As an Owner Operator, you will always be choosing between this load and that load and having to decide which is the best load.  Many factors are involved in making the decision.... See what you think of the two trips below.

 

It is winter.  It is a Friday afternoon.   You are in the Midwest and have been given two choices of loads.  They are both loaded and in your yard, where you are.  A storm is coming in towards the east coast.

 

Which load would you choose?

 

Load A

Load B

Destination:  Connecticut

Destination:  Georgia

1300 Paid Miles

1000 Paid Miles

$ 1.10 per mile to the truck.

$ .98 per mile to the truck.

50% of your tolls paid by carrier.

No tolls

Average Fuel Cost Per Gal:  $1.53

Average Fuel Cost Per Gal:  $1.25

Delivers Tuesday at 8AM.

Delivers Monday at 7AM.

Both have good freight coming out of the location you are delivering to.  Your truck gets about 5.5 miles to the gallon, underestimating to account for idle time.

Some Considerations:

  • If a storm is coming in, it may be worse in the north -- but it may be ice in the south.  Northern storms can result in feet of snow but they have the equipment to better deal with them.  Since the south doesn't have such weather, they don't have much equipment, either.

  • Fuel costs will be higher going into the NE.

  • The tolls going into the NE are 50% paid by the carrier, yes, but remember you will also have tolls getting OUT of the NE.

  • Although this example tells you about the freight coming OUT of the area you are going into, this is a major consideration when choosing a load.  Sometimes it is necessary to take a load you might not want in order to get into an area where freight / freight rates are good.

Which load would you choose?