$0.68 per mile???

gotta go · Sep 19, 2008

I drive for one of the little companies that bids for some of our loads off of loadboards. Yesterday there was a load from Eagle Pass, TX, to MI, for a 'D' unit. It went at $1100.00 for 1600 miles. That works out to $0.68 a mile.
How does it make sense to run for that much money? Do you think the person who hauled it will be heard complaining about cheap freight?

OntarioVanMan · Sep 19, 2008

gotta go said:
I drive for one of the little companies that bids for some of our loads off of loadboards. Yesterday there was a load from Eagle Pass, TX, to MI, for a 'D' unit. It went at $1100.00 for 1600 miles. That works out to $0.68 a mile.
How does it make sense to run for that much money? Do you think the person who hauled it will be heard complaining about cheap freight?

At that amount it makes no sense...BUT there is rare circumstances that the truck took to make it work...

DougTravels · Sep 19, 2008

Depending on size and weight, It is possible that it was trucked a short distance then flown and trucked another short distance.

nightcreacher · Sep 19, 2008

The short distance was 1600 miles,and at .68 per mile,I hope it was part of an ltl,cause there is no reason for that load to go on an expedite tariff.If it were an actual expedite load,the company that accepted it will be out of business shortly,after all,fuel alone will cost you at least .40 per mile,then whats left of the .68,How can you justify this?

late4dinner · Sep 19, 2008

The sad thing is, the company that took the freight for .68 cpm just gave the shipper something to use against the next person who tries to make a living.

I know that some drivers and companies will take freight just to move the truck to a better location without reguard to whether or not they will make a profit.

I am glad to say that I will never be one of "THOSE PEOPLE."
These people are the reason that freight is as cheep as it is today. I have never hauled freight just to cover my fuel cost. If I can't show a profit, I will let the freight rot on the dock.

I don't work every day, and in fact sit more than most but I probably end up with more cash in the bank at the end of the year than than the average driver.

Jefferson3000 · Sep 19, 2008

late4dinner said:
The sad thing is, the company that took the freight for .68 cpm just gave the shipper something to use against the next person who tries to make a living.

I know that some drivers and companies will take freight just to move the truck to a better location without reguard to whether or not they will make a profit.

I am glad to say that I will never be one of "THOSE PEOPLE."
These people are the reason that freight is as cheep as it is today. I have never hauled freight just to cover my fuel cost. If I can't show a profit, I will let the freight rot on the dock.

I don't work every day, and in fact sit more than most but I probably end up with more cash in the bank at the end of the year than than the average driver.

Before you go on accusing THOSE carriers of cheapening the rate, it would be good to have more of the facts. Unfortunately, we do not.

Load boards are a fact of life. They are a lifeline between carriers and brokers across the country. If it went for $.68 per mile, it was most likely an LTL load, and not an expedite. There could possibly be someone hauling a "cheap" VAN expedite load for that much, but if was more than a skid, I'd say it was probbably a general LTL.

Why would an expedite carrier bid on it? I see expedite loads move out of Eagle Pass all of the time. No problem there. Perhaps the driver complained about sitting in Texas, and the carrier offered him a chance to get closer to home. (Of course this is all speculation, but then again, so was the assumption that this was a "cheap expedite load.") Just remember. The driver had the power to turn down that "cheap" load and sit a bit more. Instead, he took an opportunity that was presented to him.

gotta go · Sep 19, 2008

The load was posted as expedite straight truck freight. I will also sit rather than put something that cheap on my truck. If it was put on a LTL truck, my sincere hope is that it was not delivered on time and the shipper will learn that cheaper is not always better.

Jefferson3000 · Sep 19, 2008

Well, evidently the driver chose to take it rather than sit. Or take it rather than d/h to San Antonio. I know of a couple expedite brokers who want a deal on everything. As long as they know there are more trucks sitting than freight coming out, they can play the "supply and demand game."

BillChaffey · Sep 19, 2008

If the Truck gets 9 MPG @ $4.03 a gallon it would cost him minus any Tolls he might have $716.00 and change. If he needed the Freight and wanted a better place to sit $383.00 and change is better then $000.00 and change.

x06col · Sep 19, 2008

Now, now, boyz and girlz. I took a LOT of $.68 freight. BUT, I always had room for LOTS more. Lets say, 5 skids @ 1K each went for $.68. There is still room for TWO (2) more $.68 loads like that one. THEN, do da math!! Not real good. But, good nuff to get me outa Eagle Pass on a Friday nite. Or, anywhere for that matter. Wize up y'all!!

nightcreacher · Sep 19, 2008

gotta go said:
The load was posted as expedite straight truck freight. I will also sit rather than put something that cheap on my truck. If it was put on a LTL truck, my sincere hope is that it was not delivered on time and the shipper will learn that cheaper is not always better.

you never stated the size and weight of the load.a 20 ft st load at 13000 lbs and .68 per mile,sure hope they needed to be some where very bad.but 4 skids at 1000 lbs each,you can work with that

Tennesseahawk · Sep 20, 2008

x06col said:
Now, now, boyz and girlz. I took a LOT of $.68 freight. BUT, I always had room for LOTS more. Lets say, 5 skids @ 1K each went for $.68. There is still room for TWO (2) more $.68 loads like that one. THEN, do da math!! Not real good. But, good nuff to get me outa Eagle Pass on a Friday nite. Or, anywhere for that matter. Wize up y'all!!

