Not necessarily,it actually takes more trucks to get the freight delivered by railcar,it takes 2 trucks minimum,one to take it from the shipper to the railyard and another to pick it up at the other end and deliver it to the reciever,not saying that it is better paying,because it surely is not,but to say that the shipping loads by railways is eliminating loads for trucks is incorrect.

 

Havent yet, but promise I will when I get back.......struggling to get back to So cal right now, turned down a lot of 1.10-1.15 loads that wouldve got me back. I never commit to something till i can actually do it, smething i p/u from g-man, most small guyd out here book in advance aka ill be unloaded mon, pre-booked for monday eve tue morn, well what happens rhen when something screws-up?......you break your word?

 

Cheap freight can be different according to the area of the country and type of freight being pulled. I think anything below $2/mile is too cheap no matter where the load comes from. Apparently Steve thinks that $1.30 isn't too cheap. There are others who haul for carriers for $0.85/mile plus fsc and apparently don't think that is too cheap. I make a distinction between what a load pays and what I make. For instance, if a load pays $2/mile and my deadhead is 10%, then I am actually making $1.80/mile. If my deadhead is running at 25%, then I am making $1.50, even though the load pays $2/mile. I have only hauled 2 or 3 loads during the last several months which have paid me less than $2/mile. During the last several years I have tried to keep my load rates at or above $2/mile. For the most part, I have been successful. I just try to stay out of areas that has cheap freight or where I will need to do a lot of deadheading. On the other hand, I will deadhead out of an area if I can't get a decent rate. For me, $1.30 isn't a decent rate and I would deadhead out. But that is a business decision that I make. Steve makes his own decisions which he feels are best for him. Mike, Merrick and others must decide what is best for them. I do know one thing, however. Unless you ask for the higher rates, you won't get them. Just because you are not getting higher rates doesn't mean that others are not getting them. Those of us you are getting better rates, have usually been in business for a number of years. It takes time to hone your negotiating skills. We must also make adjustments based upon what is going on in the marketplace. If rates are suppressed or low, then you need to decide whether you are going to lower your standards and haul the cheaper loads, sit or deadhead to a better area.

If I had a double drop or RGN, I would not run for $2/mile. I would also do more sitting. The more specialized you become, the greater difficulty it will likely be to find something which pays a decent rate. You can haul over-sized loads on a double drop. Those tend to pay well. You can also haul coils, which aren't going to pay all that well for that type of trailer. Again, that is a business decision which each one must make for themselves.

I could haul more loads if I were willing to run for $1.50/mile or less. I am not. That is a business decision that I have made which is in the best interest of my business. Judging from calls that I have gotten the last several weeks, there are plenty of people willing to run for those rates.

 

You know on another note....I tried to ask the brokers here what exactly creates cheap freight? IMO its mostly these guys broker the loads to each other 4 or 5 times.....each time one of them taking 100 bucks or so of the load...crao they have to stop that practice if thats what does it.......not the driver stuck in B>F>E> trying to get anything out.[/quote]


It is sad. But alot of shippers give their loads to twenty different brokers to see who gets it moved first.

 

You are right. I know for a fact CH Robinson uses a system to see what you are hauling freight for using them. They also have a point system to see how You do with them.as far as on time deliveries, O,S and D, and etc.

 

.------------------------------K explain this better to me please cuz this is something thats driving me crazy...seeing all these brokers , rebroker their freight 4 or 5 times with the brokers taking a cut ....then we carriers wonder why frieghts down, you mean I as a carrier can complain to the shipper?....hmmm i outta call the shipper n say im the carrier n im complaining?????....hmmmm he would give a care?
Or your just saying the only solution is dont haul it?


What happened to me is I was going to pick up a load of melons out of Indiana. The broker wanted to make all the money I told him what I wanted, they did not agree. I went on real time freight website and seen the same load paying double. I called direct to shipper got the load and deal directly with them. I put a bug in his ear why that broker cant get his loads moved. He tore them a new cornhole. And now goes mostly with carriers direct.

 

Its not your fault Pepe. You try and wait it out but someone else comes in and hauls it for cheap. Here is a little advice call about a load see if the pays meets you criteria if not ask for more than what you want. when they tel you no say ok thanks. Wait five minutes call back ask about same load when they give you rate now ask them for what you really want. Never give your company name until ready to book.

 

Southern Cal.......53 foot air ride, vented, 2001 freightliner dont look too shaby n no immediate problems, been a pretty dependable truck although im rebuilding it when I go to Asia cuz the engine is getting tired I notice and I try to grap the lighter loads.
Hmmm I actualy live in Asia, but my godparents house is in Ontario Ca area, I dont have to be there other then I do my banking there so like to get back as much as I can...I run all 48 but havent bought an Orgon permit cuz they wanted too much IMO.....dont run north or south from Ca cuz I dont like Ca nazi DOT.....n staying away from new england and southern florida.
Hmmm im in findlay ohio tonight, been struggling all day to get at least 1.20 going back to LA.....n hopefully at least slightly under 40k pounds, there were lots of loads that fit that, but by the tme i overslept the were gone :=p plus being a new carrier they give them to the other guy they know over me.....well tommorows another day so hope to get going earlier :-p[/quote]



Forget the long load. Do you some short hops back to L.A. the pay is better that way. Most long loads dont pay. I pull a air ride dryvan and average $1.78 per mile.

 

Dont let these brokers give you a sob story bout they cant get a load moved. They are not getting paid cheap rates from shippers to move these loads. Alot of theses shippers dont know what is going on, why is their freight still sitting on the dick.

 

Steve I agree with you, but also you cant keep hauling for a $1.30 a mile. Yes sometimes you have to flex a little. The best time a broker can try you is when you get a load to your home state. When they give you that low rate, tell them I dont have to go home I can go somewhere else instead.