Custom Hauling Rates

wkpoor · Sep 16, 2009

I haul for people now and again. Got a request the other to haul a Deere 790 with about 6 implements. Loaded mileage 150mi one way. Almost 200mi one way from my house. I'm thinkin even 2 bucks a loaded mi is too cheap considering what I know will be a 10hr plus day allowing for up and download time, fuel stop, eat stop and whatever else gets in my way. Thing here is this ain't something he can just go out and rent a rig to move all this stuff. Its going to take a long flatbed and lots of rigging.

Diamondpilot · Sep 17, 2009

I just hauled a 8n and charged $75 each way or $150 total, my hourly rate. It was a 35 mile trip each way and I dropped it off for service then picked it up a week or so later. This was for a good friend who does plenty for me. At first I told him $100 but he insisted I take $150

Chris

Ductape · Sep 17, 2009

I'd say that if you 'normally' thought $2/mile was fair, then just add a reasonable rate for your added loading and unloading time. I only used to add for rooms/meals if I had to stay overnight.....but if you feel its fair, by all means, factor in the cost of dinner.

One thing I used to do when i needed 'special equipment', such as extra straps, binders,blocking, etc. ...... above and beyond an 'average' move. I'd take the cost of that added equipment....multiply that times five percent, and add that figure into the bill. Its not much money, but since you have to have that extra equipment, and it will need to be replaced at some point, it needs to get paid for.

powerstroke444e · Sep 17, 2009

Figure your cost IE fuel, matenance and time then figure out how much you want to make. If he don't like the price leave the equipment in the shed as it better to not make a $1 than to loose $.25

wkpoor · Sep 17, 2009

I just hauled a 8n and charged $75 each way or $150 total, my hourly rate. It was a 35 mile trip each way and I dropped it off for service then picked it up a week or so later. This was for a good friend who does plenty for me. At first I told him $100 but he insisted I take $150

Holy crap Chris!!! I've decided on 2bucks a loaded mi. You made 4bucks a loaded mi. Amd that was a good friend???? I'm supposed to move a Deere790 w/brush hog almost 200mi one way and won't end up making anymore than you did for 35mi one way and almost same size load. Everyone I've asked said 2.00 a loaded mi was the going rate. OBTW I found out the emplements are somewhere else going the opposite way and will be another day and of caurse another charge.

Diamondpilot · Sep 17, 2009

Well, like I said I tried not to take it but he insisted. I only wanted $100 for the 2 trips. Remember I had to load and unload twice.

Chris

Harold_J · Sep 17, 2009

wkpoor said:
Holy crap Chris!!! I've decided on 2bucks a loaded mi. You made 4bucks a loaded mi. Amd that was a good friend???? I'm supposed to move a Deere790 w/brush hog almost 200mi one way and won't end up making anymore than you did for 35mi one way and almost same size load. Everyone I've asked said 2.00 a loaded mi was the going rate. OBTW I found out the emplements are somewhere else going the opposite way and will be another day and of caurse another charge.

Chris ran 70 loaded miles for the $150 (he said it was 35 each way, took the tractor there then brought it back again) so he is right in the $2 per mile ballpark. And since he only asked for $100 that would have been less than a buck and half per mile. I would say $2 is close to going rate in many areas.

wkpoor · Sep 17, 2009

I hauled a 2N last weekend for a friend for free about 15mi one way and took it back the same day just so he could play with it on Saturday on the baler. What a piece of cake. Loading takes longer to lower the ramps than anything else and its so light I couldn't tell it was on the trailer. The tractor I'm going after is about the same weight plus there is a 7' hog attached to it. Don't know why that little tractor has a hog that big but heck it ain't mine, I'm just hauling it.

wkpoor · Sep 17, 2009

Chris ran 70 loaded miles for the $150 (he said it was 35 each way, took the tractor there then brought it back again) so he is right in the $2 per mile ballpark. And since he only asked for $100 that would have been less than a buck and half per mile. I would say $2 is close to going rate in many areas.

Where I am confused on the pricing is I've got 70mi round trip to the starting point running empty. This guy thinks he is paying top dollar for the move. I should have priced it higher and let him find out what it really could cost to do this. When its all said and done I'll make 20.00 an hour only for the drive time and that doesn't figure much for the wear and tear aspect.
Last spring some friends of ours broke down 100mi from home. The wrecker wanted 350.00 to bring it to there house. I went after it to save them the money. So that would have been way more than the 2/mi. Now if I had something going both directions then the 2/mi charge would seem right but to travel 150-200mi empty......hmmm.

