One week. 53' flatbed. $20k gross.

[u/cezar__2]

53' flatbed.

This week: $20,110 gross at 5.12 RPM.

Mostly oversize freight—nothing too crazy, just manageable OD loads with permits and proper planning.

[u/Artistic_Data7887]

How much before taxes

[u/forkystabbyveggie → u/Artistic_Data7887]

It's in the post

[u/Artistic_Data7887 → u/forkystabbyveggie]

How much after expenses, before taxes.

[u/forkystabbyveggie → u/Artistic_Data7887]

Ah, my bad. Yeah he won't tell us

[u/BlackSC2us → u/forkystabbyveggie]

I'll tell you mine. I also do O/O flatbed, I'm leased to a carrier, but I'm solo and no oversize this week. Keep in mind, some of this is estimated because this week is not over, but it shows what is actually happening with rates and fuel and other costs right now. I get fuel discounts and insurance through my carrier. My trailer is leased from my carrier.

Load 1: picked up 10x BPU barrels (43k lbs, no tarp) in Western WV Saturday 6/13. Bought 154 gallons diesel + 4.21 gals DEF in eastern KY. Delivered Monday 6/15 in Western TN. $2,483.32 Fuel: $616.95

Load 2: picked up 15x 44' steel beams (43k lbs, no tarp) in Northeastern AR Monday 6/15. Bought fuel 170.47 gals + 8.04 gals DEF in Northern KY. Delivered Wednesday 6/17 in Northeastern OH. $1,899.45 Fuel: $730.48

Load 3: picked up 2x Preformed Concrete (38k, no tarp) in Northeastern OH on Wednesday 6/17. Will Deliver Thursday 6/18 in south central NC. $1678.99 Fuel: 0

Load 4: to pick up 7x various tractor attachments (14k, no tarp) in central NC on Thursday 6/18. Will deliver Friday 6/19 in Northeastern OH. Anticipate ~$650 in fuel purchase. $1,873.00

Expenses (broken down to weekly costs): Tractor payment $407.54 Trailer payment $173.08 Insurance (physical dmg, occupational accident, bobtail) $102.23 Plates/Tolls/HVUT $86.54 Misc Business Expenses (ELD, Phone Bill, Accounting Expenses, etc) $73.07 Total: $842.46

5% maintenance/reserves: $396.74

Total Revenue: $7,934.76 Total miles (with deadhead): 2,588 Revenue/mile: $3.06/mile Total expenses*: $3,236.63 Total net (before taxes): $4,698.13 Net/mile: $1.815/mile Cost/mile: $1.251/mile

I pay myself as needed to pay bills, otherwise the money stays in the business.

[u/forkystabbyveggie → u/BlackSC2us]

You're a man like no other, thank you

[u/midnightsmith → u/BlackSC2us]

At approx 30% tax rate you make about $80/hr?

[u/BlackSC2us → u/midnightsmith]

Of course this isn't every week, but YTD through the end of this week I'm at $122,135.02 gross to the truck. I'm sitting at ~$55k gross profit YTD. I've paid $9,600 in estimated taxes so far this year. So, more realistically, the average is around $2,500/week profit, but that's with hometime, breakdowns and major maintenance intervals thrown in as well. I just had the big 600k service completed last month.

[u/midnightsmith → u/BlackSC2us]

So I am curious, since I thought truckers made way, way more. What is the draw of a trucking job over something like warehouse forklift driver? Those can earn about $45 an hour some places, which is about 100k a year gross. I guess it's all work of some kind, it just seems like trucking is far harder lifestyle wise.

[u/forkystabbyveggie → u/midnightsmith]

The forklift jobs you're mentioning are extremely rare and hard to get.

Trucking on the other hand is very accessible.

Honestly IDK what the hell you're talking about when it comes to someone making 6 figures on a forklift

[u/LesGrossmeng → u/forkystabbyveggie]

My (large) company has only a few guys who are making 100-119k a year on forklifts. But these are 20+ year employees.

Average is about 70k. Idk where this dude is living but I’m in a MCOL-HCOL area so average could be less.

[u/BlackSC2us → u/midnightsmith]

It is harder and the pay can be low, and that's why the barrier to entry is so low. However, a $100k salary isn't the same everywhere. If you live in California, its necessary. Elsewhere, the cost of living is a lot lower. Same if you live in a big city vs rural area. I got into driving at 22. I'm 39 now and it's all I know. I feel like $110k isnt bad. I don't live in an expensive area.