Marianna,FL--->Augusta,GA----->Los Angeles,CA= 2,726miles :?:

Hmmm ia that the correct mileage Mike?...hmmm dont think so...let me get back with you n check
Sounds kinda high?
hmmm the dollar or so a mile I turned down (very heavy), n there were lots ill tell ya, was from Talahasee to LA area....it tempted me cuz it was only 50 or so miles down the road, but really thought I could do better when he told me it only paid 2100 and weighed 44,000.
I was getting a little fustrated and jumped at this one since it was only a 20,000 pounder.
Yeah Bill I cant complain too much...after feul it leaves a net of almost $4K for two weeks work (True I got insurance and maitence costs out of that too). If I get back to So Cal by Thursday I have been gone exactly two weeks......dont know if Ive done good, just lucky, or should have done much better?.....since first time ever really didnt know what I would find out here........hope every two weeks go this smooth and well to be honest. I would be 100% satisfied myself and enjoying myself, people can heckle me like they do Prodigy (hey I support he got away from company driver and is making a living)
As for me got some $ in my pocket and am happy.

That mileage is correct

according to pcmiler,pratical miles

Hmmm yeah...I am coming out less in my calcuations
270 DH from Marianna to 30 miles west of augusta where i p/u...forgot the town.........but 30 miles either way isnt an issue for me.

then got 2150 to LA.....hmmmm where am I off?

Pepe, I'm not your travel agent, or dispatcher! All I'm saying, is that you hauling cheap, and could, and should do better!

You wanna stick to your guns? Fine, it doesn't hurt me a bit, but eventually, will catch up with you.

While you are on the road, truck goes where the money is, not the other way around. Keep that in mind, if you want to make it.

Cause as of right now, Prodigy, is probably doing better than you are!
Just an opinion! 8)

Yeah im off on miles...just looked at my rate agreement....thats 2350 not 2150....oppps
Yeah shoulda held out for something better even better....was in a bit of a hurry to grap something light and head back...well this mistake certainly wont kill me financially tho cuz this is a pretty light load.
First time out on the east coast as an O/op and this was dissapointing, I quess NoWorries was right tho that better pay going west>east then east>west?.....Had heard the opposite?

Yup, I've found that out. I head out and I'm prepared to stay out at least 3 weeks and I'll go anywhere for a buck....Wait....I meant a buck fifty. I always seem to end up in bad freight places but I always seem to get a call with a good load that's not advertised.

I very rarely call for a load that's on the load boards. I just sit and wait for the phone to ring. The only problem is I have to move fast. I think I get the better money is because brokers are fearing they will lose the load and would rather make half the money than nothing at all. Not sure if I'm correct but I do have to hustle and make sure my truck is ready to move.

I think it just takes time to learn. Not sure. I was hauling for $1.35 for the first month or so but I'm learning and it's going up.

Hmmm yeah dont know what my average will be for this month.........would have done the time different (I am basicly homeless in the US,wifes family home is in Asia, using my godparents mailing address here) I can stay out forever, but want to get back for my first ever IFTA so just planned this time to only stay out two weeks at most so this one circle out will be it.
I recieved a gross of 5,700 and i went from LA to Dallas-Dallas to Marianna-Marianna to Augusta- Augusta straight back to L.A.
Hmmm have yet to sit down and fiqure out the miles and see what rate I come up with.........hmmmm quessing off the top of my head somewhere around a 1.30??????????? The positive thing was I was able to keep all the loads light.........I never hauled over 23,000 and one of the loads was even as light as 12,000....so lots of reduced wear n tear on my equiptment, and cant at all complain about mpg which is the big factor in dry van work.

Well my big thing is really the bottom line tho.....as I said I will spend appx 1,700 in feul for these 3 loads, and that leaves me 4k left.
Out of the 4k I have to pay IFTA, about 750 a month insurance payment, and want to put at least 1,500 a month away in maitence Emg. fund.
Just hope I can put together two back to back, 2 weeks like this last twoo weeks I hope, and I would be very happy about my monthly progress, but I know so much could and does go wrong.

Blue man group and others have stated that to be succesful with your own authority you need to find some customers(shippers) of your own,sell them on personal service and reliability and grow a relationship with a few good ones in a couple areas and then use the load boards to fill in the holes.

