I Really Like To Know

[BLTruckn]

I just started driving for myself. Got my authority and tractor - trailer. My wife has been booking my loads. She does a great job. I wanted to know what a reasonable rate would be on a 12OO mile dry van, no touch, 1 pick 1 drop trip? Lets say for the purpose of this scenario, its soda pop.

I hear a lot of guys saying not to take cheap freight and that makes complete sense believe me!! However, it seems a little tough to get the good paying loads. We seem to be getting a lot of brokers who offer 1.25 per mile, and these brokers act like if you ask for anything higher than that your asking them for their right arm. I truly think that's an insult. We do get loads that pay about 1.90 a mile and that seems like a very reasonable rate. Please help here. Any advice on what to ask for?

Thank you AGAIN!!!

[Tobytob]

BL, I wouldn't haul anything for less than $1.75 and thats still cheap to me, but that would be my break even point. If I cant find that then Im staying put. Brokers are making a killing out here and the drivers are suffering. Brokers can afford to pay this rate, but most are pocketing the excess. What we need to do is figure out a way to confirm what the broker is getting paid for these loads. No way in hell the drivers should make less than the brokers.

[GMAN]

Every load is a negotiation, BL. Rates vary from one region of the country to another. Van loads are typically on the lower end of the rates, but I have a friend who has been doing well on his rates this year. He has hauled quite a few for well over $2/mile. One advantage you have pulling a van is the accessibility of freight. You can usually find a load going somewhere. If you want better rates you may need to consider either staying out of certain areas or plan on deadheading out of a bad area to get to the better paying freight. There are some who think that rate averaging is the best way to go. For instance, they may get a load going into one area for $2.25 and take one coming out for $1.25. That would give you an average rate of about $1.70.

Some of the loadboards have a part of the service that will show you average rates coming out or going into certain areas. That would give you a base to check. Keep in mind that the rates are only for those who report to the service. It might provide some guidance for you. I would shoot for $2/mile and try to average around $1.70 for all miles.

[BLTruckn]

Hi Tobytob! Thank you for your reply. I agree with you 100%. I really can not believe how much the brokers pocket off the backs of hard working drivers. It seems as if they could care less. I wish that there was a load board that actually had requirements like: Shippers and brokers may not post loads for less than ____! I think its only fair to be up front with the pricing. Drivers are not out there for a vacation. Many drivers like myself have been in this business for many,many years. I have seen its ups and downs. I really don't know where these brokers get their nerve. And, its truly something a person can not understand until they run for themselves. . .

Thanks again.....

[BLTruckn]

Thank you GMan. As usual I find you make a great deal on sense. Thank you again.

[shyykatt]

Hey Gman~ I have billions of questions regarding O/O related stuff, not sure I wanna embarrass myself in front of whole forum LOL, it ok to Pm ya? Thnx.

[solo379]

She does a great job.

No offense, but how do you know that, if you have no idea, what it really should pay?

[RostyC]

I'm in the same boat BL. I've been sitting all week looking for something decent. Since I started finding my own loads at the end of August I've been able to do well getting out of Baltimore, but my lucks run out. Things have slowed big time, manufacturing is down and it shows. I've been offered 1.25 to 1.35 a lot this week and they're not budging on the rate. Next thing you know it's off the board.

If I can't find something today I'm deadheading out Sunday or Monday and will have to stay out for a while I guess. I just can't make myself take a load that doesn't pay fair. It's not just brokers it's the shippers as well. Actually no that's wrong, it's the carriers that are taking the loads that are ultimately to blame. Brokers/Shippers are just taking advantage of the situation.

[BLTruckn]

Hi Rosty. I believe you're right!! Thank you for the contribution.

[GMAN]

Hey Gman~ I have billions of questions regarding O/O related stuff, not sure I wanna embarrass myself in front of whole forum LOL, it ok to Pm ya? Thnx.

No need to feel embarrassed, shyykatt. Feel free to me with any questions and I will do my best to answer them.

[TaylorTrucking]

RostyC you are 100% correct about the Baltimore area I also live in Bmore this week was I think was worst I saw some loads on the board as low as 0.88cpm and they were gone within minutes.

[GMAN]

RostyC you are 100% correct about the Baltimore area I also live in Bmore this week was I think was worst I saw some loads on the board as low as 0.88cpm and they were gone within minutes.

If some of these people want to take a load for $.88/mile then they can have it, as far as I am concerned. The way that I feel about is that I can go broke sitting at home. I WON'T go broke hauling freight for less than it costs me to operate and have a decent profit.

[RostyC]

RostyC you are 100% correct about the Baltimore area I also live in Bmore this week was I think was worst I saw some loads on the board as low as 0.88cpm and they were gone within minutes.

I know, I can't believe guys are taking this stuff. It just doesn't make sense to me. I'm waiting to hear back on one now but I'm not holding my breath.

