Trailering changes at today’s fuel prices

[DownYonder]

Let’s say that you are taking your two horses to a show and have room for a friend’s horse. Is $3.00/mile a reasonable rate to charge?

[STF]

I dont know. Right now, if anyone wants to double haul, Id just charge them 1/2 of my fuel costs to and from the show.... and be happy about the extra help at this point.

[Spectrum]

That's kind of my take on it. I trailer with friends and usually we will split the gas costs plus I'll braid her horse for her.

If someone tried to charge me $3.00 per mile when they were already going, I'd have to stay home. I can't afford to spend $300 to haul 50 miles to a show and back.

If someone was making the trip solely for me, $3.00 per mile would still seem ridiculously high to me.

Spectrum.

[Trixie's mom]

no...$3 a mile is way too high. If I fill my extra spot I charge half the gas of the total trip. I'm not a commercial hauler and obviously don't carry cargo insurance however I do carry liability.

[DownYonder]

Last time someone hauled my horse to a show (two weeks ago), I paid for gas both ways. Even though she was also taking her own horse, I figured it was wear and tear on her own truck and trailer, she had to pay for insurance, etc. The least I could do was pay the fuel costs. It was about 240 miles round trip and the total cost came to about $160 – less than $1.00 per mile.

I was just quoted $3.00/mile by someone else to go to a show in another state. Round trip would be about 800 miles, so I was looking at paying $2400 in trailering charges to get to this one show. Then there were the entry fees, hotel rooms, food, gas for my car, etc., etc., etc. :eek:

I have a feeling we will be staying home a lot this summer. :lol:

[lizathenag]

are you a commercial hauler? sounds like a slippery slope insurance wise. . .

when I was given trailer rides I would pay all the gas and my friends hotel room (which we shared) since she was buying the tires and vehicle and so on.

[cyriz's mom]

I think I'd find a new friend!! That's ridiculously high!

I just got a quote from a commercial shipper...1200 miles in a BOX stall for $1400. Much less than I expected.

I'm with the others...splitting the gas...MAYBE paying all the gas, but not $3.00/mile.

Another thing your "friend" should consider is if she is charging commercial rates, then should there be a accident, there could be issues regarding her insurance (or lack thereof as a commercial shipper).

[class]

Let’s say that you are taking your two horses to a show and have room for a friend’s horse. Is $3.00/mile a reasonable rate to charge?

not really a "friend" then is it?

[seabreeze]

I dont know. Right now, if anyone wants to double haul, Id just charge them 1/2 of my fuel costs to and from the show.... and be happy about the extra help at this point.

Ditto.

Last time someone hauled my horse to a show (two weeks ago), I paid for gas both ways. Even though she was also taking her own horse, I figured it was wear and tear on her own truck and trailer, she had to pay for insurance, etc. The least I could do was pay the fuel costs.

That was very thoughtful. I'm sure you'll have no trouble getting a trailer ride from your friend again!! :)

[jesterjigger]

I think that's high if you're already going to the show...especially if you're taking two horses and adding just their one. I would stick closer to gas, maybe a touch higher. We just hauled a horse for a little less than $1 a mile and we still came out ahead. Of course, we were making a special trip on Memorial Day, and spending 6 hours on the road doing it so we charged more than just gas. Even at a little less than $1 a mile we still made $100.

Also, wanted to add, I can see charging more if the horse is a problem traveller.

[lelevic]

Let’s say that you are taking your two horses to a show and have room for a friend’s horse. Is $3.00/mile a reasonable rate to charge?

Personally, I think that is a ridiculious amount to charge, especially since there is an open slot and its not like they are making a special trip there just for you...Me and a friend went to a rated show last month and split the fuel costs 50-50. Her truck and trailer, she had two of her own horses on the trailer and there was an open slot for mine. It was fair in my opinion.

Honestly though, this whole gas situation has me rethinking what shows I am going to and which ones I am crossing off the list. Being a full time college student, and a full time parent (kids and ponies!), I am having to reevaluate my showing goals for this year.

[CTM]

When I take a friend I charge them 1/2 the gas or we might trade out something. For example they may pay for the tack stall at the show.

[merrygoround]

I dont know. Right now, if anyone wants to double haul, Id just charge them 1/2 of my fuel costs to and from the show.... and be happy about the extra help at this point.

That's reasonable and fair, and doesn't put you in a commercial hauler situation.

[DownYonder]

not really a "friend" then is it?

