I am looking to find some sub-contract haulage work. I have a Mercedes Actros 1845 tractor with dual height 5th wheel, operators licence and lots of experience at working all over Europe & Scandinavia pulling both general cargo and abnormal loads.
Can anyone advise who is best to approach?
Buy a copy of trucking and look in the adverts.
I have already done that, but am keen to see what else might be available. The work I have been doing up until now has been pulling trailers for a small company with a mixture of abnormal loads and general freight on a rather better rate than some of the big companies are offering. I would like to find something along similar lines, but am but not quite sure where to start looking?
Do you have your own trailers or only a unit
Only a tractor unit
whelmic:
I am looking to find some sub-contract haulage work. I have a Mercedes Actros 1845 tractor with dual height 5th wheel, operators licence and lots of experience at working all over Europe & Scandinavia pulling both general cargo and abnormal loads.Can anyone advise who is best to approach?
where are you based?
As you mention a dual height fifth wheel, I’m assuming this is a 4x2 unit?
Harry Monk:
As you mention a dual height fifth wheel, I’m assuming this is a 4x2 unit?
i take it, you don’t know how the model numbers work on the Mercs then 
1845 is 18 tonne unit weight (4x2), 450BHp engine
shuttlespanker:
Harry Monk:
As you mention a dual height fifth wheel, I’m assuming this is a 4x2 unit?i take it, you don’t know how the model numbers work on the Mercs then
No, I don’t, I just know that the vast majority of trucks with dual height fifth wheels are 4x2 units.
Having a 4x2 unit is going to restrict UK work, just as a suggestion to the OP, Kelly International running paper to Germany?
I am based in the South West, but willing to travel. Weeks (or longer) away are no problem.
Yes my tractor is a 4 x 2, so best suited to European work.
Thank you for the suggestion, which I will follow up. Any more would be appreciated.
It’s a bit late in the year, but for next year if you don’t mind being away, most of the rock and roll tour firms use mega trailers nowadays.
Heritage fridges in Dover.
Rosewood trucking ltd.
Sealane Dover.
UKI Express ltd.
Dsv Avonmouth.
Davies Turner Avonmouth.
For UK traction Gregorys Devon.
For bulk blower tankers Van Bentum Holland to the Uk or collect at the UK port.
Give Ray White a call.Euro work\Scandinavia.
Ralph Davies Cheltenham Uk/Euro.
Broughton transport ltd was Mortimers eat more chips at Broughton Gifford Melksham.Uk and Euro.Fridges and flat beds and taut liner work.
Sell the actros and get a job
Subbing is a total waste of time
You’ll never achieve the required minimum £2 per mile or £600 per day (local work) required to make a profit
In this day and age you need minimum £2 per mile and the traction/subby work still pays under 1.50 per mile
Harsh but true !
robdorling:
Sell the actros and get a jobSubbing is a total waste of time
You’ll never achieve the required minimum £2 per mile or £600 per day (local work) required to make a profit
In this day and age you need minimum £2 per mile and the traction/subby work still pays under 1.50 per mile
Harsh but true !
^This.
I see that both of you are offering specialised services where downtime is a major factor and cost/mile is not the prime revenue earner. I have been sub contracting to the same firm for more than twelve years, admittedly things are not good at the moment. I work pretty well every day, get paid on 30 days from month end by a rock solid firm, I don’t get £1.50 a mile (my tacho) but even in these hard times still make a living.
Quoting a simplistic figure of £2 a mile is cloud cuckoo land and simplistic at the best.
matamoros:
I see that both of you are offering specialised services where downtime is a major factor and cost/mile is not the prime revenue earner. I have been sub contracting to the same firm for more than twelve years, admittedly things are not good at the moment. I work pretty well every day, get paid on 30 days from month end by a rock solid firm, I don’t get £1.50 a mile (my tacho) but even in these hard times still make a living.Quoting a simplistic figure of £2 a mile is cloud cuckoo land and simplistic at the best.
I completely agree, 95% of my work is subbing for Gregory Distribution and I don’t earn anything like £2 a mile but I still make a perfectly adequate living at it. I would imagine that most people who say things like “I wouldn’t get out of bed for less than £2 a mile” have either never run a truck or have, and have gone bust in the process.
