Profit from a carpeted 48' van with gate?

Hey all,

I've been on this board regularly for the last few weeks trying to figure out where I might fit in this business with the equipment I already own plus deciphering what sort of trailer to purchase to find steady (at will) work.
Basically I've been looking at flatbeds, SD's, and specialty trailers.

In the meantime, while I figure this all out, I do already own a trailer which I haven't really asked about the potential of (because my own personal belongings are in it at this time).

The trailer is a former furniture moving trailer. It is 100% carpeted aside from etrack, and it has a lift gate.
It is an older trailer, but stout. Everything works and it is clean (or I should say the carpet is clean).

Unless reasonably profitable, I would like to not destroy this trailer. In other words, I'd like to not turn the clean carpet into a mess by hauling truck axles in it.... you get it.

Using it as a moving van seems like the obvious answer, but I have 2 issues with that (maybe more)...
First, I see two types of trucking businesses, the one's where you call, and the one's where you wait for a call.
Obviously I could advertise as a moving van in the paper and such and *wait* for the phone to ring.
However, I am running out of time living on savings and the concept of being able to choose from available loads appeals to me (ie...load boards).
Simply waiting until someone needs to move may not rescue me in time.

The second issue is authority. I do not have authority yet as I haven't figured out if it's going to be required at first for me (also considering intermodal).
I do understand however that as a moving truck, that I would need authority and a special one at that (household goods).
Ultimately that is not the authority I was planning to go after.

This kind of leaves me in a spot where I want to work as an o/o, and I have a tractor and this trailer, but that isn't really the direction I was planning to head (unless carpeted vans and household goods authority are in high demand and steady).

I haven't read a ton about it, but it seems like the household good authority is very different and *separate" from other authorities, so I don't know if one can just add it or subtract it at will, or have both...etc.?

If there is a question in here, I guess it would be something like "what would you do?", or "what kind of load board loads wouldn't destroy my interior?", or "is it even worth it to add this capability to a new company that is ultimately going for specialty?, or "would it even be worth it to purchase household goods authority if your goal is to take loads from the boards or work intermodal?".

Ack! Sorry...
I guess I'll just go back to "what would you do?"

Thanks Much!

 

Well at least I don't feel alone in that now

 

Doesn't seem like much to add. I already own a forklift, several smaller trailers, and a roll back tow truck. There's not much in most houses (or machine shops) that I can't move.

The whole idea kinda falls short with my romantic "drive into the sunset in my big rig" fantasy though.

 

I was surprised that there wasn't a forum for it here... or for specialized for that matter