how much should i bid on this lane to make it worth while?

[gcal]

ok here is the main info maybe someone can give me some advice so i don't go broke AGAIN.
850 mile trip one way 1 drop at 50$ and using their trailer. California to Oregon. three trips a week and no back haul guaranteed. but i can use there trailer on the way back if i find something on my own. if i use it for more then one day they charge me a 30 dollar fee for the day.
what do you think is a fair bid?

any and all advice is encouraged.

[gcal]

keep in mind i want to make a bid they will possibly take not just bid an outrageous amount that will not get me the lane.
i first put a bid of 1.35 pm and was hoping i can get a load back through the boards. what do you think.

[jroqueman]

1.35 pm sounds cheap to me, but I am in a different part of the industry. I guess you have to find what it cost you to run your truck per mile and build in a comfortable cushion. You should not bid until you know exactly what it cost you to run your truck.

[gcal]

thats were my problem comes in.
i sold my old truck and am in the process of buying a new one. i found a Volvo 660 01 with 701k miles and they want 32.5 for it and will not budge. now if i buy this truck i have no idea what it will cost me to run it. a estimate (from friends that run the same motor and truck that it should get me an 6mpg loaded.
i figure 750-1000 per month in up keep for the truck.
road tax? in function of how many miles i drive
truck payment at 850 mo
insurance at another 850 mo
pay for me
and other expenses

[allan5oh]

Are you talking about 3 complete round trips, or 3 one way trips?

[gcal]

3 one way trips are for sure. the way back i have to find my own loads but i can use their trailers

[aubie2]

gcal Posted:

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3 one way trips are for sure. the way back i have to find my own loads but i can use their trailers


That would be 5100 miles a week (roundtrip). I don't think you would have time for a return load. :?:

[rank]

Gcal,

My estimate: $2.30/loaded mile if you pay yourself $.40/for all miles.

[tootie04]

Have you included the cost of running in OR?? that will get expencive!!

tootie

[tootie04]

Is it 850 one way or round trip?? cause if it is one way how can you log 4950 miles at 55 MPH and do it all in 70 hs??

tootie

[rank]

850 mile trip one way.

Yikes! I thought it was 850 round trip so 3 trips a week would be 2550.

[gcal]

gcal Posted:

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3 one way trips are for sure. the way back i have to find my own loads but i can use their trailers


That would be 5100 miles a week (roundtrip). I don't think you would have time for a return load. :?:

your right. unless i had a pick up right after i dropped and headed right back to were my next pick up was.
i beginning to think that i should only bid on two trips a week.

[gcal]

Is it 850 one way or round trip?? cause if it is one way how can you log 4950 miles at 55 MPH and do it all in 70 hs??

tootie

you cant. unless you run against the rules. which i don't plan on doing.

[rank]

I think you should bid one load a week and use their trailer for free the other 3 days.

:wink: :wink: :wink:

[btinc]

You already know what you are up against with 3 rounds per week. You will have a hard time at your posted price because you will be coming back empty part of the time, lack of freight at this time of the year. Shipping rate for a dry van go north is between 1.85-2.35 a mile, that's what shippers are paying, if you know how to get it.
However south bound out of Oregon is around the 1.30 range if you can find a load with out going to WA. Good Luck

[gcal]

2.30 was my final bid. thanks for the info guys. if i get it then that will give me loads back all the time and if i get some loads going back it will make it even sweeter. well see what happens.

[rank]

Good for you not to take their offer. You just saved yourself alot of heart ache.

[BanditsCousin]

You're bidding on a lane using someones trailer- therefore, you are an o/o leased?

Using the trailer is a fair deal, but what % do they want?

I'd say $1.55 plus $200 for the additional stop.

We're not out here to break even, well, some of us aren't :wink: