rates for hauling freight containers

[Stacelyn]

I'm trying to start a small trucking company where I'll haul containers from the Savannah port to areas locally in Georgia. My question is how do I determine the tariff rate to charge the companies? What should I take into consideration when charging them? Are there any sites on the internet that I could gather some information on tariff rates for hauling freight containres? Thank you for your time.

[hairbear]

I used to pull containers out of KC to Springfield MO for $400 a round 15 years ago. About 50% of the time I was able to reload the trailer for an additional $400 for the return. I paid about .85 a gallon for fuel back then too. It was a very profitable venture then.

You need to figure your rates on the round trip. Figure out your operational expense (fixed and variable) and calculate a profit that makes the long hours you will be working worth the effort.

You will also need to calculated the time spent unloading/loading into your figures.

When you figure your rates and contracts with different companies, the one area we get gigged is for damages to chassis and containers.

Most of the time the damages are pre-existing but when we go to the rail yard (you'll outgate from the port) they do not want to write up the damages or the drivers don't bother telling whoever is outgating the container.

Best of luck. Container hauling use to be profitable but the niche market has become saturated with bottomfeeders.