I don't know why I said macaroni in chili would be bad, I love macaroni and sauce so I guess it's the same thing. I do have a problem with macaroni when it's been heated up again and turns to mush.
I unloaded my prefab barn load yesterday in a really out of the way part of Chesterton, IN. It was a farming community and it was one country street after another. I was the first of something like 11 trucks in total. There are small trees, branches and leaves all over the place in the wake of my truck.
I called before hand knowing this was going to a rural place and asked if they knew for sure if I could make it, AND, could I get out. They said no problem, we widened the driveway so you can back in.
When I got there, there was another truck trying to back in. I got out, took one look and said NO F'ing WAY. They all agreed and we unloaded on the street. There wasn't any traffic at all and everyone helped so it took no time at all. I don't think I could have made it into this place 1 year ago without the experience I have now driving. You need that 6th sense that tells you to get over for the next turn or get ready to block the traffic.
After unloading I headed over to the TA in Porter, IN. I fueled up, got my truck and trailer washed and a PM done. They gave me a free coupon for a steak dinner which wasn't bad at all.
Went back to my truck and got on the load boards and just about had a stroke trying to figure out where to go next. There was 800 loads within a 100 mile radius of me. So now I'm freaking out cause the day is wasting away and finally threw in the towel, calmed down and looked for a load for the next day.
I got a load of flat steel heading back to NH again and possibly have another barn load coming back at the end of this week. I'm sure this is going to be a pain loading up this morning in Chicago then trying to do 400 miles today and 600 the next. I'm trying to deliver on Wed so I can head home and be ready to head out on Thursday morning.
It's good money on the average going back and forth between NH and IL/IN but just not sure it's worth it. You're lucky to do 2 loads a week with a total of 2,000 miles. This wasn't my plan. I was going to head out on a long run from here with a $2.50 per mile run but those damn NH runs kept coming up.
I'm wondering why they pay crap to go to Texas. They all seem to be around $1.50 per mile. Texas isn't like a mega capital of freight and it's spread out all over the place. There was a few heading to Oregon but they weren't loading until the end of the week and I didn't want to sit around for them.
So there is a lot of freight for sure in this area but 99% seems to only run 500 miles or so. With a van maybe it works better but with a flatbed your lucky to get setup and loaded in a full day which ends up with 2 loads a week and maybe getting loaded for the 3rd.
When all is said and done your doing 2.5 loads per week at $3.00 per mile and 1,250 miles for a total of $3,750. You can hold out for $3.50 or $4.00 per mile but then your 2.5 loads per week drops down to 2 or less.
Lots of traffic, lots of pot holes, waiting, lines and tough places to get in and out of. Just not worth it in my opinion and I think I'll do the plan I had in mind next time out.
|
:lol: :shock: :wink:
