RV Transport Companies

I’m standing by my observations of the industry. I said that a few of the over 1500 plus people delivering RV, maybe 3-5%, are doing it full time. Their perception that they are making a living at it is just that - their perception. We all get that perception is reality when you are in it.

To summarize — this is a sessional job at best. If you have no outstanding liabilities and a small pile of money you can be an RV delivery person. Would anyone who is doing it full time recommend it as a full time job? I would be really leary if after the first year of doing it that people would consider it as a full time job. As you remember we had a lot of people entering it a few years ago at the height of the great recession mainly looking for a way to keep up the payments on their trucks. They have all left the business and are now working assembling RV’s vs. delivering them. Several are back to square one financially.


I want to make sure that I’m not perceived as critical or criticizing the industry. It is what it is. It does have a recognized retention problem and a shortage of drivers that needs to be addressed. The manufactures recognized this and will need to work with the delivery industry to address them. I applaud Camping World for recognizing this problem early. Having the distribution model and selling outlets in place to support their own deliveries will be a benefit going forward.


Back haul’s - No model will ever support back hauls. Thats just the way it is. It’s a term that the regular trucking industry uses to keep OTR moving. It’s non existent in RV Delivery. Going back to the CWRV model a “stock balancing model” between selling locations may be more in line in the future.


Sleeping in the units - A standard will be adopted to support it. Not using the faculties, and keeping the interior in pristine condition will be a benefit to the industry. All ready it has gone just in the past few years to “no sleeping” to “It’s ok on the sofa”. The distance between the sofa and bed is getting closer.


All of this comes back to my original post observation of being in the business for 3 seasons. Should you go into it as well - again my answer is -Maybe.

 

You must work for CWRV!

 

I do not… maybe in 2015. I did 3 seasons so far, (note - I said seasons). I did two years at Synergy and one at Horizon. My recruiter went to CWRV. I’ll look into it if I decide to go back next season. I’ll be a grandfather in June so I may have very little incentive to go back to work next year.

 

You do not know very many people doing this I see.


1.54 per mile loaded for 1313 miles. 2,022.02
less maintenance fund ( 200.00)

Fuel ( 824.71)

Food-Actual cost ( 50.00)


Trip 4 days. 947.31

I will have maintenance to do on the truck for about 100.00, this will be covered by the maintenance fund.

Phone cost per day 2.90 time 4 ( 11.60)
Truck Insurance cost 3.61 per day times 4 ( 14.44)

Net profit 921.27

Truck replacement cost per trip (111.29)


Adjusted profit 809.98


This includes all costs associated to the trip. Includes deadhead from home and driving around the house. All fuel, for the entire week of which 3 days were at home. The tolls and wash fees are not included since they are reimbursed by the company. I realized that I missed the pull out fee of 20.00.


Equates to the profit for 4 days of over 200.00 per day.

 

So in your world you're getting $200 a day. 365 days a year or about $73000. Thats not a bad deal! Of course even if you're getting $200 a day — how many days are you getting that a year? My guess would be around 100-150 days at best. That brings your yearly salary to $20,000.00 to $30,000.00 a year. Still not a real bad job if you accept that your not getting any retirement benefits,(you’r paying for ALL of your social security future benefit), no medical, no vacation pay. This is beginning to make Wal-Mart look like a viable career chose.

Of course you missed the required quarterly tax bill of around 20%. Being in the ”accounting business” as you stated this is an expense that needs to be paid every quarter.


I don’t think anyone can rationalize this as a full time career job. Other posters have posted the same observation. At best a seasonal part time, see the country, type job. Thats just the reality that can’t be overcomes.

 

I posted the results of the recent trip.

How much do you make per day?

I have not mentioned how much I put away in pensions and other items of none of your business.

You have stated that there is no money in the business.

When it is provided proof, you cannot achieve comprehension. I only work 3 to 4 days a week. I work all year, not seasonal.

The majority of the drivers at my company are not seasonal and work year round. I take about 6 weeks off through the year as vacation. Some over Christmas and other holidays. When the weather is really bad, I stay home. When it is really hot, I may stay home as well.

I believe it is kind of nice to be able to choose when I work.

 

You continue to prove my point. Now we get your yearly number at $36,000.00, (work 3-4 days a week with 6 weeks off assuming you clear $200 every day you work). If you review my post I said it was more in the 20,000 30,000 range. With the quarterly tax payment added in I hit it right on the head. It comes down to $30,260, (I was off by $260.00).

You are right — you did not mention how much you put away in pensions or other benefits that a real employer would be paying part of and it is none of my business, but it is an expense that comes off the top of your income, not a “benefit” that is partially paid for by an employer.


