[Redd202]

Excluding what you pay yourself, how much does it cost you to operate your truck, per mile? (Fuel, maintenance reserve, tire reserve, insurance, permits, etc.)

[PhuzzyGnu]

I'm not even an O/O, but anyone who drives a tractor trailer and voted for anything besides "more than $1.00" is fooling themselves and/or doesn't know their cost per mile.

I would say, even running an efficient operation, if you can get under $1.25 -even without paying yourself- you are doing very well.

-p.

[allan5oh]

WAY less then 70 cpm.

[Redd202]

These are not my numbers or anyone else's for that matter, just something I put together to stimulate discussion. What part(s) are accurate/inaccurate?

Operating Costs

*Edited to update link

[DD60]

Originally Posted by PhuzzyGnu

I'm not even an O/O, but anyone who drives a tractor trailer and voted for anything besides "more than $1.00" is fooling themselves and/or doesn't know their cost per mile.

I would say, even running an efficient operation, if you can get under $1.25 -even without paying yourself- you are doing very well.

-p.

Agreed.

[allan5oh]

Who is fooling who? I know my costs.

Truck is paid for
I don't pay any type of insurance/base plate

All I do is pay for fuel(average around 7.5 mpg) and repair the truck.

Considering average freight pays around what, 1.50 per mile, maybe 1.60? If the average o/o's cost were a buck a mile, that means they make the same as a company driver.

I certainly didn't buy a truck to make the same as a company driver.

[DD60]

Originally Posted by allan5oh

Who is fooling who? I know my costs.

Truck is paid for
I don't pay any type of insurance/base plate

All I do is pay for fuel(average around 7.5 mpg) and repair the truck.

Considering average freight pays around what, 1.50 per mile, maybe 1.60? If the average o/o's cost were a buck a mile, that means they make the same as a company driver.

I certainly didn't buy a truck to make the same as a company driver.

The only real tradeoff for most O/Os is that they are not under forced dispatch and are not governed at a certain speed. To do better than a company driver you have to be above average. A 1.70pm average is barely above that.

[mike3fan]

Originally Posted by PhuzzyGnu

I'm not even an O/O, but anyone who drives a tractor trailer and voted for anything besides "more than $1.00" is fooling themselves and/or doesn't know their cost per mile.

I would say, even running an efficient operation, if you can get under $1.25 -even without paying yourself- you are doing very well.

-p.

:?

please break it down with numbers that backs up why it cost over $1a mile?

[solo379]

Originally Posted by allan5oh

they make the same as a company driver.

But you got the privilege to spend, a lot more than that! :P :lol:

[Redd202]

Originally Posted by mike3fan

:?

please break it down with numbers that backs up why it cost over $1a mile?

Operating Costs
I'd like to see somebody else's numbers, too. The ones I used in my assumptions include a truck payment (which not everyone has) and are probably a little on the high side anyway - and I still didn't get more than $1.00/mile. I only used 2,500 miles/week - running more would bring your cost/mile down, too.

*Edited to update Link