Getting a Clue

[JTB]

I own a cargo van and began driving for a small expedited carrier in the Chicago area. I am into my 5th week and a newbie to the expediting game. The company loading me only gets me outbound loads. I am making $0.90 a mile and have had some good weeks and some terrible weeks. My biggest problem is that I am always deadheading back empty to Chicago. Most of my runs have been to the Nashville area, but I have run as far as Oklahoma City and southern Pennsylvania.

My question is how do I get return loads from expediters in the area I am dropping. I do not necessarily have to head back to Chicago, though that would be great.

Just trying to figure out how this works for an independent o/o.

 

[Tom Robertson]

Here's a CLUE....
You are not making 90 cents a mile.
You are making 45 cents a mile using your own van.
Here's another clue...
You are not going to make any money... you would be better off taking a job for minimum wage. Your van, maintnenance, insurance costs, road expenses amount to about 25 cents a mile (if your lucky)
so figure it out.... you're making about $10 an hour AND your van is depreciating at a rate that will eat up the majority of you $10 per hour charge...
One final clue... find a expecited company that you can sign on with... you could continue to use the outfit in Chicago to get out and another company to move to another location...
if you can't do that... opt for a local job
Sorry to be so blunt, but you really do need to get a clue!
Tom Robertson

 

[Glen Rice]

You can do better. You sound like a hard working individual. There are other opportunities in the Chicago area that can make you profitable. If you want to stay in this industry you will have to find a new carrier. I don't know what your obligations are that bring you back to Chi-Town after every trip? Your company obviously has a freight base of Chicago only...this is not good for you or them. They will understand you leaving as it is just a matter of time before you will resent them and be broke. Move on, it's time.

 

[Dreamer]

Just about any company would LOVE to have a driver based in the Chicago area... and a bigger company will get you back. As the other two gentlemen said.. you can do better.



Dreamer

 

[davekc]

Couldn't have said it better myself. Find a larger carrier that has freight EVERYWHERE. You are a sinking ship running at .45 cents a mile. "business man first, driver second"
Davekc

 

[Twmaster]

I'll chime in here also.

I'm making just a hair over $1 per mile (all miles) running a local delivery route with a cargo van in the Washington DC area for Dynamex. In a place like Chi-Town you should be smoking, not choking on 45 cents. Time to go hunting for a new carrier most riki-tik.

--
Mike N

 

[X1_SRH]

JTB, I agree with everyone here so far. It's time to start doing some shopping for a new company. I can understand loyalty to a company, but is your company treating you the way that you are treating them? If you are giving them some time to get you loaded - and they are not getting it done, then there is a problem. Shopping for companies is a difficult balance. Company too big = you get lost in a pile of trucks. Company to small = not enough clout to keep you loaded. Take the middle ground and it should be a winning proposition for you and your company. I wish you the best - X

 

[terryandrene]

As a 15+ year van vet, I too echo the comments of all those above. You are probably looking closer at next weeks big check than next months bigger credit statements. You are learning how to make a small fortune in expediting...start with a large fortune and deadhead yourself into poverty. I join our colleagues in suggesting you consider joining a nationally recognized carrier, or you link up with a city courier.

Before you deadhead another mile. Figure your fixed and recurring expenses. Assume you'll operate your van for 5 yrs for a total of 500,000 miles. Add together your van cost including interest; all the stuff you've added to or into the van; corrective and preventive maintenance of at least $1500 per annum; 20 or so oil changes a year; $2 fuel at 18? mpg for 100K miles = $11,000 a year; tolls $$$?; office expenses such as phone, stamps, ledger, license, registration, insurance, AAA, hotels/showers(rarely), laundromats, van washes, property tax; etc.,etc.

Don't mean to discourage anyone 'cause it's doable. You need to know your expenses and minimize your deadhead miles.