Saying yes to a load

[fortwayne]

I am hearing way to much talk from drivers about feeling their carrier is taking money out of their pockets.
The reasons vary, we've heard them all. But, here's the kicker, when I ask them what their cost per mile is to run the truck down the road I hear "dude, I don't know, all I know I ain't making no money."
So before we go all monkey crazy on the carriers why don't we grow up, grab a note pad and caculator and figure out your cost to operate.
Its not a secret formula. Fixed cost plus operational cost equals total cost. There. Now you know your cost. Now, stop taking freight below your cost, determine how much u need to make per mile to make your desired life style work and then proceed forward.
Now, for me this week was terrible. I came up short, so instead of blaming my carrier, I see the two things I did wrong and I will not repeat those mistakes, a problem many of us do, repeat our errors.
Also, since I am home clearing my mind this weekend I will stay out over the holiday, so the rest of u should really go home...I would be thankful.....

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[chefdennis]

Wow!! What an idea for a business person, knowing the cost of doing business!!!

Great post...and i'll also be out over the holiday if the freight keeps me out....

 

[RoadKing06]

We will be out over the holiday weekend also! Hope the freight will be joining us as well!

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[dletheridge]

Yeap, thanks for the Bus 101 review.

I've run into several of those people. After pushing some of them for details I got several different responses.
--Don't have enough money after I go out to eat (he eats at every eatery he can doesn't keep any food in the truck).
--I'm helping the local economy a lot (2 -3 lizards a nite,buys anything and everything from panhandlers,gives money to every sob story).
--I have several girl friends that my wife doesn't know about.

 

[fortwayne]

Ok folks, your missing the point. I'm home this weekend where r can have that long slow no freight holiday weekend this coming week off.....gee wez....LOL.

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[chefdennis]

LOL, but I am home this weekend too...well i have a pu sunday around noon goin down to ALA, to deliver Monday AM..but been home since Thrusday!!

 

[davekc]

Probably shouldn't have posted that Fort Wayne.

Many carriers are dependant upon stupid & foolish drivers to maintain their profitability.

 

[Moot]

At the risk of appearing as a stupid and foolish driver, I must admit that I agree!

 

[Dakota]

I am hearing way to much talk from drivers about feeling their carrier is taking money out of their pockets.
The reasons vary, we've heard them all. But, here's the kicker, when I ask them what their cost per mile is to run the truck down the road I hear "dude, I don't know, all I know I ain't making no money."
So before we go all monkey crazy on the carriers why don't we grow up, grab a note pad and caculator and figure out your cost to operate.
Its not a secret formula. Fixed cost plus operational cost equals total cost. There. Now you know your cost. Now, stop taking freight below your cost, determine how much u need to make per mile to make your desired life style work and then proceed forward.
Now, for me this week was terrible. I came up short, so instead of blaming my carrier, I see the two things I did wrong and I will not repeat those mistakes, a problem many of us do, repeat our errors.
Also, since I am home clearing my mind this weekend I will stay out over the holiday, so the rest of u should really go home...I would be thankful.....

Posted with my Droid EO Forum App

Off the subject but all I can think about is how long this post is especially typing it on a Droid. I am a slow typer and the droid slows be down even more with my big fingers LOL

 

[Ragman]

At the risk of appearing as a stupid and foolish driver, I must admit that I agree!

No risk involved.

 

[fortwayne]

But I have tiny monkey fingers.

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[Dakota]

But I have tiny monkey fingers.

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okay carry on

 

[bigshow345]

Me flying my own flag I must hope a customer says yes to me hauling their stuff. I make out ok how I get my next load is I have my other half advertise on craigslist or scour load boards. Sometimes if say there are three pick ups and they drop off near each other Ill pick up all three.

 

[ErockMoore]

When you run for a company with a flat rate plus FSC, assuming you know your cost per mile, there isn't much to consider other than deadhead. Other than that, remember this: If you take all the work you can get, you will get all the work you can take.

 

[CharlesD]

When you run for a company with a flat rate plus FSC, assuming you know your cost per mile, there isn't much to consider other than deadhead. Other than that, remember this: If you take all the work you can get, you will get all the work you can take.

If you're taking everything that comes your way, then I don't want to hear any griping when you're sitting in Billings for a week.

There's more to consider than just miles. Quality is as important as quantity.

 

[ErockMoore]

If you're taking everything that comes your way, then I don't want to hear any griping when you're sitting in Billings for a week.

There's more to consider than just miles. Quality is as important as quantity.

Ending up in Billings would be about deadhead which I mentioned.

 

[nightcreacher]

If your loads pay 3 bucks a mile,and you find your cost at 3.50,are you making money ,think not.If you do a flat rate,you better know your exact cost to running your truck.The more miles you run ,the lower the fixed cost will be per mile,but the variables will go up quite a bit.Those that work under the asumption,as long as my wheels are turning ,I'm making money,better have a hard look at their businessThere are many truck load companies that pay a flat rate for mileage,thats fine as long as you can run maximum miles and the pay is more than you running costs,but as soon as you sit,or get a couple weeks of short loads on a flat rate,paying the bills will become difficult.If your on a flat rate ,it better include dead head pay too,but usually those companies,would rathjer you sit,than pay you to run empty.
What Ive always done,I only take loads my advances on the load will pay the expenses.If you deliver a load,and afterwards,you dont have money to get to your next load,or you deliver,its very hot out,and you cant aford to go to motel,was tat load really worth it.At 4 dollars a gallon for fuel,idle 10 hours and you could have stayed in a motel.It may not seem like much but as an owner opp runnning a business,you only have yourself to blame ,if your profit is in the toilet
What I'm doing now,is making me money,just as much as I did in expediting,and don't have to have a co driver to help with the miles.My first week was a fiasco,co driver made over 1000 bucks,I made 42,yes that was after all expenses,but believe me,what I'm doing now is quite a bit different.Im now on percentage contract,had to try flat rate once,it just doesnt work out,maybe if i had a wife as a co driver,but when you do flat rate,its to the companies advantage,unless tha percentage is low,and your on a forced dispatch,but we all know whta happens then
Good luck,you flat rate guys will need it

 

[OntarioVanMan]

The more miles one runs the more you have to adjust your costs to allow for them extra miles...the wear and tear of your equipment...your cost per mile would naturally increase...and your truck will wearout faster and then the replacement costs...

 

[greg334]

OVM, much of what you have is a fixed cost across the board, so it really doesn't matter how many miles you run. If you run 125k a year, the Cost Per Mile is the same as if you run 50k a year. The only exception is when you use a system that replaces parts based on life cycle and even then it is an adjustment not to the accounting numbers but rather the timing.

The cost per mile as a variable comes into play when you are trying to figure out your true break even point because that is usually based on an estimated miles driven for the year going forward. This does include an assumption of cost for fuel and other things that are related to costs beyond your control.

 

[Monty]

Have I said I love Landstar? (Oh, yea I have .. sorry)

I am on a percentatge, now, Landstar bills the customer on a per mile basis, but that is their gig, not mine. I have to be pleased with what the percentage equates to ona per mile basis.

Some of those loads are acceptable to me, some are not.

Holiday? We dont do not stinkin holidays! Holidays are for sissies!