LETS PRACTICE Instructions: Identify: Which load LOOKS profitable but is actually risky Which load has the best reload opportunity Which load would likely cause truck downtime Which load gives the best overall weekly strategy

 LETS PRACTICE
Instructions:
Identify:
Which load LOOKS profitable but is actually risky
Which load has the best reload opportunity
Which load would likely cause truck downtime
Which load gives the best overall weekly strategy
🐀Load 47
🐀Empty Location: Dallas, TX
🐀Pickup: Wichita, KS
🐀Delivery: Rural Wyoming
🐀Rate: $5,200
🐀Miles: 2,050
🐀Deadhead: 390 miles
🐀Load 48
🐀Empty Location: Atlanta, GA
🐀Pickup: Birmingham, AL
🐀Delivery: Chicago, IL
🐀Rate: $3,350
🐀Miles: 760
🐀Deadhead: 150 miles
Load 46
🐀Empty Location: Dallas, TX
🐀Pickup: Dallas, TX
🐀Delivery: Atlanta, GA
🐀Rate: $2,950
🐀Miles: 780
🐀Deadhead: 0 miles
🐀Load 49
🐀Empty Location: Houston, TX
🐀Pickup: Austin, TX
🐀Delivery: Los Angeles, CA
🐀Rate: $4,300
🐀Miles: 1,360
🐀Deadhead: 175 miles
🐀Load 50
🐀Empty Location: Chicago, IL
🐀Pickup: Joliet, IL
🐀Delivery: Memphis, TN
🐀Rate: $2,250
🐀Miles: 540
🐀Deadhead: 12 miles
Load 43
🐀Empty Location: Charlotte, NC
🐀Pickup: Raleigh, NC
🐀Delivery: Dallas, TX
🐀Rate: $3,250
🐀Miles: 1,070
🐀Deadhead: 170 miles
🐀Load 44
🐀Empty Location: Memphis, TN
🐀Pickup: Little Rock, AR
🐀Delivery: Rural Nevada
🐀Rate: $4,600
🐀Miles: 1,850
🐀Deadhead: 145 miles
Load 41
🐀Empty Location: Indianapolis, IN
🐀Pickup: Louisville, KY
🐀Delivery: Miami, FL
🐀Rate: $3,000
🐀Miles: 1,180
🐀Deadhead: 110 miles
🐀Load 42
🐀Empty Location: Denver, CO
🐀Pickup: Albuquerque, NM
🐀Delivery: Rural Idaho
🐀Rate: $3,450
🐀Miles: 1,380
🐀Deadhead: 420 miles
Load 37
🐀Empty Location: Atlanta, GA
🐀Pickup: Chattanooga, TN
🐀Delivery: Chicago, IL
🐀Rate: $2,750
🐀Miles: 620
🐀Deadhead: 115 miles
🐀Load 38
🐀Empty Location: Chicago, IL
🐀Pickup: Gary, IN
🐀Delivery: Rural Montana
🐀Rate: $4,100
🐀Miles: 1,680
🐀Deadhead: 20 miles
Load 34
🐀Empty Location: Chicago, IL
🐀Pickup: Joliet, IL
🐀Delivery: Atlanta, GA
🐀Rate: $2,850
🐀Miles: 720
🐀Deadhead: 12 miles
🐀Load 35
🐀Empty Location: Charlotte, NC
🐀Pickup: Greensboro, NC
🐀Delivery: Rural Oklahoma
🐀Rate: $2,500
🐀Miles: 1,200
🐀Deadhead: 35 miles
Load 32
🐀Empty Location: Atlanta, GA
🐀Pickup: Knoxville, TN
🐀Delivery: Rural Nebraska
🐀Rate: $3,600
🐀Miles: 1,420
🐀Deadhead: 120 miles
🐀Load 33
🐀Empty Location: Houston, TX
🐀Pickup: Dallas, TX
🐀Delivery: Phoenix, AZ
🐀Rate: $3,050
🐀Miles: 1,050
🐀Deadhead: 240 miles
Load 29
🐀Empty Location: Denver, CO
🐀Pickup: Cheyenne, WY
🐀Delivery: Rural Montana
🐀Rate: $2,150
🐀Miles: 1,050
🐀Deadhead: 155 miles
🐀Load 30
🐀Empty Location: Indianapolis, IN
🐀Pickup: Louisville, KY
🐀Delivery: Houston, TX
🐀Rate: $2,980
🐀Miles: 960
🐀Deadhead: 48 miles
Load 27
🐀Empty Location: Chicago, IL
🐀Pickup: Gary, IN
🐀Delivery: Dallas, TX
🐀Rate: $3,250
🐀Miles: 1,020
🐀Deadhead: 22 miles
🐀Load 28
🐀Empty Location: Atlanta, GA
🐀Pickup: Birmingham, AL
🐀Delivery: Los Angeles, CA
🐀Rate: $5,000
🐀Miles: 2,180
🐀Deadhead: 140 miles
🐀Load 25
🐀Empty Location: Charlotte, NC
🐀Pickup: Columbia, SC
🐀Delivery: Miami, FL
🐀Rate: $2,700
🐀Miles: 900
🐀Deadhead: 95 miles
🐀Load 26
🐀Empty Location: Salt Lake City, UT
🐀Pickup: Boise, ID
🐀Delivery: Seattle, WA
🐀Rate: $2,950
🐀Miles: 830
🐀Deadhead: 320 miles

