2.50+ back out. You can think I'm full of BS...whatever. It just takes a million phone calls is all (and maybe a step deck).

#1
This one is LTL, 236 loaded miles, picks up 36 miles from Merrimack and puts you in Butler NJ. On Getloaded alone, there are currently 79 skateboard loads available within a 75 mile radius of Butler. If you think I'm calling all 79 to get you a good rate you're crazier than I thought.

1/23/2007 MA WOBURN NJ BUTLER L FSDHL Transport Sylvain Chateauneuf (819) 878-3364 Mike Seguin 613-632-9648 1/23/2007 2:07:30 PM
Comments: bucket 60x60x115 2250 pds

#2
This is a truckload, puts you near Philly but it's 136 miles from Merrimack.

1/25/2007 MA OTIS PA NORRISTOWN T F Arlan Sales Inc (416) 636-6290 Ilan 1/23/2007 9:24:48 AM



CAVEAT: I"VE NEVER DEALT WITH EITHER BROKER.

I realize there are many loads on the boards and I have called them. Most only pay $1.10. The loads that I've gotten in the past have come from calls brokers made to me and were not posted.

Most of those loads on Getloaded from Lynn are trash and pay $1.00 per mile. I mean, real trash like garbage going to recycle.

The LTL loads are fine but you need a few or your getting yet again, $1.00 per mile.

I mean, I'm going fine at my $1.80 average. Some loads I got over $3.00 per mile but they were short runs and sitting for days when your 170 miles from home doesn't make much sense.

I just think everyone touting $2.50 per mile all the time is BS and I challenge someone. I knew the type of responses I would get. Oh well, you have to do this and you have to do that.

Maybe what your talking about doesn't fit into my scheme of things. I know I can get good paying loads that are 150 to 300 miles but I would rather the long hauls and I think $1.80 is pretty darn good for 2,000+ trips.

I don't know what's required to run in Canada. I haven't researched it yet. I can haul 46,000. My wheel base is 264. I'm not setup with Landstar but that would only take less than an hour. Don't know what my spread is on the trailer, nobody has ever cared. Don't know the height of my trailer, I would have to measure it.

I pick up my truck this morning. I called yesterday and it's all set. Not sure what the bill is yet. I had them do what they call a level B PM which had over 30 or so items in the checklist. I had them flush the radiator and look for a leak. I had to put about 2 gallons of water in the other day before I brought it over which didn't seem right. I had an oil leak in the pan I wanted fixed and tighten the 5th wheel.

My kitchen is pretty much filled with tons of provisions to be loaded into the truck before heading out. Most of it is laundry like the comforter, blankets, sheets, jump suits for work, privacy curtain and anything else I could wash. 8 million cans of fruit and granola bars and 10 pounds of coffee.

Oh yea, got my 8 crossfire thingies in the mail yesterday so I need to put those on. I may just do that while I'm on the road when I get to a warmer climate. It's 11 degrees here and suppose to get colder. I need a load to Florida or someplace warmer.

So, how about just one load out either this Friday to Monday greater than 1,500 miles and $2.50 per mile....ANYONE????

[RostyC]

I may just do that while I'm on the road when I get to a warmer climate.It's 11 degrees here and suppose to get colder. I need a load to Florida or someplace warmer.

You big sissy!

You know Steve, I think if done properly, not just a whim over the internet, this could be a good opportunity for you if they're sincere about helping.

Here's why I think this, and I'm sure you already do this to. I always watch what other people are doing that are in the same business because even if I don't like what their doing or if their way just ain't for me, it might spawn a new idea for me.

Even if you don't make anymore money you might find something you like and that makes it all worth
while.
Just a thought.

You big sissy!

HA HA HA HA.....Ya ya ya. It's suppose to get in the high 30's today so I may do a few. Hey! I put my snow tires on all by myself yesterday and it was like 55 degrees in my garage. Granted, I only did one wheel at a time, had coffee and watched TV before doing the next one but I was like a real rugged type guy.