what would you ask to do this?

And what else are you going to do that day?
$1000 is my minimum. I dont care if it goes next door.

Oh hell .50 cents a loaded mile is more than plenty!!!! If you have to ask what to charge someone maybe you need to go back to driven for somebody !! Just Sayin !

Well Howard, it appears this forum business has turned into the CB conversation at a truckstop.

Don't be shy or ridiculous. I would look at $500.00 to $600.00 for POWER ONLY.

Read it again. He says 216 miles house to house.

Many excuses I missed the 156 miles as 1 way. I guess I will hang up my cb mike and but out so I don't cause anymore hate and discontent. However I would probably bid it between $600& $700, maybe more not knowing the locations and other details.

Thanks guys, well, some of you. I wish it were simple. The bottom line is: can the shipper make money paying me what I ask? I won't do it unless Its profitable.

I talked to a dispatcher from an outfit I haul for just in the spring time, garden soil and that sort of thing, the stuff goes to hardware stores, garden shops, places like that. He ships many loads on flatbed to distances like what I have been offered. The going rate for a haul that size, hiring tractor and trailer is 300 to 350. This guy has no options either, the product has to be there or the competition will get the sales. I see guys doing two-a-day at that rate for a month or two. They go 80 or 120 miles and deliver, then come back for a second load, trying to get the second one off before the consignees close for the day. They make 700 or 800 dollars for a days work. maybe 400 miles run. Do that five days a week and they are satisfied. Maybe they have done alright. Some of them are employees too, so I guess they make percentage. I might do the load for 350 if I can pick the day and time. I have slack time most weeks. I am lucky and can usually work within 300 miles of home.
The dispatcher I mentioned said he would take this power-only for 300-350 if I didn't want it. He has a lot of trucks to keep busy. Either way it isn't any gold mine. No loss if someone else does it. I will bid high and see what the guy says. $300 for 5 hrs = $60 hour. I think $75 an hour sounds better. I think my normal operation turns $86 an hour. But that is awfully hard to figure. I never tried to calculate it until just now.

This started out with a question about how much the rate should be. I have been doing this for a very long time my minimum rate is $1,000 per day no matter if the truck moves or not if I leave the house at $1,000 minimum per day. Round trip rate only. Because we have a 50% dead head ratio normally. If I was a broker I would be taken advantage of this situation too, I falter them not. I falter to dumb truck driver. I still can't believe all the hopper bottom drivers I talked to daily saying they are making five or six thousand dollars per week I ask them how many miles they are driving they say between 2500 and 3000 miles per week that is insane.

Troy,
You busted my bubble. I have been dreaming about getting 500 or more like the other guys said. You don't suppose some of the guys on here stretch the truth..., do you?