I'm the problem for hauling cheap freight

[rank]

For those of you with drivers do you pay him to deadhead to a better area.

We pay the same whether it's loaded or empty.... off the hub.
We do not DH to a better area.
We do DH a better paying load.

[Joymax_Trans2]

Why go to the bad area in the first place? If you don't go the bad area then you don't have to wait and sit. It's what I've said in a previous post different topic. It only takes about 15 mins to find out if an area is bad or not. If you are an Internet Truckstop subscriber with FuelDesk Pro subscription, for each load it list if the load is in a Very Good, Good, Neutral, Very Bad, or Bad area. Using this method I don't sit (actually I've never sat) and I get the the minimum rate that I'm willing to run for.

[person]

This long haul preference that you have is fine and everything...no fun securing and waiting every day, I'll give you that. It's almost like.....dare I say it......work. That's why long haul rates are lower I guess.

One reason the longhaul rates are lower of course is the time factor. Less time spent loading and unloading one long trip, than 3 trips that equal the same miles. And there is more highway cruising and less in-town driving that the 3 trips, and those two things are easier on fuel and equipment.

[rank]

One reason the longhaul rates are lower of course is the time factor. Less time spent loading and unloading one long trip,

I think I failed to make my point.

And there is more highway cruising and less in-town driving that the 3 trips, and those two things are easier on fuel and equipment.

OK let's this.

Lonnie Long Haul:
3000 miles x 1.40/mile = revenue of $4,200
3000 miles x 1.00/mile = cost of $3,000 (nt including driver)
$1,200 profit in approx 6 days.

Sammy Short Hop:
Trip 1:
Loads Monday AM, drives 400 miles, unload Tuesday AM = 400 miles at 2.00/mile = revenue of $800
Trip 2:
Bounce 50 miles, load Wed Am, drives 450 miles, unloads Thurs AM = 450 miles at 2.00/mile = revenue of $900
Trip 3:
Bounce 75 miles, load Thurs PM, drive 350 miles, deliver Friday.
350 miles at 2.25/mile = revenue of $2500

1200 loaded miles = revenue of $2,500
1275 total miles x $1/mile = cost of $1275
$1225 profit in approx 4 days

To do this you would need a dispatcher at home and likely need to be in the Neast also, so it' not for everyone.....but you get my point.

[Joymax_Trans2]

Rank,

This is mostly how we run. I did the math on the shorter runs and discovered I was making more money on the shorter runs than the longer run over a shorter period of time. Our deadhead miles are usually less than 50 miles.

[rank]

I agree. It costs money to run the truck but labour is free (those of you that are self employed know what I mean).

Lonnie Long Haul , Sammy Short Hop ?????

Got a new load of Molson I see.

[RostyC]

You should write school curriculum books rank.


I'm not sure if I spelled curriculum right.

[rank]

LOL you guys.

Can't afford Molson. Busch light, or Lakeport Pilsener for $1 a pop.

[Collard Greens]

One reason the longhaul rates are lower of course is the time factor. Less time spent loading and unloading one long trip,

I think I failed to make my point.

And there is more highway cruising and less in-town driving that the 3 trips, and those two things are easier on fuel and equipment.

OK let's this.

Lonnie Long Haul:
3000 miles x 1.40/mile = revenue of $4,200
3000 miles x 1.00/mile = cost of $3,000 (nt including driver)
$1,200 profit in approx 6 days.

Sammy Short Hop:
Trip 1:
Loads Monday AM, drives 400 miles, unload Tuesday AM = 400 miles at 2.00/mile = revenue of $800
Trip 2:
Bounce 50 miles, load Wed Am, drives 450 miles, unloads Thurs AM = 450 miles at 2.00/mile = revenue of $900
Trip 3:
Bounce 75 miles, load Thurs PM, drive 350 miles, deliver Friday.
350 miles at 2.25/mile = revenue of $2500

1200 loaded miles = revenue of $2,500
1275 total miles x $1/mile = cost of $1275
$1225 profit in approx 4 days

To do this you would need a dispatcher at home and likely need to be in the Neast also, so it' not for everyone.....but you get my point.

Amen, Rank. Its 1325 Total miles not trying to be jerk. Just helping. But 4 days $1175 vs 6 days $1200. I'm glad somebody did an example. You can find a long load every once in awhile that pays great but dont hold your breath. If I want to go somewhere 2000 miles away I short hop there instead of taking that long load for a $1.40 a mile unless it is leaving FL my home state.

[solo379]

Actually, "short runs", doesn't necessarily mean, "short miles".
My average run, is about 500-550 miles, and i do average about 10-11,000 miles a month.
But it sure means more work, and so is revenue per mile!
Well, some people looking for "easier", some looking for "better"! :P
Business before pleasure!
And if i want some "fun", or need to improve cash flow, after my long vacations, i run some "miles", i call it "nostalgic trips"!

Now about the cheap freight!(I'm talking dry box, it was a long time, since I've pulled anything else)
I've said that many times, "Cheap", is not really just a straight number definition!
And that $1.30 a mile load, could be a very good deal, let's say from NJ, to OH!
Another "opinion";-you could, and should, ocasionaly DH from the "bad area".
But if it's your regular "rounds", you better consider the whole "round", or change the patterns! 8)

[Truckdobe]

Now that I've read through all of this... 7 pages :shock:

There is a lot of sound advice, a lot of good questions and a lot of disbelief and defensiveness... sounds like the usual mix.

I hope the people that don't believe the #'s (that's why I rarely post any), will at least think about and see if they can't get more. ALWAYS try to get more, everything else goes up, our revenue should too.

Rather than specifics, I have a SD and have not pulled a load for less than $1.50 pm to the truck in a couple of YEARS, thinking back, the ones that I remember weren't even whole loads, they were head loads that I couldn't find a partial to go with. I have DH out of some areas, but not often; my current DH for the year is 8%. I do NOT haul cheap (my definition), all of the brokers that I have ever worked with know that and everyone that I've ever been leased to knows that, so I don't even have to say "NO" very often.


One other thing, for those of you that barely pay yourselves. You should never leave RISK out of any decision. In being in business you are assuming more risk than a company driver and have more responsibilities, you SHOULD make more than the avg co driver and you should have a benefit pkg and you SHOULD have PROFIT on top of that; anything less is a hobby, NOT a business.

[rank]

HAAAAAA-----LEEEEEEE-------LUUUUUUUU-------YAAAAAAAAAA!
I THINK WE HAVE A CONSENSUS?