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Trucking cost in America

Jun 21, 2023 at 09:35 PM CST
+ 10 - 1

"Cost of trucking hit record high last year, passes $2/mile for the first time" on Overdriveonline

Replied on Thu, Jun 29, 2023 at 08:46 AM CST
+ 1

This is an issue we should all be aware of... but it seems a lot of guys in the hopper business are not. I meet soo many hopper guys on the road running $3 a mile loads, but often times they are only loaded one way...... AND don't get in their way because they will be late for supper at home 😐 Even if equipment is paid for, running for sub $2 a mile ALL MILES does not allow much room for equipment replacement.... or a living.

Replied on Sun, Jul 09, 2023 at 07:30 AM CST

If that's your cost, you aren't very good at trucking. Let's see your numbers...

Replied on Sun, Jul 09, 2023 at 09:39 AM CST
Quote: "If that's your cost, you aren't very good at trucking. Let's see your numbers..."

The OP was about an article in "Overdrive." IMO too many O/O's ignore national trends and focus too much on how cheap they can run a truck. The $2 a mile figure is probably all miles and includes all expenses to include replacement costs that are often overlooked.

Replied on Mon, Jul 10, 2023 at 07:14 AM CST
Quote: "If that's your cost, you aren't very good at trucking. Let's see your numbers..."

What is your holding cost? Most guys that own a truck have no clue about this. One dollar of the two dollars goes out your exhaust. So you only have one dollar to play with.
Replied on Mon, Jul 10, 2023 at 03:12 PM CST
Quote: "What is your holding cost? Most guys that own a truck have no clue about this. One dollar of the two dollars goes out your exhaust. So you only have one dollar to play with."

Exactly!!.... Although I would put fuel costs closer to 70 cents a mile depending on where and what you are running. $2 all miles for all expenses is probably pretty accurate for most trucking companies. The way I look at it, being an O/O I need to be taking home at least the same or better money as a company driver. Walmart and Loves both start out at $90,000 to $100,000 a year, so if I can't make that owning my own truck and headaches that come with owning my own truck, then I should just be a company driver.

Replied on Tue, Jul 11, 2023 at 08:24 AM CST
Quote: "Exactly!!.... Although I would put fuel costs closer to 70 cents a mile depending on where and what you are running. $2 all miles for all expenses is probably pretty accurate for most trucking companies. The way I look at it, being an O/O I need to be taking home at least the same or better money as a company driver. Walmart and Loves both start out at $90,000 to $100,000 a year, so if I can't make that owning my own truck and headaches that come with owning my own truck, then I should just be a company driver. "

It would be nice if more folks looked at it that way, but trucking is driven more by ego than profit, i.e sleep is for sissie's, I have more chrome than you, I have more horsepower, I drive more miles than you, etc you get the picture trucking is mostly bragging and ego, nobody ever want's to divide their income by hours worked, most just run around and bragg about their gross income before expenses.

Replied on Tue, Jul 11, 2023 at 08:24 AM CST

Low rates no longer exist in the market thanks to the ELD, everyone is now generously compensated for all miles and dentention time, BECAUSE THE EXPERTS SAID SO.