Trucking: Trucking Charges, owner operator trucking, trucking charges

Question
Jim, I need some info on what and how i should be charging customers. I have just started a small owner operator trucking company in the Pacific NW. People here call it hot trucking since the truck is a Ford F-450 superduty (15k GVW) and trailer is a 33' gooseneck flatbed with a dove tail on the back (20k GVW). Any help or info would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Todd, I am not real familiar with the pricing structure in this segment but anything "expedited" should move at a premium.
I did find a reference as follows:
5. What is the normal pay scale for expedited loads?  
   It varies from carrier to carrier and from truck size to truck size. A typical rate for a cargo van would be $.70 - $1.50 per mile. For a straight truck $.85 - $2.00 per mile and for tractors $1.25 - $2.50 per mile. - Updated: October 15, 2004
This is from a website that you find helpful:
http://www.expeditersonline.com/faq/index.html
My expertise in in LTL but the fundamentals are the same:
Know your costs and Know your customers.  If you know what their needs are and know your costs of operating and the likelyhood of return movements you will be able to quote competitive and still make a fair profit.
Good luck in your venture.
JIM