Cheap grain

Mar 15, 2020 at 12:46 PM CST + 15 - 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Weather is getting nice and time to go back to work. I see rates are worse then last year. I dont know how and why you can do it. This is my only income and not a farm funded truck. Last year I had less miles then my wife had driving to work. If it dont pay it dont run. You have your equipment wore out yet so I can make a living?

Replied on Sun, Mar 15, 2020 at 09:02 PM CST + 1 - 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Evidently I cant delete this post until its approval. Dont know why I say anything it will never change but I vented anyway🤣

Replied on Tue, Mar 17, 2020 at 09:59 PM CST - 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Grain has always been cheap and that won't change. So let move on from that subject. Farmers can only pay so much also times are tough for them too. May be we might have to try another way to get the truck to make money

Replied on Wed, Mar 18, 2020 at 07:21 AM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Grain being cheap to haul has nothing to do with a farmers wallet, "in my opinion". I used to argue the exact same thing you did. Save yourself the headache of getting crucified by everyone and go read my posts from 2 years ago, as well as the responses proving me wrong. Most of the grain we haul isn't owned by farmers, its owned by agp, chs, adm ect.

Replied on Wed, Mar 18, 2020 at 09:09 AM CST + 2 - 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Don't haul then. It's pretty simple

Replied on Wed, Mar 18, 2020 at 09:09 AM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. I know grain brokers are cheap. I wont haul for them. Actually the farmer gives me a better rate. But I do know there are farm trucks running around just to pay fuel and keep the hired hand busy.

Replied on Wed, Mar 18, 2020 at 09:09 AM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. I dont even call CHS or Agp anymore they are brutal

Replied on Wed, Mar 18, 2020 at 09:09 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "Grain being cheap to haul has nothing to do with a farmers wallet, "in my opinion". I used to argue the exact same thing you did. Save yourself the headache of getting crucified by everyone and go read my posts from 2 years ago, as well as the responses proving me wrong. Most of the grain we haul isn't owned by farmers, its owned by agp, chs, adm ect." Agreed. I've hauled tons of grain that came from China. So much for helping American farmers.

Replied on Wed, Mar 18, 2020 at 09:09 AM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Quote: "Grain being cheap to haul has nothing to do with a farmers wallet, "in my opinion". I used to argue the exact same thing you did. Save yourself the headache of getting crucified by everyone and go read my posts from 2 years ago, as well as the responses proving me wrong. Most of the grain we haul isn't owned by farmers, its owned by agp, chs, adm ect."

Agreed. I've hauled tons of grain that came from China. So much for helping American farmers.

Replied on Wed, Mar 18, 2020 at 02:03 PM CST - 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Hauling grain that came from China!!!!!! SHAME SHAME !!!!! Oh no bored and picking on same guy twice in one day. Maybe I better take a happy pill . Oh here they come to put me back in that room again.

Replied on Wed, Mar 18, 2020 at 09:09 PM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Sell the grain hopper and do something specialized. Look at what moves in your area and get creative. If cheap grain is all that moves in your remote environment you might want to consider moving. Not trying to be offensive but people have been moving around for better opportunities since the world began. Actually why dont you start making toilet paper and hand sanitizer so we all can stay clean.

Replied on Wed, Mar 18, 2020 at 09:09 PM CST

+ 1

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Sell the grain hopper and do something specialized. Look at what moves in your area and get creative. If cheap grain is all that moves in your remote environment you might want to consider moving. Not trying to be offensive but people have been moving around for better opportunities since the world began. Actually why dont you start making toilet paper and hand sanitizer so we all can stay clean.

Replied on Thu, Mar 19, 2020 at 09:21 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. What's the going rate for hauling grain? I am new to this

Replied on Thu, Mar 19, 2020 at 10:16 AM CST - 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Elevator 2 mi from me ships beans for .15 bu on 120 miles And fertilizer back to town NW for $8 ton on about 150 miles

Replied on Thu, Mar 19, 2020 at 10:16 AM CST - 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Elevator 2 mi from me ships beans for .15 bu on 120 miles And fertilizer back to town NW for $8 ton on about 150 miles

Replied on Thu, Mar 19, 2020 at 10:16 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. I actually can pull a belly dump. But these hopper guys will haul aggregate to for little of nothing a d wonder why trailer is falling apart. It's been wet last couple of years so everything gets started late But we always manage to make something work

