Another new guy

Feb 28, 2026 at 12:38 PM CST + 5 - 1
Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.	Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member. I’m looking at buying a truck and hauling small grains and fertilizer up in northern Minnesota. I grew up on a farm but have worked corporate jobs for the past 30 years. I’m tired of the corporate environment and the BS that comes with it. So as I write my business plan I was wondering if anyone could help out with current prices shippers are paying. Either per bushel or per mile. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

Replied on Mon, Mar 02, 2026 at 11:58 AM CST + 2
Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.	Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member. Writting your business plan off the low rates a lot of placing is a bad idea. You need to figure out what your cost of operation is, or will be, and then not take loads that won't pay what you need.

Replied on Mon, Mar 02, 2026 at 04:02 PM CST - 2
Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.	Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member. Seeing how the grain markets can rise and fall, you may want to consider a belt trailer! https://trinitytrailer.com/is-a-belt-trailer-right-for-your-operation

Replied on Fri, Mar 06, 2026 at 07:52 AM CST + 1
Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.	Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member. Here is a free calculator. Youll have to scroll down a little for the calculator. Cost-Per-Mile Calculator \| Motor Carrier HQ

Replied on Mon, Mar 09, 2026 at 08:49 AM CST + 1 - 1
Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.	Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member. Bulkloads University and I created a video looking at if you can make money in the bulk sector. While I am not firmiliar with rates in your area, maybe this video can help you nail down your operation costs to show you what you need to make in your situation. https://youtu.be/ftm8Z2yAxOk?si=v0o-4O5kVi7KheEx

Replied on Fri, Mar 13, 2026 at 08:02 AM CST
Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.	Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member. You're probably not going to get a straight answer on rates here. Carriers don't want anyone to know. Shippers may "low ball" someone new. On such a forum. I would go knocking on doors face to face. It could take a lot of work and questions to get to the entity that actually hires the trucks.

Replied on Tue, Mar 24, 2026 at 08:05 AM CST + 1
Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.	Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member. Either per bushel or per mile. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you What would a per bushel rate tell you? I see this on here from time to time and it's mind blowing. You do realize that a grain rate of .25 per bushel could be a bunch more profitable than a grain rate at $1 per bushel right? Cost per bushel means absolutely nothing. Here is a summary I typed up on another forum. Viewing a thread - Figuring grain trucking rates $2 per loaded mile will get you the lowest of the cheapest guys in trucking that can't run a calculator. May or may not show up. Might steal a load of grain if you don't know them. $3 per loaded mile is going to get a good guy if he's just passing by needing a load going the direction of your haul. The guys trying to make a living by hauling your loads back to back won't make it long. $4 per loaded mile your starting to get into a territory that provides better trucking options. Guys running these loads back to back are going to pay their bills and do pretty ok until a major breakdown like blow an engine. You'll get many more guys that will go a little more 'out of the way' to load your grain to get them where they need to go. $5-$6 per loaded mile gets you trucks when you call. You need grain moved quickly and reliably this makes it happen. Guys can run back to back and make money and put some back for the big expenses.

Replied on Tue, Mar 24, 2026 at 08:05 AM CST

+ 1

Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.

Either per bushel or per mile. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

What would a per bushel rate tell you? I see this on here from time to time and it's mind blowing. You do realize that a grain rate of .25 per bushel could be a bunch more profitable than a grain rate at $1 per bushel right?

Cost per bushel means absolutely nothing. Here is a summary I typed up on another forum. Viewing a thread - Figuring grain trucking rates

$2 per loaded mile will get you the lowest of the cheapest guys in trucking that can't run a calculator. May or may not show up. Might steal a load of grain if you don't know them.

$3 per loaded mile is going to get a good guy if he's just passing by needing a load going the direction of your haul. The guys trying to make a living by hauling your loads back to back won't make it long.

$4 per loaded mile your starting to get into a territory that provides better trucking options. Guys running these loads back to back are going to pay their bills and do pretty ok until a major breakdown like blow an engine. You'll get many more guys that will go a little more 'out of the way' to load your grain to get them where they need to go.

$5-$6 per loaded mile gets you trucks when you call. You need grain moved quickly and reliably this makes it happen. Guys can run back to back and make money and put some back for the big expenses.

Replied on Wed, Mar 25, 2026 at 08:32 AM CST
Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.	Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member. I really could not say how freight rates for hauling grain or fertilizer in the area you want to provide services in would be. I can only say most rates in the regions my trucks are available in are cheap, and most traders, and brokers do not want to pay enough to make hauling those products profitable. In my opinion brokers tend to bid rates on a truck beig able to haul 25 ton, I wouldnt be able to know how to convert that into a bushell, because of moisture, and other factors involved. Most of the time my trailers need washed out which adds additional expense to a already cheap paying load. Sometimes a washout will be reimbursed to me. I do not pull hoppers so my tare weights are not as light as someone pulling a hopper, and trying to stay within legal weight limits without a heavy haul permit, again does not make hauling most agricultural products profitable for me. Buying permits also adds additional cost to the hauler, and I guess that would depend on what state you are operating in, and the laws regarding weight limits. I do haul fertilizer which does pay more per ton vs. grain. So before I would buy a unit to transport grain I would definitely research the moves you would be doing to see if that would be profitable for the business you want to start. I have also encountered specifics with organic grain, some shippers still require a washout to haul organic grain regardless of your last load transported. I personally stay away from hauling grain, and only haul that as a last resort. My needs are probably different than what you want to do, being I haul a lot of industrial products. Hauling dedicated lanes always changes your outcome. Good Luck

Replied on Wed, Mar 25, 2026 at 08:32 AM CST

Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.

I really could not say how freight rates for hauling grain or fertilizer in the area you want to provide services in would be. I can only say most rates in the regions my trucks are available in are cheap, and most traders, and brokers do not want to pay enough to make hauling those products profitable. In my opinion brokers tend to bid rates on a truck beig able to haul 25 ton, I wouldnt be able to know how to convert that into a bushell, because of moisture, and other factors involved. Most of the time my trailers need washed out which adds additional expense to a already cheap paying load. Sometimes a washout will be reimbursed to me. I do not pull hoppers so my tare weights are not as light as someone pulling a hopper, and trying to stay within legal weight limits without a heavy haul permit, again does not make hauling most agricultural products profitable for me. Buying permits also adds additional cost to the hauler, and I guess that would depend on what state you are operating in, and the laws regarding weight limits. I do haul fertilizer which does pay more per ton vs. grain. So before I would buy a unit to transport grain I would definitely research the moves you would be doing to see if that would be profitable for the business you want to start. I have also encountered specifics with organic grain, some shippers still require a washout to haul organic grain regardless of your last load transported. I personally stay away from hauling grain, and only haul that as a last resort. My needs are probably different than what you want to do, being I haul a lot of industrial products. Hauling dedicated lanes always changes your outcome. Good Luck

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