Obviously this will take some time and some work on your part,but from what I have seen from all the talk on here,since I don't look at the boards,is that the only way to be profitable and not just making drivers wages is to find loads that are not posted on the boards and find some shippers of your own.

I ran the miles and LA>Dallas>Marianna>Augusta>Los Angeles =4,941 on $5,700 comes out to $1.15 a mile(not nearly good enough for owning your own truck and trailer w/authority).I agree that this one round trip will not hurt you in the long run,but do you see where you have to imrove?

If it was me I would go where the good freight goes and would not worry about the weight in the least,you claim 3-4 mpg difference in hauling lighter weight,I cannot believe this at all,my truck will get about .5-1mpg better if I haul lighter at the most.My driving speed affects my mpg more than the weight,just slow down more if heavy.I don't even remember you pulling a heavy load yet? so how would you know what it will or will not do?

Get out there and make some contacts and talk to people and get some good freight and have fun.

Thks Mike.......yeah looks like this back trip is where I came out the worst......Say what is just the west to east trip that I got 3k for?...the mile rate there?
That was La to Dallas then to Marianna....got 3k for that.

If I didnt want to get back to set this IFTA thing up with Bracken I would have just stayed out n said I am not moving till you make me a better offer lol.
Yeah I never hauled over 22,000 pounds and the dallas to Marianna was 12,000 pounds only.The mpg I am going on was my old freightliner centuary with USX...I got between 5.5 and 6.0 when maxed out ...am just quessing my same truck will be pretty much the same.

Hmmm yeah dont know any brokers, shippers or anyone right now, been out of the country too long......yeah hope to make cntacts but who knows where for now, just getting loads of the board for now.

2215 miles or $1.35 a mile

Hmmm doubt that will work for me, hope to be in Asia, with the wife and her family.....so I wont be in the USA between Deecmber and possibly all the way thru to April....doubt any shipper would like me gone so long. Thats why buying a truck straight out was a must for me. I will put it in storage for appx 100 a month I was quoted....and OOIDA said I could suspend my authority and cancell my insurance, if I have a few grand to spend in the Philippines for 4 and a half months I can live well :D...really all I need to make plus a couple hundred to send the wife a month lol
Yeah now before you guys jump down my throat I said thats all I HAVE to make...didnt say all I WANT to make :D Of course the truck maitence comes first, maybe Ill have an all chromed out truck if I do well LOL

Wow these big companies seem so paranoid I will steal their clients too when i broker loads from them so doubt I can get any shippers LOL
Man all these agreements I sign that I wont steal their freight :twisted:
Quess it happens?

You've learned a ton in your first trip out and nobody should fault you for anything. The key now is what you do with it all. Make sure you don't have to learn the same lesson twice.

Pepe...Do you mind a suggestion from the cheap seats??

Carrying light loads is ok. However..have you looked at how much room those light loads occupied in your trailer?

Did you have a full trailer leaving out of LA for Odessa?

Ok...My suggestion...When you start looking for freight for your next run, look not only at how much the load is paying, but also look at how much SPACE it takes up on the deck. If you find a partial going to say Atlanta GA for your next trip, that weighs 20,000 pounds, look at how much space it takes once inside the trailer.
Is it stackable? should be one of your questions. If it is stackable, what type of material is it, and are the pallets all the same weight, should be another question.

Once you know where your headed as far as a turn around point is concerned, THEN you should look for another partial, or even two more partials, to fill the space left in your trailer, but not put yourself over weight.

If you haul a 20,000 pound partial to Atlanta, for say $2,300.00, that only needs 20 feet in the van, you could find a 15,000 pound partial going to say Birmingham, to put on the truck, and maybe that partial pays say, $1,600.00. If that 15,000 pound partial only took up 20 foot of space, then say you had 11 feet of available deck left, you could find a 5,000 pound partial to haul to say Dallas, for say $900.00. Once you had that partial off in Dallas, you could find another like partial headed to Birmingham if it was available, that pays say...$500.00, get to Birmingham and drop both those partials, and look and see if there was a partial headed to Atlanta, out of Birmingham...heck...maybe there would be a 20,000 pound partial that pay's you $475.00 to Atlanta. You would have about 2500 miles invested in the run, with picking up and delivering each partial, and could make roughly $5775.00.

