how to become a carhauler

You will figure out real quick in this business, they don't give a crap about anything as long as you are cheap. Please don't be cheap.

 

I will tell you, if I had to do it all over again I would have worked for someone to learn the business better. My dad had operated a truck stop, garage, and towing business in the 70's and early 80's, so I thought I knew it all. There was a reason he got out of it, but I had to learn the hard way. Yes, I had a large business by 26, but by 30 I had sold most of it because if I didn't I would have lost it, downsized to 2 car haulers doing auction work, then in 2009 I took outside jobs for a few years to weather the economic downturn while my partner kept running the transport business, I only came back to my own company just over 2 years ago because one of our hired drivers had a heart attack.

So, what I am trying to say, is while it is possible, be prepared for a hard and rough ride. Please take Terry's advice, do not try to get the work just by being cheap, hold out for a fair price closer to industry normal, which does change by market and season. Yes, you can get rail yard work with little or no experience, but I would rather learn on used/auction cars, the damage claims are much less, if any at all. A small scratch or even scuff the lower edge of a bumper on a new car and your will be buying that car, or at least it will feel like it. Learn on wholesale autos, no one really cars about them.

 

Yea see that's what I wanted to do. Drive for a company for a few years learn the ins and outs and then start my own, but I was told my age would be a problem with their insurance. All the big companies want 6 months + tractor trailer experience , so I'm stuck between starting my own or going somewhere like swift for like a year , but as far as starting my own the only problem I'm seeing is finding jobs to get the experience without having to on to cites like 1dispatch or wherever , I don't really want to do "door to door" I guess that's what it would be called. I know a man that runs Carmax to Carmax or enterprise to enterprise , but I do understand I have to work my way up. But auction work sounds like a good start

 

Have you got any insurance quotes yet?

 

No

 

You'll definitely want to do that before anything else. If the big companies are having problems getting you insured then you certainly will