Do I need a CDL if my truck is an F350? Confused on weights too!

Forgive me, I have been scouring this site and finally joined to ask my few questions. Any help will be really appreciated. I am in the industry, but deciding whether to enter the carrier side as a driver in addition.

1. Do I need a CDL if my truck is an F350 Dually Super Duty (will have the 11,400 lbs designation, & would also like to know if that matters) and my trailer is a Take3 Model53 (has a 20k GVWR)?

I'm confused by the weight of the truck and LOADED trailer being over 26,001 lbs and needing a CDL at that point. It would appear that my truck AND loaded trailer will be over 26,000 lbs occasionally.

But if someone could just point blank answer me this; if I plan on operating the stated F350 (11,400 lbs GVWR) and Trailer with 18,000lbs on it (still under its 20k limit) WILL I NEED A CDL?

2. I have heard it is hard to make money with a 3 car hauler. I completely understand the argument. My situation is unique however so I would appreciate input from experienced vets, I will have NO PROBLEM finding 1-2-3 vehicle loads, I will actually have a choice of which ones I would like. I live outside of Atlanta. I am looking at loads strictly on Central Dispatch and never want to do any "long hauls"... basically leave the house in the AM around 7 after the kids, drive out, load up 3 units, drive them, drop them, and go home. Assuming I bought all new equipment my truck and trailer and insurance are roughly $3k/month (overestimating for safety, right? I figured around $75k for the truck $1100/mo, $15k, $750/mo for the trailer and Insurance roughly $1000/mo for the first year at least totals $2850/mo for equipment and insurance).

I see loads, for example, 3 cars at Manheim, the 2 cars together pay $350 and the single pays $200. So the total load is paying $550. My mileage from home to auction, to drop #1, to drop #2, back home is roughly 300miles. If I get 10mpg..it costs me (30 gals x $2.50/gal = $75)...so that's $475 for the day after gas. If I work 20days a month that's $9500. Uf I subtract out the equipment and insurance...I'm at $6500/month. I know repairs and maintenance are TRUE costs to factor. See next question.

3. What does it cost to do, for example, an oil change on an F350 6.7L diesel engine? After how many miles does one need to do that usually? Aside from tires, what are the other parts and service I will need to be prepared for to replace and how often?

4. Are there any huge pointers anyone can advise for a new, Georgia based, short haul, 3 car wedge driver?

MERRY CHRISTMAS YALL!

 

Couple questions to your response...and forgive me, I am new, virgin material.

The max 5th wheel rating is 34k lbs on the F350 DUALLY. The most I would be pulling is 20k lbs (the max of the trailer as stated, but I would guess the heaviest load I would pull is 15000lbs (3x Explorers). That is less than 50% of the F350s max. Or should I be adding it as roughly 10k lbs of weight for the trailer itself PLUS 15k lbs for the 3 SUVs = 25k lbs (which is 66% of the F350s 34k lbs max 5th wheel weight towing).

So are you saying pulling 15k lbs on a 10k lbs trailer is going to beat up my max34k lbs truck?

If so, what's going to be the equipment costs I am going to come across? What equipment is going to fail? There are barely any moving parts on the trailer (no powered trailer moving parts) or are you saying even this weight will burn out my truck still? Like the brakes?

Please, be as detailed as possible.

 

Wow. Ok man, thank you. I was totally under the impression dudes were out there running f350 duallies like semis because they were diesel. I'm gonna rework the the numbers on an f450....can I bounce a few more questions off you once I do?

 

Ok so I am totally open to discussing it further because nothing is done yet. And I appreciate your input. I'd like to discuss this further if you're ok with it. Tell me more about the Dodge vs Ford argument if you could.

I currently own a brokerage. What I am noticing over the past 7 years is that the Atlanta area (where I live) and 200mile radius around it has a continuous supply of up to 4 car loads. I figured I could be running a truck for some of my regular clients in the area and be collecting basically both ends. Normal day for me now is cold calling. But seeing how instead I could be on the road still making some bluetooth cold calls, and still be out the door with the kids and home for dinner and be making an extra $200-500 per day is enticing.

My wife and son have some MAJOR medical expenses coming up this year, and the next, and I am willing to do whatever I have to in order to grind out the extra $100k~ish I am going to need to have by 2020.

Let me know what you think is feasible without long hauls, based in ATL.

I appreciate it