NEED A CDL? ALSO CHEVY 3500 dually or Ford F350 Dually?

Reason 1,001 not to accept loads to CA

 

Many LTL guys are driving a Dodge. The little Cummins is the best engine out there.

I'll type this for the millionth time..... for the 1/2 the price of a dually, you can get yourself a nice FL70 or FL80 that has a SLEEPER.

 

But then you're dealing with a CDL and IFTA . A sleeper also adds to empty weight and increases fuel consumption .
For what it's worth I've seen FL 60's with GVWR 25,500 . No IFTA .

 

True, but you cannot park it at my house.

You have to always have a log.

You cannot put things to bring home from Lowes or Menards.

My wife cannot drive it.

Not as easy to maintain.

I can keep on going.

 

If it was my money it would be a dodge 3500 or 4500 with a cummins, with chevy being a close 2nd. No way in hell would i buy a ford, unless it was a old one with the 7.3

 

Yes but depending on the state of residence it may be worth it and fuel consumption is neglidgable. I have a 40ft gooseneck I drag around with my 2500. 7-8mpg max at 60 if I'm lucky not to mention your going from a 250k motor to a 500-750k motor.

As for the plate 12 ton plates for a pickup in Nebraska are about $700 depending on the city I can get a 37stste plate with 7 states at 90k everything else at 80k for $1600 I believe a 30k or 35k plate for 48 states would probably be cheaper.

Having a cdl isn't a huge deal. I would recommend a full class a with NO restrictions though just because it gives the op more options. Everybody makes a huge deal in the hotshot forum about a cdl and being under 26 because they don't want a cdl but you still have to log and fall under commercial laws when that dot number hits the door. Ifta isn't that hard and if you're smart at the end of the quarter you can have a nice check wanting just because you bought fuel.

The op needs to realize more than anything he needs to find a broker he can work with us hip sucks, right along with most other sites like us hip so where is he going to book his loads? That would be the main concern he should have.

 

Why should I?

I don't live there.

So?

No biggie.

Oh yes you can, I have hauled lumber, shingles (which the truck didn't even care about), electrical items and a whole bunch of other things from plants to a bath tub.

That's a plus

Yes they are, it is the same as my pickup, except for the brakes.

Really? Glad you can.

Seriously the FL70/class 7 is a good way to go but the problem with them is that they are bigger. The problem with pickups is you get poorer mileage out of them under load, with mine class8 fully loaded at 32k, I still got 9 to 10 depending on where I was at and when.

The downside is finding one with a sleeper is harder unless you are willing to shorten an expediter. Normally fl70s were day cabs and only had sleepers added on when they were upfitted with a box.

 

The most successful hotshotters I knew had base customers near their homes . The hauled roofing materials , large HVAC units , rebar for construction and more . They really got hit hard when the economy took a dive .
I knew one that had 2 Chevy 4500's and a 7.3 F-350 . He went to the 4500's to keep a regular shipper because there were too many loads the 1 ton couldn't handle . The F-350 was more profitable though .
It's a shame GM discontinued the 4500's . They were a little big truck rather than being a big little truck . The flip nose made them easier to maintain than a Ford or Dodge .
Navistar tried to buy the GM medium duty division but they would move production from the Lansing plant . That wasn't acceptable . Navistar designed their own Class 4 and 5 truck

 

Thank you for the useful information I did not know that. The op could also consider hauling cars locally as well. On top of the building supplies and HVAC units. Around here there's always somebody that needs a junker hauled that doesn't run or a couple vehicles hauled around. Back when I attempeted hot shot and couldn't get insurance we had a truck lined up to go to KC 1 and 1/4 ton would've been so far over gross it wouldn't have been funny but for $1250 it was tempting. I still occasionally (off the books) haul cars for people usually charge $100 to get me out there plus $3/loaded mile. The non runners are the ones I love extra $150 to drag a winch cable hook up a chain and winch it onto the trailer easy money.

I have to say I'm surprised the 350 was more profitable though. Guess it all depends on the setup the 4500 may not have had the same power as a fl70 would. Usually more power and same wight will equal less fuel because the motor don't works as hard. I would prefer the longevity of the fl70 or similar sized rig but that's me. Then again if I could drop a 375 horse 3176 in my pickup I would I just don't have the room its a wee bit too tall.

 

The 7.3 was more profitable partly because it was paid for and hauling lighter loads used less fuel . It also did more loads at a true hotshot rate .