Tee-hee, that's exactly what I thought. I've known this person for a long time, though, so I wasn't surprised. ;)

[Classical DQ]

I think most people expect to pay 1/2 the gas. I think that it is wonderful if the 'extra' rider paid for all of the gas...there is wear and tear on the trailer and the responsibility of driving. However it may be too much for the 'extra' to pay for all of the gas these days. The other responsibilities probably wouldn't add up to that much money.
I think that in the past paying for all of the gas was good. The owner of the vehicle buys and maintains the truck and trailer! That is a big investment for someone else to get to use for just part of the gas used on that particular trip.
However, all this said...you are not supposed to BENEFIT from hauling unless you are a licensed hauler and have insurance that would cover that. You may be found more liable in case of an accident if you were making a profit from hauling. (At least that is how I have understood the situation.)

[STF]

Chris, my H/J trainer just got a quote from shipping a horse from FL to TX and it was between 800-1500 depending on which Co. That was approx. 1500 miles loaded.
So a 1.00 a miles or less and that was with professional hauler insurance, etc.

1.50 a mile tops and much less if its a "friend"....

[DownYonder]

Chris, my H/J trainer just got a quote from shipping a horse from FL to TX and it was between 800-1500 depending on which Co. That was approx. 1500 miles loaded.
So a 1.00 a miles or less and that was with professional hauler insurance, etc.

1.50 a mile tops and much less if its a "friend"....

Agreed, we just shipped one from NY to Georgia for $1000 (925 miles), so about $0.92/mile. And that was in a box stall on an air ride "big rig."

[Tiki]

We once had a "friend" try that on us. Uh uh, no siree Bob! That "friend" is trying to charge you triple what a commercial hauler - with insurance, logs, State Police checks, special class license and all would charge you. It would actually be cheaper to ship commercial.

[SGray]

doubt you'll find too many commercial haulers available to cart one horse from your home barn to show and back for the kind of prices being quoted here -- those prices are for scheduled loads with multiple horses being shipped

if you want to go to the local show your choices are pretty much a) invest $$s in trailer and hauling vehicle and gas or b) pay whatever to hitch a ride in an available space

[SGray]

say my truck/trailer combo set me back $40,000 (that's not too fancy)
say I average 6 shows a year with 200 mile round trip
say I plan on keeping that combo for 10 years

I've spent over $3.30 per mile BEFORE fuel and maintenance

[atlatl]

It seems most of these posts are from folks without their own rigs.

As someone on the other side of the fence, I'd like to point out that "just" because there's an empty space in the trailer does not mean that it's only some additional gas and wear/tear on equipment.

I've trailered "friends" who have taken the lowest saddle rack in my tack room, tied their horse on the side of the trailer closest to the tack room and also given their horse water I lugged to the trailer and left nothing for my horse. Oh yeah, and never chipped in for gas. They got two chances and then they were out. I wouldn't haul these folks again for $20 a mile. These were basically nice people, but clueless about showing out of a trailer.

Personally, it's worth the money to me to be able to go to a show when I want and leave after my rides. In Southern California, there is a considerable advantage to being on the road at say 2:00 on a Sunday afternoon compared to 5 or so. My time is worth alot to me.

So before judging any amount as excessive, please take into consideration the total impact of hitching a ride with someone.

[atlatl]

I forgot my favorite; one person lost the keys to my trailer tack room at a show. Fortunately, I had a spare set at home.

[Consensus]

I think if friends are trailering together the one with the truck and trailer should get at least the gas money. I know there is a real fine line if you charge by the mile so you need to be very carefull.

[nhwr]

I always think the notion that since I might have an empty spot in my trailer, someone else is entitled to it is ridiculous.

I have a nice truck and an older, not fancy but very safe and serviceable trailer. Cost was about the same range as SGray. I spent that $$ so I can do what I want. If I can help someone else out, sometimes I will, sometimes I won't. Don't like it? Feel free to pony up $40k of your own money and see if that doesn't change your opinion.

Bless my little heart :lol:

[Jumphigh83]

And then who pays when the horse kicks/falls/scrambles/dents YOUR trailer? No way. Empty costs me nothing more than I pay to take my horse anyway with NO risk of another horse trashing my trailer. I would never haul for just gas let alone HALF gas!! Truck 45K, trailer 48K, insurance 1500, registration 150, not having someone else's horse trash my trailer, priceless. Let alone that you are free to come and go as you please....

[HMM]

My current trainer splits gas among all the horses going, which I find a lot nicer than a per mile charge. Makes the unreasonable gas prices seem a little better when you are splitting it between two, three, or even four people. I even have my own trailer, but it would be stupid for me to haul my trailer when I can fit in with someone else and split gas.