Yes, it would involve time. You wouldn't be hot footing it straight to Atlanta. However you would be making $$$ that you would otherwise be passing up. When you see LTL loads available on the Broker boards, they are not paying Expedited prices to get the load to it's destination. Most brokers expect that you are going to be picking up small partials along the way, and accept that you may not get to your final for as much as 2 weeks after you pick the partial up. If it is a HOT load, that needs exclusive use of the trailer, then they should, and most honest brokers do, pay expedited prices to you, so that you will forego picking up any other freight.
One thing you gotta remember. LTL pay's really well, if you piece the loads together, so that you stay in a decent line of travel, and you will make $$$ doing it.

Now...some might say I am full of BS with this, but I can tell you for a fact, that I loaded my Brother-in-law out of Seattle WA, with a final in San Diego, with a flatbed load that did not ever weigh more than 22,000 pounds, into San Diego, with 1500 miles of travel for picking up and delivering the 4 partials, took 4 days to do, and made us $5700.00 to the truck. Of those 4 partials the longest was the item that went to San Diego, a helicopter blade for the Navy, that we picked up from a broker, took 30 foot of deck length, but only 2 feet of width, and weighed 450#. That blade paid the truck $2,300.00 The second partial was a pallet out of Seattle that weighed 7,000# and paid $400.00, that dropped in San Marcos, The third partial was a tank 5 feet in diameter X 18 feet long and weighing 6,000# that paid the truck $1,750.00 and dropped in Miramar, and the 4th partial was 2 pallets of flanges out of Vancouver WA, that delivered to the General Dynamics, in San Diego, and paid $1,250.00, and weighed 7,500# combined. The pallets were something that a broker called us about, while my brother-in-law was fueling his truck in Toldeo WA, the first night out. He stopped in Vancouver for the night anyway, so we had him pick those pallets up. All in all, a fairly typical LTL load.

Yeah i agree, and easiest to do with flatbeds as oppossed to dry van (a flatbed O/OP had suggested the same thing one day"); although theoraticly possible with dry van.
The first trip I ran, from Stevens, had already considered that themselves and gave me three p/u spots...all of partial floor loads, and they crammed my trailer full of lightweight cheap butt family dollar clothes
They were paranoid about the seal issue on their loads(had drivers breaking the seals i bet to load other stuff before lol), so even had there been room it woulda been tough.
Yeah the second family dollar ...with schneider left me a little room,they were less paranoid about a seal, but i didnt really have time to look around for another partial, not a rush job, but had to move at a good pace.
Now this next load could hmmm well give it a try for another partial if I am motivated and industrial enough
Well its just three John Deer parts supposidly.....only weighing 20,000 pounds. I am cluless how they will fit n the trailer and what kinda room I will have.....will see I quess..May be able to slip something else on...will see.

At least you are moving and getting some experience. I would not worry too much about the weight. I would look more at how much it pays and where it goes. If the load goes to a bad area, you need to get a better rate than if it goes to a good freight area. Rates running back and forth to the West coast are rather flat right now. In that past, it has usually been easier to get something better going West but coming East typically pays less unless you do some LTL's. Someone mentioned doing LTL's. You can do well with those, but it requires planning. I can usually come out of California with $2/mile by putting LTL's together. I could also take a cheap load for $1.20/mile and not have the hassles. I don't haul freight that cheap, so it isn't a factor with me. You can spend some time working on LTL's or finding better paying loads or take the cheap ones. You may want to find a couple of brokers who can keep you loaded with decent paying loads. It isn't about the miles but the rate. It is better to run fewer miles for more money than more miles for less money. :wink:

Pepe, just go to Schneider, will you? :lol: :lol: :P

GMAN, where do you get better rates coming west than east? In my time out here, my experience has always been the opposite and it's not even close. It's more pronounced when I'm hauling refrigerated but dry freight is the same story. Since I never have trouble finding good-paying freight out of CA, if I could find all this good-paying west-bound freight y'all keep talking about, I'd be set :lol: I was in TN a few weeks ago, and the phone was ringing off the hook with available loads. Hardly a one even going west, let alone to CA. Are you sure you're not talking about flatbed freight, because I understand that's a different ballgame out here.

comes out to $1.15 a mile




That is one reason why rates in some areas are low. That is not even enough to operate on leased with a carrier let alone with your own authority. It doesn't matter how light or heavy the load is. DO NOT HAUL CHEAP FREIGHT.

