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COST PER MILE ?
Posted Mon, Mar 26 2012 07:02 PM CST
ALBERT BATTEATE
BATTEATE LIVESTOCK TRANSPORTAION
LIVERMORE, CA
925-413-9502

Posts: 8
Who nows the real cost per mile to run a cattle truck
Loaded and empty
the more miles you run the cheaper the constants are ovisly but the sooner your truck and trailer are warn out
ups most will be out of buisnes be for that happens
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Posted Tue, Mar 27 2012 07:05 AM CST
BEN BROWNLOW
TEXAS CATTLE TRANSPORT LLC
LARUE, TX
903-391-0124

Posts: 6

Figuring on 150,000 miles year: Cost per mile is $1.56. That is with me figuring fuel mileage at 4.5mpg at $4.00/gal. (that alone is .89/mile). .15/mile in maintenance ($22,500/yr), which maybe a little high but better to be figuring where you can put back some money. I spent $12K in Feb. replacing Tranny/Rear-End, so may not be that far off!! Driver pay=.35/mile ($52,500/yr) that is competitive compensation. Insurance is .05/mile +/- depending on your company and the quote and amount of coverage. Truck/trailer payment $1,500/month=.12/mile (thats low) but i dont have a truck payment. Like you said, if you divide it out over more miles the costs go down, except for fuel cost!! Fuel mileage is the only way to really lower that cost and that is the biggest one of all. Fuel discounts help but not as much as .5/mile/gal or 1mile/gal. 1 mile per gal (4.5 to 5.5) is a 16 cent cut in costs which = $24,0000/year in this example!! 6mpg cuts costs by .22/mile!! Dont know if this helps or if it was rhetorical question but thats how i have mine figured.
Fuel = .89
Driver = .35
Mntc = .15
Ins = .05
Trk/Trlr = .12
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$1.56/mile

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Posted Tue, Mar 27 2012 09:07 AM CST
TOM FREEMAN
B C FREEMAN TRUCKING LLC
SPRING CREEK, NV
775-934-1488

Posts: 16
Our total cost right now is 1.75 per running mile. I know others who have full time dispatcher and a mechanic is over 2.00 a mile. But, as this fuel continues upwards our rate goes up. We can not run for less than 4.50 per mile. It is nice to get hauls both ways. But this only happens 25 percent of the time. We run a lot of gravel, so we charge 15% more. Last summer I ruined an almost new tire and the 15% covers that for the most part.

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Posted Wed, Mar 28 2012 02:29 PM CST
ALBERT BATTEATE
BATTEATE LIVESTOCK TRANSPORTAION
LIVERMORE, CA
925-413-9502

Posts: 8
I was just trying to see how many owner operators have a idea of how mutch it cost to opperate
most of our work is under 600 miles and cattle only it prety hard to load bothways with that said 600 is aculy 1200 if you dont have to go to far out of the way
all the cattle move the same way at the same time every year
with that said $4.25 A loaded mile barly workes its Really @2.125 a running mile that leaves $654.00 to the good that will help cover workers comp truck and trailer repair and replacment its a tuff deal
200 gallons @ .75
1200 @ .44
Tires @ .16
Ins. @ .17
Services @ .03
License @ .07
Permit @ .03
Wasout @ .03
Total $1.58
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Posted Thu, Mar 29 2012 02:14 PM CST
ORAN TAYLOR
TAYLOR TRUCK LINE
YATES CENTER, KS
620-625-2773

Posts: 2
Originally Posted by: TOM FREEMAN
Quote: "Our total cost right now is 1.75 per running mile. I know others who have full time dispatcher and a mechanic is over 2.00 a mile. But, as this fuel continues upwards our rate goes up. We can not run for less than 4.50 per mile. It is nice to get hauls both ways. But this only happens 25 percent of the time. We run a lot of gravel, so we charge 15% more. Last summer I ruined an almost new tire and the 15% covers that for the most part. "

So if your running cost is 1.75 per mile on a 50% loaded trip thats only 3.5 so why do you say you can't run for less than 4.5?
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Posted Fri, Mar 30 2012 07:02 AM CST
KEVIN VICK
GEORGIA LIVESTOCK HAULERS
RICHMOND HILL, GA
912-312-2244

Posts: 14
If your cost is 1.75 per mile, and you are loaded on a trip only half of the time, then you divide by two, not multiply by two.
With a trip that pays 4.00 per mile on 500 loaded miles and a return trip empty. that is 1000.00 miles at 1.75 per mile.
Total pay-- 2000.00
Cost per mile--- 1750.00
Profit ( not figured in the cpm--- 250.00 on a 3 day trip. Hardley worth it.
The only reason that we are in business is to make a profit.
At 4.50 per mile the profit jumps to 500.00 on a 3 day trip. You still have time to make another trip that week and boost your profit per truck.
That is why it is so important to try to stay loaded.
If you get a load of cows that pays only 2.50 back on 500 miles and you get 4.50 going out, all of a sudden you have an extra 1250.00 to play with.

Hope this clears this up for you.
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Posted Fri, Mar 30 2012 08:44 AM CST
PAUL VAN KEKERIX
VAN KEKERIX TRUCKING INC.
ROCK VALLEY, IA
712-541-7583

Posts: 14

I like to see some profit after hauling a load. Alot of rates seem to be based on being loaded both ways which can be difficult . Running at cost doesn't leave any profit. Isn't that the reason to be in any business? So when I calculate my break even profit,equipment replacement,unexpected repairs need to be included. Everyone's cost will vary some what, thats for sure. I have spread axle trailers, so when I am thinking about break even cost it's based on a 48000-50000 load. Any pro-rate over that is a bonus not part of the rate because it is speicalized equipment. So with all that being said,having 5 ales on the unit at $4.00 + fuel I need to be at $2.10 per running mile on long haul. Short hauls under 200 miles loaded 50% need to be higher. Remember this is based on 5 axles-50000 or less cargo.
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