Any recommends for the new business in 2 weeks?

The first thing that I would suggest is that you drive a truck yourself for a year or two before going out and buying trucks to haul products that you have no experience. It is easy to lose your shirt in this business. You can lose your shirt even faster by hauling cars. Rates can be good hauling cars, but you must keep claims to a minimum. The only way to do that is to only hire experienced car haulers. Most car haulers pay drivers about 25%. If you want to pull 5 vehicles I would go with a class 8 truck. I would at least go with a two axle tractor with a sleeper. Three axles would be better due to being able to pull other types of trailers should things not work out with the car hauling. Another reason is the cost. You can buy class 8 trucks for less that a F550 or comparable truck. You can get a lot more for your money with a class 8 truck. You don't need to start with new trucks. The first thing you need to do is learn this business. The only way to learn about it is to get behind the wheel and start driving. Once you start hiring drivers you are getting into something that you are not prepared. It is difficult to find good, honest drivers. Some will abuse your equipment or steal from you. There are good drivers but it can take time to find them. Without having personal experience in this industry you are at a great disadvantage. Rates are down for most segments of this industry. Central Dispatch is probably the primary loadboard for those who haul cars. There are other loadboards that do have some vehicles that they have posted, but they are limited in their offerings. You need to develop relationships with dealers and/or brokers that have freight in the lanes in which you want to run.

 

Talk to all the. New and used auto dealers in your area they ship cars to and from the autions every week It will give you an idea on price and demand. A used tractor to start but used car trailers are usually been beat to death

 

if it would be that easy we would all just finance trucks, hire drivers and sit in the office. It just doesnt work that way. You have to drive yourself for a while.

 

I bought an F350 and an F450 after running a 10, 11, and 12 car as a company driver. Thought I could do better on my own. The 350 blew a motor and the 450 was in the shop about a week out of every month. I don't believe these kind of trucks are made to haul these kind of loads day in and day out. I own two Peterbilt ten car trucks now. If you only haul four to five units you are cutting your revenue in half. Insurance will cost you the same or more as a class 8. If you get better fuel mileage (I didn't) it won't be good enough to make up for all the extra expenses. 25% is going rate for a company driver, but how qualified of a driver do you think you'll get if he's making half of what his buddy makes? One damage claim can consume the revenue for several loads. Typically a totaled car will cost you $5,000. Put a big enough dent near the "A" pillar and the car is totaled. Your driver will be required to have a class A License because of the weight.

 

You can buy a nice class 8 truck for what that 5500 will cost, it will last longer, you'll have better brakes also. That 5 year/100,000 mile warranty will be gone in a year...........

 

Hang out with the big boys at the auto auction and see what they are doing and making!, Go gal.k to used car lots ask them what they are useing, get around the croud before you jump in and loose your arse!!! Just saying!