Yeah, if the base operating cost really were $1.29 :lol:

$1.29 is more than generous. Maintenance is nowhere near $1500/mo. on 8k miles.

So that's all there is in your "base rate"? Fuel and maintenance? :roll:

You skipped the first post?

You skipped my response in the other thread you posted that in that said that there were a bunch of things missing out of it?


Wow - we've gone full circle. Again. :roll:

What is missing?

lol :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

This is what happens when someone gets their business advice from a person everyone refers to as "hobby trucker".

I don't think my father or I have taken "business" advice from Steve. We have learned a thing or two about getting loads.

Well...DaDa can keep hauling those loads based on an operating cost of $1.29 per mile. Pretty soon the repo man will be hooking on to his truck and trailer and he won't be doing it anymore.


In 2003, with fuel far cheaper than it is now, with a monthly truck & trailer payment of $1,880 dollars and insurance monthly of $450.00 per unit(4 trucks), and with lower road tax rates, I had our operating cost pegged at $1.396 per mile.

Of course...we weren't restricted on operating radius....given our combined driving experience, so our freight base was better, and our insurance expenses lower.


Obviously you learned diffeent math skills than did I.

Fuzzy math was never my strong suit.

It's not fuzzy math all of the figures are there.

I wanted to add something to this thread,but at this point I'm speechless :?

Say it ain't so! :shock: :P

Ok, I have less experience than Charged, but here it goes...

Charged go over to the OOIDA web site, go to the tools section, and download the spreadsheets in there. Then you need to run down the real numbers to plug into the spreadsheet, and adjust the assumptions based on reality.

Now the disconnect in what your saying that just doesn't compute with these guys because you don't appear to have a business background and are not considering a lot of things. Everyone manages their business differently, and everyone uses different assumptions.

Secondly there is another disconnect in that rates are fluid, general principals apply regarding rates and going to different parts of the country, back haul, and learning to make hay when the weather is good. There will be plenty of rainy days and you will need the reserves you put away to survive. There will be peaks and lulls, and you need to make your calculations based on those realities.

Lastly because everyone uses different assumptions you will be hard pressed to get direct answer to your question. So unless they outline everything they use in their assumptions for their baseline you have no way of determining if that will work for your situation.

Lastly owning your own truck is owning a business. Nobody goes into business without a business plan, and a planned return on investment. The base rate you ask about is just what it costs to turn the key and make the equipment roll down the road. That isn't all there is to it. At some point your equipment wears out and has to be replaced. Where does that replacement money come from? What is profit in your mind? We are not talking about what you pay the driver as profit. That is employee pay no matter if it is you that drives or someone you hire. Nobody in their right mind goes out and plops down 20-100+k on a truck without some plan to have that money make them money. Otherwise just leave it in an interest bearing account and find something else to do.

So if your trying to get into a business then take the time to learn what you need to know, and not just how to buy yourself a job.

So go get that spreadsheet, start plugging and chugging in the numbers, and then pay attention what these guys are saying in this forum and you will start to get an idea of the numbers your looking for. If you watch closely and listen to what is said and keep adjusting your figures you will have a good idea what it takes to make money in this business. At least that is my take from doing my homework for the past many years of hanging out here.

BOL in your search for information.

Longsnowsm

That spreadsheet is a decent place to start, but even it is not complete (unless they've changed it since the last time I saw it). But it's better than pulling numbers out of thin air.

Your right it is a good place to start, and as you guys on here continue to share over time new items get added to the sheet, and new notes get filed away all the time. But for a newbie just looking at this brand new it is a great way begin putting some numbers into play.

There have been a lot of posts over the years that I am sure someone good with the search tool could pull up where there have been some interesting posts. That would also be a great place to look as well...

Some of the advise given on this forum is so good that I would pay for it. If some members on this forum started doing some work on the side as business consultants I would gladly hire them for their wealth of knowledge and experience when I am ready to start my own business.

I hear it get tossed around that "this isn't rocket science". Well that can be said of just about any business, and you know what? Most of them don't make it, and it still wasn't rocket science. So it doesn't have to be rocket science to be tough. I have nothing but respect for you guys that are making a good living as an OO. My hats off to you.

Longsnowsm

WELL THEN! Let me be the first to send you a bill! :P

CAD admin gets 76%. :P

CAD modulators get 0%.

CAD modulators get 0%.[/quote]


:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Somebody just got skooled....

That's the stupidest thing I have read on this forum so far. Ever turn the TV off and read any grade-school level books? If you did, you would understand that, for a driver to be a "capitalist pig", he would have to be hell bent on making more money, not working for less ...duh.

Ignorance is expensive...and it's going to cost you big time.

Carry on Comrade.