 

Answer: 

 

As a dispatcher, I don't look at the big rate - I look at Rate Per ALL Miles + Where you deliver. Let me run your whole board.

This is how I sort all 20+ loads you posted:

 1. Which loads LOOK profitable but are actually RISKY TRAPS?

These are the $4k-$5k loads new guys take and go broke on.

*   Load 47: $5,200 Dallas > Wichita > Rural Wyoming - 2,050 mi + 390 deadhead = $2.13/mi
    Looks like the biggest paycheck. Reality is 390 miles free driving, then you are stuck in rural Wyoming. You will deadhead 400+ miles empty to get out.

*   Load 44: $4,600 Memphis > Little Rock > Rural Nevada - 1,850 mi + 145 deadhead = $2.30/mi
    Same trap. Rural Nevada is a freight graveyard. No reload.

*   Load 28: $5,000 Atlanta > Birmingham > Los Angeles - 2,180 mi + 140 deadhead = $2.15/mi
    Classic LA trap. $5k sounds great but $2.15/mi for 2,180 miles is cheap, and LA outbound pays $1.20-$1.60/mi. You will lose all your profit getting OUT of California.

*   Load 42: $3,450 Denver > Albuquerque > Rural Idaho - 1,380 mi + 420 deadhead = $1.91/mi
    Worst on the board. 420 miles deadhead for $1.91/mi and delivery to rural Idaho.

*   Load 38, 32, 29, 35: All rural Montana / Nebraska / Oklahoma - all traps.

Rule: If it says "Rural" and the total rate is high, it's the broker paying you extra because NO ONE wants to go there.

 2. Which loads have the BEST RELOAD opportunity?

You want to deliver to Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago, Houston. Those cities have 200+ loads daily.

Top 3:

*   Load 46: Dallas > Dallas > Atlanta, GA - $2,950 / 780 mi / 0 deadhead = $3.78/mi - Perfect. Zero deadhead and delivers to Atlanta.
*   Load 34: Chicago > Joliet > Atlanta, GA - $2,850 / 720 mi / 12 deadhead = $3.89/mi - Almost same lane, highest RPM on the board.
*   Load 37: Atlanta > Chattanooga > Chicago, IL - $2,750 / 620 mi / 115 deadhead = $3.74/mi - Atlanta to Chicago is a premium lane.

Honorable mention: Load 50 Chicago > Joliet > Memphis $2,250 / 540 mi / 12 dead = $4.07/mi - Shortest, highest RPM. Memphis is decent to get out of.

 3. Which loads would cause TRUCK DOWNTIME?

Any load that says Rural in the delivery:

Load 47 - Rural Wyoming, Load 44 - Rural Nevada, Load 42 - Rural Idaho, Load 38 & 29 - Rural Montana, Load 32 - Rural Nebraska, Load 35 - Rural Oklahoma.

And Load 41 & 25 - Miami, FL. Miami is not rural but it's a notorious dead zone. Everyone goes there, no freight comes out. You sit for a day and leave cheap.

If you take one of these, plan on 1-2 days lost + 300-500 miles unpaid deadhead.

 4. Which loads give the BEST WEEKLY STRATEGY?

Pros don't think one load at a time. We build a triangle to stay in money lanes.

This is how I would run your truck this week and gross $8k-$9k in 3 loads:

The Winning Triangle: Dallas -> Atlanta -> Chicago -> Dallas

Day 1-2: Take Load 46 - Dallas, TX to Atlanta, GA - $2,950
0 deadhead, $3.78/mi, deliver to best market.

Day 2-3: Take Load 48 or 37 - Atlanta to Chicago - $3,350 or $2,750
You are already in Atlanta. Birmingham or Chattanooga is 100-150 miles away. Deliver to Chicago for $3.68-$3.74/mi.