Diamondpilot · Sep 17, 2009

Unless they guy is a good friend you owe a favor I would not do it for $20 a hour. Wear and tear on your equipment plus original acquisition cost figured in you are doing it for free. If he does not like your price he can buy a truck and trailer in my opinion. I can think of lots of projects to do around my place rather than running around working for nothing and putting my equipment at risk.

Chris

powerstroke444e · Sep 18, 2009

On any job bill the equipment, the operators and fuel make money or keep it in the barn so that others can make a living under cutting prices hurts everyone.

If its a friend hopefully he can give back a comparable favor sometime. As I have spent many weekends doing things for friends an there was 0% chance I would let them pay me.

wkpoor · Sep 18, 2009

Can't really say its a friend...its a guy that works in a different department here at work. When I told him 2/mi loaded he gave me one of those whaaaaaat??? "I thought you would do it for 1/mi" I'm like dude you think I'm going to spend 10hrs and 400mi driving for a lousy 50 bucks? Comeon now! I hope he is searching out other options so he'll find out what a deal 2/mi really is. Besides this is something he would have to find someone with a deck over or a long roll back and I bet they don't haul cheap.

Ductape · Sep 18, 2009

You are right...... $2/mi. is plenty cheap enough. He'll find that out once he checks with a couple other people.

Crash101 · Sep 21, 2009

wkpoor said:
I haul for people now and again. Got a request the other to haul a Deere 790 with about 6 implements. Loaded mileage 150mi one way. Almost 200mi one way from my house. I'm thinkin even 2 bucks a loaded mi is too cheap considering what I know will be a 10hr plus day allowing for up and download time, fuel stop, eat stop and whatever else gets in my way. Thing here is this ain't something he can just go out and rent a rig to move all this stuff. Its going to take a long flatbed and lots of rigging.

Your truck, your trailer and your time should be worth around $50 an hour, perhaps more. Price it by the mile at $2.75 loaded or by the hour minus food stops. If he's a good friend, do it for less. Figure about 8 to 12 mpg loaded and maybe 10 to 14 on the return trip depending on your truck, plus of course normal wear. That 400 mile trip will cost your own pocket about a hundred dollars. Profit comes much later. If you're going to take an entire day out of your life to haul someone else's equipment, do it for friendship, money or both, but make sure before you commit, you know you'll be glad you did it after you return home.

Groo · Sep 22, 2009

I he doesn't like $2/ loaded mile, charge him differently. $1/ mile loaded or empty + $20/hr for all non-driving time. That will probaly net you more and make him realize what the actual costs are to do what he wants done.

Bob Ha · Sep 23, 2009

I was just quoted $95 an hour by my dealer to pickup my tractor for servicing. It's a 70 mile trip one way. I'm guessing that would take 1.5 hours (including loading) x 2 (round trip) = 3 (total hours) x $95 (per hour) = $285 (total). $285/70 = $4.07 loaded mile.

That's for pickup... it would cost the same to deliver it back to me. Total cost of transpertation of $570. I have a trailer but it's only .25" wider than my tractor. Could I squeeze more space by inflating the tires a little more?

Diamondpilot · Sep 23, 2009

You may be able to adjust your tires in for a narrow stance. My tractor has 4 combination on the width.

Chris

DIRTROAD · Sep 23, 2009

Bob Ha said:
I have a trailer but it's only .25" wider than my tractor. Could I squeeze more space by inflating the tires a little more?

That $570 would be better spent to modify your current trailer.

I double hinged the fenders on this little trailer. Now I can drive over the tires if needed.

Diamondpilot · Sep 23, 2009

DIRTROAD said:
That $570 would be better spent to modify your current trailer.

I double hinged the fenders on this little trailer. Now I can drive over the tires if needed.

View attachment 140724

Good point. He could have a fab shop do the work, make custom fenders, and still be money ahead.

Chris

wkpoor · Sep 23, 2009

I've asked at least a dozen people to get there take asside from this board and it basically has boiled down to what your time off work is worth to you. Some said they wouldn't take a whole day for this no matter the money. Others said it would have to be more in the pocket and a few said 20-25 an hour to sit and drive was good money. I guess I could use an extra 200 as much as the next guy. I just hope my fuel costs are what I've got figured and the mileage is the same or more than I figured.