Need some advice

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Triumphed, Oct 6, 2015.

  1. Triumphed

    Triumphed Bobtail Member

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    I've got a friend wanting me to haul a couple cars from Vegas to LA area. I've just got a pickup and a gooseneck trailer. What's a decent rate? I'm curious what I could charge him? Any good ideas?
     
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  3. Pedigreed Bulldog

    Pedigreed Bulldog Road Train Member

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    If he's a friend and you lack MC authority, have no USDOT numbers, you aren't apportioned, and don't do this professionally? I wouldn't charge him a dime. Doing so makes it a commercial endeavor which means you'll need all of the above, plus a CDL, medical card, log book, etc.

    Doing a favor for a friend is different...that allows you to use a privately owned pickup and trailer to haul a couple cars for him without needing MC authority, USDOT numbers, log books, medical cards, or any of the other regulatory crap.

    One other issue you might run into is insurance. A favor for a friend is usually covered by your personal policy. If you are paid to haul something, that personal policy may not apply leaving you up a creek without a paddle if anything happens...you'll need a commercial policy.

    If you do this for a living and have what you need in place, you should know what it'll cost you to make the trip and charge accordingly based upon how good a friend it is. IF NOT, then I sure as heck wouldn't charge for the move. Take your friend along and have him pay for the fuel as you go. That way the stuff on the trailer belongs to someone in the truck so there is no question as to the "private/non-commercial" use of the equipment should the DOT decide to have a look at what you're doing.

    Nothing prohibits you from helping a friend move. If you're charging him, though, a completely different set of rules apply.
     
  4. Triumphed

    Triumphed Bobtail Member

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    Ok, ya the plan is that he is coming with me. He just said he wanted to make it worth my time so I'm just curious what is a reasonable rate?
     
  5. HorseShoe

    HorseShoe Road Train Member

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    Need at least. 2k to visit commieforniA
     
  6. Longarm

    Longarm Road Train Member

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    How good of a friend is he that you seem so hellbent on charging him any kind of rate?

    I think bro rule pizza n beers applies here. plus gas
     
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  7. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    Reread Bulldog's post.

    Tell him to buy fuel and dinner, pay for drinks, and for you to bust a nut in a stud ranch. You don't try to profit off your friends.
     
  8. G.Anthony

    G.Anthony Road Train Member

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    they may not be friends after this, i see no problem with charging the soon to be, ex-friend.


    find out exactly the miles, your fuel mileage, oil you may burn up per x number of miles, then charge him at the very least $5.00 per mile, per car.

    make sure you see insurance coverage for his cars. make sure you check out the cars for previous damages, make sure you take lots of pictures.

    then do not be afraid to charge him. if he doesn't like it, tell him, go find someone else.
     
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  9. Triumphed

    Triumphed Bobtail Member

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    I told him I'd see what the going rate was... I'm not trying to be an ### to him. Thanks for the advice!

     
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  10. G.Anthony

    G.Anthony Road Train Member

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    at least $5.00 per mile, per car. you will have expenses, like food, fuel, maybe a motel on the way there, or once there, or on the way back. none of that should come out of your pocket.

    do not forget you original posting, "a friend WANTS YOU to haul cars"....

    to me, this means free. if he does not like the prices, he can always go and rent.

    this is why, when i buy trucks, i DO NOT loan myself or the truck out for free. they WANT IT...THEY PAY.

    frankly, once i mention money, how quickly they don't WANT any more.

    something goes wrong, like a break down, who pays..??? YOU right??

    get into an accident, do you think he'll jump all over you for money..???

    this is where the friendship line gets drawn in the sand,
     
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  11. Slap some

    "Not for hire". " private use only". Stickers on the side.


    Run his cars to Vegas. Have him cover

    "What happens in. Vegas stays in Vegas"

    Throw some of his money down on the craps table. Go see a show.

    Don't bend your friend over for 540 mile trip.

    Uship hauls cars for a buck a mile per car. You haul 2 or three and you make a buck.

    Keep the friend charge his neighbor through the nose. Don't do a friend dirty.

    @TripleSix was right on, cover gas keep the friend
     
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  12. ChaoSS

    ChaoSS Road Train Member

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    5 dollars per mile per car? For that rate you could get a tow truck to tow them out there individually. That's an absurd rate.
     
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