Day 3-4: Take Load 27 - Chicago > Gary > Dallas, TX - $3,250 / 1,020 mi / 22 deadhead = $3.12/mi
Chicago to Dallas is a great lane back. Now you are back in Dallas with $9,550 gross in about 2,500 dispatched miles and ZERO downtime.

Compare that to taking ONE Load 47 - 3 days, 2,440 miles, $5,200 gross, and you are stuck in Wyoming begging for freight.

My board: REJECT all Rural loads, ACCEPT Load 46, 34, 37, 48, 50, 27. Build your week around Dallas-Atlanta-Chicago. 

 

Alright, let me show you how a real dispatcher would rank this ENTIRE board and build a full 7-day paycheck. This is what I do for my drivers.

MY FULL BOARD RANKING - From BEST to WORST

S-TIER - BOOK THESE INSTANTLY (High RPM, Low Deadhead, Strong Market to Market)

Load	Lane	Rate	All Miles RPM	Why I love it
Load 50	Chicago > Memphis	$2,250	$4.07	12 mi deadhead only, 540 mi short day, Memphis is ok to reload
Load 34	Chicago > Atlanta	$2,850	$3.89	12 mi deadhead, Atlanta is gold
Load 46	Dallas > Atlanta	$2,950	$3.78	0 deadhead, perfect
Load 37	Atlanta > Chicago	$2,750	$3.74	Reverse of above, keeps you in money lane

A-TIER - GOOD MONEY, TAKE IT IF S-TIER IS GONE

• Load 48: Atlanta > Birmingham > Chicago - $3,350 - $3.68/mi - Same as 37 but 150 deadhead hurts a little.
• Load 27: Chicago > Dallas - $3,250 - $3.12/mi - Excellent to get back to Texas.
• Load 30: Louisville > Houston - $2,980 - $2.95/mi - Ends in Houston, strong outbound.

C-TIER - ONLY IF YOU HAVE TO

• Load 43, 25, 26, 33, 49 - Low RPM $2.30-$2.80, or long deadhead, or bad outbound like Miami or Phoenix or LA.

F-TIER - NEVER TOUCH - THE TRUCK KILLERS

• ALL RURAL DELIVERIES: 47 (Wyoming), 44 (Nevada), 42 (Idaho), 38 & 29 (Montana), 32 (Nebraska), 35 (Oklahoma) - Plus Miami loads 41 & 25.
• Why? $4k-$5k looks sexy but you will lose $1,500 in unpaid deadhead getting out. Your RPM drops to $1.50.

HOW I BUILD A $15K WEEK FOR YOU

If you listened to me, this is your week. No downtime, all in freight lanes:

Monday: Load 46 - Dallas to Atlanta - $2,950 - 780 mi
You sleep in Atlanta, you have 200 loads to choose from.

Tuesday: Load 37 - Atlanta to Chicago - $2,750 - 620 mi + 115 deadhead
Now you are in Chicago. You did 1,515 miles and made $5,700 in 2 days.

Wednesday: Load 50 - Chicago to Memphis - $2,250 - 540 mi + 12 deadhead
Short day, $4.07/mi, you are still in a good zone.

Thursday: Load 44? NO. I skip it. I take Load 30? No, I'm in Memphis. Best from Memphis is little freight, so I deadhead 140 miles to Little Rock and I would NOT take Load 44 to Nevada. I wait for a Memphis to Dallas load. Let's say you take a market load Memphis to Dallas for $2,000.
Now you are back in Dallas.

Total so far: 4 loads, ∼2,800 miles, ∼$9,950 gross = $3.55 per all miles.

If you took Load 47 + Load 38 back to back:
You'd do 3,730 miles, 410 miles deadhead, $9,300 gross, and you'd end up stranded in Rural Montana on Friday with no load home. Your truck sits all weekend.

That's the difference between a $9,950 week in freight lanes vs a $9,300 week sitting in Montana.

Dispatcher Cheat Sheet I Give All My New Guys:

1. Never book a load with >150 miles deadhead unless it's $4.00+/mi.
2. If delivery says "Rural", add 300 miles and $400 in fuel to your cost mentally. Is it still profitable? 90% of the time - NO.
3. $3,000 for 1,000 miles is ALWAYS better than $5,000 for 2,000 miles. Less wear on truck, less fuel, more time to grab another load.
4. Always think 2 loads ahead. Where does this load TAKE me? Can I make money AFTER it?

