you forget the thing called taxes, and then there is your own authority, you are going to do this interstate thing.
Is trucking for me?
Discussion in 'Expediter and Hot Shot Trucking Forum' started by Number21, Nov 25, 2014.
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I talked to a friend of a friend who does this last night and he told me he was doing alright delivering RVs. He goes all the way out to Indiana unloaded to get them and then gets the ones coming back west. I need to go get some real insurance quotes... -
here are two websites that may give you some answers. First is hotshotcarrier.com. they have information on all aspects of the hotshot business. they even have a loadboard that shows partial loads available from all states. great info for getting started. The second is bbtoledo.com. they specialize in insurance for rv transporters and hotshots. on their website they have a video that explains the types of insurance coverage needed. I have read reports from other rv transporters that recommend this company. try looking here for your answers.
hope this helps you in your search.Number21 Thanks this. -
Number 21 yes that is the kind of background that would be a benifit having idea of how things work. The vintage knowledge could be a asset. I ran into a guy that ran a fab shop ( HVAC duct work, said his health did not allow him to continue to operate ) he used his contacts in the industry a lot of his competitors. He started delivering their products. He was using a SWD f350 pulling a tag-a-long he said he had to prove to his wife he could make a profit before investing in a gooseneck and dually, was using what he already had to start.
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Not sure if this was covered, didn't read all post, but there is more to it than truck and insurance, DOT. number, you will need just about everything a big truck needs in order to transport OTR
67jeeptruck Thanks this. -
1. Buy insurance
2. Get DOT numbers
3. Get a CDL
4. Keep log books, follow all the rules.
5. ?
Of course, finding loads is still the big thing. I've got a spreadsheet going so I want to mark down every possible expense. -
I find it ironic that you mention people don't use big trucks to haul RV's. They are, and in increasing numbers. They get out on the road with their F-350 or Ram 3500 and find in short order they don't have the brakes they would like to see, nor the power to get up the hills as well as they would like. Then after a couple of years of RV ing, they have a truck that has been beat to death. I talked with a couple who bought a NEW Dodge 5500 and it was just not doing the job. They got rid of it and bought a used Volvo, installed a small flatbed, bought a little Smart car, and they carry it around in safety with good brakes, and more than enough power hauling their big 5th wheel. In addition, the comfort level with air ride compared to spring ride is a huge difference.
One thing I have to mention. You said your health is messing with you, and you feel driving will be ok. The driving is a very small part of this type of work. Flat bed freight is a lot tougher than you might think. Chaining down loads, cinching straps, getting loads re-packed in correctly, is all very challenging at times. Yes some is easy as can be. I got my truck loaded at a warehouse one afternoon at quitting time. It was all BOXED, and on skids. I was told each box had the same weight. When I got going, I found they were not. They loaded me NOSE heavy. I had to drive to an equipment rental yard I found open, rent a fork lift, and reload it myself. An extra expense, and cost me time. Point is, if it can happen, it will. If I had a big truck that day, the loading would not have been that sensitive, and I would not have had to reload it.
I know taxes were mentioned. It isn't just on profit. There are fuel taxes, and road use taxes too.
Good luck with your endeavor. I wish you well.Last edited: Nov 28, 2014
Lite bug Thanks this. -
I wanted to mention. There is a u ship website out there, where people want all kinds of things moved. You could try something like that. Possibly you can just haul household goods for people that will just fit in your truck, with no trailer. For something like that, I don't think people are even going with regular shippers. Meaning maybe it falls in a gray area with no extra costs. Sort of like take Grandpa's favorite recliner to him in your truck. Is it legal? I dunno. As a retired trucker, it wouldn't bother me if folks are doing stuff like this. Wouldn't hurt my income even if I was still working.
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Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't be against getting a big truck if it was profitable and I could go across country like I want, but that definitely isn't going to happen first.
It all comes back to "I'm going there anyway I might as well drag something with me". Insurance is still the killer there.
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Please, get out there and haul long distance, pay the costs of getting your authority, tags, pay your road and fuel taxes, and beat your F-350 to death. I have logged over 3 million revenue miles in my time. Probably more. I have also done the RV thing for another "job" for over 10 years. In those 10 years I beat several tow units to death. I've been in the trenches on both those ends, trucks, and RV's. In that time, I have talked with many people who have been very disappointed in their 1 ton power unit. I am not talking about the weekend camper. I am talking about people who do it full time and live on the road. Many are SAVING money by going to a good used Class 8 truck, and getting rid of their 1 ton, 4500 and 5500 trucks. I don't care how much you enjoy your F-350. They are not designed to last a million miles or more, and certainly not if you work them hard.
Please, tell me what is the difference between a gooseneck with 15,000 lbs on it, and a 17,000 lb 5th wheel? In many cases it is harder on the truck because of wind resistance dragging you down in addition to the weight.
This singled Volvo set up to haul either bumper pull, or 5th wheel just sold for $56,000.
Me I would keep the tandems, but each person does what they want. Included in the cost was setting up
the bed to haul the Smart car.
The bidding thing is also alive and well with full and LTL many times.
It is a tough job, period. People go broke doing it, full size truck, expediters, and hot shot 1 tons.
And, per DOT regulations, driving certainly is NOT resting. Perhaps the first stop for you is to see if you can pass the DOT physical. Maybe you can, maybe you can't. Certain diseases can certainly disqualify you.
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