Bidding on a load board as power only. Rate?

Trailer Transit has what looks to be a good deal for owner-operators. It's not a load board though. They advance you 50% upfront on each trip.

 

let me know what you hear. Ive wondered the same thing. I have never heard of what power only pays and i am very interested!

 

That lane average info is useless, worthless info. Outdated, old info. Lane rates are stable in some places and might change daily in others. It'll be up to you to figure out how much you can charge.

Load outs aren't going to pay much more than $200-$300 no matter how far they go, sometimes even less. And $2 a mile on a power only is usually a wild gamble that loses on the other end. I've got my own trailer so the power only moves I make are only when someone seeks me out.

The rate I charge is according or they can move onto the next phone call. Being in a situation where you are dependent on power only is a different matter. Because more often than not off loadboards PO is dirt cheap.

Last week I did a power only Amazon load one way from Lebanon, TN to Kenosha, WI that paid $2.50 a mile. For me that was a bottom of the barrel move but seeing as it was that or bobtail up there unpaid, or take a cheap load out, or cheap brand new trailer from a factory in Indiana up that way, well it was actually an OK move that worked to my favor. I think most times it would be a loser though.

I would not want to depend on load boards for 100% of power only moves. Good luck.

 

You may try filling out paper work to haul U.S. Gov. power only loads it takes time to be approved but some loads pay well while others have been passed thru too many hands to pay enough to haul?

 

For all practical purposes and assuming you have something lined up on the other end to fit into the equation , I would bid whatever the going van rate is if you want to be profitable. That's assuming they are not ridiculously low in that area. In reality your operating costs arent going to be much less at all pulling someone else's trailer.

 

He'll probably win every time bidding like that. And in theory it sounds good. Have you ever looked at power only before though? The trouble is more often than not there's going to be zero reload possibilities close by. Sometimes there won't be any within 500 miles depending where he is. What it means is he'll be running around quiet often for what ends up being about $1 a mile or worse. I mean if he is going to book loads based on DAT averages and they currently have the national van average at $1.65 or so, that's really ugly. I would say again whatever you do learn a few of the same market areas and you won't ever think about what DAT consideres a lane average. You'll be charging based on real need in the moment and not some questionbable possibly flawed data someone else with their own motives entered into a system.

 

Yes I know my scenario is pretty much like finding a needle in a haystack. Power only can be pretty scary unless you want to pull those highly desirable Dollar General loads for JB

 

Just lease a trailer for $650 per month

 

Lol @ the JB comment