Question: If you have a quote for 3500, you better take it, thats only 2.50 a loaded mile. I've been moving homes since 1983 and we were getting 2.50 a mile in 1990, our rates now are 5.25 a mile plus permits. (5/6/2008)
Response: Hi, I have already taken the $3500 bid and the trailer leaves out in a week. $7350 for a 1400 mile haul seems a little excessive. Fuel at about $800, permits at about $600, escorts at about $1000, food and lodging at about $600. Thats a total of about $3000. Is that an accurate estimate? Thanks for the info and have a great day. (5/7/2008)
Response: fuel 1750 [7mpg, 2800 mile round trip, 4.25 per gal], drivers pay 1120. escorts [1.25 a mile] 1750, permits 500, meal, motel 500, weekly truck payment 300, weekly insurance 100, .25 per mile truck maintainance 700, total expense 6720, company net profit 630. you have a goood day also (5/7/2008)
Response: The way most truckers work is to haul a load to, or at least in the direction of their next load. For short hauls that isn't necessary but for cross country it is. If you haul empty (deadhead) to every pickup you are wasting fuel and wasting time. With Fuel at its current cost it is irresponsible and makes absolutely no sense to run empty for 1400 miles. The load, in this case a park model, is only hauled 1400 miles, NOT 2800 miles as you suggested. In the future you should try to schedule a load in one direction, and another load athe return route of your location. For example if your truck is Pa. and you want to haul my trailer to TX, then you need bid on a haul back in the direction of Pa. Then when you deliver the trailer to my ranch you hook on to your next load and head back in the direction of Pa. The extra scheduling will increase the time of delivery each load, but it makes each load more affordable and saves everyone on the ballooning fuel cost. Thanks again for your interest (5/9/2008)
Response: Been trying to do just what you explained for the past 24 years, I have 3 trucks and have only been able to secure a backhaul twice in that period. When you are set up for specialized freight[mobile home toter trucks] it is next to impossible to schedule backhauls, and my drivers are not going to set for a month waiting for a return trip when they can run back here to Pa. and be on a run the next day. I know I can not compete price wise with normal OTR trucks but I am not in the normal OTR trucking business. (5/9/2008)
Response: I completely understand, thanks for explaining. I know a mobile home is a totally different animal as far as freight goes (in the trucking business). Have you thought of maybe modifying your toters to pull other loads too. I realize most toters are super short wheelbase tractors with single axles, but I wonder if you could somehow rig them up to to pull double duty - haul a mobile home from point A to Point B, and then haul autos, boats, or a load of freight from B back to A? Just thinking out loud. Thanks again quickshake. (5/15/2008)