We have actually broken down some basic operating expenses a couple of times. I don't recall the thread, but you should be able to do a search and find it.

a buck twenty nine huh?
Let me ask, if I may, how many mpg's your dad's truck gets?

Why don't you ask Rev, he's close to $1.29 also without the salary but I guess you didn't read his numbers.

This sounds a little one sided!!!

:lol: Getting your undies in a bunch over your new protege?

Everyone knows I'm for the underdog and have always been a firm believer that everyone should be helping instead of telling newbies to go home, go away BOY and you don't know how to run a business.

You've already stuck your foot in your mouth with just the information you posted yesterday.

Uh huh. Riiiight.

Yeah, except for when people offer to help you and you act like an asshole to them.

Well, if it looks like a goose, and smells like a goose, then it probably is a goose.

Oh really? Why don't you explain how? :roll:

I don't have too. Anyone with half a brain has already figured it out and then some from the emails I've received.

I guess the cards are on the table and now we know all the facts and each one of us can come to our own conclusion.

Now I'm sure this thread will wind down in the usual fashion with the name calling and then the inevitable shutdown.

Thanks for posting your numbers Rev!!! :D

Sh*t - I posted my real expense numbers years ago, both on this message board, and on other ones. There was nothing spectacular in me posting them here - I just didn't want to take the time to convert them all to per mile, since I don't calculate that way. :roll:


You could have saved a ton of bandwidth by just asking for them in the first place, instead of making yourself look like an idiot with no business sense. But hey - you deal the cards you're played. :wink:

I can see clearly now the rain is gone. :lol:

What can you see clearly? That I pay myself a $72,000 a year salary?

No need to go into detail. We can arrive at our own numbers now. :D

Finally things are back to normal! Rev and Steve are not getting along anymore. :lol: I felt the need for comedic relief. :D

http://www.worthless1000.com/Internet.jpg



I am curious though - what exactly is the huge revelation that you think you've garnered from me posting my numbers? Frankly, I don't really see the significance, since I doubt my numbers are all that different than anyone else's.

Do you honestly think I care? I wouldn't have posted my numbers if they were some super-secret thing. I think Steve's just been drinking too much, and thinks he's one-upped me. Hell - if he would have just asked me to post them, I would have. I have nothing to hide. If I did, I wouldn't have done that 20 Q thread.


Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to watching The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

I don't know if you care or not, you tell me! Honestly I'm not gonna take sides but what is wrong with posting your numbers? There just numbers and everyone is gonna have different numbers cause each driver runs different not two drivers run alike. If they do they may have slightly different numbers. I don't see what the big deal is honestly!

Me either. I think Steve is just being a douche.

Your question is pretty vague- "base cost for operating a truck"

I think reviewing your Dad's receipts since the beginning is where you can start. This is how transportation companies, as well as retail, develop trends for volume, expenses, etc. Since he's started up, you know annual costs like 2290, insurance, etc...

My costs per operation, differ from a lot of o/o's here. I'm leased, so besides trailer washes, I have no expense for a trailer like depreciation/replacement, maintenance.

Since you run flatbed, you need to analyze the freight climate for such freight. Weight, miles (length of haul), and geographic of inbound/outbound freight- and what it all pays. You're limited now with your radius, but looking outside the box for beyond your radius will help you prepare for the upcomin year(s).

But, going back to the beginning of my post, your Dad's expenses is where you can start. Then, like a smart business(person)- be PC in Y2K :wink: , you can "tighten the belt" in different areas of costs. I learned how to cut corners here and there to bring my operation over the past years. Little things like-

what state to fuel in

fueling at truckstops in my lanes of travel, allowing me to build shower credits for when I need them (no shower fees)

LISTENING TO OTHER DRIVERS

Picking routes that make the most sense- (I had a discussion w/ Mr Booth about Vegas to the east. I always run 15 to 80, not 70. Hills = fuel...)


Hopefully this advice makes sense, or steers you in the right direction. Of course, I run my business differently than most. I run newer equipment, spend more on preventative maintenance, and eat in restuarants that cost a buck or two more :wink:

And to take some pressure off the OP, I'll jump on the grande for a minute-

I just deadheaded 1000 miles to get a load :lol: I'm serious.....

They seriously don't pay to have their own trailer washed? :shock:

Shoot - that's not that big of a deal. I've deadheaded 1200 miles just to be home for the weekend, then re-deadheaded another 500 miles to pick up a load. (that Denver to WI is a boring ride, too).

BC - check your PM.

Nope, no paid trailer washes on the road. They have a service when it's at the yard, but I'm never there.

I guess we mirroed our deadhead, except I was coming off hometime going to Denver for my load :wink:

PM checked after I hit "submit"...