So you want to hot-shot? (Will be updated/edited frequently)

So in other words log off duty and just leave it until I log on duty again?

 

Yes.

 

Okay, sounds easy enough. That would have really made things harder on me. I guess it's time to start hunting for insurance :/

 

A question and a comment for you flatbedcarrier,

The comment, Tarp padding 8 jpg, the bungee hooks in the middle are facing into the tarp where they could damage the tarp if I am not mistaken.

The question,
Do you happen to have a ballpark figure for what yearly maintenance costs are on the Ram 3500 DRW with the 6.7l Cummins? Not looking for set in stone numbers just a yearly cost with average mileage or what you may use for a per mile cost for your estimates.

thanks for the great info you have put out.

 

Somewhere between 10-30k depending on age and miles driven.

 

I'm fighting a bad cold so I may have missed something?

As far as the tarp picture, I'll have to go back and look. But yeah we recommend the hooks are pointing out away from the load. Keep in mind that everyone my company loads is a Independent Owner Operator. We make suggestions, and try to monitor how their loads are tied down. When we spot a potential problem with tie down gear we pick up the phone and call them and let them know what we're seeing wrong. The picture I posted, the Owner Operator likely corrected the problem before leaving the shipper. Not much slips by us here.

Yearly maintenance costs. You figure our trucks here are running approx 8,000 miles a month, Some months 10,000 miles.

You can figure a minimum of 1 oil change per month. At the dealer it's costing $95.00. Ram says change the oil every 15,000 miles but most of our guys are doing it every 10,000 miles. I'm actually doing mine every 5,000 miles during my break in and then I'll likely step them out to every 10,000 miles.

Fuel filters on a late model Ram 3500 are pricey at the dealer so most of us here have been ordering them online. These late model Rams require two fuel filters. Ram is saying fuel filters should be changed every 15,000 but most of us are replacing them every 10,000 miles to be safe. At Ram the Filters cost approx $90.00 each and the dealer wants approx $100.00 labor to install them. The last two I bought on eBay cost me $114.00 for both shipped to my door. They were very easy to change, took me less than 30 minutes.

As far as brakes, a experienced Driver can really make them last. With these late model Rams with the Aisin automatic and exhaust brakes we're seeing some Owner Operator here go 180,000 miles or more on their brakes. As far as trailer brakes, figure a new set every year minimum. We run electric brakes here. Most of our guys do their own trailer brakes, they're pretty simple to do and a complete backing plate kit seems to run $45.00 to $65.00 per wheel . If you have a trailer shop do it, it's safe to say a complete brake job will run you around $600.00 as long as you don't find anything damaged like drums, or wheel bearings.

As far as tires, of course it depends on what you're running, how well you monitor them, how you drive, and how often your have them rotated but I'd say 65,000/70,000 miles per set is a safe number to expect out of a factory set. I get my tires here for my truck for right at $1,000.00 for a set of 6. With the three axle lowboy trailers we run you can figure those tires are costing about the same.

As far as transmission services I here they're running approx $280.00 on these aisin automatics. Most guys are having them serviced every 50,000 miles. So you can figure at least two Trans services a year.

If I can think of any other yearly maintenance stuff I'll get back to you when I get some free time. We're swamped here in the office this morning.

 

Yep, good eye. That pic of the black tarp does have some hooks pointing in. Like I said, it may of been something I caught before the owner operator left the shipper? We move so much freight here that there's no way I can remember every load.

 

I currently work for TMC so I am pretty quick to spot a tarping issue. Lol I get a lot of practice here. No worries, just wanted to point out the reference picture for some of the guys on here who may be trying to learn proper securment practices.
This hotshot thing is very intriguing to me and I appreciate everyone's willingness to share the benefit of their experience.

 

Interesting, so as I understand it, I could use a '02 Ram 2500 to get my foot in the door with a 30' 16,000gvwr trailer that has a capacity of 11,000lbs? I wouldn't want to stay in a single wheel truck for more than a few months though, I hate towing without the extra stability of a dually in the mountains... However, is this a feasible start that could work?

 

I wouldn't be venturing into the hotshot business right now. Things are slow and its not a cheap business to get started.