[slacker]

Originally Posted by LOAD IT

Since you posted your numbers last, have they gotten better?

LOAD IT, I'm still averaging above $1.50, but I've lost some time due to my poor planning. I seem to be doing better by posting my truck and waiting sometimes and let the brokers call me. Some of these brokers don't post on the boards, and their rates are better.

As far as the car hauler thing, I've talked to a few of them, and they all have told me that the Dallas area is the best place to be (where I live), and I can do real well and regionally.

I would not attempt this with a driver, but I'm real careful, and rarely damaged a car in all my years of working with them, so that is probably the least of my worries.

The guys I've talked to all get paid COD, and they've told me they pickup cars on nights and weekends as well (from dealers and auctions). Evidently, some of the auctions are 24 hrs.

The savings on fuel really gets my attention, because I've been looking at the gross weight (loaded) of an 8 car hauler, and it is considerably less than what I'm hauling on a regular basis, and I would assume less wind drag than a box?

I dunno, can I cut some holes in my van to make it vented?
Where do the onions go?

jonboy

[no_worries]

Less drag than a box? :shock:

[slacker]

Originally Posted by no_worries

Less drag than a box? :shock:

I would think anything would be less drag than a box. Even a small headwind, or even a sidewind, takes my fuel mileage down 1 mpg with this box, and besides that, it weighs 14,700 empty.

jonboy

[no_worries]

Actually a box is the most efficient trailer on average. Certain low profile flatbed loads will be awfully aerodynamic, but most are ugly. Autohaulers are about the worst wind-catchers out there.

[slacker]

Well, I made it out of Florida. Looks like I'll average 1.25 with deadhead included. I left, but most everybody that didn't have a reefer was still sittin around.......

Everything I called on was heavy and cheap.

I did go see a Bankhead carhauler that was in good condition, and I am negotiating with the guy. I think time is on my side on these carhauler purchases. It seems like there are more trailers than buyers???

I'm going home,

jonboy

[person]

Your fuel costs will go UP per mile.

[slacker]

Person, I'm expecting my rates to double, but I wouldn't think the fuel difference would be over 1 mpg. I can get 6.5 with 45,000 in the dry van. I should loose at least 10,000 in weight even with SUV's onboard and hopefully that will offset the additional fuel usage.

The truck and trailer should weigh 34,000, and even if you allowed 4,000 per vehicle, I'd only be grossing 66,000, if my calculations are correct.

As with anything, I guess there will be some trial and error.

I did hear about a guy that lost a Firebird (tied on with wheel straps that snaped), off the front. The car bounced off the hood of the truck and then landed upside down in the highway. Needless to say, that's the kind of error I'd like to avoid......

jonboy

Originally Posted by jonboy

Person, I'm expecting my rates to double, but I wouldn't think the fuel difference would be over 1 mpg. I can get 6.5 with 45,000 in the dry van. I should loose at least 10,000 in weight even with SUV's onboard and hopefully that will offset the additional fuel usage.

The truck and trailer should weigh 34,000, and even if you allowed 4,000 per vehicle, I'd only be grossing 66,000, if my calculations are correct.

As with anything, I guess there will be some trial and error.

I did hear about a guy that lost a Firebird (tied on with wheel straps that snaped), off the front. The car bounced off the hood of the truck and then landed upside down in the highway. Needless to say, that's the kind of error I'd like to avoid......

jonboy

Yo jonboy

I'd like to know if it will increase your insurance costs any when you get to doing it ????

[kreeper01]

Sounds like Jonboy KNOWS how to run a business, i also know what he is saying here. I've been with some really lousy companies in my time that all they care about is MONEY, not the human who drives there trucks.

Originally Posted by jonboy

Schneider Training Academy=One of the best decisions I've made.
Schneider National Carriers=One of the worst decisions I've made.

After four months I had enough.

I bought a truck and I'm getting my own authority.

I realized after being self employed for 25 years, I cannot be a company driver or lease operator.

Without sounding arrogant, even with my limited experience in the transportation industry, it would not be hard to beat the big carriers in any area, especially in human relations and integrity, in my opinion.

I've never seen people treated this bad and poorly compensated in any industry. I'm really tired of being told "that's just the way it is in trucking", for an excuse for their pathetic behavior.

I'm hoping to start a small fleet, and unlike the industry I retired from, where there was a shortage of labor, there a plenty of drivers just wanting decent pay and respect.

I've been a small company competing against the big guys before and found them easy to overcome because they tend to be operated by the intellectually challenged after the original founder dies off, and either the kids take over, or it goes public and they get some college grad, that has never started anything from scratch and cares more about money than people.

They tend to lose all the best people after that and become mediocre in the market place, which leaves them vulnerable to small well managed companies.

Actually, some of them don't realize how bad they suck, because they are too busy patting themselves on the back, and they reallly don't think they can go down. Ironically, the guys at the top never take responsibility,
but they do take all the money and leave.

It sometimes takes a while, but I've seen this progression over and over.


Any advice, comments are welcome.

Thanks to GMAN especially for the sound counsel.

J

[slacker]

Originally Posted by ash_ca_la

[

Yo jonboy

I'd like to know if it will increase your insurance costs any when you get to doing it ????

Yes it will.

Ash, I'm paying $1050 per year for $100,000 cargo insurance, which excludes electronics and tobacco.

The quote I got for $350,000 cargo showing autos as well, came in at $2600 with a $1000 deductible.

I'm having the agent verify if that deductible is per incident or per car.

jonboy