These rates are jokes

But there's always this high dollar $1.12/mile load waiting to be moved..."Easy strap and go!"

David, and others, this rate situation is exactly why I proposed the idea of forming some sort of bulk drivers association a while back. This morning I had breakfast with the young man I've spoken about in the past, with his 'non-sleeper' Cascadia, who returned home last night, after running to Ohio, Michigan, and southwestern Illinois. He said his rates were so bad he only averaged about $1.60 per mile. When he asked me if I had decided to either buy another Star 5700 and Utility refer to expand my business, or get into the bulk load community, I said "not yet". When he mentioned he wanted to buy one of the new KW 990 with a 68 inch sleeper to pull his hopper, I asked him "Why? That would make your equipment heavy and you wouldn't be able to haul as much as I'm planning to haul". He asked what I was looking into and I told him a Star 4700 with a 40 inch bunk, along with the Eagle Bridge belt trailer". He said, "40 inch bunk? That's small!" I replied, "How big do you think the sleepers were in the four cabovers I've owned in the past? Look, I appreciate the fact that you want to run more legal, with a tractor with a proper sleeper, but you need to think about the weight of your equipment and haul as much as you can with loads hauled by the ton. Most drivers would love to have nice, big tractors with big sleepers, a refrigerater, and a microwave, but if you're in this business to make money, you need to really think about what you actually need to be successful. And a buck sixty a mile average is pathetic. You and your buddy's need to quit running so cheap!. His reply was, "Well, if I don't haul it someone else will". Unfortuneately, that's true.

$1.12 per mile to haul loads? Geez, these brokers have a lot of nerve! Should be tarred and feathered and run out of town on a rail. And I hope that broker reads these posts.

I've written another letter to the "experts" in Washington, again exprssing my opinion on how the H.O.S. should be fixed. Probably won't do any good; however, I'm sure they will receive similar letters from other industry "professionals" like me. What it's really going to take is a more drastic response to the situation. I don't believe in strikes, but something needs to happen. In all sectors of transportation.

I'm not sure about east of Ne, Ia,and Ks, but the biggest problem here is the big farmers all have trucks and better ones than I do. So in the winter when they have nothing to do it's sad but it is a hobby. So they will haul for anything just to get out of the house. And I actually had 3 farmers at the local cafe come right out and tell how if they just make enough to pay the fuel they are ok with it. And the brokers and elevators know it. And I know I'm going to hear I'm biting the hand that feeds me, but if I owned a huge trucking company and farmed on the side and cut the rate on selling cattle and grain I would be dirt. All I'm saying is you do your job and let me do mine.

Yes, we've covered this before. It's not always illegal. Many operate in the gray areas and not everyone uses a broker so this gives said carriers a massive edge if used accordingly.

"Farm Plates

Farm Registration allows reduced fees for farmers who haul their own commodities in a not-for-hire operation and certain for-hire purposes. No surety bond is required. Farm Plates may be used for trucks, truck tractors and trailers used in various farming operations. Farm Vehicles may be operated out-of -state on a limited basis. Illinois Farm Registration is recognized by most states. Before entering another state, however, truck operators should check with that state.

Farm Plates may be issued to any vehicle that is used exclusively for the owner's agricultural, horticultural or livestock operations and not-for-hire. Farm Plates may also be issued to for-hire vehicles only in the transportation of seasonal, fresh, perishable fruit or vegetables from the farm to the point of first processing. An applicant is limited to five sets of plates for power units, of which only two sets of plates may exceed 59,500 pounds plus two Farm Trailer Plates.

A UCR# or USDOT # may be required if your commodity that you are moving using the Farm Plate crosses jurisdictional boundaries or is taken out of state. You may deliver to a local elevator or processing station, but if that commodity is further shipped out of state, a UCR#/USDOT# may be required. The UCR#/USDOT# is actually a USDOT number. Please contact the Illinois Commerce Commission for further information on the UCR program or contact the USDOT for information regarding the USDOT number.