Yeah DD...wish I could stick to my guns and never haul it, maybe then the rates would go up?
But when push comes to shove I gotta man...lets just be realistic, if I can make some $ at it as I am (cuz its light).....gotta do it.
I mean look at some of the real crap I did turn down...is that broker going to ask himself, "OMG even Pepe turned me down!!!!! I gotta give these guys more!"
You know 3 years ago I heard the O/ops with authority bitching about cheap freight...well its still here.
I just cant help and wonder what does become of it?(I actually didnt! but was amazed at so much out there) Who the hell does take 1.00 a mile maxed out weights.....you cant partial another load in there...so your screwed with that load....hmmm do drivers really run them?...or do they end up being all that schneider and JB loads rebooked on rail i see?
I dunno....maybe some day would like to get into the broker buiz.....I couldnt ask a driver with a straight face to take that.

Pepe,

People take it because they don't know any better or they figure it's better then deadheading or they're gonna sell the freight and disappear.

You know its funny, back in Texas I ran into a guy, who REALLY was going to sell the junk cuz the consignee refused the load ...OMG what would I do if that happened?
WOO-WOO Pepe's Big Yard Sale......DONT MISS IT!

Sorry but it makes NO sense to me why someone would dead head 500 miles to a better area when someone is willing to pay $1.15 per mile. No offense to anyone but that's just plain F'ing stupid.

Your not going to change anything by not hauling it. There not going to call you back. Ya, go ahead and sit there for a week, that will show them. Go put your "DON'T HAUL CHEAP FREIGHT" sticker on the back of your van then sit in your lawn chair and admire it ALL ALONE IN THE TRUCKSTOP.

I hauled those railroad ties 360 miles to a better area and made more than enough for fuel, shower, food and some left over to play PacMan.

You know its funny...we all ant the same thing, high priced freight. I mean no one comes out here to haul for less(I just cant help wanting to calculate my worst case scenarios to see if I can survive financially.) When I bought my truck I was hopping to get the most I could.
I gotta be realistic tho....n I only have so much time to angonize and wait for the best loads.

When I was comming home from NC with my truck tho, a flatbed driver tried to clue me in how to make the most $, he talked about a load he got from Ca. (he was from CA too) where he went all the way back east, and managed to book two more loads on his trailer with. They were all cheap freight at 1.00 a mile, but he GOT 3 ON THERE so he made 3.00 a mile....my eyes saw $$$$$ ill tell ya! So I have been scheming to do the same if possible....so I always book the lightest hoping.....still dont know if I can pull it off with dry van.

You know you all say I need a shipper.....yeah wish I had one, but for the next few years I am spending at least 4.5 months or so with my wife in Asia....so doubt if even if I had 1 that could work.

You say lease to a carrier....hmmm even if there cool with me taking off that many months they dont want me....even though I have almost 7 years driving ...6 of them training new students, they said I am NOT experienced enough...what a crazy industry we work in (no recent Exp like I forgot how or something?)....so SCREW the Mega-carriers....went out nd got my own gig...so why should I come back now if I can make my bottom line?

Pepe,

A couple of ideas for you. See if you can get a car or motorcycle in your trailer to take up extra space. They pay good. Or find a shipper that has seasonal freight. Then when you're gone he don't care because he won't have any freight anyway.

Steve's thread is kind of long and I stopped following somewhere around the time when he crapped in his truck. Would anyone care to comment on Pepe's experience with a van v. Steve's experience with the flat, or merely a general comparison of own authority van v. flat?

See, everyone can talk about working your special magic with the van and getting your own account with General Electric paying $3 per mile but, you know what, sometimes that stuff is just hard to find. Such is my experience leased on to Landstar. You hear all the wonderful stories, you know. What I'd rather hear is the truth about rates in general in both vans and flats and what just about anyone can find if they'll look around a bit.

