Yep, I said it! DON’T TAKE IT! If you want to see better rates in the trucking industry, then you need to grow a pair and turn down unprofitable jobs. Let’s assume for a minute that you are in business to turn a profit. I hope that’s a safe assumption. Now, if it takes $1.38/mile to run your truck (that’s including your fuel, maintenance, taxes, insurance, and labor even if you’re the driver) and the load you are looking at is paying $1.40/mile after you consider the miles required to go pick it up, then why would you even think about taking it?? That load is only paying you $.02/mile, or $50-60/week?? It doesn’t take an MBA to see that’s just plain stupid!
If you are going to be an owner operator or run a small fleet of trucks, then you better get good at some math and record keeping. And I don’t mean waiting for the end of the month or year only to say “Hey, how come I don’t have much left over?” You should know at the end of every day, how much you made that day. And at the end of the week, how much you made that week. Good days and good weeks turn into good months and good years. But you have to take control now! Figure out exactly how much it costs you to operate and for the sake of you and the rest of us out here – don’t take loads that aren’t profitable!
Getting your company to run like a well oiled machine is about as complicated as, well a big well oiled machine. There are many factors to keep track of when undertaking logistical management. What with managing accounts, hiring drivers, and keeping abreast of changes in the industry what is a good manager to do?