Trucking Rates

[barleyfarmer]

I have one of my hay customers who needs me to haul some hay for him and I'm not sure what to charge for the trucking!I usually sell him my own hay and I just charge by the bale because he buys close to 700 a year so from me so I never really figured the trucking part out!I know what I can sell the bale for so both us are happy and I'm still making a profit.Not sure what trucking rates are on about a 25 mile or so haul.I haul 30 bales on my hi-boy.Little help!

 

[summit889]

Used to do alot of custom hay and straw hauling. Depending on volume we would charge enough to make a truck and 53 ft lowboy between $100 and $120 per hour. We were one of the cheaper guys in the area.

 

[linksys]

Used to do alot of custom hay and straw hauling. Depending on volume we would charge enough to make a truck and 53 ft lowboy between $100 and $120 per hour. We were one of the cheaper guys in the area.

I think you are screwing yourself if you are doing it for $120/hour. Being cheaper just gets you lots of work but no future because you are not making a living - just barely paying your costs. I think average trucking rates is around the 130 - 135 per hour.

 

[Stompin Tom]

I think you are screwing yourself if you are doing it for $120/hour. Being cheaper just gets you lots of work but no future because you are not making a living - just barely paying your costs. I think average trucking rates is around the 130 - 135 per hour.

trucking rates should depend on 3 things, the amount of axles you have, the amount of weight you are required to carry and the type of rigging on your truck.

A 5 axle highboy works considerably cheaper than an 8 axle train.

$120.00 for a 5 axle is pretty good money.

 

[linksys]

trucking rates should depend on 3 things, the amount of axles you have, the amount of weight you are required to carry and the type of rigging on your truck.

A 5 axle highboy works considerably cheaper than an 8 axle train.

$120.00 for a 5 axle is pretty good money.

If $120/hour works for you then do it.....too many small operators under cut their rates to get in the business then they cannot sustain the business when it comes to fixing/replacing equipment.

In the last 2 weeks, I spoke to 3 different truckers (now this is for 5 axle low-boy style hauling)....each one wanted $133 - 135. per hour to haul equipment. Maybe hauling bales takes less skill & effort and $120 per hour is enough. Just make sure you are making money to sustain and build your business not just break even was the main reason for my comment. The cheapest guy will get more work but can the cheapest guy stay in business long term?

 

[Stompin Tom]

If $120/hour works for you then do it.....too many small operators under cut their rates to get in the business then they cannot sustain the business when it comes to fixing/replacing equipment.

In the last 2 weeks, I spoke to 3 different truckers (now this is for 5 axle low-boy style hauling)....each one wanted $133 - 135. per hour to haul equipment. Maybe hauling bales takes less skill & effort and $120 per hour is enough. Just make sure you are making money to sustain and build your business not just break even was the main reason for my comment. The cheapest guy will get more work but can the cheapest guy stay in business long term?

so did you read my post? A lowboy costs more than a highboy, therefor a higher rate because your truck rigging is worth more, equipment hauling is more weight than hay hauling therefor a higher rate because of more fuel burned.

I have been in the trucking business for many years, own my own trucks and make a very nice living. Giving a customer a quote on apples while he is getting oranges only gets one of you screwed, either way somebody is unhappy so when quoting rates, quote apple to apple, ie lowboy to lowboy, highboy to highboy.

 

[linksys]

so did you read my post? A lowboy costs more than a highboy, therefor a higher rate because your truck rigging is worth more, equipment hauling is more weight than hay hauling therefor a higher rate because of more fuel burned.

I have been in the trucking business for many years, own my own trucks and make a very nice living. Giving a customer a quote on apples while he is getting oranges only gets one of you screwed, either way somebody is unhappy so when quoting rates, quote apple to apple, ie lowboy to lowboy, highboy to highboy.

Like I said.....if it works for you....do it.

And uuhh, if YOU read the posts, you will see that my original comment is based on Summit889's comment and if YOU read his post, you might see that he was using a low boy.

 

[Summiteer]

Like I said.....if it works for you....do it.

And uuhh, if YOU read the posts, you will see that my original comment is based on Summit889's comment and if YOU read his post, you might see that he was using a low boy.

Might want to go back and read the original post again there linksys.........

 

[barleyfarmer]

Don't need anybody scrapping!Lol!!I'm using my own truck and 45 foot highboy and have to strap the load down and I should be safe with the weight by the sound of the bales.I'm hauling from around Greencourt area down to Cherhill!Not doing it to start custom bale hauling,I have enough work farming and hauling my own just wanted a ball park number to charge.I don't want to piss my customer off but I don't want to do it for free either!Wasn't sure if I should charge by the hour or bale either!Thanks for any help!!

