Those pick-up-truck-trying-to-be-semi things...

Discussion in 'Expediter and Hot Shot Trucking Forum' started by Disgruntledriver, Jul 1, 2014.

  1. Tanhands

    Tanhands Light Load Member

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    Aug 1, 2014
    Gilbert, AZ
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    The reason you don't buy a single screw Class 8 is the registration. I have a Commercial Plate registered to 26,000 Pounds. My truck weighs 8K my trailer (40 Foot deckover) 7K that leaves me with 11K for paying loads. Now if my truck weighed in at a hefty 12-14K that would seriously limit how much I could carry. I could of course get an IRP plate and buy an IFTA sticker and do all the reports that go along with that but why? At that point I am back to being an OO in a Big Truck. I also would not be able to park it in my driveway or go camping or to the lake with it. As it stands now I peel off the door magnets, which by the way when I am empty happens and I become just a Pickup as I fly by the scales, and I am good to go.
     
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  3. warmshot

    warmshot Bobtail Member

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    Aug 13, 2014
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    I drive one a them and the truth of it all is as long as your busy you can do alright. Hada long slow spell this year though and it kicked hell outa the old wallet sitting.
     
  4. FarmerTransportation

    FarmerTransportation Light Load Member

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    Pittsburgh, PA
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    Here's my $.02, which is worth about half of that. I run hot shot. I pull 1 or 2 loads per week. I get my loads from the boards, and increasingly from brokers for whom I've done a good job in the past. I very seldom am out overnight, on purpose. I don't take loads that are more than about 250 miles away. I have a 1 ton pickup and a 20 foot flatbed, with a 7500lb payload limit. I clear, before taxes and after truck expenses, around $5K per month.

    The truck is 13 years old with 230K miles on a 7.3l International diesel V8. When the engine craps the bed, I'll spend $3400 for a Ford remanufactured and pay a friend a few hundred to install it. When the tranny goes, ditto.

    I work hard to secure loads that fit my restrictions. I happen to live in an area where those loads come up.

    I take loads or drop loads from or to areas where big trucks don't want to go, at least right away. A partial to you big truckers is a full load for me. But I can pick it up tomorrow morning and deliver it tomorrow afternoon whereas the big trucks want to pick it up next week when they're coming thru and drop off sometime after that.

    As an example, I just now confirmed a load from northern West Virginia to Wooster, Ohio. 150 miles, with about 100 miles of deadhead. $500. I'll leave the house at 5:30am and be back home by 4pm.

    No, my cab is not as comfortable as yours. But my bed at home beats the heck out of your sleeper!

    By the way. I'm not trying to be a semi. I'm trying to make a living filling a niche that needs filled. And it seems to be working well for me!
     
  5. Lite bug

    Lite bug Road Train Member

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    Columbus Ohio
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    I do about the same thing from my location in Columbus Oh. Sounds like you have a plan and work your plan. Good luck to you Farmer Transportion.
     
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  6. HotRod1

    HotRod1 Bobtail Member

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    Jan 9, 2012
    Texas
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    My .02 or $1.50 (with inflation).
    I currently run a hopper trailer, made a lot of money pulling frac sand before the oil prices went down, now I load fertilizer, feed, meat and bone meal, whatever makes money. I have a regular Pete 379exhd (1989), big motor, 6+4 transmissions, long low and fast. I get and average of 7.3 mpg and I'm usually loaded. Rarely run more than 80 miles empty. I am buying another Pete to pull a 48' step deck, 8 upper, 40 foot lower, to run hot shot. It's a single axle 379exhd, 475hp cat with a 15 speed double overdrive. Currently it's getting 10-13 mpg towing a 38,000# horse trailer. Have already lined up customers and brokers. Average rate will be 1.73 for every mile the truck runs. The trailer is designed to haul lighter loads and has ramps if I need them. I've hauled equipment and flats for over 20 years so this is not new. But I've run a niche market hotshot company too, and the revenue can fall off quick when the economy is tight. I'm just hedging my bets with my set up. Yes I'll pay IFTA, but no you don't have to buy fuel at just truck stops, I buy fuel at regular gas stations too. It all depends on how you buy it. I use my own fuel cards get a detailed report every month and file IFTA, takes about 10 minutes. Just run a milage sheet per month, easy. Here is a pic of the truck I'm buying. For the price of a new or "newer" truck, I can buy a truck and a trailer, and no I wint have a 60 month loan. I'll have a 24-36 month lease with a 10% or $1 buy out for the same payment as a new Dually. View attachment 79282 Or
     

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  7. sshewins

    sshewins Road Train Member

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    I'm not a pete guy by any stretch, but that is a good looking truck. Seen a lot of those single axle trucks (most not as nice looking) in CA, before CA said I was too old to come out and play.
     
  8. Tanhands

    Tanhands Light Load Member

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    Aug 1, 2014
    Gilbert, AZ
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    I think I have to call Bravo Sahara on Hotrod1. You are saying you pull 80k with a 26year old Pete with a "big motor" and you are getting 7.3mpg? Would also love to know where you can lease a new custom Pete and own it in, was it 24 or 36? For a total of $18k? I would buy 50 of them to resale. And I wouldn't brag about $1.73 per mile,it isn't very much.

    Also, don't know or care where you are but in AZ if you have an IFTA and get caught buying low tax (regular gas station fuel at $.18 tax rate) it is a $5000 fine. Our truck stops in AZ carry diesel at two separate pumps charging different tax rates. $.18 for cars and pick ups and $.26 for heavy trucks. That goes by registration. Says in plain English on the pumps. Think it's even in Spanish for our brothers from the south.
     
    flatbedcarrier Thanks this.
  9. Midwest1

    Midwest1 Medium Load Member

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    Jan 22, 2014
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    What brand of trailer do you have? That seems pretty light for a 40' flatbed with tandem duals.
     
  10. Tanhands

    Tanhands Light Load Member

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    Aug 1, 2014
    Gilbert, AZ
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    I bought a Road Boss from OK truck and Trailer in OKC. Not as heavy as the PJ or the Big Tex.
     
  11. Midwest1

    Midwest1 Medium Load Member

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    Jan 22, 2014
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    I see. My PJ is close to 9000.
     
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