[solo379]

Same ol same.... Ever heard about "supply and demand"? You can't expect a uniform rate from, OH, or MD, or IN and NJ.... $1.25-1.35 is a good rate from a Baltimore, if you are going to Midwest! Yeah, occasionally, you could get lucky, but building your strategy on that, and wasting days at a time for a few bucks more, is unreasonable, to say at least! But what you can do, it is not to go into that area for less than it would take to compensate for dead heading out, or take that "buck a mile" freight back. It's the matter of simple math. One size, doesn't fit all!

[GMAN]

When I go into areas like that where I know freight is sparse or cheap I plan on dropping my load and then deadhead out to an area where I can get a decent rate. I just make sure that I am compensated sufficiently going in that I can afford to deadhead and still make a decent profit. Occasionally, I get lucky and score something with a decent rate our of some of these places. I don't count on getting a load when I get to an area like Philadelphia or Baltimore. I have gotten fairly decent rates out of Baltimore (on occasion), but don't count on it. When you get to those areas it is usually best to make a decision to either take something cheap to get to a better area or deadhead to the better area. I think most will take a cheap load to keep from spending the money on fuel out of pocket. I figure that I would rather deadhead than take a load where everyone but me makes money. There are some who disagree with my philosophy, but it works for me. The only reason we have rates that cheap is because some carriers are taking them. If everyone stopped taking the cheap freight rates would come up. You can't blame the shipper, nor can you blame the broker for the cheap rates. Both are doing what they feel is their best interests. What I don't understand is why so many carriers would continue taking loads where they lose money. All it does is perpetuate the cheap rates.

[Steel Horse Cowboy]

If some of these people want to take a load for $.88/mile then they can have it, as far as I am concerned. The way that I feel about is that I can go broke sitting at home. I WON'T go broke hauling freight for less than it costs me to operate and have a decent profit.

If they are on the Landstar Board, then the .88cpm loads are gobbled up by Swift, Schneider, Werner, JB and so on..... they make money on these loads from LS seeing they pay the driver .36cpm on a good day, and they also usually have good set rates. Even tho it says .88 to a BCO, most of the companies get 1.00-1.25 set rate.

My ex was worked for a broker who was a LS Agent, I know the game inside and out.... but even when I was a BCo she couldn't always get me great loads either.

[TaylorTrucking]

I personally dont think 1.25-1.35 is a good rate from Baltimore because I avg a better out of Baltimore It just seems like for about the last 2 weeks rates have been wayyyy down.

[GMAN]

If they are on the Landstar Board, then the .88cpm loads are gobbled up by Swift, Schneider, Werner, JB and so on..... they make money on these loads from LS seeing they pay the driver .36cpm on a good day, and they also usually have good set rates. Even tho it says .88 to a BCO, most of the companies get 1.00-1.25 set rate.

My ex was worked for a broker who was a LS Agent, I know the game inside and out.... but even when I was a BCo she couldn't always get me great loads either.

It isn't just the big carriers that are taking the cheap loads. There are many small carriers who are taking these loads. They are terrified to sit for a day or deadhead out of a bad area.

[RostyC]

I'm glad you chimed in Solo, you got me to think about a few things, and I discussed them with my wife last night. Yes, I understand supply and demand and in this business it can change daily. I don't understand business owners who take jobs (loads) so cheap that it yields them nothing. However, I can't control what others will work for.

It's not that I'm building a strategy on luck it's that I've negotiated wayyyy more than a 1.25 so far, so to settle for it now....... No not me, I won't contribute to the problem because it's the norm and others do it. I understand the theory of "averaging the round" (cheap load out good paying load back) I get it. I just don't like it. Years ago, a guy that I subcontracted some work from told me that every job should stand on it's own, you shouldn't rob from one job to give to another, and I firmly believe that.

I do feel a little foolish for sitting all week thinking that tomorrow I'll get something decent. It's unreasonable to say the least, however it's easy to deadhead out of a bad area when you're on the road,it's much harder to leave the house with an empty trailer, I might have to get used to it for a while though.

Sometimes I don't think people will negotiate a strong rate going into bad areas. A couple weeks ago I had a broker call me to price out a load going from Baltimore to Vermont with a stop in CT. The final drop in Vermont was way out there man, way in the sticks. I called back and gave her my price (2600.00), she had another price of 2000.00. She said she had covered this load but needed the prices to take back to her customer and that she would keep me in mind. I asked what she covered the load for......... 1200.00 bucks. What an idiot. He doesn't even understand how to price himself according to the area he's going. My guess is he was going home, and he went home cheap.

This is all (relatively) new to me and a learning process as well so I take what I learned this week and move on.

[RostyC]

I personally dont think 1.25-1.35 is a good rate from Baltimore because I avg a better out of Baltimore It just seems like for about the last 2 weeks rates have been wayyyy down.

It's nice to have some one from this area on the board, we can compare notes. Stick around for a while.

I agree with the 1.25 stuff and I thought about posting the rates that I've been able to get out of here with in my previous post, but I'd probably be called a liar, so I decided against the idea.
In the past posting numbers usually started fights around here, and I'm not one to make trouble. (shutup mackman )

What type of trailer do you operate?