i mean in terms of CPM, what do you consider a good rate?(for a dry van)

also in different areas of the US what is a good rate for the S east, N east, etc

 

You are going to get a wide variety of responses on this one.

I pull tanker now, but when I pulled dry van, I was always very, very happy if I could get more than $1.75 per mile without going into a bad area.

Sure you can get $2.00 per mile to go to South Florida or to Boston, but you will simply give it back when you get out of the area. Coming out of South Florida or the Northeast you are lucky to get a load at all, but if you do it will probably pay only $1 per mile.

For a one man dry van independent owner operator, who is willing to drive 9,000 miles per month, I ESTIMATE you can make about as much as a company driver if you average about $1.40, which is not easy to do.

 

We are a small motor carrier (1 truck) and we avg about $2.00 for dry van freight. You have to be smart about where you go and what you are hauling and also be a good at negotiating.

 

[quote="Joymax_Trans2"and we avg about $2.00 for dry van freight.[/quote]

Is it "book loaded", "hub loaded", "all book", "all hub"....? :roll:

 

For dry van pulling long-haul, don't count on $2.00 for all miles. For us, in good freight lanes, it has to be over $2. In the bad lanes, our minimum is $1.50. Occasionally, I'll go a hair lower if I really have to get somewhere. Haven't done it yet this year though. Bear in mind that we run team with a $1000 minimum, so we rarely haul the 250 mile stuff that's paying $3.00/mile. And we pull dry freight less than half the time.

We're unloading in Boston now. Just had a guy call about a load that picks up in Fall River, MA going to Hollister, CA. 3160 miles and has to be there Monday so they need a team. I said we wouldn't be empty in time tonight but we could pick it up Saturday morning and have it there by 7 p.m. Monday. He said, "Really, what's the rate?" Because it was light and MA to CA I quoted the minimum $4700. He said he had a guy who could pick up today and get it there Tuesday for $3000. I told him that I was sure he'd have no trouble moving that load for well under what I quoted, but you get what you pay for. We didn't get the load because the shipper didn't want to load on Saturday. Even if it had been about the rate, I wouldn't give it a second thought. We offer a particular service and some can't afford it. Figure out your rate and stick to it. You'll be a lot happier with yourself knowing that you offer a value-added service and not just a commodity.

 

"good paying freight" is such a general term, there are so many factors.

For example, a load going to edmonton better pay damn good otherwise you're gonna be burned on the way out.

Also, your costs factor in this as well. One light load paying 1.50 a mile through the mid-west is going to be much more profitable then one heavy load going down all the toll roads on the east coast.

Also, cheaper freight might be more profitable for a big company if it is steady freight.

 

For me, running a logistics van, it's $1.50 per real world mile + Fuel Surcharge + any equipment and labor charges.

I charge $1 per blanket, strap, bar or deck board + $35 per hour of labor + $100 per time I need my ramps.

I'm not getting rich, but it's good money.

 

Solo379 - not sure what you mean by book loaded or hub loaded. Please explain.

 

There are several factors that account for a good paying load,not just the base rate. I agree with what others have said. IF you go into certain bad areas for 2.00 a mile than you will end up giving some of it back. I would not haul anything out of FL. for 1.00 a mile. There are a lot of O/Os that do it and help keep the rates in that area down. Taking a backhaul is their excuse. Sometimes it is more profitable to deadhead out of Fl. and get a 1.60+ load going up to the midwest,than hit Ca. during produce season.

 

speaking of produce rates.....wow!!! i didnt know they were that good...load of produce going from cali to midwest for over 5500$, but im still confused over the insurances :shock: