Are rates over $2 a mile common for an Owner Operator?

You shouldn't accept anything below $3 a mile, not worth being an O/O under that. I can make more as a company driver, but hey if you like being your "own boss" keep at it.

Keep working for Schneider and this could be you one day.

 

If nobody would move loads for under that yes. 3 bucks a mile isn't even that exceptional right now, fuel is 3 bucks a gallon and my whole life I've heard price of a gallon of fuel is what the rate per mile should be. There are going to be some loads out of some areas that will never pay that simply because they have more freight coming in than going out, but even they should not be horribly missing that mark. That's 25 years of listening to people who owned their own trucks and were running their own authorities.
Now running for a company like Schneider you won't see that, they always need their commission and office fees and whatever all else off the top, assuming they're showing the rates they're being paid before scalping you. Also assuming they have a lot of long term customers that they may bid lower than the spot market rates you see on the public load boards, there's something to be said for steady, consistent work and not depending on the leftovers which is essentially what public load boards like DAT, ITS, are it seems.

 

My break even point without my "time" is around $1.25 per mile. Anything over $2 is profitable for me. Everyone's setup is different. I have been seeing more and more loads for about a $1 a mile - sad but somebody must be running them on a very slim mean set up

 

Can’t say I’m surprised. Anytime someone spends so much time and energy to convince you of something. You have to ask yourself, Why? What’s in it for them? They’re making more Profit off the Loads than you are. Right now Broker Freight at $2 and $3 pm is common. Their rates are probably much higher than that. When it goes back to $1.75-$2.25 being common, all the Newbies buying new Trucks, won’t survive. No way to maintain $2400+ Payments and $1200+ insurance. Add the aggravation and frustration watching their Revenue drop. It’s going to be a very rude awakening. Just more stories about “Back when I was an O/O.” Wish I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard that said.

 

Ran back to back 2500+ mile loads this trip, and picked up a 1600+ yesterday.

3.39 first
3.33 second
3.79 third

 

From what I've seen, rates over $2 are more common than rates under $2.

 

I have been averaging around 3.18 per mile this year all miles. But I consistently stay in certain lanes and have for years I know what moves and when for my area. less than 2% empty miles this year

 

Looks like those who are leased on with per mile deal are missing the party.
Not seeing 2 dol per mile on the Schneider load board resembles Soviets keeping their citizens from seeing the colorful life in the Western World.