Just as I suspected, I didn't do 10,000 miles in a month. I've attached a map of all my trips for November and the total - including deadhead - is only 7,251 miles. According to my records, I've grossed $17,400 but only roughly 75% of that - or $13,000 - goes to the truck. So, it has been $1.79 per mile gross for me on all miles BEFORE fuel and all other expenses. Is it good or bad for a stepdeck?

North Dumfries, Canada to Soda Springs, ID - Google Maps

I'd be happy with that. No tarp loads either right? I do about $1.60 a mile gross on a mileage contract.

Landstar has always interested me that's for sure. I wonder if it would work out to my advantage.

I thought you got 73%?

Yes, these are all non-tarp loads - I still don't carry tarps The percentage is 72% when you start, once you take a CABS class within 90 days it goes up to 73%. But the percentage is applied only to the "line-haul", while you get 100% of the fuel surcharge. Which averages roughly 75% of the entire amount billed by Landstar. My last load example: $2,850 L/H plus $250 FSC. Since I haven't taken the CABS yet, I'm getting 72% of $2,850 + the entire $250. That totals US$2,302 to the truck and $2,302 is 74.25% of $3,100; or roughly 75% of the freight price.

Well, if it's all hub miles, i'd say it's good! 4 out of 5!

The only issue I would have is if the FSC only avg 10% If that's the exception rather than the norm its OK Not great but the economy isn't great either. Keep on truckin LOL

One good thing I can say about my former employer - MacKinnon Transport out of Ontario - is that the fuel surcharge that they paid to flatbedders on a percentage pay was much higher than the 'cents per mile' FSC they paid to owner-operators on cents per mile pay. I often saw a $300 FSC paid to me where a van guy (paid cents per mile) would get $50 bucks. This would happen often with shorter runs. Unfortunately, at Landstar agents ('freight brokers') are motivated to cut the FSC part of the freight price to the bone: the smaller share the FSC takes of the line haul amount, the more money they will make.

Example:

Load 1 pays $3,000 and $300 of this money is FSC. I would get the entire $300 plus 72% of the $2,700. The agent gets 7% of $2,700 or $189. Compare this to:

Load 2 pays $3,000 and $500 of this money is FSC. Now I as driver (BC) get $500 plus 72% of $2,500 and the agent gets 7% of $2,500 or $175.

It's not a big difference but it affects both Landstar and its agents, and when you do 1000s of loads a year and you have 1,000 agents and 10000 drivers, it is a lot.

Which is why I'm still thinking of my own authority down the road

Well, I run 8,000 miles a month on my dedicated lane. 4,000lbs down and empty back, pulling THEIR trailer and I gross $15,000 a month. I also only work 4 days a week

I think you should be making more seeing you are using your own trailer, but it doesn't seem too bad. Are you happy and does it pay the bills... that's all that matters.

Sounds pretty good to me Tracer. Keep in mind, you're handicapped because you have to cross a border with every shipment. That limits your load selection and adds to your DH.

Here was my November. 11 Loads (10 SD + 1 RGN). 1 oversize (12 feet).

Keep in mind we have our own outbound freight so "all broker miles" to me means DH to PU + loaded + DH back to yard. Extra miles is all broker miles minus outbound miles. Rates do not include permits.

DH miles to PU: 959
LOADED miles: 5197
DH miles back to yard: 2152
ALL Broker miles: 8308
EXTRA MILES: 3714
$/LOADED MILE: 3.21
$/ALL MILES: 2.01
$/EXTRA MILE: 4.49

That's rather an exception, unless you are talking some "super freight", or you are talking 2008, just before crash, when fuel was about $5 a gallon. Either way, i doubt that run is still exist....

Well, I have been doing it since 2009. Every week, dedicated lane. I just got back and now get to sit at home for 3 days till I leave out again Saturday morning, so it still exists for me