Farm plates may be purchased at the Commercial and Farm Truck Division office in Springfield and Level 3 Secretary of State facilities."

https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/vehicles/cft/cft.html#farmplates

Not sure, sir. That stipulation isn't mentioned in the link I've provided above nor is it found in PA, MD, DE or VA that I know of. All I can say is I don't trust law enforcement and maybe your state is different. They all have little idiosyncrasies between them. I'd get the facts from the issuing departments and go from there if I was so inlcined. My point is that one can legally haul for hire in many states on farm registrations if they're well versed, connected and determined. Some also tend to bend the rules after they've been doing it a while too. That edge simply too enticing for some it seems.

If you want to broker freight, go get your authority and surety bond.

A last resort only.

Eric hit a nerve of mine the person who came up with the word BACKHAUL should be strung up!!! If you haul a load from point A to point B for a good rate and the load from point B back to point A is cheap not only are you getting screwed but the first shipper is to cause he paid the good rate to get you there and now the guy on the other end gets his done for nothing?? But evidently the shippers haven't figured it out yet either. I have been doing this for 30yrs and like everything else I don't understand, this job used to be fun, it was like the military truckers were a family and had a bond, but not anymore. Anyway enough of that. I will say i'm proud of Bulk Loads because on the load board it say's view reloads not back hauls so thank you!! I also have a bull rack and I can haul 60k legally and the last 6mo it's load 65k or we don't need you, so it's been sitting since Oct, again I don't understand, maybe it's just me LOL. Anyway a lot of bad weather out there so be safe and get back to the ones that really care about you!!

Most of the time those are very large steel mills with a millions rules to follow written on a thousand signs throughout the plant. Evreywhere just puts signs up written in 10 or more languages. I use my TWIC anywhere that asks for my driver's license but the only place I absolutely need it is at the Port. Nobody stores my DL anywhere. I won't let them photocopy it nor allow it to leave my hands.

I see a lot wrong with these opinions on low rates mainly because I'm young and new to the business but I will say my truck and wagon doesn't move without profiting truth is some of these high dollar rigs are taking freight cheap not for profit but for cash flow and when you roll in for a load in late model rig with nice equipment your showing you're customer your making money when in reality your working for free to have top of the line truck and trailer my opinion is "it ain't the chrome that gets you home" if it's your family and home life that matters then make it your first priority I've got less invested in my intire rig then some peoples full coverage insurance for a year but it's been all over east coast and keeps on keepin on

And you don't know who's swimming "naked" until the "tide" goes out.

You're not offending me that's for sure. I'm just pointing out that nice equipment actually makes a carrier money and increases potential to make even more money. Sure a ragged truck and trailer with a good driver will do great, no doubt. Brokers love combinations like that. They can depend on them, take a larger bite from the rate AND their customers could care less about who's moving their products or what their equipment looks like. However, I assure you good contract freight will demand a professional appearance and that includes the truck, trailer and the drivers attire/behavior.

So what you currently grossing and on how many miles?

You're not running at half the cost of anybody no matter what you're driving. I have 97 KW and a 2017 Timpte, it's all paid for and I figure my cost to run is 1.40 a mile, that's all miles without paying myself. 2 bucks all miles at the end of the week would put me at the same pay as a company driver, that means rates have to be at least 2.50 a loaded mile, how many loads do you see even close to that in a week?

I ask the broker for his 501c3 number so I can write off the difference required to make a good living

so far I haven’t gotten a number

Just getting back in I'll tell you most the work I've done has been averaging 2-3 dollars a mile which I'll be the first to say I'd like to see it higher but hey it's not even a living I would say but it's a start and guys don't think that the rate that's posted is what it has to go for try to negotiate maybe not even on the rate but just the time it takes them to pay nothing against factoring but it is a cost at the end of the day I do think times will get better for myself and fellow truckers hang in there guys we are in this together!