Produce average line haul amounts

The broker rates are the reason that the drivers are getting crapola pay! These brokers think they deserve 3-500 for pushing papers around the desk and making a few phone calls!

Do yourself a favor and drop the broker! Contact the shipper and broker your own freight! Get rid of the not needed middle man!

 

Hey rollover, could you explain to me how you go about hetting to the webpage that shows the rates from produce on the usda site.
Thanks!!!

 

can you not click on it? It works for me. if clicking doesn't work just cut and paste it into your browser or just copy it and type it in from www.

 

i was meaning if you wanted to check for next week or for past weeks?

 

HI'
I just new to this forum, somehow end up on your blog. I am an O/O hauling produce west to east back and forth. So maybe i can answer a little bit of your question. The load pay is not constantly the same. It's not the same method big company used paying cents/mile to the truck. In my case, from east to west the load pay only half price than west to east. I just hoping the price in west will be good when i get there. Load rate is different every day, Supply and demand have a big role. When rain start, rate can be going down to $1000 within an hour. I hope that answer your question.
As far as a pay....$1000 is very very low for both of you. even $1200 as you ask for. The business is not as good as view years ago. Things been slow and low that's why i cut my equipment to one. If i would of you try to stick on the number not lower than $1500. I know lot of friends paid this range and i use to pay my driver a little bit more than that. $1000 split in two is a low pay in this industry, but if you just want to get experience and do it while waiting something better...go for it. Just keep your work ethic up so that way you won't be sorry with this low pay. Good luck!
Jerry

 

By the way seem you into the math try to figure out how much you boss will make. When i was driving for an o/o, i don't really figure this one out. But when i am an o/o, i realize how ugly owning the truck.
1. If you want to calculate everything. Count the fuel, tools, oil change, shop expenses, insurance, tires (either it blow or not at the end you gotta replace them), fuel tax, truck payment, trailer payment, etc, etc....and maybe you will get the real real low number.
2. Someone like me (seem your boss as well) choose to use this broker services just because in needed money so bad (can't wait for the invoice to get paid the next 30-45 days). Not every shipper will let you haul their products. Because if you ask of course you will ask for the best run you can take out of them, what happen to this jalopy one then?! That's why they let broker or big company to cover all their transportation needs.
This the reason some people chose to go back as a company driver instead o/o. I hope this will give you an idea toward what you are looking for.
Jerry

 

is produce hauling something that could keep a small fleet of about five trucks busy year round. also during the winter time does the produce that comes from other countries get delivered by reefer containers or do the produce haulers go to the ports and pick up the produce after its broken down? also whats the best brand of reefer unit to run when hauling produce.
THANKS!!!

 

Reefers are like women and trucks, everyone has their own preference. I prefer Thermo King as there are more Dealers and more 24/7 shops than Carrier and my cousin the trailer sales agent can cut me better deals on them! I also like the TK Tri Pak APU better?!?

A lot of produce coming in at the ports is off loaded into a cold storage and reshipped. I did container freight for about 6 months and found out it had to many headaches that it was worth!

FOOD is always being hauled over hardware or building products which can be very seasonal. BUT a reefer can haul dry freight also. 2 for the price of one except you're not going to get that 47,000 load into that reefer! You also have the costs of operating the unit too but if you're hauling good paying freight that cost takes care of it's self as long as you keep up on the maintaince!

The costs you see in that usda web site are for that week. I've never worried about next week as that's life going to a fortune teller! Next week is next week! Last week I already know what they are as when I'm hauling or brokering I print it off or you could bookmark it into a folder in your browser under that weeks date. I've never tried it but it should come out with a different url as it's a different sheet. Give it a try.