• I’m 18 years oldNo CDL
• 2005 Chevy 3500 DRW LLY diesel 4x
• 2023 full tilt deck car trailer, 14k#, 84” wide and 18’ deck with 3’ dovetail
Here’s a little background on me. 18 years old, I currently have a 05 Chevy dually and a 21’ total deck. I use this setup for retrieving my old trucks and tractors. I usally get these rigs going, and sell, or part them out on Facebook and EBay. I do pretty good for being 18, and in my last year of High School. But when I’m out of school I want to step into something that makes me more $$$. Looking into transport work. I’d like to work for myself rather than for someone else. More freedom and such.
I’ve put 40k+ miles down since I got my license when I turned 17 last summer. I’m sure at least half of that pulling loads all over Washington and Oregon. Lots of miles in reverseSo for my age I have a lot of experience driving. I’ve 600 and 700 mile days a couple times.
My grandparents and parents think I should get into the towing business eventually, and are offering to help me get there. I have a good skillset and good personality for it. Good with people and such. Attractive personality so I’ve been told. And I LOVE driving.
I thought a good way to get a proof of concept would be to use my current equipment in hotshot. And if it does good just keep on doing it.
I’ve been reading the “So you want to get into hot-shot?” Pinned thread. About 10 pages in and most of my current questions are answered. I’m gonna finish the thread over the next couple days. Bedtime readingMy concerns are about my age and equipment.
Being 18, I have nothing on my driving record. Clean slate, but I’m sure insurance will be through the roof. Will my age be a limiting factor to what jobs I can take???
Addressing the no CDL thing. I REALLY want my CDL. I even have a 70s GMC semi truck I’d love to be able to drive. But in my state, Washington, you can’t drive interstate with CDL loads till 21 years old. So I think I could drive non CDL and be OK till I’m 21. And not being able to drive interstate would obviously be very limiting.
My concerns with my truck,
First of all it’s 20 years old with 250k on the clock. I’ve done all the mechanical work on it myself. Completely new front end from hub to hub. All new steering and suspension. Rides like a dream. Motor is in good shape. Was re-sealed right before I bought it last summer, no blow by. I checked car fax and it’s had oil changes every 5-7k miles at the dealer before I bought it. I change oil every 4-5k miles. And trans was regularly serviced, I do the trans every 25k. Another big ticket for me was the truck was never tuned. That’s a big green flag, so not super concerned about head gasket failure. No signs of HG failure yet. New Tcase and drivelines right before I bought as well. Even though it’s been well maintained, it’s still 20 years old, with 250k on it. So probably will end up having a problem. Is me having such an old truck a deterrent for companies hiring out loads??? Would that limit my jobs???
and finally my trailer… it’s a real nice car hauler. Great tilt deck, right as the deck comes down, the load is perfectly balanced. Love the trailer for what I do. It’s a bumper pull. But it’s short, and narrow. 7’ wide and 21’ long. Rated for 14k and only weighs 3.5k. Would I be able to use this trailer and make $$ doing hotshot, or should I save up for a longer trailer? I really want to keep the weight down though, for more hauling capacity. And say I can use this trailer, what type of loads would be ideal for my setup?
I like the idea of getting into the business with my current set up, as it wouldn’t put me out a ton as far as buying equipment. Any advice and such is greatly appreciated. TIA
How limiting is my setup?
Discussion in 'Expediter and Hot Shot Trucking Forum' started by CarterDawson, Jan 4, 2025.
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thoughts,
1 - you need a cdl if that trailer is 14k and be careful what you load on it, you only have 9k capacity before being overweight.
2 - the trailer is limiting you, a three car trailer may be better.
3 - extend your oil changes, 4/5k is too soon, that engine is designed for 10 to 15k oil changes. Also blowby is ONLY measured by being on a dyno and run under a full load.
4 - better get insurance quotes now. It isn’t what you are paying now,
5 - speaking of your truck, if it is a 4x4, get a two wheel drive truck.Sons Hero, Lite bug, Sirscrapntruckalot and 2 others Thank this. -
I'm impressed with you at this point and think you have good potential, but I see a couple of potential problems.
