Can I make money in 1ton 3500hd 9ft flatbed?????

Congrats Sir! There usually is a slowdown Nov. to January....but with the Eagle Ford Shale and the Shale out in Odessa, I dont think it will hurt much. Might be a "break from jumping through your ### busy", but it appears to hold steady from all the companies we deal with. If you get out there and sell your truck, shake hands, drop off cards with your number on it, breakfast tacos, Kolaches, do nuts. Do it 3 times a week, fresh face looking for work usually willl pay in a call. I bet in 3-4 months at most you should have customers calling you direct. Hell my last time I was leased on, I had negotiated a contract of 85%/15% and I got 5% for each load I dispatched out that I could not cover...thats what having your own customers can do for you. Most leases for rookies start in the 70%/30% area.
Good luck Sir!

 

How is Cannonball?? Im also looking into them!!

 

How is Cannoball going??? Im looking into them also!!

 

I habe been using my 3500 d for hotshot work, without trailer since April I think it was. I'm luckily the company I get my loads from has been in business for 35 years and keeps me busy. I also had several connections before I started.
I do have a trailer, well three but ive only used them 3 times. The mpg is just so much worse.

I live within 10 miles of the largers volume shipper, where I get about 5-6 loads a week from. I worked a pretty good contract with the company and I get 100% FSC which typically comes 100% the cost of fuel.

I roll for $1.41 a loaded mile and 50% OFF for any back hauls

I haul for Schneider electric, oil field loads and industrial pipe fitting manufacturing mainly.

I stress WITHOUT connections and experience rolling into this I would have surely failed.

Almost every other little truck is being driven by someone retired! Why? They ARE NOT making enough to feed a family.

This work can be brutal. If an oil rig needs a part in North Dakota that's in TEXAS they will ask "can thus be done nonstop?"

My loads are within 300 miles 80% of the time. Hope thjs

Now typic

Now typic

Niw

 

I've hauled cars, frac sand, plants, flatbed loads and I keep every business card I get! Additionally I walked into many businesses and just asked for the work. I have cards, little flyer and I give them to everyone who will take them.

For my area Schneider Ele, Carrier, Trane, Holt Cat and the patches keep me rolling. Also I bring oil/gas/jet fuel samples from the refineries to the labs in Houston.

Good Luck man, Hit me up if your near Tyler.

The most help is a great running 2009 Chevy 3500 with Efi Live so I can use the turbo brake and have different tunes for different needs. Towing/hauling/light loads/heavy loads.

I love that new Ford engine and I'm looking forward to see how it does....keep me posted

EFI LIVE
Oil by pass filtration
Cat fuel filter replacing stock 1R-0749 plus two auxiliary fuel filters 1r-0750 and water sep 175-2949
Synthetic oil, tranny and gear
Pyro and boost gauges
air bags with doval leveling
Kennedy Lift pump sitting after fuel tank before filters
I unhook the fuel lines and run BG through the ol girl every 30,000 miles
and many more goodies that if you want to know we can discuss in person

 

Bottom line....yes you can make money if you are available... I am from Houston...I am willing to go anywhere at anytime.... been as far west as Seattle and as far east as new York....I drive a f450 with a 12 ft flat bed and net on average 90k (gross is 130) also I drive 100k plus a year..I agree with most of the previous tips..one piece of advise I would give is...become friends with the person in charge of taking the orders from customers... you will stay pretty busy....

 

Have one guy that i got to know by ham radio in he's truck, 8' 350 with a pipe rack..says he makes good money but only haul one way ? another i meet on face book was a dully with a G/N trailer . the second one is going thru hes 1st audit, but always comes back with answer's to my brain picking questions. He will come down tp the RGV and hope to buy him a lunch and talk hotshot.... Me and my youngest son are thinking of going that way