Hopper rates

With reports from investigations stating broker/ brokers taking up to 65% of the load, we more than qualify for food stamps. Still zero transparency from brokers on load board, it's like they sign a NDA amongst themselves.

Dave have you ever walked into a broker's office and asked to see the books?

Hopper rates tend to be somewhere between dry van and refer, and odds are you won't be loaded both ways. A Google search of current trucking rates will give you an idea of what to expect. Short hauls pay better per mile, but that short haul stuff is a dog eat dog world that I try to stay out of. One SHOULD have a minimum that they are willing to roll their tarp for...

I sold my hopper years ago.

"I want to see your books." "I'll show you mine if you show me yours." "NNo." DAH!!!

$2.25 for ALL miles driven used to be the goal for most carriers just a couple years ago.... Now days with the ridiculous fuel, labor, and parts prices that $2.25 goal is more like $2.50 for ALL miles driven. Factors such as load distance and region of the country can tweak those numbers a bit. I hope this helps.

I'm just trying to figure out who leaves flatbed work to pull a hopper?

with reports......that is not factual,,,,,please share a real instance where this happens.

Depending on how you define welfare, I "see" few.

Old farts tired of dragging tarps...

Yes, $3.46 is for all miles; all hopper. As far as CA driving goes I have never had a problem, just take it easy in metro areas; outside that you can cruise along at whatever speed you feel comfortable.

Each state has its' own idiosyncrasies; started driving in the Bingo Card era, driven all lower 48.

Trucking, like most everything is what you put into it. If someone wants a day job pulling a load somewhere and deadheading home for the night, that's their business, but they won't make much. If someone puts together a loop that keeps the dead miles to a minimum & takes them X amount of days to run they will make more money.

I've only done 6 CA loads in the last 2 years, same day delivery, 20 miles from home @ $700 I'll do that; All other work is Interstate.

Did you make the conscious decision to haul that cheeeeep load or was someone holding a gun to your head or twisting your arm to do it?. We all have had to do that same thing. I had to do that with one of my guys this morning because we got rained out where the good load was and took a rinky dink load to get to where we had to be tomorrow. No one forced me to do it, i did it to keep a really good run together. The point is, as an owner operator you have the power to say no and bounce or to take the cheap load to put you to a better position. You have the power to say no. No one is forcing you.

I disagree, every movement starts with an individual; if it's a good idea others jump in, and it grows. Just like the Bud Light debacle. The problem with trucking is everyone's idea of cheap is different, and many have no idea what their numbers are. I was in Florida last week and there was a guy in line to unload. The finance company showed up and repo'd his truck right there in front of everyone. They didn't even let him unload it. He packed his personal sh💩 and called a ride. The bar to entry in this industry is too low and there are no base level experience requirements to own your own equipment. Many people think owning their own equipment means more pay, but I'll submit if people don't have sufficient industry knowledge well beyond how to drive a truck, many times they are the problem. They are the ones who take anything offered, which drags the rates down for everyone else. Unfortunately, between them and new brokers trying to conquer the world without specific knowledge in the freight market they are trying to enter, they are likewise equally responsible for dragging rates down. A solid broker with a good truck following, and a good freight base is many times forced to compete with a new broker from the general freight market. The end result is the market gets trashed and what once was good quickly becomes a dumpster fire. Unfortunately, the ones that suffer the most are the established carriers that have been doing it right all along. Can I get an AMENNN🤷

Here's an article in overdrive talking about average cost for trucks in America. "Cost of trucking hit record high last year, passes $2/mile for the first time"

Have you seen any industry that is required to show how much they make in profit? Are supermarkets required to show you how much they paid for the product before they put it on the shelf so you know how much they are making? Tell me an industry that is required to show their profit margins on each individual transaction. Should you be required to show how much it takes to operate your truck, then only be allowed to make a certain percentage profit? Opening brokers books do nothing. If you made more than enough to cover expenses and make enough profit on a load, does it make any difference if the broker made $1 or $1000 in profit on that load? If the rate doesn't work for you, move on. Let them not cover their loads, look bad to the customer, then have to pay more to get things moved. This argument always comes up when freight is terribly slow. Doesn't seem to come up when freight is plentiful and drivers name their prices. I was telling drivers a couple years ago, save up your money because a slowdown is coming and it's going to get bad. They scoffed at me and said they are doing just fine. Remember, after a high high, there is always a low low.

Actually I mispoke, the SEC oversee's the stockmarket, not the FTC, but let's put that aside for a miniute and pretend that this transperancy law for brokers is now law, is there any guarentee that the money will find it's way to the drivers pocket? And that greedy carrier's won't be skimming off the top? Remember the intended goal here is to achive retention of drivers, it's being pitched as a safety issue by FMCSA.

I completely agree with you, and am not one to push the transparency issue. Like you, I have no problem when a broker makes good money, as long as I'm allowed to get my rate. If my rate is squeezed so the Broker makes his margin, or multiple brokers in the transaction likewise squeeze the profit away from the carier, I take issue. Additionally, I would add, of all the business you listed, how many allow themselves to be told what they will get paid for their product or service? Finally, regarding the "high high" portion of your statement, I submit during those times, carriers were actually able to command rates that allowed us to make a reasonable profit, making the job worthy of the effort and risk. EVERY other industry is allowed to make a profit worthy of attracting investors, and making a lucrative profit, however, in this industry, when things finally swing the carriers way, the cost is regarded as exorbitant.

Meanwhile the bar to entry keeps getting lower, 2017 volvo's with 7-800k being sold for 12k at the auction houses now, not sure if they had holes cut in the floor of the sleeper though.

It seems the older ones are starting to come back down, however, it seems the new ones are still outa sight.