[SGray]

generally a trainer wants their clients to go to show and likely will receive fees for coaching while there

[suzyq]

Let's go from the other side. If I was going to ask someone if they would trailer my horse to a show/lesson with them, I would offer to pay for all the gas. Because they have the trailer cost/upkeep, etc. If they were going to haul just me, then I'm sure the charge would have to cover gas, hauler's time, etc.


PS I do have my own rig and would probably take 1/2 gas. But... I didn't have my own for a long time, and would have gladly paid full gas.

[appychik]

Well, I had to beg and plead to find someone to trailer my guy about 50-60 miles to his new home (round trip mileage for my friend is about 80 miles...). I'm got her a $100 gas card plus $100. Figuring that out, it's roughly $2.50/mile. And well worth it. It's taking time out of her day to do this and adds wear and tear to the rig (truck is nice, trailer is an older stock but in servicable condition).

If I were going to a show, I'd expect to pay half gas. Trainer now charges $1.00/mile (up from just charging like $40...). So that was a bit of a shocker, but still worth it. Wonder what she'll charge us now that she's got a lovely new 4 horse goose-neck... better not be much more, but I'll still pay it until I have my own rig.

[CatOnLap]

good for you appychik.
Before I had a trailer, if someone was kind enough to haul me somewhere, I would fill their tank with gas.
Commerical haulers around here, for local shows (those that are not trainers and not otherwise benefitting from hauling) are starting at $100 for a local trip ( like 15 miles from the barn to the show) IF your horse loads nicely and the entire trip takes an hour or less. After the first hour, they charge a per km rate that is around $1.50/km ( or about $2.50/mile) One local trainer I now who takes 4-6 riders to local shows charges them $50 for the hauling alone, plus the show training fees. But they have to be willing to go at the crack o dawn and return around dark, so a lot of hanging about at the show grounds while the trainer is working with other clients.

[silver pine]

Ok so I own the truck and trailer. I have a freind who is a full time college student who events when she can, hits the trails when she can ect. She ALWAYS gives me "gas money" some times it's $10 or $30 depending on where we are going, usually locally or no more than an hour's drive. The best part is that no matter what time at night we get home she always cleans the trailer. Her boy has a tendancy to poop on the wall (slant load) she alwyas mucks out and leaves the trailer spotless. That is worth $100 to me at the end of a long days' hauling!!!

[Dune]

Ok so I own the truck and trailer. I have a freind who is a full time college student who events when she can, hits the trails when she can ect. She ALWAYS gives me "gas money" some times it's $10 or $30 depending on where we are going, usually locally or no more than an hour's drive. The best part is that no matter what time at night we get home she always cleans the trailer. Her boy has a tendancy to poop on the wall (slant load) she alwyas mucks out and leaves the trailer spotless. That is worth $100 to me at the end of a long days' hauling!!!


Before I had a trailer, I would do this as well. IN fact, I'd take it one step further and consider myself the 'trailer slave' for the day. That meant loading the trailer with both of our saddles/bridles/etc. Cleaning, helping out with grooming, etc. This enabled me to go to weekly lessons and I appreciated so much that my friend, who I know sometimes wished she could just leave after her lesson, would kindly wait the extra hour for my lesson or hour(S) for my ride time. Now that I have my trailer, I have tried being just as generous as she was. I've been repaid with dirty trailers/broken lights where they tied their horses/slow loaders and the like. Now I'm a lot less generous....NO ONE is going to replace/repair your trailer if their horse breaks it. After all, they are paying you and arm and a leg in gas $$, which of course you're getting rich off of. (dripping sarcasm inserted here) Let's not even mention the fact that if something happens to their horse en route, it's going to be your fault. No, you hire a professional and I'll haul by myself, thank you.

[Ajierene]

I was lucky when I didn't have a trailer. My instructor would haul me and someone else. I would pay when I could, but the other person had money and would pay trainers fees, etc. My trainer never asked, the person just paid. So I could have her haul my horse for nothing if I wanted to. I paid because I thought it was best.

Now I have a two horse stock, but after years of my mare being put in the trailer by herself, she doesn't like anyone else in with her, least of all strangers. She travels loose, so I know part of the problem is that she likes to turn around as soon as she gets in the trailer and she can't do that with another passenger- so she pulls back and breaks things like lead ropes (Because you know the leather on her halter isn't going to be the first thing to break, even though that is what it is there for).

I tried taking someone to a trail ride twice and both times no luck getting my girl in with her horse...oh well.

I can understand all the trailering woes - especially disrespectful trailering people. Usually they aren't mean, just ignorant - doesn't really make it less annoying at a show.