When you start your workday, what's the first number you look at? Not the most important... the first. For me, it depends on the day, but it's usually one of these: - Available cash - Today's schedule - Revenue booked for the week - Truck location - Fuel prices - Accounts receivable - Available drive hours The interesting part isn't the number itself. It's why you check it first. It usually tells you what you're trying to protect or improve. I'll go first... Lately, I've been looking at cash flow and the week's booked revenue before anything else. If those look healthy, I make different decisions than when they don't. What's your first number, and why?

Poll: Finding profitable freight Planning the week Cash flow Fuel costs Time management Knowing true costs

Guy waited 11.5 hours to unload. Lost 2 days. On paper, the load looked fine. That’s the trap. Time isn’t priced into the load — but it’s what actually costs you the most. One decision can break the entire week.

A load can cover CPM and still be a bad decision. Why? Because: time matters detention matters deadhead matters reload timing matters A profitable week is about how decisions work together, not just individual loads.

Saw a load: 424 miles $1000 $350 fuel $150 tolls That’s $500 gone before anything else. On paper it doesn’t look terrible. But zoom out: If you don’t already have a strong reload planned, you’re not making a decision on this load — you’re gambling on the rest of your week. That’s how a “decent” load turns into a bad week.