Need Hot shot advice

I will agree with you about Uship.

 

Folks are forgetting to mention that with limited road experience , the insurance rates for covering your truck, trailer and cargo could go from a modest 6400 per year to 7800 per year.....unless you can show previous class A driving. Also a new law states that you must join a random testing (drug consortium) and you must carry your qualifying work history along with your drug test results from the consortium ....in your truck before hitting the road. I live near Dallas so my ins. rates are a little higher than yours for the million coverage that is industry standard for general freight.

 

When did this happen? that means we all have to carry it?

 

I never heard of you having to carry any drug testing or work history with you. That's why you have a TERMINAL, that's where your paperwork is kept. I just got a level 2 a few days ago and he checked everything, truck and trailer (except brakes lazy friggin cop wouldn't gimme a sticker) BOL's, log book, insurance, license, medical card, ran my DOT#..... but NEVER asked for drug testing or work history. Not needed in your vehicle.

 

Sometimes you will find yourself finding more loads than you can shake a stick at that bring you all over the country and then there are times where you can't find even a load to haul dog poop to the garbage can across the street. A lot of it is seasonal. I am strongly considering getting a covered trailer so I can get loads up here in the Midwest since there are more loads requiring a covered or van type of trailer. My satellite base is in Houma, Louisiana. I'm from there and when I am down there I look for loads going out from there or within a few hundred miles. I love doing hotshot. It took me a year before I made my first profit on a complete run. This is a business where you can make good money but you have to be patient. The first year you will find that you're going to eat a lot of money. Your biggest expenses on the road will be fuel ahd food. When you add in insurance payments, maintenance costs, and taxes it leaves you with not much if any. One thing that will help is finding a good factoring company because you will get your money faster and many of them will offer fuel advances which helps you out big time. Make sure you put some money aside for a motel room. Some states are pretty particular about where you sleep. Do you have a crew cab on your F-350? There are some companies that make sleepers for duallies but they can run up there. One thing I can give you as far as advice is that there is a lot of learning from experience that you will be going through. I'm still learning the trade and I have learned a lot but even with the best advice from the most seasoned drivers cannot prepare you for some things that you will discover, like your first breakdown. Even with a thorough inspection you will breakdown somewhere and it may not be in the best of places. I wish you the best and hope to see you down the road.

 

first post been reading a lot of forums and learning a lot. Just getting into the business and starting at Horizon in Aug. Going in trailer division what do you thing of using a Toterhome. You have everything you need can haul more weight with cdl. Found a nice one for the cost of new pickup just 140000 miles. Its 30 ft. front bumper to gooseneck think that's to long that means 35 ft trailer. I appreciate all the help

 

Hi all!
Got a question bout trailer rentals. Good idea or not? Just gettn started.

 

It depends on the type of triler, but buying a flatbed is best.

 

La101, I am new to this site but have been a ltl trucker for 3 years and I love it. Money fluctuates. There are weeks I pull 5000 grand and up. There are weeks I can't buy a load to save my life. As far as a trailer I bought one on craigslist for 3500. It was a private build but was already dot inspected. 45ft lowboy. One thing I noticed is you said you bought a 7.3 Ford. That would mean it is an 03 or below right? Some companies won't allow trucks older than ten yrs. I drive an 05 Dodge with the 5.9 Cummins and will drive it until it just won't go anymore. I have never run the load boards so I have nothing for you there. I do tons of nursery stuff (during the season) and the other six months I haul whatever is on my trailer. I have had no dot issues at all. They will always find something so kiss that perfect score goodbye. Lol The only thing is be diligent on getting your pay. There are some low life's in this business. But, most of your hotshotters on the road will give you tons of info. Greatest group of guys I have ever worked with. Good luck and always keep in mind if the wheels ain't spinning then you're not making money.

 

Jesh, Do you have loads already set up ready to go? If not I would look into buying a used trailer. I wouldn't go lower than 40ft.