Steve I see that you are going to Fraser, Mi. If you want to save yourself some hassle take 275 up to 96/696 and go East. This will get you around the detours created for the Ambassidor Bridge project. I-75 is closed at Detroit.

This will add at least 10 miles to your route but it will be worth it.

Or you could go 275 up to 94 this would be shorter but 94 around Detroit will be packed because of 75 being closed. 94 goes right past Fraser.

By the way I live 170 miles North of Detroit and am a flatbedder and I am always looking for work.

Mike

 

Are those real numbers or just guesstimates? The OH to PA, and the PA to NH seem really low. First off, OH to PA, you are looking at close to 500 miles, depending upon where you are in each state. PA to NH, that one I've seen loads paying over $4.00 per mile up to that area.

Absolutely. PA to MI usually doesn't even exist, unless you're in the know with someone. But I was under the impression that the load you were taking out of NH was something you could do again (I believe you said something about "every week", didn't you?).

 

That's a good post Steve. I was in the rare situation of looking for Ontario outbound last week and this is what I found:

Mon:
Pick 1 in Trenton, ON: 16' L x 10' H = $600
Pick 2 in Colborne, ON: 22' L x 8' H. 8' tarp = $350.
Del load 2 in Barrie, ON
Pick 3 in Brampton, ON: 25' L x 10' H. $1050.

Tues:
Del load 1 in Alfred, NY (Hornell)

Wed:
Del pick 3 in Mt. Vernon, OH (Columbus)

All miles = 800
Revenue = $1975 ($2.47/mile for all miles).
Cost (based on CPM of $1.81) = $1448
Profit: $527.

So it's $527 for 3 days work. Nothing to write home about. BUT, and this is the kicker, I would have a step deck in Columbus, OH looking to go to Ontario and finish the week. From there it's $3.00/loaded mile all day every day baby.

In the end, I found these loads I'm on now instead. 2 trucks for $6,000 each. 13'-11" wide x 10' - 1" H. Pilot cars, police escorts, permits out the ying yang, curfews.....the whole deal.

I know you don't do Canada, but hey, it's money man. I couldn't do it with flat either. Get a friggin' step will ya!

EDIT:
I should note that those rates are the broker's initial offer. I almost guarantee there was another $50 + $25 + $100 respectfully for those loads. That extra $175 goes right to the bottom line and $700 sounds alot better than $527. Brings my rate up to $2.69 for all miles. Not bad for a headhaul that is actually a backhaul.

 

Yup, just another example of the broker listing the miles as the crow fly's. The load was Gallipolis, OH to Gap, PA and was listed as 384 miles. I just checked and it's 428.

There are loads leaving every day but they are those trash loads for $.85 per mile. The one that I'm taking is part of a one time group of shipments. If this was a regular thing I would go back and forth to Detroit until I was blue in the face!

Your probably right about $4.00 loads to NH from that area. I was only looking at loads that had the actual rates posted which are usually low.

I'm busy putting some binder and chain hangers on my headboard but I want to see if there's a formula for LTL's that would allow me to get a better idea how much to charge for a partial load given the number of feet it takes up on my deck and other variables so I end up with $3.00 per mile by the end of the total trip for all the loads.

There are other factors also like the shorter LTL runs for lets say 100 miles would fetch $400 easily. I'm sure other large LTL firms already have this equation worked out.

Maybe when I get back home someone will have already posted one?

 

2 things bout LTL that I've found.

1. you need a 53.
2. you need a 53.

And did I mention a step wouldn't hurt either. :lol:

 

I thought about a step deck but I would just end up building a red neck bunk on the top step.

If it wasn't for the driving on the left hand side of the road up there in Canada I might still do it but the rest of you Canadians aren't much good at staying on their own side of the road.


One of these day's I'm going to write to one of the professors at Harvard School of Business and ask if he would consider one of his PhD students doing their thesis on an actual step by step rule book for the small trucking companies.

Like sit for one day max then take the $1.40 load if it gets you to $3.00 loads in 600 miles or less.

Never sit for more then 3 days without taking something.

Stuff like that.

I find this very complicated and while you may get some high dollar loads your friend Jose maybe blowing your doors off in income by running every day for half that amount.

I just don't know what the formula is yet but I'm starting to find this analysis more and more interesting.

 

lol...no kidding. I've thought about that. Actually, there's not much to think about, it's a no brainer. Maybe I'll weld on an extra piece of metal when I head back down to the truck.

 

If you trade your flat on a 53 combo step (10-1 spread) you could make $2.50 for all miles going from Balt - KC - Toronto.

 

It's a very flexible formula, and takes a lot of factors into account. If a guy was doing nothing but running "throw away" trucks, and got very lucky with keeping them running long enough to turn a profit, I can see how someone could make a go of it by running his azz off on cheap rates. Personally, I care about my equipment, and I hate driving, so I try to do as little as possible for as much as I can get.

 

Steve, when you figure it out let me know. Been on the phone all morning

trying to get a load out of Eastern NC. The best I can find this week has been

1.90 and they wanted me to use my ramps. :shock: I guess I will just go

fishing , the spot should start running soon anyway. At least I can fill the

freezer with fresh fish.

Freight rates suck, stock market sucks, I think I might go mining. Gold, silver

and copper are exploding on the market this am. Anyway good luck. I will

stay put until I can actually make some money. I will not haul anything for

the rates that are being offered here.