Replied on Thu, Mar 19, 2020 at 03:29 PM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "Elevator 2 mi from me ships beans for .15 bu on 120 miles And fertilizer back to town NW for $8 ton on about 150 miles " Holy c**p! I was comlaining about $0.15 on a 32 mile haul. I have a 18 mile haul pays $105 a load. 22 mile loads pay $136. And I just bounce back. Corn to ethanol plant. By the bu w/FSC. I just hauled MAP for 23.5/ Ton for 214 miles. Paid truck $808.50 I get 12/ton on meal for 98 miles. 33 ton= $396. ($300 on 25 ton), and I load grain back to plant. Pork meal $25/ ton for 155 miles, $625 on 25 ton, $825 on 33 ton. I have a round trip deal, 4 days a week. Does over $7000/ week on 2890 miles. I would seriously not touch the loads you talked about. I know its not legal, but I would chat amongst everyone and see if you can not starve the guy out. Or at least try to reason with him. Cheep fuel or not, those loads are not good.

Replied on Thu, Mar 19, 2020 at 03:29 PM CST

+ 1

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Quote: "Elevator 2 mi from me ships beans for .15 bu on 120 miles And fertilizer back to town NW for $8 ton on about 150 miles "

Holy c**p! I was comlaining about $0.15 on a 32 mile haul.

I have a 18 mile haul pays $105 a load. 22 mile loads pay $136. And I just bounce back. Corn to ethanol plant. By the bu w/FSC.

I just hauled MAP for 23.5/ Ton for 214 miles. Paid truck $808.50 I get 12/ton on meal for 98 miles. 33 ton= $396. ($300 on 25 ton), and I load grain back to plant.

Pork meal $25/ ton for 155 miles, $625 on 25 ton, $825 on 33 ton.

I have a round trip deal, 4 days a week. Does over $7000/ week on 2890 miles.

I would seriously not touch the loads you talked about. I know its not legal, but I would chat amongst everyone and see if you can not starve the guy out. Or at least try to reason with him. Cheep fuel or not, those loads are not good.

Replied on Fri, Mar 20, 2020 at 09:18 AM CST + 3
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "Holy c**p! I was comlaining about $0.15 on a 32 mile haul. I have a 18 mile haul pays $105 a load. 22 mile loads pay $136. And I just bounce back. Corn to ethanol plant. By the bu w/FSC. I just hauled MAP for 23.5/ Ton for 214 miles. Paid truck $808.50 I get 12/ton on meal for 98 miles. 33 ton= $396. ($300 on 25 ton), and I load grain back to plant. Pork meal $25/ ton for 155 miles, $625 on 25 ton, $825 on 33 ton. I have a round trip deal, 4 days a week. Does over $7000/ week on 2890 miles. I would seriously not touch the loads you talked about. I know its not legal, but I would chat amongst everyone and see if you can not starve the guy out. Or at least try to reason with him. Cheep fuel or not, those loads are not good. " Here's a little story you might ponder. Elmer found opportunity in the food grade tanker business. Roger had a truck dealership. Elmer did business with the dealer. One day Elmer was telling Roger how well he was doing in said tanker business. Now Roger has one of the larger food grade tanker fleets in the country. Elmer's fleet is still alive and well. But I hope you get my point.

Replied on Fri, Mar 20, 2020 at 09:18 AM CST

+ 3

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Quote: "Holy c**p! I was comlaining about $0.15 on a 32 mile haul. I have a 18 mile haul pays $105 a load. 22 mile loads pay $136. And I just bounce back. Corn to ethanol plant. By the bu w/FSC. I just hauled MAP for 23.5/ Ton for 214 miles. Paid truck $808.50 I get 12/ton on meal for 98 miles. 33 ton= $396. ($300 on 25 ton), and I load grain back to plant. Pork meal $25/ ton for 155 miles, $625 on 25 ton, $825 on 33 ton. I have a round trip deal, 4 days a week. Does over $7000/ week on 2890 miles. I would seriously not touch the loads you talked about. I know its not legal, but I would chat amongst everyone and see if you can not starve the guy out. Or at least try to reason with him. Cheep fuel or not, those loads are not good. "

Here's a little story you might ponder. Elmer found opportunity in the food grade tanker business. Roger had a truck dealership. Elmer did business with the dealer. One day Elmer was telling Roger how well he was doing in said tanker business. Now Roger has one of the larger food grade tanker fleets in the country.

