Is trucking for me?

Discussion in 'Expediter and Hot Shot Trucking Forum' started by Number21, Nov 25, 2014.

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  1. Number21

    Number21 Bobtail Member

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    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.
     
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  3. Ellijay

    Ellijay Bobtail Member

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    have you gotten any insurance quotes for big trucks or just making ASSumtions? Yes or no qustion.
     
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  4. GoneButNotForgotten

    GoneButNotForgotten Heavy Load Member

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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.
     
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  5. hipshot

    hipshot Bobtail Member

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    Nov 19, 2014
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    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!"
     
  6. 67jeeptruck

    67jeeptruck Bobtail Member

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    What you are missing is there is a lot more to this "occupation" than you are willing to accept in your mind. If you have a F-350 that only cost you $18k then you obviously have an older unit, they certainly are not $18k new. Try more in the $50k to $60k or more. When the Class 8 truck that is designed to routinely haul max GW of 80,000 lbs get used very kindly, like hauling a 5th wheel and a small car, the engine barely has to WORK, same with the brakes, same on the clutch, tires, etc. That being said, do a brake job when you buy your used class 8 as a RV hauler, it's a 1 time deal. You would most likely never have to worry about brakes again. Since the class 8 is designed to be used hard, they are engineered to take a lot more abuse, and thus when not pushed to their 80,000 lb max it is rather easy on the truck, and thus, LESS maintenance costs.

    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.
     
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  7. Number21

    Number21 Bobtail Member

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    So you're telling me commercial insurance on a $52,000 80,000lb big rig is cheaper than commercial insurance for a $18,000 passenger vehicle rated for less than 26,000lbs? Really?

    Where did I ever say that? I said one or two trips per month. You guys are still missing the point. I will be driving there anyway. In a one ton truck. I am not asking anybody about that part, it's going to happen. Can somebody explain how driving empty is better than getting paid anything to pull a trailer at the same time? Insurance cost is the only problem I see.

    No, I don't think "you" get it. This is what I'm hearing:
    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 liar
     
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2014
  8. Number21

    Number21 Bobtail Member

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    There is no logical reason to ever purchase a new truck. My truck is plenty capable for the job, I do not need to defend my truck here. My question here was about the business end of things, I need no advice about what my truck can and can't do.

    Pure BS! How much is an oil change? EVERYTHING cost more. Your per mile cost is higher. Period. I have yet to see any numbers from you. To pull only one camper trailer with a truck that size is ridiculous. That is not how most of them are delivered.

    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....

    Towing campers under 15k is not "ROUGH" service. Yes, my truck was very much designed to pull a trailer every day of it's life. This is what one ton trucks are designed for. There are plenty of people on this forum alone who do this, do a search. The majority of RVs you ever see at a dealership, got delivered there from Indiana by some guy in a pickup. Many of the major components in my truck are the same parts used in much larger "medium duty" trucks. (engine, axles, etc)

    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.

    So let's say I have a $50k class 8 truck and a $50k one ton. Insurance on the class 8 is cheaper? Somehow I doubt that. Registration cost more, and you can't drive it like a car on the other end. If you add a car you have to pay for that, and more insurance and registration fees.

    This is ridiculous. These 5th wheels were designed to be SAFELY pulled by an old man in a pickup truck. My brakes are more than adequate. Again, no reason I would have to accept a load that is too big for my truck.

    Again, my truck is plenty comfortable. I think the heated leather seats will do me just fine. I can even add air suspension if I want to for way way less than a class 8 truck. I will be driving a pickup truck coast to coast, that is not up for discussion. The only question was should I go unloaded or pick up something along the way?

    No, you're being ridiculous and telling me I can't safely pull a camper with a one ton or somehow a class 8 truck is cheaper. You seem to think everybody will be overloaded just because you accepted loads that way. You can't just make ridiculous statements like that and run away. That is not advice. If you want to explain yourself I would love to hear it but right now you aren't making a lot of sense. Just because I asked for a little advice does not mean I am stupid.

    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
  9. hipshot

    hipshot Bobtail Member

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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.
     
  10. jeffman164

    jeffman164 Medium Load Member

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    Number21 - I DON'T think you will .
     
  11. Ellijay

    Ellijay Bobtail Member

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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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