The Challenge
Marcus had been hauling dry van freight for 6 years but was earning just $2.00/mile due to poor load board choices. He was running mostly LTL freight with long wait times at docks, spending up to 4 hours daily on load searching, and routinely returning empty from Atlanta — losing hundreds of dollars per trip.
Grow Trucking's Solution
Grow Trucking dispatchers audited Marcus's lane history and identified a consistent demand for temperature-sensitive produce running Chicago to Atlanta with a backhaul opportunity in auto parts. We negotiated a dedicated lane at $2.65/mile, coordinated with two produce brokers for guaranteed loads, and mapped dock appointment windows to eliminate detention.
Midwest Dispatch Strategy & Route Optimization
I-65 South via Indianapolis, cutting 38 miles vs. the I-57 route Marcus used before. Fuel stop optimization saved an additional $44 per trip.
Midwest freight lanes covered
Results at a Glance
| Metric | Before Grow Trucking | With Grow Trucking |
|---|---|---|
| Rate per Mile | $2.00/mile | $2.65/mile |
| Weekly Revenue | $6,000 | $7,950 |
| Empty Miles | 340 miles/week | 48 miles/week |
| Waiting Hours | 4+ hours daily | Under 30 min |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How did Grow Trucking reduce empty miles for this dry van operator?
- We identified a dedicated Chicago-to-Atlanta produce lane with guaranteed auto parts backhauls, eliminating the need to return empty. This reduced empty miles from 340 per week to just 48 miles per week — an 86% reduction.
- What is a dedicated lane and how does it increase revenue?
- A dedicated lane is a consistent freight route between the same origin and destination with predictable loads. It eliminates time spent searching load boards, reduces empty miles, and allows negotiation of better rates due to volume commitment — in this case, raising the rate from $2.00/mile to $2.65/mile.
- How much can a Midwest dry van driver earn with Grow Trucking dispatch?
- Results vary by equipment and lanes, but this case shows weekly revenue increasing from $6,000 to $7,950 (a $1,950 increase) on the Chicago-Atlanta corridor by optimizing load matching and eliminating detention time at docks.
- Does Grow Trucking handle broker communication for produce and auto parts loads?
- Yes, our dispatch team manages all broker relationships, rate negotiations, and load confirmations. For Marcus, we coordinated with two produce brokers and auto parts shippers to ensure consistent loads without him spending 4+ hours daily on the phone.
Related Resources
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