Hot Shot, have equipment, help me get started.

Hello my brothers and sisters.
My name is Tim, I'm 28 years old (29) Aug 23rd. I have 2 kids 6(boy) and 8(girl) and have been married ( the real type ) for 10 years this October.I'm a blue lodge mason and I've been in the electronics industry since i was 14, have worked retail, logistics and delivery, auto repair as a kid and few other fields. For the last 8 uears I'v worked for the Army national Guard and Military Departments and and Electronic Security Systems Manager and Jr. security Engineer supporting the troops. I'm #### good at what i do but its not what i like to do. I want to be out of government and succeed or fail on my own merits and put my efforts into something that is mine.

I own a 2011 F250 4x4 supercrew 10k GVWR version. I have a 35 FT gooseneck jp dovetail and a few other trailers. ( i live on acreage, I've always been a country boy. Even got an old barn and a kubota to prove it).

Back when I was an early teen I road and helped when i could, run a hotshot truck with my mom 2001 3500 ram running marble from little rock to Dallas and back. I've always enjoyed the freight industry and I'm ready to start my own.

I'm located in the central part of Arkansas and would like to run all of the neighboring states all the way to the coast if needed, would like to avoid the liberal and totalitarian states. I'm pretty business smart and good with numbers and spreadsheets. I'm currently my own boss for the Military department, so i know i have drive to make myself work.

I want to get started under the 26001 pound area and work my way above that in a few years depending on DOT regulation. I have a decent grasp on the knowledge but wouldn't mind clarification and a better warm and fuzzy feeling. I also hope to find a mentor or at least a good area of starting and processes. I know this is business and good advice aint cheap or free ( most of the time ). Why give away a winning secret. But anything is welcome, Just know i wont squander it like most snowflakes and entitled brats. Life is hard and it takes time to work your way up. ( reason i want out of government. )

So a few assumptions.
1.Can i run my truck with its 10k gvwr with a 5th or goosneck tow rating of 15500k with a trailer that gvwr at 15600 with two 7k rated axles, with out CDL
2. I assume i need to follow the same driving times as CDL but do i need to file logs?
3. I know i need a MC and USDOT issued and i'm working that along with my Medical card.
4. I'm also in the process of filing an LLC and getting my EIN tax #.
5. After all fees and business setup i should have about 10k of operating capital without digging into my personal reserves. Do you think from experience this will work without using Factoring?
6. I want to find contacts and use load boards ex. but do you think it would be better to find a company to run my truck for until i make a good base of contacts.
7. Will ELD effect me under 26k,
8. what will the effects of ELD to a hotshot?
9. please throw more out there, any and everything. Now is the time to put it on the table

From a long spreadsheet i designed and playing with numbers, I believe my operating cost to be .56 or so cents per mile. with 1.25 revenue Minimum to really make enough to live and put money aside for expansion/ rainy day. This is all based off of running 85k loaded and 25k dead head first year.

I'm here to learn, meet people and hopefully help myself and others as i venture down this road. If you want to get to know me more or think you have an idea for me, Please reach out.
I'm miserable in my day to day grind in the government. I want to use my wits, honor,integrity,common sense, high drive for success and high IQ(161) last tested in a positive way and not be punished for my drive of better'ness.( MADE UP WORD )

I'm here, i"m open, I'm willing and ready. lets do this.

 

Thank you for the response. Also thank you to the MOD whom changed my title in hopes of more views. Is Halliburton Oilfield runs? I know there is good money there but I'm afraid if i only run oilfield ( if i can even find loads ) that one day that area will dry up and I'll be lost because i never tried other markets.

Come on lets keep this going, lets get it all out here for me and others. Here are some numbers on my truck GVWR 10k, GCWR 23.5k, max 5th or goose tow is 15.7k. Gawr front 5200, gawr rear 6100 notice the axles are higher than the GVWR that's because i have the 10k package which is used by companies to avoid the CMV issues, But i still have the axles that allow 11.3k. Must i follow the GVWR or can i use the axle rating instead? * i've towed for years for personal and farm but never like this. I just want to stay legal. And the reason im staying under 26k for a while is because my truck is paid. I will move up to a 1 ton later after i have enough funds to buy one out right.

Guys, Gals. I'm not another teen on here finger banging the keyboard for hopes and dreams because i play a simulator. This is real life, this is the direction i want to go and I WILL do this in time. All i want is honesty, real life stories. How you got started. real problems you ran into. did you go my path and then go full cdl bigger payloads, ex. ex. I know this can be done, but knowledge is power and thats why i'm here. Are there any good books on this topic?

 

if thats the case how could any O/O hotshot start up and run or even maintain? You would almost have to file for self insurance which takes a 1million in assets.

 

I've been looking at insurance but not too serious yet, So i just ran a few through various companies with a 1 mil policy and 100k on load with my truck, me as driver and 1 trailer. one was 2k a month, one was 1500 a month and another was 1100 a month. Now this is without putting in DOT and MC numbers yet and just instant quote, I'm sure when i talk to real company about this along with my back ground, a long and very clean record with over 80k miles a year currently. I think i should be in good shape. i might come out better than i originally thought. but 50k i don't see how that could be correct unless bad record, very young and with very hazardous
cargo.

 

Ah, You read into that the way you think most people think. The married part means, A real marriage not a popcorn or show or to impress others and so on. We made a convenient to one another and to God, and that is what we are. We are not together for this amazing one night stand we have. but one that takes work, give and take. compromise ex.

Now for the Liberal and Totalitarian state, I choose not to support failing policies or politicians in states that choose to squander the hard working American tax payer dollars for the snowflake that gets offended by any mere thought of a word, Or for the 3rd or 4th generation couch potato. Same for the companies and people that support that because they are to PC. I'm real and I'm here. I say what i mean and mean what i say. You can live with me and we can figure things out or block me and move on. This country needs more real men and women to stand-up, work hard and push the big ole government out of the way.