I just don’t see very many full time drivers. Your experience may be different, but I don’t think so. The manufacturing and delivery model does not support any more that 3 - 5% of the total of full time drivers working full time. Thats just the way it is.


Of course that definition, "Full time driver," will need qualification. I don’t think taking 6 weeks off as you say you do really qualifies you as a full time driver.

 

Some times I take a trip that last 10 days. Then I take some time off.

I have never paid any estimated taxes. I usually receive refunds. But, then again, it is due to investments and other tax situations I have that are not associated to the transporting business.

You are still way off the mark. But, I have wasted enough of my time trying to educate you. Believe what you want. I know what you are.

After all, you could not even answer the simplest question on your day pay.

If you cannot get a job as a Walmart greeter practice asking would you like fries with that.

You might see success there.


By the way.

My wife gets over 4 weeks vacation each year and is a full time employee.

I estimated that the entire time I take off equates to the 6 weeks. I might take a few days at Christmas. One year I took 2 weeks off to go on a long vacation. Another one, I spent a week on yard maintenance.

 

I’m sorry that I missed your request - I’m retired. I was in the electronic industry for 35 years leaving SunMicro Systems when they were sold to Oracle back in 2010. I did my first season with Synergy in the summer of 2010 and 2012, then Horizon in ’12 and ’13. I’m taking this season off - first grandchild in June. I have been RV’ing since I was a kid.

So you don’t have an EIN number to file your quarterly tax estaminets? You said that you were in the accounting game for 20 plus years - could their be consciences for not doing that? It was one of the first things I had to do before I got into the business.


We may be in the same situations - between stock options, 401(K);s and IRA’s and social security benefits my time delivering RV’s is my hobby. I do enjoy the adventure aspect of the job.


I want to reiterate, (despite your sometimes snarky responses). We each have a different option of how we see the industry. You have proven over and over again that a full time career is not what it’s cracked up to be.


I would not recommend it to anyone who is not all ready set up in other life aspects and have a high enough asset portfolio. If your wife is working and the needs of the kids are all taken care of and your future income does not rely on this type of employment this is not a bad way to go.


Without some basic knowledge you will go broke relying on the money you make from this type of job. The internet is full of warnings by people who are in that situation. If it’s approached as a supplemental income stream, you might reach some form of success.


But should it be a career objective-the failure rate just does not make it that attractive.

 

A EIN is not required to file any estimates.

It is not required to be a self employed person. It is only required if you have to file 1099's which I do and yes I have one.

I ran much harder in the past. Paying for the truck and other things. I am now older and do not feel like working my tail off. So, I am more relaxed and not running as hard. In the past, I have had years that I broke 170,000 miles and much of the time on the road. Last year, it was almost 140,000.

You are correct that many fail in the business. It is because they lack understanding. All one has to do is look at the entire forum and you see many that fail in trucking as well.

I do not state that everyone can do it. I do not feel that it is only a job for retired as well. I am quite sure that you are not correct as to the total who do this full time.

I will admit there are many retired who are responsible for the industry lacking the motivation for higher pay. If you want to see more interesting information on this, Elkhart Truth has some articles on the industry from the last month on the pay and such.

If the EOBR issue comes to light in the smaller truck, they will have no choice but to increase the pay, since most retired will leave the industry before dealing with the regulations.

http://www.elkharttruth.com/news/bu...rt-County-to-accommodate-major-shortages.html

http://www.elkharttruth.com/news/bu...s-after-shortage-but-it-may-be-temporary.html

The entire transportation industry is full of companies that are barely paying a living wage to the drivers and who end up sitting without pay. These are far worse than anyone doing the rv transport.

I am not retired and work at this full time. In addition, I have a life as a volunteer fire fighter and paramedic in my community on my off time. I prepare tax returns during the season for the clients I still have. Someday, they will be gone as taxes drive me nuts. One of the reasons I left the industry to get away from the stress.

Can a person work at this full time and make a living. It is possible. Can 100 people attempt and all be successful. No. They cannot even get 100 people to apply as truck drivers and all make it.

Time away from home and over spending is what kills a person in this and all business ventures.


You mention pensions and health care in the past as well as vacations.

My mechanics are both self employed. If they do not show up for work and such they are not going to get paid. They have to provide their own health insurance and pensions.

The main attraction for the rv transport versus a truck driving job is the freedom of forced dispatch and mandated hours. No truck company allows you to come and go at your own wishes.

I have explained as much as possible that it provides a good living. You just do not see it since you have worked as an employee your entire life. I have not divulged the entire year of my running. Many of the runs are longer and very profitable.

When I owned my Freightliner and pulled for Landstar, it was a working time as well. If you do not roll, you lose money. It is not a hourly pay job. It takes a work ethic to run put the miles on and find ways to save money.

It comes down to a matter of opinion.