finding my own backhauls

[Big Guy]

Can anyone give me suggestions on the smartest way to handle getting my own backhauls- when the company that I work for keeps me deadheading? I am new and am trying to make having bought my box truck worthwhile .

[rank]

the company that I work for.......

You can ask them, but I doubt if they will let you book your own loads as an employee of theirs. Furthermore, most any broker that you book a load through will ask for your MC number (which you don't have because you are running under your bosses authority it sounds like). They will also ask you to fax them things like proof of insurance with the broker named on the policy....you can't have the broker added to the policy because it's your bosses policy. And they will probably make the check out in your bosses name. In order to get on a half decent load board like DAT you will need to provide MC number again and go through a credit check.

[Big Guy]

I have my own truck, authority MC #etc. I am new @ this and working with a courier company that , always has and continues to keeps me chasing the elusive 'backhaul'. I am really wondering if trying to find my own backhauls (on the load boards) would be a smart move. Also, I was drawn to this courier company because of the weekly pay promises. Most of the loads are not worth taking. The box truck I have would often cause me to have to spend too much on fuel to make much of a profit.

[Orangetxguy]

I have my own truck, authority MC #etc. I am new @ this and working with a courier company that , always has and continues to keeps me chasing the elusive 'backhaul'. I am really wondering if trying to find my own backhauls (on the load boards) would be a smart move. Also, I was drawn to this courier company because of the weekly pay promises. Most of the loads are not worth taking. The box truck I have would often cause me to have to spend too much on fuel to make much of a profit.

What style "Box truck" do you have? The "hotshot" variety with a steer axle, a "tag" axle and a drive axle....with maybe a holland landing gear under the back of the box for stability while a lift or electric pallet jack is in the box?? Maybe an older out of date unit that doesn't qualify with Panther ii or Fedex Custom anymore?

[Big Guy]

It's a starter truck...nothing fancy...26ft manual box. Incidentally, the company that i hooked up with, stressed their need for drivers with this type of truck. it costs so much to fuel it, I have to pass on quite a few of the load. Although they talk a good 'backhaul' game, I've gotten 1 from them - in 3 mths. I've only been driving a bit over 3 months. I just gotta come up with a way to make it a worthwhile venture. It'll be a month, or so before I can take a stab @ factoring companies. Til then...I'm trying to stay afloat

[Steel Horse Cowboy]

Not sure what you mean by "it costs so much to fuel it, I have to pass on quite a few of the load." Any load you pull should cover fuel costs and have a profit too!

Just like a big truck, it costs money to make money. I am guessing you don't have a fuel card or any way to get a pay advance at all before the loads? Is that the problem or are they paying VERY little? Not sure where you run, what you haul and so on.... that info will help us greatly. If you are just running local stuff, or say a overnight run from NY to PA or Chicago to St. Louis? Just a little more info about the job at hand and I'm sure someone can help you out a bit more.

[Big Guy]

I've only been driving for 3 months and have a limit of a 300 mile radius. the loads have consisted of steel to arms factories, canteen to prisons, CAT scan machine, skids of boxes etc. I have the fuel $ to pay in advance, it's just that a paying load from st louis , going to chicago or kansas city, that does not have a backhaul paying load could, arguably, could end up a $600 load that $300(more now that diesel fuel is 3.90 p/gal) of which will be used to fuel - not to mention the cost of the fuel while in the chicago region. Then, the company (I feel) is treating me like the red-haired stepchild, because I pass on so many of the loads. Then, I have to pass on the local loads (running 3-4 loads that will amt up to $200 or so. I would be ridiculous to go thru all of that to tote 2-3 skids around town (in this gas guzzler). I'll qualify to connect with a factoring company w/in a month or so. Until then...I'm barely staying afloat. Any tips on making the best of the load boards. I've never used them but I have to come up with something else. Hey, how should I gauge how much to charge a driver driving under my authority...?...if they are driving my truck or another leased trucks

[LBF]

Big Guy, if you think you have trouble now, the factoring company isn't going to help. You'll end up with less money sooner. Stay away from that.

Am I reading this right? You'd have $200 a day left over, hanging around local, but you'd get what was left over from $600 by going to Chicago? That's $1 a mile round trip... in a box truck.

With a backhaul, there's money to made in that scenario. Deadheading back isn't so good.
You need to figure out how little you can accept going back, and then go shopping for freight.

Yes, guys who turn down freight aren't the dispatcher's best friend...

[Big Guy]

I'm getting 70% now and have found a factoring company that promises 80% - that would be more that I get now and, I'm sure that they would probably put forth more effort to get me some backhauls. Whatcha think? and...the $200 or so is before I run all over town burning gas, eating etc. Not to mention the over for both my house and the trucking company. Hey, got an idea about how you determine what to charge someone for driving under my authority? There would be different rates - depending on whether or not they use my or a leased truck - right

[moe]

I just checked and 'Internet truck stop' has 100 partials listed within a 50 mile radius of Chicago. You might try subscribing to a load board or at least take one up on a free 30 day trial and see if that might help.

