Complaining about rates

And I now see that it was power only, but I would assume the same concept applies without the load & unload times. I don't understand why it is always the truck that is expected to "adapt" to another industry to pay the bills. They paid for the truck & trailer & any smart entrepaneur did it with work already lined out; but now that work is being traded in for trucks that don't care about the customer, or their product, for cheaper rates.

As a broker who works with Vans, Reefers, and Bulk Equipment the markets are drastically different. As a specialized driver you put up with a lot for the rates you are paid. The market you work in is commodity based and that is the issue. Vans, Reefers, Flatbeds, and other trucks are able to base their market on several factors. As a bulk carrier, you are at the mercy of how the commodity sells.

If vans pay that well then why are you on Bulk Loads? Why aren't you running a dry van? According to TCI Business Capital the national average (loaded) dry van rate for August 2023 was $2.07 a mile, reefer is at $2.43 a mile, and flat bed rates are at $2.50 a mile. For me personally I try to keep my belt running for $2.50 ALL MILES and no I don't run local home every night runs very often.

The key to making money in bulk is getting away from the poverty wagon known as the hopper bottom, UNLESS YOU ARE A FARMER with lots of stored grain to move. Hoppers simply aren't versatile enough to be loaded both ways and the freight isn't valuable enough to make good money.

Ed, I used to own a poverty wagon for a short time when I farmed more. I tried running that hopper for hire long enough to know the numbers weren't good enough.

Does your hoppers run commodities or in the oil fields? Being totally honest on your own numbers per truck, could you make a good living running a hopper as an owner operator?

Most hopper guys I talk to are running loaded 50-60% of their miles.

6.50 loaded mile or it sits. Fuel is 4.29 in nd.

gravel guys get 165 hr.

lot of equipment is owned by finance companies. They are the ones bringing the rates downwards

We run the road. We stay loyal to our customers and our customers stay loyal to us. When a load is booked, it is delivered, unless there are cercumstances. The trick to making money with any trailer is to not jump around and chase the money! I know guys who hooked their wagon to the oil field and then when the oil field went south, they could not make it in the market and then proceeded to drive rates down. The same happened with the covid era. Everyone beating their chest when the rates were good and dumping hoppers to pull refers and dry vans to chase that big money and hopper guys screaming that they should make the same with the hopper! We cut a fat calf for 2 years and now, those who jumped around are now jumping back into the hopper sector and driving rates down again. The thing is, the guys who just stayed with hopper are not seeing the decrease in the rates, because we stuck with it. I have said it before and will say it again, what works for our company may not work for someone else, so you need to find your own niche and stick with it! Consistency is what make you money.

Yes easily!

So the guy from Farmersville still has not said which board he screen shot the loads from.....Also Good ole Uncle Paul told me that the hog farmers that stay in it year round year after year will make more money than the guy that jumps in and out with the market price.... same with trucking I think...I have a hopper and nice dry van I give service and I communicate with my broker , in out times ect. Also I run eld and have tracking they can see... oh also I am honest I also treat people with respect I think this might help me do better...