I for one am not in cloud cuckoo land , We are a small firm that offers specialist services but our average is £2 per mile and be assured there are no huge profits at that rate
Harry Monk:
matamoros:
I see that both of you are offering specialised services where downtime is a major factor and cost/mile is not the prime revenue earner. I have been sub contracting to the same firm for more than twelve years, admittedly things are not good at the moment. I work pretty well every day, get paid on 30 days from month end by a rock solid firm, I don’t get £1.50 a mile (my tacho) but even in these hard times still make a living.Quoting a simplistic figure of £2 a mile is cloud cuckoo land and simplistic at the best.
I completely agree, 95% of my work is subbing for Gregory Distribution and I don’t earn anything like £2 a mile but I still make a perfectly adequate living at it. I would imagine that most people who say things like “I wouldn’t get out of bed for less than £2 a mile” have either never run a truck or have, and have gone bust in the process.
We have been running trucks here for 45 years ! , and we average above £2 per mile and not gone bust in those 45 years 
robdorling:
Harry Monk:
matamoros:
I see that both of you are offering specialised services where downtime is a major factor and cost/mile is not the prime revenue earner. I have been sub contracting to the same firm for more than twelve years, admittedly things are not good at the moment. I work pretty well every day, get paid on 30 days from month end by a rock solid firm, I don’t get £1.50 a mile (my tacho) but even in these hard times still make a living.Quoting a simplistic figure of £2 a mile is cloud cuckoo land and simplistic at the best.
I completely agree, 95% of my work is subbing for Gregory Distribution and I don’t earn anything like £2 a mile but I still make a perfectly adequate living at it. I would imagine that most people who say things like “I wouldn’t get out of bed for less than £2 a mile” have either never run a truck or have, and have gone bust in the process.
We have been running trucks here for 45 years ! , and we average above £2 per mile and not gone bust in those 45 years
I am not suggesting that you are in cloud cuckoo land by aiming for, and achieving, £2 a mile but suggesting this rate as a minimum for sub contract traction only work is simply unrealistic. I would be a very happy man if I could achieve this rate.
“We are a small firm that offers specialist services” my experience after 40+years in this business is that specialist services needs specialist equipment and a certain amount of downtime thus requiring higher than average rates, please correct me if I am wrong.
I have virtually no downtime except for safety checks and servicing which are done either on R&M contracts or part of a contract hire agreement and usually at weekend. The firm that I sub for do not charge any trailer hire so my only costs are for operating a tractor unit,always on contract hire or leased with a full R&M contract so my costs may be higher but are relatively fixed.
A few figures: 1600m @ £1.50 = £2400 Running costs @8mpg aprox £1100, fixed costs aprox £500. Total £1600 Profit £800
I do realise that other costs such as night outs etc are not included.
Not a fortune but more than acceptable to me, at 45 weeks per year this would give an annual income of £36000.
I must say that in the current trading environment that I do not achieve this.
£2 a mile would give me additional revenue of £800 giving a weekly profit of £1600, I do not think that would be realistic.
Simple earnings per mile figures do not work, there are too many variables. 
Harry Monk:
matamoros:
I see that both of you are offering specialised services where downtime is a major factor and cost/mile is not the prime revenue earner. I have been sub contracting to the same firm for more than twelve years, admittedly things are not good at the moment. I work pretty well every day, get paid on 30 days from month end by a rock solid firm, I don’t get £1.50 a mile (my tacho) but even in these hard times still make a living.Quoting a simplistic figure of £2 a mile is cloud cuckoo land and simplistic at the best.
I completely agree, 95% of my work is subbing for Gregory Distribution and I don’t earn anything like £2 a mile but I still make a perfectly adequate living at it. I would imagine that most people who say things like “I wouldn’t get out of bed for less than £2 a mile” have either never run a truck or have, and have gone bust in the process.
And i would say those that moan about not getting anymore than £1.50 p/m from another haulier need to pull their heads out of the sand and start knocking on doors. This obsession with mileage rates is what keeps you all under the ■■■■■■■ heel. Talk to potential customers, their needs etc and if they’re interested in using you price a few of their jobs for them. Forgrt the bloody mileage thing.
Standing costs & running costs plus PROFIT…
£2 p/mile is meaningless, it needs to be in context.
If, however you’re content with the scraps from the table, give me a ring, I’ll work you!