How are they saving money? My truck cost me $18k. I could probably replace it for $15k. Thats less than 1/3 the cost of the big truck you posted. The big truck gets worse fuel mileage. It has higher maintenance and insurance costs. If you want another car add even more costs. What am I missing?
If I was going to get a big truck I would also get a trailer to pull two campers at once. Now that might make more money.
There is no reason I have to accept a load that is too large for my truck. Ultralight campers are all the rage these days, though I assume they pay less than the largest 5th wheel. Looking at several of the RV transport companies, their minimum requirements are a 3/4 ton short bed pickup. Some don't even require a 5th wheel.
Is trucking for me?
Discussion in 'Expediter and Hot Shot Trucking Forum' started by Number21, Nov 25, 2014.
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67jeeptruck Thanks this.
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Ok, maybe it is just me, but I am having a terrible time trying to wrap my mind around your entire premise. A lot of good hands have jumped in here and tried to give you a trucking solution, but I really can't grasp trucking as being the answer to your situation.
Here is what I have being able to glean from what you have told us:
1. You want to visit a dear friend on the east coast several times a month...about a 3000 mile trip.
2. You really do not like flying, so driving the trip is your most viable option at this point.
3. You have a decent truck and are considering the hotshot field to help you defer your cost of the trip.
4. You have some income already, so making big bucks off of the trip is not paramount.
Pretty close to the situation as you have described to us?
Just working off round figures, picking up/delivering a load or loads and running coast is easily a 5-6 day trip one way (that is with absolutely no problems). If you want to visit several times a month, that is at least 12,000 miles, and will only leave you with a day or maybe two on each end of your run, if you are lucky. In other words, your visit will be very short as will your time a home. Others have also explained a lot of the associated cost with the hotshot world, and that it is very competitive. Which is a nice way of saying profit margins are usually very thin. Also driving the amount of miles you are considering will most likely take a toll on your health, especially if you are already experiencing some problems.
This makes you a full time, almost hardcore truck driver. Is this what you want? Is there not some other way to handle your present dilemma? I wish I had an answer for you, but I don't know enough about your particular situation to offer alternatives.
I wish you the best, but please consider that trucking may not be your best answer.67jeeptruck and Lite bug Thank this. -
Well put "Gonebut". I think"WE get" what this 'ole boy wants to do.....however, dont think he really understands what he's getting himself into. Like alot of things in life......"..looks good on paper!"
Joetro, GoneButNotForgotten and 67jeeptruck Thank this. -
Now, take your F-350. They are simply not designed for day to day ROUGH service. Period. Yes, they can be a beast. Maybe yours is. But Ford, Dodge, Chevy, all design these trucks to certain standard. That standard isn't for daily rough service. It is for short term rough service. Brake shoes and pads wear much faster when loaded, thus over the long run, MORE maintenance costs. It is the same over most every component on the truck.
insurance costs on a properly completed Class 8 conversion used for RV hauling is quite inexpensive. I am not going to get into the nuts and bolts of what I mean by "properly completed". But many times is less than a 1 ton.
Fuel: lightly used a class 8 can rival a 1 ton very closely on fuel. I agree it cannot beat the 1 ton economy, but it isn't as bad as you might think.
All it it takes is one hair raising, ball retracting quick stop that is needed in the 1 ton while towing a big 5th wheel where you see your life passing in front of you, and you very quickly want another power unit that can stop better.
Ride comfort: AIR RIDE, AIR RIDE, AIR RIDE. it's nice to drive your 8 to 12 hours and be not beat to death. This is well worth paying a little more fuel for ride comfort and less fatigue.
i have spent a lot of time on here trying to educate you to the reality of what you are trying to do. You have limited time on the road, and have never driven commercially. Truly man, I can't waste any more of my time ARGUING with you. You seem to know it all, so again, I invite you to jump right in there, get your DOT physical, authority, tags, insurance, and get after it. You came on here asking for advice, and if you don't like the answer you argue. I'm done.Joetro Thanks this. -
1. People don't tow RVs with one ton trucks
2. Insurance on a heavier, more valuable big rig is cheaper
3. Big rigs cost less to operate than one tons
4. My truck won't handle it even though I'm driving the miles anyway
5. Friend I talked to in person who is actually doing this in my location with an older one ton truck and profiting must be a liarLast edited: Nov 29, 2014
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Purchase price = more
Interest on commercial loan = more
Insurance = more
Registration = more
Taxes = more
Oil change = more
Transmission service = more
Tires = more
Second car = a lot more
Fuel mileage = less
Cost for unloaded/unpaid miles = more
Savings = where???
Brakes might last longer, but the brake job also cost more....
Maybe this business isn't for me, I don't know, but to say people don't do this with a one ton truck is absolutely absurd. That is the type of truck all of the transport companies are looking to hire.
I'm really not even sure what you are arguing about anymore. I will NOT be buying a class 8 truck anytime soon. You cannot profit pulling one camper at a time with that kind of truck. There are LOTS of people delivering lots of different things with one ton (or smaller!) trucks.Last edited: Nov 29, 2014
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21,
No one is trying to say anything of the sort....what we collectively are saying is ........it i s going to be harder on your truck and YOU,more than you are calculating it,s going to be. I have driven for nearly 25years professionally so i feel i can,as well as a few others here speak with experience behind us. My good man you are correct.....you will be driving that way anyway,so why not make a few bucks......
Good luck and be careful out there. -
Number21 - I DON'T think you will .
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Yes pretty much number 21 I am! As I said, have you gotten a quotes on any type of class 8 insurance. YES OR NO? Have you any first hand experience with class 8 insurance. Work with here, just yes or no will work.
Edit:: you know for someone who doesn't know much and wants to learn trucking sure seem to know a lot on cpm.
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