Maybe with LTL. Not with expedite. I'm not marching to THEIR 50mph avg drum for peanuts. I'm out here to make a living, not grovel for crumbs.

ATeam · Sep 20, 2008

late4dinner said:
I know that some drivers and companies will take freight just to move the truck to a better location without reguard to whether or not they will make a profit.

I am glad to say that I will never be one of "THOSE PEOPLE."
These people are the reason that freight is as cheep as it is today. I have never hauled freight just to cover my fuel cost. If I can't show a profit, I will let the freight rot on the dock.

Yesterday, Diane and I became some of "THOSE PEOPLE" when we got home under our carrier's Home Run program (see post). But we did not sell out or in any way drive freight prices down.

The country has millions of shippers that have an item or two to ship and are unwilling to pay truckload rates to do so. And why should they? If you ordered a couple of chairs from the factory that made them or the store that sold them, would you be willing to pay a truck $2.50 a mile to have them delivered?

In expedite, shippers pay extra to get an exclusive-use truck. In LTL, shippers pay to ship partial loads. Fill up a truck with partials and you will have a truck load of freight that is worth driving. LTL freight is not cheap freight; a truckload of freight that pays $0.68 per mile is.

moose · Sep 20, 2008

Jefferson3000 said:
Well, evidently the driver chose to take it rather than sit. Or take it rather than d/h to San Antonio.

DH to Laredo will work better in this case...
or did i got it right...?

Moose.

x06col · Sep 21, 2008

Tennesseahawk said:
Maybe with LTL. Not with expedite. I'm not marching to THEIR 50mph avg drum for peanuts. I'm out here to make a living, not grovel for crumbs.

I dunno there Bud, yer math is still fuzzy. If'n yer going there anyway, and what he mentioned wuz a Monday delivery, don't ya tink it'd be worth driving the full eleven a day for the weekend, steada six or seven for eight hunnert bucks or so??? just anuther way to put a bit more cash in the box. If ya need it.

Remember the old saying? Git yer truck loaded, git it there, an be ready for smore.

I know it's easier to pout and "give em what they pay for", but lookie at all the uaw folks that didn't even do that and what's cook'in with them these days. Whine!!

nightcreacher · Sep 21, 2008

LQQK,if no one would take that load at .68,dont ya think the broker would have to raise his rate.Yesturday i was at a horse show,a lady there who works fo a truck brokerage,was telling a guy on the phone,she has a drop deck load in las vegas going to seattle wa,she offered it to him for $3000.This load was paying the brokerage,$6000,now why should this broker make that kind of money,when all they have invested is time.Also.this lady works out of her house,she gets most of her calls on her cell phone,and she sure could of sent that load out for much more than that but she new she didnt have to.Now back to that .68 per mile.Why haul it that cheap,just say no,the rate would get raised

moose · Sep 21, 2008

That's a 2.4 $/Mil load ,
and as an O/O that's the price to look for,
can you make money running this load ?
we can care less how mach money the broker/carrier make.
we are a business owners .

now , nightcreatcher ,,, dose your Doctor know you are taking that eye to a horse race ???

Moose.

davekc · Sep 21, 2008

Eagle Pass usually has quite a few loads. A .68 cent load sounds like a LTL load. I wouldn't haul a .68 cent load exclusively but it might be alright as a filler load if it is going to an area that another load is. Most of those types of loads come out of there with a cheap 1.50 NLM load. Which isn't too bad if you can run your truck for over 2 a mile. Same thing with most of the border towns as one load isn't more than a mile or two from the other. In fact, many come right out of the same warehouse.
It was good there Phil you looked behind the curtain and see what some "other people" do. Granted GL is cheaper freight, but once you locate the better paying loads, you will find another world out there. Doesn't mean you would want to, but it is nice to know there are more options than many think.

nightcreacher · Sep 21, 2008

moose said:
That's a 2.4 $/Mil load ,
and as an O/O that's the price to look for,
can you make money running this load ?
we can care less how mach money the broker/carrier make.
we are a business owners .

now , nightcreatcher ,,, dose your Doctor know you are taking that eye to a horse race ???

Moose.

not horse race,, horse show,and still,brokers are suppose to sell their freight for not more than 10%,or as i told wrong,I know there are ways for them to hide the extra revenue.Oh and also.its a drop deck over size load,that would pay me at fecc over 4 bucks a mile,my pay

arkjarhead · Sep 21, 2008

My dad was telling me recently that the main brokers he works with are getting 9% of the tariff. There's also a lot of things that come things that come into play with an oversize load besides just cost per mile of the truck. Do you have to have a pilot car? Do you have to pay it? If you do you could be looking at another $1.25 per mile on top of your truck's costs, plus the cost of permits. Not to mention the added headache in general that goes along with hauling a non legal load.