RV company plans new factory in northern Indiana

RickG · Jan 30, 2012

STexan said: ↑

I for the life of me do not know why the trailer mfgr's consortium can not get together and raise their delivery prices to reflect a realistic rate that get's them BACK to Indiana since they want their rigs to run "exclusive" on their regs. And to top it off, they continue to build new plants in IN as opposed to cheaper states such as TX. So if they are going to operate in a way that makes backhauls virtually impossible, they need to pay a minimum of $2.50 one way + FSC>$3.50 (for the typical 5th or large bumper pull) to where the contractors are treated with respect instead of no different than an illegal migrant worker working for beans and rice wages.

I guess so long as there are "retirees" willing to wear out their vehicle, making it worthless after a few years, for cost (if that), and who can sleep freezing or sweating on a 5 foot bench seat 4 nights a week, this phenomenon will continue.
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It wasn't as bad a few years ago . There were plants in MD , KY , TX , CA , OR , and PA where you had a chance of a backhaul . All those plants closed permanently . There are horse trailers out of TX and boat trailers out of FL but you are lucky to pay for fuel with what they pay .

GLIofMI · Jan 30, 2012

Bunch of bad advice here . You sign a contract with the RV company and taking the signs off doesn't end the contract or make your vehicle a private vehicle . The legit RV transport companies require you to log when returning to IN . Some would allow you to log off duty at a terminal near your home but many of those terminals have closed .
Sleeping in a pickup without a sleeper not meeting FMCSA specs is illegal .
This company sounds like a fairly new company . All new carriers get a mandatory audit within a year . They'll get a wakeup call then .
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Bad advice according to you, but I am allowed to drive to my work in my personal truck off of logs from my house, Michigan to Indiana, in his case, from Texas to Indiana, then haul a load on logs to Texas.
Yes, you have to log if you are going back to the yard to haul again but he will be going to his other job then home then back to his second job in Indiana.
I will sleep anywhere I wish when I am OFF DUTY.
Even in the trailers if I want, thats not illegal either.
Don't sweat the scary stuff people tell you, just go put some miles on and keep your nose clean and 62 mph, stop at scales.
Pick up trucks do not have sleeper berths, but we don't log on that.
TN has been in business for 4 years.
Remember you will be a independent contractor.
You have to front the initial costs.
Good luck and have fun.

RickG · Jan 30, 2012

GLIofMI said: ↑

Bad advice according to you, but I am allowed to drive to my work in my personal truck off of logs from my house, Michigan to Indiana, in his case, from Texas to Indiana, then haul a load on logs to Texas.
Yes, you have to log if you are going back to the yard to haul again but he will be going to his other job then home then back to his second job in Indiana.
I will sleep anywhere I wish when I am OFF DUTY.
Even in the trailers if I want, thats not illegal either.
Don't sweat the scary stuff people tell you, just go put some miles on and keep your nose clean and 62 mph, stop at scales.
Pick up trucks do not have sleeper berths, but we don't log on that.
TN has been in business for 4 years.
Remember you will be a independent contractor.
You have to front the initial costs.
Good luck and have fun.
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Until the new HOS take effect when you are in your truck you are ON Duty .

On duty time means all time from the time a driver begins to work or is required to be in readiness to work until the time the driver is relieved from work and all responsibility for performing work. On duty time shall include:
(1) All time at a plant, terminal, facility, or other property of a motor carrier or shipper, or on any public property, waiting to be dispatched, unless the driver has been relieved from duty by the motor carrier;
(2) All time inspecting, servicing, or conditioning any commercial motor vehicle at any time;
(3) All driving time as defined in the term driving time;
(4) All time, other than driving time, in or upon any commercial motor vehicle except time spent resting in a sleeper berth;
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http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.aspx?reg=395.2
The RV haulers that spent money to stretch the frame and add a legal sleeper didn't spend the money to impress people with the looks .

GLIofMI · Jan 31, 2012

Like I said, sleep in the trailer, pack a tent and sleep in the yard of a rest stop, sleep under the stars in a parking lot of a gas station.
Does everyone get my point now?
When they come and knock on my door and wake me up and read me the riot act then I will go over the fed's hard core rules.
Until then when I am off duty I will sleep where I need to.
To calm everyone down though, there are cheap motels out there and who wants to be 4 days stinking up the truck?
Here's a list of items you will need to be compliant for that inspection, if it happens, plus other necessities.

