What would you charge for delivery? - Diesel Forum

xj4life · 04-20-2006, 03:51 PM

Friend of mine wants me to deliver a Jeep with my truck and trailer. Its 1500 miles total, figuring 12mpg and $3.25/gal that comes out to around $400 in fuel.

What should I figure for "wear and tear" on the truck and trailer?

firefighter9208 · 04-20-2006, 03:54 PM

A friend of mine paid $1.00 per mile (one way) last summer to have a boat delivered. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

Firefighter9208

Texascadillac42 · 04-20-2006, 04:20 PM

How good of a friend is it? If it were me Id try and get the friend to go with, and pay for all fuel (obviously Id have him do this even if he didnt go along) and pay for all meals. If he is a good friend, Id do it for no extra charge. If you are looking to make some money, charge him another $250-$350 bucks. 1500 miles is a decent distance to drive in a day by yourself, especially with a stop in the middle. If he goes with you, again its another story.

xj4life · 04-20-2006, 04:49 PM

He's a pretty good friend but still that's a lot of miles and time. He'd be riding with me on the way down and then on my own on the way back. I'm thinking of charging him fuel cost plus $200.

Black05 · 04-20-2006, 04:51 PM

I would think, if he is a friend, that he would volunteer to pick up your meals and any motel/overnight stay. He is still making out great at $200.00 over this.

LongRider · 04-20-2006, 05:19 PM

<font color="green">If it is just a Jeep, then $2/ loaded mile would be fair.

If he loads the Jeep, then starts piling on a bunch of other junk, then at least $2.25/ loaded mile.

Anything less and you would be better off staying at home.

Not only must you consider wear and tear, fuel, tires, etc., but who is gonna be responsible to get your truck back home should it lay down 1200 miles from home.

This "friend" is gonna feel like it is your truck and let you pay the tow. </font>

ericcklem · 04-20-2006, 05:33 PM

At school, they pay us 45cents/mile for driving our personal pickup trucks. This is supposed to cover fuel and maintenance but not pay us. It is based on the large fleet of pickup trucks and vans that the school owns which get run pretty hard. Granted, the numbers are for gas trucks and aren't for towing but it may give you an idea of where to start.

xj4life · 04-20-2006, 05:41 PM

[ QUOTE ]
<font color="green">...., but who is gonna be responsible to get your truck back home should it lay down 1200 miles from home.

This "friend" is gonna feel like it is your truck and let you pay the tow. </font>

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah that's one of my concerns. but that would never happen [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

NCHornet · 04-20-2006, 07:12 PM

The going rate for hotshot loads like this is a buck to a buck twenty-five per mile. Depending on how good of a friend he is, it could be a fun trip. I think he would be getting off real cheap to pay all expenses and a couple C notes. Why doesn't he drive the jeep?

JimTJr · 04-20-2006, 09:01 PM

[ QUOTE ]
1500 miles is a decent distance to drive in a day by yourself,

[/ QUOTE ] I dont know about you Texas cadillac,,, but Um even if you dont worry about any DOT regulations on hours driving,, (Like you have to do if you do this for a living) 1500 miles,,devided by 70mph,,, is 21.4 HRS!!!! AVERAGE!!! NO STOPS! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] Now,,I DONT CONSIDER That a "Decent Days driving" [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] I figure if you get in 1000 miles the first day that is a good day,,(again not worring about DOT regs) That is about 16 GOOD HARD hours....
I agree, if he is a good friend and you just want to do him a favor,, if he pays all fuel and meals and a couple hundred for fuel home,, and meals that would be a good deal for him...(Your going to be away from home 4 days I bet!)

NOW what would he pay to have it shipped by someone like me??
I probably wouldnt touch it for less than 800.00 and that is if I could find another car to haul on my trailer with it at least 3/4 of the way!

Mr_Roboto · 04-20-2006, 09:16 PM

1500 miles..... I used to drive professionally, first driving big rigs then doing expedite.

To do that safely you are looking at driving about 25 hours at least. People don't realize how fatiguing driving is. After 8 or 9 hours, you won't be able to keep focused. So you're loooking at 3 days there, 3 days back.

Me, I would be charging AT LEAST $450 on top of my expenses. You aren't just charging for your time and actual expenses. You are charging for liability for "unexpected" expenses, i.e. breakdowns, towing, accidents etc.

1500 miles is a heck of a "favor" to ask a friend.

Texascadillac42 · 04-20-2006, 10:19 PM

Sorry, I should have been a bit more clear in my previous post. I agree that it would be a push to do it in a day, but I still think its doable. Being behind the wheel for 1500 miles straight is not for everyone, and you'll definitely be tired for a while. I agree that it would be safer to do it in 2 days, or at least with 2 drivers.

JimTJr · 04-20-2006, 11:06 PM

If that is something you can do very often,,, "YOU DA MAN" lol,, I made it straight thru from St.Louis to Houston, Tx. Last weekend,, MAN WAS I ready for that hotel room!

huch1212 · 04-20-2006, 11:17 PM

Be sure and post your route so myself and other unsuspecting motorists can make sure to travel another route.

Seeing as how this is TDS I won't say what I really think.

larry_minn · 04-20-2006, 11:27 PM

Really NEEDS to be a two day trip. 750 miles pulling is a full day. That is a 13 hr drive at (realistic interstate/surface street speeds) For that trip figure $450 in fuel (prices going up and what you are paying locally is likely less then on road) Your time for 26hrs at $10 a hour ($260 Add in $80 for hotel room (unless he has a house there? and meals on return $20 (assume he is paying on way?)
So fuel $450, time $260, food $20 and (possibly) $80 for hotel So $730 with no hotel to $810.
I would show him this and say "Just make it $700 or $750 with hotel if we can find a nice motel cheaper then $80 on way and HE researves it. (you will be too tired to want to hunt for hotels.)
People ALWAYS expect you to do it for nothing. I had a neighbor call me and ask if I would go 18 miles (empty) and pick up a trailer with 18,000lbs on it. Bring it back 20 miles for him. I said "Sure for $10" (which I thought was DIRT CHEAP. He got upset that I would CHARGE him to spend a hour of my time. His trailer wouldn't go over 30mph safely and with prep easily took a hour of my time.