Elmer's fleet is still alive and well. But I hope you get my point.

Replied on Fri, Mar 20, 2020 at 12:07 PM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. I dont do it. Grain is chs. Lyons SD to Sgt Bluff. Fert back to Madison SD. I have tandem only so it would be $328 on 300 miles. Now you know why I am complaining. It's not even good at double the money

Replied on Fri, Mar 20, 2020 at 01:43 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "I dont do it. Grain is chs. Lyons SD to Sgt Bluff. Fert back to Madison SD. I have tandem only so it would be $328 on 300 miles. Now you know why I am complaining. It's not even good at double the money" OH BOY, a $1.09 per mile!!!! WOW!!! Maybe I should buy that belt trailer. Actually, this morning I received a call from a shipper, who does not usually put his freight on refer trailers, ask me if I had equipment available to haul a load for him. One of his regular carriers had too many drivers call in sick, so they are short of help. This is a great time to be hauling a refer, or a dry box.

Replied on Fri, Mar 20, 2020 at 01:43 PM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Quote: "I dont do it. Grain is chs. Lyons SD to Sgt Bluff. Fert back to Madison SD. I have tandem only so it would be $328 on 300 miles. Now you know why I am complaining. It's not even good at double the money"

OH BOY, a $1.09 per mile!!!! WOW!!! Maybe I should buy that belt trailer. Actually, this morning I received a call from a shipper, who does not usually put his freight on refer trailers, ask me if I had equipment available to haul a load for him. One of his regular carriers had too many drivers call in sick, so they are short of help. This is a great time to be hauling a refer, or a dry box.

Replied on Sat, Mar 21, 2020 at 10:28 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "OH BOY, a $1.09 per mile!!!! WOW!!! Maybe I should buy that belt trailer. Actually, this morning I received a call from a shipper, who does not usually put his freight on refer trailers, ask me if I had equipment available to haul a load for him. One of his regular carriers had too many drivers call in sick, so they are short of help. This is a great time to be hauling a refer, or a dry box." Absolutely! A business savvy carrier who normally doesn't run dry van would be wise to pick up a cheap 53 footer to capitalize on this virus nonsense right now. It would pay for itself in a week or two easily.

Replied on Sat, Mar 21, 2020 at 10:28 AM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Quote: "OH BOY, a $1.09 per mile!!!! WOW!!! Maybe I should buy that belt trailer. Actually, this morning I received a call from a shipper, who does not usually put his freight on refer trailers, ask me if I had equipment available to haul a load for him. One of his regular carriers had too many drivers call in sick, so they are short of help. This is a great time to be hauling a refer, or a dry box."

Absolutely! A business savvy carrier who normally doesn't run dry van would be wise to pick up a cheap 53 footer to capitalize on this virus nonsense right now. It would pay for itself in a week or two easily.

Replied on Sat, Mar 21, 2020 at 05:21 PM CST + 2
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "I dont do it. Grain is chs. Lyons SD to Sgt Bluff. Fert back to Madison SD. I have tandem only so it would be $328 on 300 miles. Now you know why I am complaining. It's not even good at double the money" I wish every trucker knew how much the basis was that chs took from the farmer for that grain. I've had chs pay very good rates on oats, but beans are usually a pretty awful rate. I know an elevator that used to pay 42 cents for beans, 180 miles, last year the rate posted out of there (after it became chs) 25 cents

Replied on Sat, Mar 21, 2020 at 05:21 PM CST

+ 2

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

I wish every trucker knew how much the basis was that chs took from the farmer for that grain. I've had chs pay very good rates on oats, but beans are usually a pretty awful rate. I know an elevator that used to pay 42 cents for beans, 180 miles, last year the rate posted out of there (after it became chs) 25 cents

Replied on Mon, Mar 23, 2020 at 06:57 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "Here's a little story you might ponder. Elmer found opportunity in the food grade tanker business. Roger had a truck dealership. Elmer did business with the dealer. One day Elmer was telling Roger how well he was doing in said tanker business. Now Roger has one of the larger food grade tanker fleets in the country. Elmer's fleet is still alive and well. But I hope you get my point." I'm not bragging about rates, just showing that they aint all bad. I believe my hard work and dedication to the shippers is what secures my rates.