BATTERY for trailer
SWAY, LEVEL BARS
SADDLES
4 HITCHS, 5TH WHEEL, 10, 000 BUMPER PULL, 2" & 2 5/16", POSSIBLE GOOSENECK.
NO TAIL GATE
SPARE TIRE
BREAKDOWN TRIANGLES
4 WAY LUG
TIRE GUAGE
CABLES / CHAINS
TOOLS
JUMPER CABLES
MIRRORS, EXTENSIONS.
MAGNETS, DOT #s
MOST IMPORTANT INSPECTED ITEM, FIRE EXTINGUISHER, GET 2, ABC OR VEHICLE TYPE. easily accesible.
NO LOOSE GARBAGE OR ITEMS IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK.

Good stuff here by everyone, continue driving!

RickG · Jan 31, 2012

GLIofMI said: ↑

Like I said, sleep in the trailer, pack a tent and sleep in the yard of a rest stop, sleep under the stars in a parking lot of a gas station.
Does everyone get my point now?
When they come and knock on my door and wake me up and read me the riot act then I will go over the fed's hard core rules.
Until then when I am off duty I will sleep where I need to.
To calm everyone down though, there are cheap motels out there and who wants to be 4 days stinking up the truck?
Here's a list of items you will need to be compliant for that inspection, if it happens, plus other necessities.

BATTERY for trailer
SWAY, LEVEL BARS
SADDLES
4 HITCHS, 5TH WHEEL, 10, 000 BUMPER PULL, 2" & 2 5/16", POSSIBLE GOOSENECK.
NO TAIL GATE
SPARE TIRE
BREAKDOWN TRIANGLES
4 WAY LUG
TIRE GUAGE
CABLES / CHAINS
TOOLS
JUMPER CABLES
MIRRORS, EXTENSIONS.
MAGNETS, DOT #s
MOST IMPORTANT INSPECTED ITEM, FIRE EXTINGUISHER, GET 2, ABC OR VEHICLE TYPE. easily accesible.
NO LOOSE GARBAGE OR ITEMS IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK.

Good stuff here by everyone, continue driving!
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Half of the items you listed aren't required by FMCSA . They are requirements of the carrier .
As for hotels , many hotshotters use this card for discounts . https://www.checkinncard.com/

GLIofMI · Jan 31, 2012

As for hotels , many hotshotters use this card for discounts . https://www.checkinncard.com/
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Oh yeah, got that one.

Tumbleweed13 · Jan 31, 2012

I've got the b&w turnover ball and companion 5th wheel hitch.
What are saddles?
Why is Bob not too keen on taking "straight up truckers"?
Thanks

RickG · Feb 1, 2012

Tumbleweed13 said: ↑

I've got the b&w turnover ball and companion 5th wheel hitch.
What are saddles?
Why is Bob not too keen on taking "straight up truckers"?
Thanks
Click to expand...

I believe the companion hitch is an 18K . Bennett said they wanted a 20K. I asked why because 3500's have a tow rating of only 16K . They said they had a terminal in MO where some trailers weighed 20K .
They accepted the 18K hitch . I heard that terminal was a real PIA to deal with . They would tell you they had a load then give it to someone else before you got there .
Bennett also had a terminal in Longview , TX but only a few select contractors got loads from it . Terminal owners in Longview and Bristol owned pickups with paid drivers and would set each other's trucks up with turnaround loads .

GLIofMI · Feb 1, 2012

I am not sure why Bob feels that way.
You wight have to ask him.
He doesn't do much of the communicating, usually all Nikki.
B&W, perfect hitch, mines the same, 18k.
TN has the market with Keystone going to the south.
I'm running north, east, north, west nowdays.
Great year to keep the wheels turning.
Bennet lost a bunch of good people a while back to Pinnacle.
Star is begging for drivers on Craigslist too.
Canada bound, good luck all.

GLIofMI · Feb 1, 2012

What are saddles?
Click to expand...

Sorry, missed it.

Saddles are what the level bars hook to on the trailer end of a bumper pull trailer (travel trailer).
If you don't have the hitch yet you will get it all when you buy the set up.

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