 

[bigz64]

just use your tractor, 1 bale at a time, then charge $120 an hour

 

[sirkdev]

Don't know if its any help but my brother in law, has a super b hay hauler and lives in Meadowview area, Ill PM you his #.

 

[imdoo'n]

I think you are screwing yourself if you are doing it for $120/hour. Being cheaper just gets you lots of work but no future because you are not making a living - just barely paying your costs. I think average trucking rates is around the 130 - 135 per hour.

not quite sure, but if $10 per hr is the diff between making it and going under, i'm thinkin your already in trouble. your telling us your getting rich on $10 per hr, i'm thinkin yer full of shheeet. and really have no idea. or not much of a business man.

 

[Murminator]

I think you are screwing yourself if you are doing it for $120/hour. Being cheaper just gets you lots of work but no future because you are not making a living - just barely paying your costs. I think average trucking rates is around the 130 - 135 per hour.

If the truck and trailer are sitting around for personal use (farm) then whatever you get is free money. But as a business I wouldn't even start the truck for that....maybe I shouldn't say that I haven't been in the van or hiboy business in 20 years maybe that is good money. If you break down costs driver $25-30/hr fuel $40-60/hr depending on weight there is 1/2 -2/3 your costs and you haven't factored in insurance, maintenance, cost of truck and trailer. I work for a tanker company and our rates are almost double whats listed but if is fairly specialized work....I have been trying to rack my brain for the rates back in my TCT and circle T days and I think the rates were close to that almost 20 years ago

 

[linksys]

Might want to go back and read the original post again there linksys.........

You should too...lol....Summit889's post mentions (the 2nd post in this thread) he was hauling with a lowboy.

 

[linksys]

not quite sure put if $10 per hr is the diff between making it and going under, i'm thinkin your already in trouble. your telling us your getting rich on $10 per hr, i'm thinkin yer full of shheeet. and really have no idea. or not much of a business man.

Slow down imdoon.....never said I was a trucker....If you read all my posts, I said that I talked to a few trucking outfits in the last few weeks regarding rates (all have lowboys) and was quoted in the mid 130's by all of them....where is the confusion in that?

How you turn that in to me being full of shheeet and a piss poor business man is beyond my comprehension........chill out dude!!

If $120/hour works for you.......then do it!

 

[tukernater]

I think you will see a diffrents in price from B.C and ALBERTA Some will work cheaper [just cause they need the work] and other don't ?

 

[MrHankey]

get as much as you can,the more the better

 

[Stompin Tom]

If the truck and trailer are sitting around for personal use (farm) then whatever you get is free money. But as a business I wouldn't even start the truck for that....maybe I shouldn't say that I haven't been in the van or hiboy business in 20 years maybe that is good money. If you break down costs driver $25-30/hr fuel $40-60/hr depending on weight there is 1/2 -2/3 your costs and you haven't factored in insurance, maintenance, cost of truck and trailer. I work for a tanker company and our rates are almost double whats listed but if is fairly specialized work....I have been trying to rack my brain for the rates back in my TCT and circle T days and I think the rates were close to that almost 20 years ago

Has a buddy work a few weeks for Circle T last summer, he said he was paid 1.70 per mile with a fuel clause for the truck only doing pin to pin pulling 5 axle.

Tanker rates are a heck of allot higher thats for sure, but you also will have allot more invested in your equipment along with dangers that a hi-boy hauler will never encounter.

 

[Stompin Tom]

You should too...lol....Summit889's post mentions (the 2nd post in this thread) he was hauling with a lowboy.

And if you go back to my reply to you and reread it you will see it had nothing to do with any other poster here, it explained why rates vary for different units and jobs but you ignored that fact and shot back with comparisons from a different type of hauling. As you said you know nothing about the business, but you do seem to feel that your opinion is more valuable than others here who are in the industry. Its false and uneducated information like you are posting that screws people up.

 

[Trukker]

I have one of my hay customers who needs me to haul some hay for him and I'm not sure what to charge for the trucking!I usually sell him my own hay and I just charge by the bale because he buys close to 700 a year so from me so I never really figured the trucking part out!I know what I can sell the bale for so both us are happy and I'm still making a profit.Not sure what trucking rates are on about a 25 mile or so haul.I haul 30 bales on my hi-boy.Little help!

I think guys are missing the point here ............... Just ask your custy what he thinks is fair , your biz is selling the Hay not trucking so I'm sure you can come to a figure. Your just adding value to selling your goods but it comes at a cost . What's your time worth plus cushion your sledding funds