You're doing fine. As you said, you made a change, you saw some improvement, however slight. I really wouldn't have been surprised to see a bit of a drop-off when you first went on your own. By keeping things at least level you made a nice transition. Now you're in that phase where you're dealing with EVERYTHING. There will be a steep learning curve for awhile, but it won't be long and you'll feel comfortable dealing with it all. That's the nice thing about not having to churn out the miles. When you're able to slow down a bit you can absorb all the new information and figure out how to deal with it. When you have to figure it out on the fly you'll often make a few costly mistakes simply because you've got to keep moving before having the issue tamed.
As far as I know, each state has a website with the cost of their tolls for each increment. I hardly ever run them so I'm not very familiar, but when I do I check those first.
Take any broker's promise to find you a load out with a huge grain of salt. If they won't send the rate confirmation for the SECOND load, I treat it as if it won't materialize and bid the first load accordingly.
I usually ask the broker to put their commitment to reimburse unloading fees in the rate confirmation. Sometimes I let it slide because I'm not too worried about getting stiffed, but not very often.
Plan on things picking up in FL not too long after the holidays. With a surge before Valentine's.
Just had the Chinese Buffet, not too bad as far as those go
The best one I've found so far is the one next to the Pilot east of Knoxville...who woulda thunk it :shock:
Anyway, we're loading up for CA, be home for the weekend 8)