What do I need to do?

Discussion in 'Expediter and Hot Shot Trucking Forum' started by jchief, May 17, 2014.

  1. jchief

    jchief Bobtail Member

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    May 14, 2014
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    Been browsing/searching for a while.

    I have a F350 SRW. It is a 06 with 70,000 on it. I am a retired fire chief and looking to get in the transport business. I have several questions. I plan on going to a dually after "putting" some money up.

    1. How hard is it to get work without OTR experience? I haul our 5th wheel around and grew up hauling hay, cows, etc.
    2. What type of insurance do I need? Do I need insurance myself or if I work for ABC hotshot do they provide it?
    3. What size trailer would be best?
    4. I am in Louisiana, is there a special/different plate that I would need for my truck?

    Thanks for any info. I am sure I have other questions, but this will start.
     
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  3. streetglider

    streetglider Medium Load Member

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    had a buddy start doing this he bought a 30 foot gooseneck and started going to farm auctions, stayed quite busy pulling implements around. He had a ford dually. one of the only questions they ask after all the legal stuff was if he had a 6.0 liter in his truck. He had the 7.3 they told him if he had the 6.0 they would not allow him to pull their stuff because the 6.0 was so unreliable. apparently he got this question time and time again from different brokers. as far as the insurance he had his own but he was doing his own thing.
     
  4. Harley-dude

    Harley-dude Bobtail Member

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    Apr 16, 2012
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    First of all best of luck to you as I'm attempting to embark on a similar path. I would start by looking locally to find any resource that has ties to the business. I'll try to answer your questions below;

    1. If you start with a company then it could get complicated with no experience but don't let that deter you! You can mention that you have the experience that you done but don't put allot of weight behind it - sorry to say but some outfits view it a irrelevant.

    2. Depending on who your insurance company is they may have commercial type insurance. I've seen quite a few guys with Progressive as their underwriters seem more flexible with policies than other insurance companies.

    3. That would depend on the towing capacity rating of your vehicle. If you crest the 26,001 tonnage then there is a whole other set of considerations. Presently I have a 30' with ramps. I lucked out and found mine on Craigslist.

    4. In my state, South Dakota, you have to get commercial plates with specific tonnage that you will be hauling. I found most of my information on the state Dept. Of Motor Vehicles website.

    I hope that this helps and again best of luck in getting into the transport business.
     
  5. Nedrudt

    Nedrudt Light Load Member

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    Nov 10, 2013
    Tucson, Az/Dublin, Oh
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    1. How hard is it to get work without OTR experience?
    A. Not hard at all. There are some brokers out there that want you to have 3 months or 6 months of a active MC number before they will book you but not enough of them to be a problem. You'll find the brokers you'll like doing business with so don't worry about the experience part. Same with load boards, you'll find the ones that work best for you.

    2. What type of insurance do I need? Do I need insurance myself or if I work for ABC hotshot do they provide it?
    A. 100k in cargo and 1mil in liability will get you on the right foot. Look up commercial insurance companies in Louisiana before you go to the big name companies. Progressive wanted $18k for the year upfront but the smaller company I went with in Arizona only wanted $8500 for the year with monthly payments. If you go with a company they'll cover everything but liability if I'm not mistaken.

    3. What size trailer would be best?
    A. I started with a 30' big tex deck over. It was nice to start with but it cut me off from the light 40' loads. So I traded it in a couple weeks later for a 40' and couldn't be happier. You gotta buy the trailer for what you'll be hauling. If your just going general freight I would suggest a 35' flatbed deck over with a 5' dove tail with mega ramps. That set up won't steer you wrong.

    4. I am in Louisiana, is there a special/different plate that I would need for my truck?
    A. Depends on your state but I think their mostly all the same. If your under 26,000 or less you can run on base plates. 26,001 or more you'll need IRP and IFTA, and Kentucky, New Mexico and New York hut. I think that's all of them.

    On to your truck, ya ditch the 6.0. And don't even look at a 6.4. If you want to stick with ford a 7.3 or the new 6.7 will take care of you. I know quite a few guys still using the 7.3 and won't ever get rid of them. Also a few guys using the new 6.7 and don't have any complaints, yet. But the tried and true choice, a dodge 6.7. There's some stragglers out there that use a Chevy and GM but the majority use a dodge.
     
  6. jchief

    jchief Bobtail Member

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    May 14, 2014
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    Thanks for the replies. Passed my physical and plan on taking the test in the next week or so.
     
  7. jchief

    jchief Bobtail Member

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    May 14, 2014
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    Oh and since the Ford is paid for, will be using it for a while then probably moving to a Dodge.
     
  8. Nedrudt

    Nedrudt Light Load Member

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    Nov 10, 2013
    Tucson, Az/Dublin, Oh
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    It has the 6.0 right? Just make sure everything is ready to go before you go for your first load and you'll be ok. There's a couple guys running with 6.0s and surprisingly 6.4s. And if I remember correctly the 06-08 6.0s were the best. And here comes the ford motor conversations.
     
  9. jchief

    jchief Bobtail Member

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    May 14, 2014
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    Been hauling our 5th wheel with it and no issues. It weighs about 13,000.
     
  10. GearWarrant

    GearWarrant Medium Load Member

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    Mar 20, 2014
    North Vernon, IN
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    Are you leased onto or use a dispatch service company Ned?
     
  11. Nedrudt

    Nedrudt Light Load Member

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    Nov 10, 2013
    Tucson, Az/Dublin, Oh
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    Neither, I started my own company and my wife does the paperwork for the loads.
     
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