Truckers News

March 2012

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Tilden Curl « Profile cents a mile to carry their freight. Instead, deadhead home — it's less wear and tear and you're do- ing your part to support a respon- sible freight market. LOW FREIGHT RATES People complain how freight rates are low, but most brokered freight is based on a yearly contract. The rate doesn't go down because demand [to carry] loads goes up. It only goes down if you're willing to settle for it. If I'm going to go broke I'm go- ing to do it in my own driveway. WHY I STICK WITH THE I-5 CORRIDOR The Los Angeles area is about two days from home. I can load, drive two days, unload, reload, drive two days, and I'm at my 70 hours to take time off at home. I eat home cooking, sleep in my own bed and can unload and then take 34 hours off. It exponentially improves my home time. BENEFITS OF WORKING TWO MARKETS There's a lot more money work- ing two markets — one close to home and one that's two to 2.5 days away. People start to recog- nize you, and they'll call you to deliver freight. DEVELOPING CUSTOMERS People say I'm lucky because I have my own customers. I'm fortunate because I had to work my butt off to get them. Customer accounts carry me south to Los Angeles and cover 80 percent of my loads coming home. That freight going south pays the bills running the truck for the round trip. Loads coming north pay for health care, retirement, mortgage and savings. WHERE TO FIND BUSINESS Look around your home base and see what items are being shipped and how you can fit in the puzzle. Items I haul from here are infra- structure items. There is demand for those year-round, whether in a good or bad economy. And there's going to be huge demand to rebuild our infrastructure in coming years. INFORMATION SOURCES If you're going to do this as a business, you need to sort out Diversions where you're going to get your information. Qualify the infor- mation you get. Just because someone says you can run a truck for a buck a mile doesn't mean it's true. I only take advice from people who have done what I want to do. You have to find your own niche and what works for you. Circle 342 on Reader Service Card or visit truckersnews.hotims.com MARCH 2012 | TRUCKERS NEWS | 19

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