Pepe probably can't just switch to flats right away. But, if he could, would there be plenty of $1.40-$1.50/ mile loads? If so, and if it's just plain hard to get good loads or good accounts with a dry box, perhaps Pepe is just best off taking what he can right now that will pay him a 'driver's wage' and a little profit. Then, maybe he can look to repostion himself when he gets back from Asia by going to flat or going reefer or pulling chemical tankers or leasing onto England or, or...or whatever.

One guy is the world's most incredible salesman and he finds that awesome dry van freight and makes a million dolllars a year. Another guy, he's just in the right place at the right time and he too is sitting pretty with his own shippers. Then there is everybody else. No sense beating your head against the wall if you don't fit into one of the first two categories. You either get content with the cheap freight or you change things around so that you at least have access to a lot of good if not fantastic freight.

Pepe, maybe just get through your trip to Asia as best you can and think about other possibilities for when you get back. That's the position I'm in right now. Biding my time, looking around, talking, thinking. If I come across some great dry van freight before I switch to something else, great. If not, look for me to be switching when the timing is right and when I think I know just the right place to switch to.

No_worries, I am speaking more of flat freight, but when I pulled vans, it seemed to be about the same. You make your money going West. The reason is that there are usually more trucks sitting to get a load heading East. I can't begin to tell you the times I have been at a truck stop in California with a lot of trucks all waiting for a decent paying load heading East. Reefers seem to do a little better out of California. In fact, reefers seem to do pretty well coming and going out there. I just had to pass on a partial going West which would have paid me just a tad over $2/mile and only take up less than half the deck. That is the best paying load I have seen heading to this area for several months. I know that I would do good to get $1.35/mile coming out unless I got really lucky or put some partials together. Still, had I not been committed to another load, I might have considered it. I have some contacts on the West coast, so I probably could have put something together, plus I could have put one or two partials on the trailer to make a really good run. I have commitments regionally so I won't jeopardize my relationship with those regular shippers for a one time good paying load. I do well with my regulars. I would have had to be gone about 2 weeks to get that load off and back home. With those commitments and needing to stay closer to home it would have been difficult for me to have taken the load.

Cam,

I have notice there is more Flatbed loads than anything else. In the area where Pepe picked up in Georgia, there are loads for Flatbed that was paying $1.42 per mile. Personally I would not have touched it myself, unless I was out to do it just for a hobby.

When I do get started, I do plan of doing all 3 types but all in due time.

If Pepe would Plan out his trips, he can do good even with the dry van. When you looking for a load look and see what frieght is doing in the area of where the load is going to. Say he picks up in LA. Going to Dallas TX. Before accepting the load to Dallas, look what frieght is doing in Dallas in it surrounding area. If it slow and all cheap frieght look for a different load to take., if it good lots of it, and decent rates, take the load and good chances you'll get a good load with out having to deadhead 300 miles to get another load. In other words before you go know your next move is. Not saying book a load that far ahead, but know what going on in the area, and your one step in the better direction.

That is fine if all you want to do is buy fuel, a shower and food. Personally, I prefer to make a profit. Everyone must decide what they want or need to do in their business. As long as brokers and/or shippers can move freight for $1.15/mile there is no reason to pay more. That is the main reason some areas have cheap freight. There is someone who is willing to haul it to pay for their fuel money. You see, I ALWAYS have fuel money. What you don't see when you haul these cheap loads is that you are spending more money on fuel plus wear and tear on your truck to haul a load for FREE. You are also wasting your time to haul a load for FREE. If you aren't making a profit on a load, you are hauling it for FREE. Charities do things for FREE. Businesses make a profit. This is a business. If you have a cheap load on the truck what happens if you get a call from a broker or shipper who has a decent paying load? You can't haul it because you have a cheap load on the truck. I won't haul a load for $1.15/mile, period. So, am I stupid? Perhaps, but I am still in business. And when I move my truck, I make a profit. 8)

Hmmm isnt realistic from what i see if its a 2 or 3 day run; Usually isnt anything posted on the boards till that VERY day from what I see (see nothing going in then suddenly I see all these loads for that day on the board n gotta scramble), but I am kinda new a this part ;=p Maybe with more experience I will get better at what to expect on the boards, trying to get a feel for it now.

Actually G-man I can make a profit at 1.15.(yeah yeah I know I ...just buying a job, but what I need in my situation)...granted the load is very light....n I keep praying i can fiqure out how to cram another p/u in there if possible....I know dry van isnt known for that, but keep hoping....then im making 2.30 a mile...woo-woo :D
Before you all jump on me for taking 1.15 a mile ....no i dont want to(will keep looking for better), but gootta be realistic yeah know.