[Big Guy]

yeah, that would work...provided I'm in the chi town region. how long have u been driving...what kind of truck? how bout the driving under someone else's authority rates

[firebird_1252]

you are getting a fsc right?

[Big Guy]

keep in mind, I'm a lil brand new - I've been driving only 3 months. I do have my own truck though and , @ some point want to get paid for the use of my authority. Briefly explain fsc please...it's a new term to me Is that in ref to the fuel surcharge? I still have 2 learn all the trucker jargon, acronyms, etc

[Orangetxguy]

keep in mind, I'm a lil brand new - I've been driving only 3 months. I do have my own truck though and , @ some point want to get paid for the use of my authority. Briefly explain fsc please...it's a new term to me Is that in ref to the fuel surcharge? I still have 2 learn all the trucker jargon, acronyms, etc

See........This is mind-boggling.........to the extreme.

You have 3 months of driving experience....presumably all of it in this "bobtail" box truck you own.

Is it an old Uhaul/Penske type truck?? Is it something larger??

How much can you carry? What is your GVW for this truck registered at??

Did you do any investigative work at all before you spent your money on this truck? Or...did you just say....."I'm gonna start me a trucking company and life will be easy!"...and off you went??

You need to know what your "break even" is. If you know that...you know what it is going to take to make a profit. You need to know a boat load more than that....but your break even is really important. Being PROFITABLE is how you get paid for having your own authority. Just because you have that authority does not mean you deserve to be paid for it. You jumped blindly into the most cut-throat business on the planet. You think the stories about the Mafia and the likes of Al Capone are something?? Just get deeper into this industry.

Just from where I sit,you should be able to turn a decent living if you work between Saint Louis (which seems to be where you live....THAT area anyway) and Chicago...or Saint Louis and Indianapolis...or Saint Louis and Kansas City. You don't want to make your living off the load boards. You want to make your living off a customer base. But...you have to work hard to build that base.

And...you need a solid base of customers...before you start considering hiring O/O's. Easiest way in the world to kill a good name, is to have a broke O/O working for you and pi$$ed about being broke.

[Big Guy]

26 ft box truck GVW= 31,000, penske type(dock high), researched w/the company I contract with and they expressed the need for box truck drivers. It's just that 1) they have only given me 1 backhaul, in the 3 mths and 2) they have problems when I pass on the local runs - that are 1-2 skids, thus not paying much (25-40 per load)

[Orangetxguy]

26 ft box truck GVW= 31,000, penske type(dock high), researched w/the company I contract with and they expressed the need for box truck drivers. It's just that 1) they have only given me 1 backhaul, in the 3 mths and 2) they have problems when I pass on the local runs - that are 1-2 skids, thus not paying much (25-40 per load)

See.........You didn't talk to enough "folks"...before jumping into this. One company expressing a "need" does not research make. You have yet to identify that piker outfit...and piker outfit they are.

If you have your own authority, you should spend a few days driving around the Saint Louis area passing out an information packet, to companies that can use your services. Be prepared to answer their questions...especially when they ask for "rates". That is why you need to know your "break even". If you can come up with a rate a customer can livie with to have you doing work for them....that is how you get your foot in the door. You increase that initial rate.....by providing a quality product...which for you....Is SERVICE. Ontime, at the quoted rate, damage free. The same goes for getting work out of Chicago. And....when you consider what you are doing...do not be afraid to talk with the LTL carriers themselves. If they have your info...you can very well get a call from one of them to deliver anything from an envelope to a couple skids....and they all pay a decent rate!
Go out to the airport and talk with the airlines and their baggage service. ALL of the airlines have companies that deliver luggage for them. They have to know you exist and approve your insurance before they will use you....but you have to take that step for them to know about you. Do not ask a "Sky Cap" either. Talk directly with each airline's Baggage Service manager. Talk with each airline's air cargo manager as well.

[repete]

I'm getting 70% now and have found a factoring company that promises 80% - that would be more that I get now and, I'm sure that they would probably put forth more effort to get me some backhauls. Whatcha think? and...the $200 or so is before I run all over town burning gas, eating etc. Not to mention the over for both my house and the trucking company. Hey, got an idea about how you determine what to charge someone for driving under my authority? There would be different rates - depending on whether or not they use my or a leased truck - right

I don't think you understand the factoring biz, it's not a broker service it's a payday loan company! The 80% that there willing to "give" you is 80% of the 70 YOUR MAKING NOW! Like some one else said best to stay away from them.

[LBF]

Big Guy, you may want to go and read this recent post:

Start up operating cost

This poster did a lot of preparation.

You need to adapt that process to your situation and see what it will take for you to still be in business.

Otherwise, you don't know if you are being ripped off, or properly paid.

Best of luck!

[YerDaddy]

Would it be mean if I said this is the kind of chit they should make reality TV shows about?

[repete]

So what's happening here? Haveing any better luck Big Guy?