RV Transport vs. LTL/HotShot Hauling

Discussion in 'Expediter and Hot Shot Trucking Forum' started by BSTT450, Feb 20, 2013.

  1. Victorbeard

    Victorbeard Bobtail Member

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    RV trailer delivery SUCKS! Don't fall for the scam. They clam you can make money with a "Dream Job".
    ?? You cannot even make enough to stay in a hotel! You have to live like a RAT in your truck! The RV industry just wants to use up your truck with peanuts they pay you. They will stick you with fees and back charges that are not your fault. They don't care about the drivers at all.You only get paid one way NO BACK MILLAGE!!! WAKE UP PEOPLE!! It's a scam!!!
     
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  3. d o g

    d o g Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    We get your point, Victorbeard. In fact, every post that you have made is basically repeating the same mantra. We get it now - it doesn't work for you. Conversely, some members find that it's a good fit for them. In the future, please try to make your point without insulting those members for whom it is working.
     
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  4. Midwest1

    Midwest1 Medium Load Member

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    It would sure be nice if "Rv Transport" could have its own forum on this site. That way everyone could complain, argue, and debate the same question that's asked over and over on a daily basis here and the rest of us could use this forum for what it's really intended for... hot shot trucking.
     
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  5. JChors

    JChors Medium Load Member

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    Apr 20, 2009
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    ^^x2^^. A separate forum on TTR would be nice.
     
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  6. Kendra69

    Kendra69 Bobtail Member

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    Feb 4, 2016
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  7. Lsam

    Lsam Bobtail Member

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    The trailer RV delivery don't work for me either. They don't pay enough at all a little over $1 a mile. It does suck! Can anyone please suggest a better way to make money with my pickup truck?? Thanks!
    Sam
     
  8. paintballer

    paintballer Light Load Member

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    Your in a tough spot. A pickup is the worst kind of truck to make it with. I started in one back in 2004 pulling super light weight enclosed trailers one way. Then moved to gooseneck trailers doing LTL freight/cars. Then upgraded to a class 8 and added a 12' step deck to my 40' 24k gvw gooseneck. 54k plate could haul 21k freight and stay legal.

    I have a direct (50% of my business) customer paying 3.00 (on ave) for a load that weighs 10 to 16K but takes up 52' of trailer. I have a OO that runs a 80k full size rig with a 53' stepdeck. This business is very hard in general though. The LTL market took a huge nose dive in late 2008 and has never really recovered. I could have booked 4 to 5 PM freight on a 50/53' trailer back then. Can't come close to it now. Price is way down on LTL now and fewer loads to choose from now. I did not haul very many cars until after the Nose Dive in 2008. Because LTL was about double of a car rate back then.The gap between LTL and single cars has closed and there are more cars to choose from. Very little true HotShot freight for OTR operators on the spot market (load boards-broker freight).

    The spot market stinks for big trucks also most of the time. My direct customer pays well but something could go wrong and I could loose it of face a big rate reduction at anytime. To service this company I have to accept rates I don't like to get back for the next load. Sometimes the Rate back is pretty good but most of the time it is not. 1.75 to 2.00 is a struggle, sometimes it is so low I get pissed and come back empty.

    This business no matter what Rig/Truck/Freight your driving/hauling looks easy from the outside. It can be absolutely cruel at times and is totally unforgiving. If you can find a niche that works for you, you can make a living at it and some do very well. Not everyone needs 125k net profit to be happy and some will not be happy with that same 125k. You can go broke real easy also.

    If you want to do campers, I would look into going CDL with a Tow and Haul rig or a wedge trailer doing cargo trailers. Cars back.

    My best advice is this. Park the pickup or sell it. Get your CDL A and if you have to, go to a trucking school and drive a big rig for 1 to 2 years for experience if you need it. If you already have insurable experience and can afford your own Class 8 rig, then figure out what you want to haul and equip yourself with some tools that allow you access to better pay. A semi is really not any harder to drive than your dually with big RV on it. It's safer and allows you a lot more comfort driving/sleeping on the road.

    A class 8 truck allows you many more options for freight (trailer type), it can give you a (more) proper truck to try different things, looking for a more profitable niche in this business.

    In the RV transport business, you can find some like Medic that are happy, most are just scrapping by or do it part time (retirees). Many go broke, for lots of reasons (some of it their own fault).

    Bigger Trucks = Bigger opportunities, but NOT a Guarantee. Tough business no matter what your driving/hauling.

    PS. Small trucks are not designed to drive 100k to 150k miles commercially year after year. All trucks have issues, but your expecting a awful lot to get that pickup to handle that kind of pounding day in and out.


    Go Big or Go Home!!!!! Wonder who coined that phrase. Very applicable to Commercial Trucks..imo....
     
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  9. jeffman164

    jeffman164 Medium Load Member

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    Paintballer is dead on !!
     
  10. lastone in

    lastone in Light Load Member

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    Paintballer is right.

    I think you need to find your own knish in this industry. I did tow-away for 3 seasons and finally realized that at the end of the day all I had was a POS truck and a few bills. If it wasn’t for all of the tax deductions it would be a big waste of time. There are a few on this board who are doing it full time, but for the most part they have to get their own back hauls and additional customers to make it profitable. It’s hard to believe that anyone is working year round with a transport company and making a living at it. Very had to believe!

    I do seasonal drive away now, (class a,b,and c’s). I pull a Ford Ranger behind with a camper shell to sleep in. I will run from end of Feb to mid May and go home.

    For me this is the perfect set up.
     
  11. flatbedcarrier

    flatbedcarrier Medium Load Member

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    We've been rolling steady for what, 12 years now doing hotshot LTL with 3500's, 4500's,,and 5500's. Some of you guys say these smaller trucks have no place in the industry, I have to say I disagree 100%, and a lot of Brokers and Shippers feel the same way. Today's hotshot trucks are a lot more capable then what was available 15/20 years ago. We've had Dodges with Cummins engines with over 480,000 miles on them running here with us without needing any major repairs.

    Myself, I've owned Peterbilts, Kenworths, Freightliners, and Dodges, and after 12 years now of running just Dodge Rams, personally you couldn't give me a semi truck. Our operating cost is lower, and our in the shop time is nowhere close to what it was when we worked semi trucks.

    Some random loads from this month

    image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2016
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