What trailers should we be hauling?

Ouch. Wait 'til it gets to $1.40...

What trailer should you be hauling? Only you can answer that question. Generally, hopper and dry van rates are pretty tough.

What is your unfair advantage in trucking?

Do you have high value products to haul in your area/region?.... Hay isn't high value.

Good luck

Hay most definitely is but you have to broker it too, I handle all my hay from the baler to the end user and I'm getting along just fine.

When I said high dollar freight I mean something like petroleum or natural gas. The poster is from Kansas, lots of oil in that region of the country. Also, lots of refer work out of the packing houses.

$5.00 a mile plus fuel.

I agree that it's unrealistic for the hopper community at this point which is why mine is parked. However, all production and transportation costs are passed to the consumer, that's part of how profit is made. I disagree that the hopper is not specialized. You can't load then on every corner like a dry van, reefer, or flat bed, and you certainly can't unload them everywhere either. Based on your comment, do you think toilet paper is a more specialized product than hopper products? I would argue without the hopper products, you wouldn't need much toilet paper, and you certainly can't stroll in Wallmart and tell them what you're going to pay for it. I think shippers and brokers would like us to believe hoppers are not specialized as a way to keep the rates down. I find it funny that commodity traders, and some brokerages post record profits, brag about aquisitions, and expansions, yet they are the same ones saying hauling their commodities is not worth a realistic rate. And, $2.90-3.25 is not a realistic rate. I definately know my bottom line, and I could run for $2.90-3.25, but refuse to run for it because I'm in business to cover my costs, make a living, and make a profit; the profit I deem adequate, not what someone else thinks is reasonable. I have zero interest subsidizing someone else's profit at the demise of mine. If I wanted to run cheap, or for my bottom line, I'd be in the general freight market. Even if people "driving just to drive" do go out of business, I doubt very seriously shippers and brokers will be willing to share the profit. They will still be tryiing to find people to haul it for $2.90-3.25 to increse their own bottom line even more. Things will only change when the carriers have had enough. To those who say they will move by rail or get their own trucks, I call bullshit. If they thought for one minute it was easier, more profitable, or dependable, they woulld already be doing it. They know for a fact they can't own & maintain equipment, stay compliant with the FMCSA, hire employees, pay for fuel, and insurance for what they are able to get away with paying carriers. But, somehow, they continue to expect us to run for our "bottom dollar". No thanks, and good luck to all that keep trying. I'll keep my hopper parked and stay where I am, "living the dream" setting my rate, and doing just fine.

Good Morning,

I think you have me confused with someone that doesn't know what they're doing. Make no mistake, there is absolutely no confusion on my part. I completely understand what you meant by all miles. Additionally, I stated previously that I COULD make a profit at $2.90-3.25 for all miles. What you missed is why should I, when for this entire year I have done consideralby better than that? I don't subscribe to the theory that just because you CAN do something, you SHOULD do it. When you took your shot at what you believe to be my poor business management, you failed to mention your profit margin. $1.00 above your cost is profit. How much are you actually speaking of since you run such a finely tuned machine. What is your empty to loaded ratio? How long do you have to stay out? What is decent to you? Decent to you may not be decent to the next person. As an example, from my perspective, an Omega is a decent watch, on the other hand, a Rolex is a very nice watch. It's perspective, everyone's is different. For the record, my loaded to empty ratio is 50% loaded at best. I run out loaded and back empty, EVERY time. Even at a 50% loaded ratio, I'm smoking your all miles number, which is why I originally stated my hopper is parked. All I'm attempting to convey with my post is; as a group, I believe the hopper community is selling itself short. Everyone knows the rates should be better. The shippers and brokers will be the first to say it, but will also say in the same breath, as long as someone is willing to run cheap, they will gladly accommodate them. The ball is in our court, we are in charge. We just have to realize it, and come to terms with making a very good profit is ok, there is nothing wrong with better than "decent". If many others in the supply chain can post record profits, why can't we? Do we not deserve record profits? It's not our job to keep prices low to the consumer, it is however, our job to make the most profit possible, just like every other business on the planet. If "decent" is all anyone is after, a regular job without all the expenses and liabiltiy is a much easier choice. I purposfully left my numbers out of this conversation because I definately don't want anybody to think the way I'm doing things is easy, and all they need to do is switch trailers and they can do what I'm doing. Most likely it will not work out, especially if you think the loads posted here on Bulkloads are good, which they are not. They may seem better than hopper loads, but in reality, the loads posted here are worse than hopper loads, all things considered. The last thing I want is everybody to switch trailers and completely ruin the rates in my segment. If you want to know my numbers, I'm easy to find, give me a call and I'll gladly discuss them with you. If you take time to go back and read some of my other posts, you will see a common theme which is, hopper rates are too cheap, and we have no one to blame for it other than ourselves. I'm a lead by example type of person which is why I parked my hopper. It's sad because I'd rather be pulling it. I miss the agribusiness, which is why I continue to look for better paying hopper loads. When I find some, I'll quickly hook back up to the hopper. In closing, I truly wish nothing but success for everyone, and if you're completely satisfied that you're making all you could wish for and living your best life, I'm genuinely happy for you. If not, maybe you should do something about it. If I don't post before then, Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Barry