Introduction to the Industry

Hello everyone.

I'm a former OTR driver for Swift. I drove for them for a few years and then made the switch to local work as a company driver for an international freight courier (less than 100 miles from home base). I wanted to be close to the wife and child, and home every night. It was great while it lasted, but our marriage didn't make it. The pay for the local work is just ok ($14.50/hour driving a van, straight truck, and tractor-trailers), and I am certain I'll never get a pay raise.

When I was with Swift, I felt the need to let everyone know what they were getting themselves into...the things the recruiter just couldn't and wouldn't tell you. I wrote an in-depth article on the subject, trying my best to remain unbiased. You can read the article in this post: http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/showthread.php?t=172181

What I'm looking for is an article similar to that, but about hot shotting / local work. I decided after Swift that I'd never go OTR again, and I don't want to work for someone else anymore, either.

Having said that...

I'm thinking about dipping my toe into this side of the industry. I own a 2004 Tacoma, and was wondering if there's any market for me to do some part time work on the weekends with this vehicle? I don't want to jump straight into buying those F350s and 40' trailers you guys talk about. Eventually, I may move from a toe in the water to both feet kicking while I sit on the ledge of the pool, to maybe getting fully in, with truck and all. I have other plans in the works, so the idea to eventually go full time into this is sort of a back up plan/idea.

Anyway, for now, can I use my Tacoma to make a few extra bucks, staying with a couple hundred miles? I still need to be able to see my daughter every other weekend per custody arrangements, and I still intend to stay employed in my job during the week.

Additionally, what do I need to get started, regarding insurance, permits, etc? Where do I go to find more information on these? I've never been an owner/operator and know diddly squat about this side of the industry.

I live in Dallas, so I could easily make it just about anywhere in Oklahoma and Louisiana, and north, central, and southeast Texas with a day. I don't know if this would change the permit requirements or not. Also, I do still have an active CDL with hazmat, doubles/triples, and tanker endorsements (not that those matter here).

Please keep any answers as plain English as possible; don't assume I know the lingo.

Thanks,

Mike

P.S. I'm open to any other suggestions for learning the hot shot industry part time on the weekends, i.e. renting truck and/or trailer, etc. If you think it might be a viable option, please do tell.

 

I should probably clarify that I'm looking to net just a couple hundred dollars two weekends a month for now.

 

Thanks for the tip. However, I'm not looking to install additional equipment right now. I'm looking for more light work and regional where I can be back home that night. Something like a courier, moving a needed-it-there-yesterday package, etc. Any ideas?

 

Robert, wrong thread my friend. Go find my article on the subject in the Swift forum. Click on the link in my original post.

 

Well, at this point, I'd be happy if someone could just tell me what paperwork I'd need to have in order to do any kind of freight. I don't have the foggiest idea what I need or where to start.