Replied on Mon, Mar 23, 2020 at 06:57 AM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Quote: "Here's a little story you might ponder. Elmer found opportunity in the food grade tanker business. Roger had a truck dealership. Elmer did business with the dealer. One day Elmer was telling Roger how well he was doing in said tanker business. Now Roger has one of the larger food grade tanker fleets in the country. Elmer's fleet is still alive and well. But I hope you get my point."

I'm not bragging about rates, just showing that they aint all bad. I believe my hard work and dedication to the shippers is what secures my rates.

Replied on Mon, Mar 23, 2020 at 04:38 PM CST - 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "Here's a little story you might ponder. Elmer found opportunity in the food grade tanker business. Roger had a truck dealership. Elmer did business with the dealer. One day Elmer was telling Roger how well he was doing in said tanker business. Now Roger has one of the larger food grade tanker fleets in the country. Elmer's fleet is still alive and well. But I hope you get my point." Would you rather be underbid by a small margin or by someone who knows nothing of that lane/market rate to come in and utterly smash it down to third world country wages overnight? I completely see your point but everone will be undercut eventually. It's the nature of the beast but when someone comes in and has no clue what the current rate is brings it down to a nearly worthless level it hurts the entire country. It's important that those new to the lanes have an idea of what to base their initial rates on. If outbound rates of the Chicagoland area is running at $3/mile and a few new jokers come in hauling out for $1/mile we all now what happens next. If they knew from the beginning what they could get I seriously doubt they would have hauled for $1/mile. They most likely would have tried to keep it as close to $3/mile as possible.

Replied on Mon, Mar 23, 2020 at 04:38 PM CST

- 1

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Would you rather be underbid by a small margin or by someone who knows nothing of that lane/market rate to come in and utterly smash it down to third world country wages overnight? I completely see your point but everone will be undercut eventually. It's the nature of the beast but when someone comes in and has no clue what the current rate is brings it down to a nearly worthless level it hurts the entire country. It's important that those new to the lanes have an idea of what to base their initial rates on. If outbound rates of the Chicagoland area is running at $3/mile and a few new jokers come in hauling out for $1/mile we all now what happens next. If they knew from the beginning what they could get I seriously doubt they would have hauled for $1/mile. They most likely would have tried to keep it as close to $3/mile as possible.

Replied on Tue, Mar 24, 2020 at 01:35 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "Absolutely! A business savvy carrier who normally doesn't run dry van would be wise to pick up a cheap 53 footer to capitalize on this virus nonsense right now. It would pay for itself in a week or two easily." You are so right, David. While our new driver, Al, is running solo to the east coast, we had a "business" meeting this morning and discussed this possibility. I'm getting ready to order our new refer and my nephew agreed with your opinion, and mine , that it might be a good idea to have one of each. A refer and a dry van. And purchasing a dry van, used, is preferable to purchasing a used refer. I know of too many guys who have purchased a used refer trailer who ended up having major problems with the refer a few months after they got it. I prefer purchasing the refer new for the warrenty, etc., and hope there's no problem with it. I would not like to file an insurance claim for a load gone bad. Hopefully this information will help someone else. Purchasing a used dry box may need tires, possibly brakes, and/or an alignment, but the overall purchase may be worth it. Of course, we still have weeks to go before the new tractor, ordered to my specs, is delivered.

Replied on Tue, Mar 24, 2020 at 01:35 PM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Quote: "Absolutely! A business savvy carrier who normally doesn't run dry van would be wise to pick up a cheap 53 footer to capitalize on this virus nonsense right now. It would pay for itself in a week or two easily."

You are so right, David. While our new driver, Al, is running solo to the east coast, we had a "business" meeting this morning and discussed this possibility. I'm getting ready to order our new refer and my nephew agreed with your opinion, and mine , that it might be a good idea to have one of each. A refer and a dry van. And purchasing a dry van, used, is preferable to purchasing a used refer. I know of too many guys who have purchased a used refer trailer who ended up having major problems with the refer a few months after they got it. I prefer purchasing the refer new for the warrenty, etc., and hope there's no problem with it. I would not like to file an insurance claim for a load gone bad. Hopefully this information will help someone else.

Purchasing a used dry box may need tires, possibly brakes, and/or an alignment, but the overall purchase may be worth it. Of course, we still have weeks to go before the new tractor, ordered to my specs, is delivered.