Box Truck from NJ to FL...

Thanks for that bit of information.
Would you happen to know if Pops purchased insurance in his name, would I be covered or would I have to be added?

Thanks again.

 

lmmfao... that's definitely a 1 in a million shot...

Flying out tomorrow morning, but will definitely have some calls to make. Maybe I'll land with a binder?
All the companies I've called so far only do 18-wheels or need an MC number, which I will be applying for soon. Read a post on here, and I guess I'm in the "green horn" class, lmao...

 

Sooooo tired...

TLDR:
Arrived in NJ at noon Friday, missed first window to get a number at DMV.
Saturday I got a number. Handed over signed title and FL DL. 20 minutes later walked out with $5 temp tag. Left NJ Saturday about 10 pm, pulled into my driveway in FL Monday at 5:55 am.
Never stopped for tag, or questioned. Weigh stations I didn't miss gave me the "green" to keep going.

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Long story:
So NJ has a huge backlog of residents needing DMV services due to the lockdown.
Some DMVs are only doing Titles/Registration, others only Licenses/IDs.
Missed my first window Friday afternoon and told to come back at 5am for a number.
Took a look at truck again, and I completely understood being turned down. No way in hell can you remotely call it just a "pick up" with front and rear tanks for air-brakes.
Huge cab over, with 6 speed transmission and turbo diesel engine. 3rd gear has bad synchros! I thought that was just Hondas! lol.
Got a room at the local HoJo intending to show up 4:30am the next day, as that's a completely reasonable for a center that opens at 7am. HA....
In the meantime, I called some more insurance places:
Hagerty - truck doesn't meet their "collector insurance program" and policies must be 1yr.
Gulfway - doesn't have a way to insure that truck
Gave up and just took the policy I could get, Infinity Assurance Insurance.

Next day realized First DMV actually didn't do titles, and just like in a movie, I missed that because there was a huge truck parked in front of the 6x6 foot sign the day before. Arrived at DMV #2 at 4:45 and stood in line, approximately person #50 until 8am when the line finally starts moving. Yes, I stood outside and watched the sun rise over a cemetery across the street. Creepy.
Got inside at 10am, handed clerk the signed title, my FL DL, and bill of sale with passport and SS card handy for 6 points of ID while asking for an out-of-state temporary tag. She only took the title and my DL, told me wait. 20 minutes later she handed me a temporary tag.
Walked out about 10:25am, I was finally finished!! Ooops forgot I had to drive home.
Handled some other stuff, talked to another Uncle for a bit and at 10pm with about 3hrs sleep I hit the road for Miami. It was an experience. The cab jumped with every dip in the road and the air-ride seat hissed as I was thrown in the air and then bottomed out. Bump after bump! No setting to make it static like the passenger seat.
Pops gave me a full tank during the one and only test drive.

Forgive me as it's all a blur at the moment.
I must have taken 5 "rests", including 3 refuels. My longest nap was 1hr, most about 20 minutes, then back on the road. Took the nap after I found myself drifting out my lane a 2nd time.
Top speed for me was 64mph as that had the revs pegged at 2500rpm in 6th gear, with 3000rpm being where redline started. 6th gear is apparently external of the transmission? Never heard of that kind of design but oh well.
So everybody passed me, and I mean everybody. I rode the right lane almost exclusively. lol.
I must say I understand the EDL as I was a zombie the whole drive. Only bridge I can recall is finally in Jacksonville, I'm gonna call it the "bowtie" bridge, that's all I can recall.
That and the plethora of Christian radio stations; I'm agnostic.
4hrs away from home the #### DPF regeneration light blinks at me. Pops said as soon as you see it, pull over and do regen or if turns red you'll be visiting a mechanic for factory ECU reset. Sounded expensive so I got to it right away.
Thank goodness for Cruise Control.

Forgot to bring CDs... Ugh... Didn't miss much as the radio had only 1 speaker working that sound like the VC was bottoming out, but could barely hear it over the turbo, reminiscent of a 80s style Eureka bagged vacuum. It's as loud as a garbage truck and jumps like one too.
Sorry this story is choppy, I'm still drowsy after only 4hrs sleep since my daughter had her 12 month follow up today. I just need to get this out.
Definitely half-assed this, as I don't know wtf to do next except to peruse some load boards after upgrading my insurance and getting authority. I'd rather pause insurance, and finish my CDL. The whole ride I've been wondering if I can "sell" the truck to my LLC, with a 5-10k loan to get off moving and section 179 the whole thing to kill my first year of taxes. Maybe I'm still dreaming.

Anyways, thanks to all who chimed in and offered advice. My callused hands are grateful and eager for some more steering wheel loving. I'm still reeling of the Monster buzz, my knees ache and my ankles are swollen but I'm happy.
NTS: if your mind is telling you you forgot to put back the fuel cap, just check it while you're "refilling" that Snapple bottle on the shoulder. Shhh, It happens.