Getting started

It's a tough competitive market. There's a constant revolving door of new people coming into the hopper industry as well as a constant flow of people going broke and leaving the industry. Best advice I can give is to go back and read the forum discussions on this site about rates.

Find good companies and bust your butt for them. Watch your books closely. Keep an eye on your cost per mile.

hopper rates are lower than most in the industry. Have respect for yourself and establish an average rate you want and dont haul under that average period.

I read an article in Transport Topics the other day that stated the "average" cost per mile to operate a tractor-trailer has reached $1.82 per mile. This does not surprise me given the costs involving running your own rig. Personally, I use a figure of $1.90 per mile for our refer rig, which works for us. Anyone getting into the transportation industry, through any division, should be very aware of this figure and prepare for it. Otherwise, if you just want to drive a truck for a living, be a company driver. Also remember that hauling drayage (containers) is the lowest paying sector of transportation. Bulk hauling is, for the most part, just above this.

We don't run southwest, because the most I could pick up with a refer is exempt freight called "produce". hahahaha If you look at a D.A.T. board, produce from Yuma, for example, is running at $1.27 per mile. Those rates are 35 to 45 years old. Unfortunatly, most other exempt frieght rates in the ag. industry are way too low now. So, be careful and don't sell yourself short.