Need Your opinion if this is good business deal

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by huntepr1, Jan 24, 2020.

  1. Accidental Trucker

    Accidental Trucker Road Train Member

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    There's no requirement in any regs to sleep in a hotel. Without a sleeper, you can't log sleeper berth (no 8/2 splits), but that's the biggest negative. And yes, the vast majority of these hot shotters sleep in their rig.
     
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  2. Deere hunter

    Deere hunter Road Train Member

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    A lot of the Pilot car drivers sleep in their pick ups .
    I guess that would work if you were 5 foot tall I just can’t sleep in a seat, Well maybe for an hour or two but that’s it!
     
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  3. RStewart

    RStewart Road Train Member

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    No law on the books that says where you have to sleep. You just can't log sleeper birth unless you have a legal sleeper. Those vans can easily qualify as a legal sleeper. But the easiest way to get around it is to not log sleeper birth. I have a legal sleeper and I never log line 2. I just go off duty.
     
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  4. kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    And you can tell them where to go too. I wouldn't log sleeper unless I was in one. But off duty is off duty and that is all they need to know. They cannot make you show a motel receipt. In fact, many drivers use a company arranged hotel or us the CLC card and don't even get receipts.
     
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  5. xsetra

    xsetra Road Train Member

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    I did forget to mention, if you log the rest period as sleeper berth.
    Appreciate the correction.
    Thanks
     
  6. spyder7723

    spyder7723 Road Train Member

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    For hos regs you are correct.
    However hos are not the only laws an employer must follow. Im not going to dig through every labor law in existence but im confident that one phone call to the labor board by an employee driver stating his boss is requiring him to sleep in the front seat of a van will not end in a good result for the employer.
     
  7. Jship

    Jship Bobtail Member

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    Well sounds like a courier company set up, I did that in my younger years now run trucks.
    I think the numbers are out to lunch.
    I would question them with proof. Maintience(oil changes regular stuff) repairs tires , commercial insurance , employee insurances are expensive and not to mention fuel economy seams a bit over stated, a lot of idle time and fuel spent, that is considered"non billable expense"
    Down time if you have no driver. Tough industry
    To make money in. Ok if your owner operator but most make money on motto I get lots of miles or deliverys
    If you don't make money in the first mile you won't make money after 10000 miles
    You need to do more research talk to others in industry that don't have an interest in having you do it. It may be profitable but you can also lose a lot.
    @3000miles a week takes about 1 month to do an average person 1 year driving, tire at least 1 set a year possible 2 sets with nails and such, oil change every 2-3 weeks , warranty done in 1 year or less ,
    And so on.
     
  8. fortycalglock

    fortycalglock Road Train Member

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    You guys are silly, there are no hours of service laws for sprinter vans unless hauling hazmat. They can drive Cali to FL without a break.
     
  9. OldeSkool

    OldeSkool Road Train Member

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    You make a good point. Even if there was why not buy one of those full size panel vans like A/C workers and plumbers use and avoid all the regulations? I have a friend who drives a Sprinter type of van and does electrical work at chicken barns. I don't think he even has a health card.
     
  10. roadmap65

    roadmap65 Light Load Member

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    With the numbers you posted you won’t make it! With those numbers you will barely pay a driver and the fuel bill. You still have a ton of expenses after that. I know I will never talk you out of doing this but your 9-5 job better be good enough to continually dump money into this bad business venture .