So i gotta ask the owner ops here

As I have said before I am not a trucker. The reason I am on this board is because, of the first hand knowledge that is here. With that said, this is the question: I have a client who drives different trucks from point A to point B, cross country, off a lot for his present employer. Now he wants to work for himself doing the same thing. Once he goes on his own, beside his authority, which I can do any other filings that he needs including BOC-3, so what other paper work does he need? I'm guessing, he won't be able to post his authority on any of these vehicles, will he just carry the paperwork? I really need an answer, please help.

 

That's the truth. We could honestly use a part time fill in with the 2 trucks we have but trusting someone not to tear up your baby is playing with fire. On top of that a truck that's not exactly stock with quite a bit of juice going to it and an old school RTLOO 13 from the 70s era vintage.

That caliber of driver is easily worth 400$ a day at the minimum on a w2 and more on the side of 500 a shift

 

Putting up with your whining is worth a lot more than that.

 

I'll throw in some free barn cats for ya

 

I am puzzled a bit, he needs a complete authority because ??

What do you mean "he won't be able to post his authority on any of these vehicles"?

 

Sounds like he wants to start a driveaway company. He will need everything a traditional trucking company needs plus transporter plates. I carry a twenty-three page book with all my various insurance documents, transporter registrations, printouts of the NY HUT exemption for transporter plates, print out of the FMCSA log rules for driveaway ELD exemption, as well as a list of what states accept what plates. I have trannsporter plates issued in Arizona, Oregon, Tennessee and Illinois to cover all of the lower 48 states. Even with all this I still need permits for some moves.

He will have to put temporary signs on every truck, most driveaway companies use magnetic signs or laminated paper and tape them to the side of the truck. These will need to display the same info other companies display -company name, DOT number and either the words "In transit" or "operated by". See example image below.

He will need an IFTA account and one set of decals, that are to be affixed to his door placards, and a permit service account since not every state accepts other states transporter plates. Depending on where he is domiciled it may be easy to get a transporter plate, some states require bonding and commercial office space.

He will need $1 million in public liability, the FMCSA classifies driveaway the same as auto transportation, meaning it has to be insured as a haz-mat carrier although placards and haz-mat endorsement is not needed. He will also need cargo, yes cargo, insurance in an amount high enough to cover the retail value of the vehicles he is driving. The cargo covers the vehicle since it is the commodity being transported. The key is retail value, especially if he is moving units for dealers. They want constructive total loss as well as diminished value, meaning even if the vehicle is not totaled they have the right to reject having it repaired and instead be paid retail value for it. This is common in new car transport and is becoming common in driveaway, especially when moving brand new trucks.

This is the toughest part, in addition to my regulatory compliance consulting business I just started a driveaway delivery company to serve a few of my tow truck sales clients. Minimum insurance premiums I have found for real driveaway coverage, insurance that complies with the FMCSA requirements, covers transporter plates and the actual value of the vehicles being transported start at $30,000. Yes, that is minimum which assumes your client has experience in driveaway and a spotless record. There are very few underwriters that cover driveaway beyond a 50 mile radius or cover it for businesses that are not also dealerships and only moving their own vehicles.

 

Very informative sir. I worked for a drive-away company in the oilfield. We had the magnetic signs but used the company's plates (schlumberger). I take it because we used schlumberger's equipment is why we didn't need our own plates?

 

Yes, the equipment was already registered. Driveaway comes in many forms, mostly unregistered vehicles being moved to/from dealers, manufacturers and auctions.

I have moved trucks for YRC and Penske which are registered but still had to put my plate over top theirs because of the contract. You get paid more if you assume more of the liability.

 

Bingo.
At my 50% lease w/ truck provided, the op is getting 1800-3600/wk depending on desire to work.
Bring your own truck and you'll get 80-85% instead, depending on options chosen.

 

Not many drivers worth that, like 1% maybe..... They don't have any skin in the game if they destroy your truck, land you in a lawsuit....or ruin your CSA.

$20-25/hr is more than fair. Beyond that, unless oversize or heavy haul, no way.