Someone can correct me but I think it was the 2005 LBZ had a huge problem with over heating. But no doubt it was the 2005 Duramax. There was also some issues with turbo issues. I'm not sure about the LLY but I thought it came out in '06. I welcome any corrections . That Alison was a beast in my opinion.
If I remember right, that '05 Chevy 3500 was rated at 12,500. Your trailer is 14,000..... Thats 26,500. That requires a CDL... a class A since it has a moveable hitch.
The fact that you are mechanically able, is a huge plus and at 18 yo, I applaud you for that & is a huge plus if you decide to do this.
Its been a long time since I had any dealing with that truck and I am going strictly off my memory and I didn't do any research prior to posting so again, I well any correction.
Good luck young man.Sons Hero, Lite bug, Sirscrapntruckalot and 3 others Thank this. -
Thanks for the info. I’ll look at the card in my truck and see what its rating is. Overall is 26k. But need to subtract the weight of the truck and all that.
Yes that’s the 2005 that has all the over heating problems. LLY 04.5-05. A lot of it is because the cooling stack, dirt gets trapped in the radiator cooling fins and really restricts flow. I removed my radiator and cleaned it. Runs cool now. Another big problem is the factory turbo inlet and intake. I put a bigger turbo inlet to let more air in, a S&B cold air intake, and deleted the EGR and catalytic converter. So it runs and stays cool real good now.
thanks for the replies, I figured I new my answer about the license and trailer. Both are too smallSons Hero, Sirscrapntruckalot, Oxbow and 1 other person Thank this. -
GCVWR = Gross Combination Vehicle Weight Rating.
That includes vehicle, trailer cargo, dirt, chicken lights, tools, straps, etc.... Just like Prego... If it's in there, its counted as part of the gross weight limit. Whatever it weighs on the scale, is what is counted toward the gross weight. It cant weigh more than the weight on the sticker/specs etc.
FYI, the GCVWR is different from the GVWR.
GVWR is just the truck and what it weighs gross with cargo (it cant weigh more than that on the scales). This does not include the trailer .
When you connect a trailer, then it becomes a combination vehicle. GCVWR.
Its two different weights.
For example in your case.
Truck GVWR is 12,500
Trailer GVWR is 14,000
Added together is the GCVWR = 26,500.
You cant weigh more than that when you pull on the scales.
Your truck cant weigh more than 12,500
and your trailer cant weigh more than 14,000, and
your gross weight cant be more than 26,500
on the scale....Last edited: Jan 4, 2025
Feedman, Oxbow and CarterDawson Thank this. -
My opinion is general. Occasionally, someone can find a diamond in a river. In other words, there's always a chance someone could stumble up on a jewel of a contract for a 14' 14K trailer for commercial.
That's the problem in this industry with new entrants, they get an idea & they assume just anything will work. They wanna go in business, then find a market. You gotta find the market, then buy your equipment based on your market. You can't haul ice cream on a flatbed. You cant hauls cars one or two at a time. There's just no reasonable market for that.... generally speaking. JMHO...Lite bug, Feedman, Sirscrapntruckalot and 1 other person Thank this. -
Yes that’s what I was thinking too. I couldn’t imagine I’d have a big market with such a small trailer. 21’ isn’t big enough. Well guys thanks for your info! I’d say my questions are answered. My truck is useable, but my trailer is too small for hotshot. I’ll probably just buy or build a 35-40 footer and look into possibly into getting CDL. I just wouldn’t be able to drive interstate. Washington sucks. Wouldn’t be able to take this up until I’m 21. I’m gonna keep doing research on my options, and what cargo I’d want to specialize in
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As far as I know, you can run within your home state at 18. But if you cross state lines, now your federal. You gotta be 21.
I know that you can run CDL at 18 in Louisiana, but you cant cross state lines. I dont know about every state, but I do know if you run multi-state, you gotta be 21.. anywhere. So just FYI, your problem is not just Washington state.brian991219 and CarterDawson Thank this. -
Interesting, well good info. I definitely want to know the inns and outs of everything before getting started. Thanks!
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