 

You are right - I gave you the pattern but not every single load. As a dispatcher I have to rate EVERY load on the board. Here is the full board, all 21 loads, ACCEPT or REJECT:

FULL LOAD BOARD REVIEW - Rate Per ALL Miles is what I use

Load	Lane	Total Rate	All Miles + Deadhead	RPM All Miles	Delivery Market	VERDICT
Load 25	Charlotte > Columbia, SC > Miami, FL	$2,700	995	$2.71	BAD - Miami dead zone	REJECT
Load 26	Salt Lake City > Boise, ID > Seattle, WA	$2,950	1,150	$2.56	OK, but 320 deadhead too high	REJECT
Load 27	Chicago > Gary, IN > Dallas, TX	$3,250	1,042	$3.12	GOOD - Dallas is strong	ACCEPT
Load 28	Atlanta > Birmingham > Los Angeles, CA	$5,000	2,320	$2.15	BAD - LA trap, cheap out	REJECT - Looks Profitable but Risky
Load 29	Denver > Cheyenne > Rural Montana	$2,150	1,205	$1.78	TERRIBLE - Rural	REJECT - Causes Downtime
Load 30	Indianapolis > Louisville > Houston, TX	$2,980	1,008	$2.95	GOOD - Houston strong	ACCEPT
Load 32	Atlanta > Knoxville > Rural Nebraska	$3,600	1,540	$2.33	TERRIBLE - Rural	REJECT - Causes Downtime
Load 33	Houston > Dallas > Phoenix, AZ	$3,050	1,290	$2.36	BAD - 240 dead + Phoenix weak	REJECT
Load 34	Chicago > Joliet > Atlanta, GA	$2,850	732	$3.89	EXCELLENT - Atlanta	ACCEPT - BEST RELOAD
Load 35	Charlotte > Greensboro > Rural Oklahoma	$2,500	1,235	$2.02	TERRIBLE - Rural	REJECT - Causes Downtime
Load 37	Atlanta > Chattanooga > Chicago, IL	$2,750	735	$3.74	EXCELLENT - Chicago good	ACCEPT
Load 38	Chicago > Gary > Rural Montana	$4,100	1,700	$2.41	TERRIBLE - Rural	REJECT - Causes Downtime
Load 41	Indianapolis > Louisville > Miami, FL	$3,000	1,290	$2.32	BAD - Miami dead zone	REJECT
Load 42	Denver > Albuquerque > Rural Idaho	$3,450	1,800	$1.91	WORST - 420 dead + Rural	REJECT - WORST LOAD ON BOARD
Load 43	Charlotte > Raleigh > Dallas, TX	$3,250	1,240	$2.62	GOOD - Dallas, but 170 dead	CONDITIONAL - Only if you need Dallas
Load 44	Memphis > Little Rock > Rural Nevada	$4,600	1,995	$2.30	TERRIBLE - Rural Nevada	REJECT - Looks Profitable but Risky
Load 46	Dallas > Dallas > Atlanta, GA	$2,950	780	$3.78	EXCELLENT - 0 deadhead	ACCEPT - BEST OVERALL
Load 47	Dallas > Wichita > Rural Wyoming	$5,200	2,440	$2.13	TERRIBLE - Rural Wyoming	REJECT - #1 TRAP LOAD
Load 48	Atlanta > Birmingham > Chicago, IL	$3,350	910	$3.68	EXCELLENT - Chicago good	ACCEPT
Load 49	Houston > Austin > Los Angeles, CA	$4,300	1,535	$2.80	BAD - LA outbound cheap	REJECT
Load 50	Chicago > Joliet > Memphis, TN	$2,250	552	$4.07	GOOD - Highest RPM	ACCEPT - Best Short Haul

Final Answer to Your 4 Questions from the FULL list:

1. LOOKS profitable but risky: Load 47 ($5,200), Load 44 ($4,600), Load 28 ($5,000), Load 38 ($4,100). All high total rate, all deliver to dead zones.

2. Best Reload Opportunity: Load 34 and Load 46 - Both deliver to Atlanta, GA. Atlanta is #1 for reloads in the US. Load 27 and 43 deliver to Dallas - #2 best market.

3. Will Cause Truck Downtime: Load 29, 32, 35, 38, 42, 44, 47 - Anything with RURAL delivery. Also Load 25, 41 - Miami. Your truck will sit 24-48 hours.

4. Best Weekly Strategy: Forget the big $5k loads.

Week = Load 46 ($2,950) + Load 37 ($2,750) + Load 27 ($3,250) = $8,950 in 2,557 miles = $3.50 per all miles, never leaving the big freight lanes.

If you took Load 47 alone, you get $5,200 in 2,440 miles and you end up stranded.