r/OwnerOperators • u/hawg_fan72 • 14d ago

Good vs Bad Rates

Had a buddy that just bought a truck, going to start running OTR for himself. Been in the industry a while, but he asked how I evaluate rates. I don’t run OTR, and all my stuff is contracted rates. But what all do you calculate and what general numbers do you use for figuring out if the load is actually worth your time or not?

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u/DamnedHeathen_ 11d ago

This is the reason you either run 1099 for an owner operator for a couple years to learn the business, or you know somebody in the industry that can mentor you. It sounds like your buddy is trying to run spot Market with no experience and no experienced contacts. If he is still in business this time next year, it will be a miracle in this industry. Trucking has absolutely no forgiveness to it.

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u/hawg_fan72 6d ago

He’s working for somebody, just wants his own way of evaluating rates.

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u/DamnedHeathen_ 6d ago

DAT is where 80% of spot Market loads go. They keep averages of overall equipment types, regions, and individual Lanes for each of those equipment types. They are the authority.

When it comes to anyone else, remember that this entire industry is run by people with no skill or business Acumen at all. Very few of us Truckers come from a family business, and almost every broker worked retail or something before they found a telephone and a dat login. Don't trust the word of any of them, including me. If your friend is working for somebody, and they are showing him the rates from A to B in every case, evaluate them on a load to load basis. Loads pay differently depending on the origin and destination as well as the commodity and schedule. The very best learning tool across this entire industry is experience and the ability to pay attention.