I am not going to jump on you, Pepe. It is your decision as to what rate you are willing to run. I suppose it could consider it your learning curve. I understand that you feel that you need to keep moving regardless of the rate.

Pepe, If you watch the area your going before you accept the loads you'll know what going on it that area. If it is slow then by all means do not accept the load to the area your going to have problems at. Not saying you'll have a load right off but your chances are to have a load if you go there, so Yes it is realistic if you plan it out. If you do not your going to have to deadhead more than it is profitable to do so. What I am saying is basicly common sense.

For an Example. Say I am looking for a load. I find one there in Augusta GA, going to Houston, Texas. Before I call about it I will look and see what going on in and around Houston. If there alot of frieght moving, and at a good rate, then I'll take the load to Houston. Once I get there then repeat the process. Unload and then post the truck empty and look at the boards. If I find one I like and I'll check out the area it going to. If again if alot of frieght moving in that area, I take the load. I am not saying the load you see that day will be ther when you get there and emtpy out but the chances are much better.

Another Example Say if I was looking for a load and I had loads offered to me 1 going to Florida at 2.00 per mile or the other going to Texas at 1.75, I'll take the Texas load over the Florida load. Why? Hard to get a good load out of Florida, Texas has mega loads coming out. Most loads coming out of Florida is going to be low Cheap loads. So the 2.00 per mile could be cut down to less than 1.50 per mile fast coming out with a load at 1.00 per mile. Yes I have seen one load coming out of Florida at 1.62 per mile, but it was also going to NC, and it was also a Reefer load. One of the rare loads with the rate posted.

Since I am not registered to the load boards true I have no clue in the rates, but odds are you'll get better rates out of Texas than Florida. Deadheading as much as you did is unrealistic, and your the one to lose in the long run. You had to deadhead that much cause you did not plan ahead. Planning ahead is Unrealistic is nothing but BS. More O/O fail cause they do not plan their business out, and planning your loads ahead is part of the events you should be doing. That is the point I am trying to say PLAN and PLan, if not you will be only hurting you self. If you plan you can cut down your deadhead, cut down on the unpaid miles.

Coastie, you'll find out that what works well in theory is not always so simple in practice. While your theory is sound, it's not groundbreaking and there are tons of trucks out there trying to do that very thing and still struggling. You mention finding a load from Augusta to Houston but not taking it until you've had a chance to check freight in the Houston area. Chances are, if the load is worth taking it would be gone before you have a chance to call. I'm not saying you're not correct in your thought process, but you make it sound like, "if you just do these things you won't have any problem getting good rates" and that's just not the case.

GMAN, it sounds like open trailer rates are just the opposite of vans and reefers. I haul both and, except for a couple of months, getting out of CA is easy. Getting back to CA is brutal pretty much the entire year. I do agree with your philosophy on what rates to take. A lot of guys prefer to keep the wheels turning and hope they balance out the bad rates with enough good to show a profit at the end of the year. The like to throw around the terms "loss leader" and such. Personally, I prefer to show a profit on every load. If I need to move empty I'll absorb the cost and get my butt to a better area pronto. My business plan includes a certain amount of deadhead so it's all good.

I sell above average service and I refuse to do so for a discount price.

I am leased to a carrier & I'm happy. own authority may be good. but having to pay the high ins & get your own loads or factoring bills, or waiting 60 day's to get paid without factoring. a co will load there own trucks before o/o. weather leased or own authority. but hey whatever works.. for me & my flatbed i lease. less stress & headaches. i dont know much about spending time & running up money on phone bills, e.t.c trying to do all the paper work /fax. e.t.c. stuff.

Don't take this the wrong way Coastie, I just want you to know where you stand. What you are saying is the ABC's and everyone knows this theoretically. Destination, good freight area, bad freight area, it's all a consistent part of the equation as much as weight and rate.

