Two trips with the same cargo can have different prices. Below are the most important things that shape the price, and how to present your own offer most clearly.
Distance and route
Kilometres are the basis of the price, but the route matters too: road quality, the time to reach the loading place and the return trip. A long trip on a main road can be cheaper than a shorter one on a slow road.
Time at loading and unloading
A truck that waits in a queue at a port or a grain elevator does not earn on the road. Waiting time is part of the price, so say what to expect. Sometimes the price is counted per tonne, with waiting charged separately as an idle hour.
The cargo
Weight and volume are different things. Grain and gravel fill a trailer differently, so the quantity per trip changes with the cargo. Wet material is heavier, and some cargo needs special care. See the article on tonnes and cubic metres for more.
The price unit: trip, tonne, hour
- per trip suits a clear route and quantity
- per tonne suits a quantity per trip that may change
- per hour suits hire, construction sites and an unclear route
- per tonne and idle hour suits work where waiting may arise in addition to weight
The return trip
If the truck can take a load back, the trip may cost less. If it returns empty, the price covers both directions.
Season and weather
During the harvest, hauling is concentrated into a short period and time windows are narrow. In spring, weight restrictions may apply on roads, and forest and gravel roads can be hard to pass.
One trip or regular work
Regular hauls over several days or weeks are easier to plan, and the price can reflect that.
How to get an exact price
Send the cargo, the quantity, where to load, where to unload and the date, and add the price you have in mind. Then the answer is based on your real job, not on an average.