I have a unique situation. I have a non trucking business that pays the bills and throws off extra cash. We use trucks in the course of work and have the commercial insurance, dot number, etc. The thing is our business only has us working about 2 weeks a month. Granted those weeks are 70-80hr weeks but still I have a lot of free time. I was thinking of buying a step deck or a RGN and hauling equipment in my spare time. Just wondering how viable of a side business this would be if I couldn't commit to it full time. I really don't have many contacts for loads but I know whenever I have needed equipment hauled I always had a hard time finding people to do it.
This could be a lucrative side business for you. I run my truck about 7 months out of the year as the sole income. Your advantage here I'm assuming is your other business is already a self sustaining money maker. So that is your leverage. You really don't have to work your truck during those 2 off weeks but if someone has a need and they are willing to pay your price you will. You'll be trucking from a position of strength unlike most truckers out here barely able to keep their heads above water and are easily coerced into working no matter how cheap the rate. I would suggest subscribing to truckers edge for $30 a month or Internet truck stop. Post your truck in your off weeks and take calls. Don't accept cheap loads. Kick back and name your rates. Learn when and how you can do it. Will take some time. And if you make extra money on those 2 "off weeks" it will be great because you set the rate and it wasn't cheap. If not, no worries, your other business is your bread and butter. You don't need any direct the contacts to give it a try. In fact being that you are part timing it you really don't need the headaches of direct. Brokered can be just as lucrative as direct (for some more lucrative for other less) if you play the game smart. A $30 load board subscription and you're off to give it a shot. You have great leverage, really good leverage, can't stress that enough. I am sure some rejects and failures will say not on load boards you can't but that's because they didnt have the ability or don't know how to leverage, and/or never could learn markets.
I'm pretty much in the same boat as you. I crop farm 3-4 months in the spring and custom harvest in the fall. Truck for hire in the dead of summer and winter. Like Rolling Coal said. You are a rate maker not a rate taker. If my rig is rolling it's on the money. One hint that I have found out. If you want to find the good paying freight, the stuff that 90 % of the time never sees a load board. That week of -30 temp, or that big 2 foot snowfall that's on the way. Pay close attention to the load boards. You will see a lot of uncommon loads. What I mean by that is it's not the same run of the mill crap posted by 3 different brokers. Sit there all day and call. Find out what and where. Is this a common thing? Even if you have no intention of booking it that day, call and find out. Make a file, names and numbers. This works both ways. If you have a lucrative gig. Keep then happy and never let that load go out to anyone else. Or I guarantee that at the least you will have to take a pay cut to keep it. Holidays work for this also. But when you get nasty weather and their regular guy wants to stay home, your foot is is the door.
Thanks for the replies. Sounds encouraging. Any particular trailer type that would be best? I was think step or RGN just because when I have needed them to haul my equipment I have had a hard time finding them but looking at the load boards it seems there are a lot more posted for regular flatbeds than anything else.
I have a Texas MC number but not interstate or IFTA. I could get it if need be but was kind of hoping to stay in Texas .
The Interstate MC# is easy to get. I don't know what liability Ins. you have but I believe $750,000 is the minimum. Most are at $1,000,000 You would have to get into Irp reporting and Ifta fuel records and reporting. Not hard or expensive but time consuming.