It's when you put it into practice when freight is tight that it's tough. Sometimes you end up kicking your problems down the road. You take a load into a less than great area because at the time it sounds like the best thing going on where you are. Then, you just deal with it at the other end. Coming out of Portland last time, I just knew Denver wasn't going to be a lot of fun. Thank God I passed on load after load going into Salt Lake City. But, things were looking bad in Portland and when the Denver load came along I took it. So, what happened in Denver, I got a call about a shortie load in Denver to take up a day and earn a little money and give me time to keep looking for a load out. A couple agents called me up with their garbage loads. Then, out of the blue, an agent calls me up with this very good load to PA I'm delivering in the morning.

Ideally, no, I never would have taken a load into Denver. When freight is tight, you do things less than your ideal. How long before you get out here with us? Well, do keep shadow booking loads or whatever it's called in the meantime. But, come on out when you can. Pepe is doing the best that he can and the fact that he's on here picking peoples' brains and looking for a better way just shows that he's dealing with the difficulties with more intelligence and determination than most.

One last thing, if the brokered freight is anything like the freight in our system, you don't look at a decent load and then just go check out how things are in the destination city. Why? If it's a good load it won't be there when you are done checking things out. If it's a good load, you make your best decision like now and you act fast, you deal with the consequences of anything you were unsure of later. You've got to learn all these suburbs. You just have to know that Grapevine is Dallas, Bedford is Chicago or Peachtree is Atlanta, no time to look it up, not when it's the kind of load you are looking for.

No Worries, if you read what I am saying, it will work great. I did say I have not the ability to see all the rates right now being offered, true, but the if you plan ahead being able to see the rates, and not going into areas where frieght is Slow and rates are low you'll get better rates, and better loads with much less deadhead. Just grabbing a load and running with it is to much gamble with.. Everyone complaing about the fuel prices going up, Low Frieght rates, you can plan around it all, and get good rates if you plan ahead. IF you do not plan guess what? you'll have to deadhead 300 miles to get a load which inturn your no better off than grabing a low rate load in the area your in.

VERY well said,Mike. There is NO point in taking a load for 1.15 a mile with your own authority. You are barely above break even. You might as well get an RV and come out better ahead and see the country without worrying about scalehouses and looking for another load if you want to see the country for free. :lol: Pepe,one thing you should have done BEFORE you got your authority was to know who you were going to haul for,what area you wanted to run,and what you wanted to haul. That way you wouldn't be frustrated looking for another load and just take a cheap load in the end. Operating costs are right at over a 1.00 a mile with your authority so it is VERY important to have your ducks in a row and know who and what you want to haul for before you start. Usually I have been able to find a load for 1.40 at minimum after about an hour and 5 phone calls IF Im looking at loadboards. Preferred ones would be ITS and truckersedge.


That is fine if all you want to do is buy fuel, a shower and food. Personally, I prefer to make a profit. Everyone must decide what they want or need to do in their business. As long as brokers and/or shippers can move freight for $1.15/mile there is no reason to pay more. That is the main reason some areas have cheap freight. There is someone who is willing to haul it to pay for their fuel money. You see, I ALWAYS have fuel money. What you don't see when you haul these cheap loads is that you are spending more money on fuel plus wear and tear on your truck to haul a load for FREE. You are also wasting your time to haul a load for FREE. If you aren't making a profit on a load, you are hauling it for FREE. Charities do things for FREE. Businesses make a profit. This is a business. If you have a cheap load on the truck what happens if you get a call from a broker or shipper who has a decent paying load? You can't haul it because you have a cheap load on the truck. I won't haul a load for $1.15/mile, period. So, am I stupid? Perhaps, but I am still in business. And when I move my truck, I make a profit. 8)[/quote]

Taking a load for 1.15 a mile makes NO sense. Here is an example: You book a load that pays 2300.00 and it is 2000 PC loaded miles and it picks up just 10 miles on the other side of town. OR,you deadhead 500 miles to P/U another load that also has 2000 loaded miles on it and it pays 3500.00. That is 3500.00 for 2500 miles. In other words,1.40 a mile to the truck and 500 of those miles are empty miles which means you get extra mpg and average close to .30cents a mile more to the truck.Still on the low end but not too bad. So in most cases,it is not stupid and it makes sense. Operating costs are over 1.05 a mile when you have your own authority so at 1.15 a mile you are running on 10cents a mile profit,give or take a few pennies. :lol: Shame on me for criticizing Prodigy. :lol: