RV Transport questions...

Some transport companies don't require a CDL. You could be better off without it because they won't give you the heavier trailers that put more wear on your truck and require more fuel to pull.
Now with a haul and tow you probably need a CDL. One thing I see in Canaa I haven't seen here is hydraulic fifth wheels on the ends of flatbeds and trailers that allows a fifth wheel to be pulled behind the load .
Sleepers are no longer necessary because since the end of last month you can now legally log Off Duty in a parked CMV.

 

My understanding is if you haul 26,001 pounds or more commercially you are required to have a cdl. The company I'm planning to work for soon pays a few more cents per mile if you have a cdl. All the companies I have talked to require your truck to be licensed for 26,000 lbs. If you had your cdl with double/triples endorsement you may be able to haul horse trailers etc for back hauls.

As far as the haul and tow vehicles you will get a better rate but your start up costs and expenses will be more. But you would be able to put a larger sleeper on your truck which would make life much easier out on the road. Also if you had a larger truck 4500/5500 or single axle semi pulling a flat bed trailer to haul 2 campers you would have an even better chance at hauling freight or other goods on your return trip.

If you were planning to haul two trailers tho I would consider doing hotshot loads. You would have a much better chance staying loaded all the way around. But that would require you to be on the road more also.

I've also been told that JET which is the transportation side of Jayco is the best paying transport company around. You would be cutting out the middle man and working for the manufacturer. I've been told that Horizon is a great company too and they take care of their people.

Just to make it clear I have no first hand experience in towing rv's. I've been researching this for the last few weeks so I will know what to expect when I start out. There are some very knowledgable people on this forum and they will help you out.

Good Luck.

 

While Jet may have the best paid loaded miles I've heard backhaul loads are about nonexistent. They aren't that plentiful elsewhere either.

 

Don't forget about insurance, some of the RV companies, require you to put them down as 2nd insured incase of loss.

 

"If you're under lease to an RV transporter, can you take a backhaul from someone else? Or is it simply a matter of removing one set of magnet signs from your truck and putting on someone else's signage?"




I was told this was not possible. The company you lease to would have to sign off on this or they would be the ones actually finding your backhauls. So I've been told no actual experience. I asked the same question.

 

I think if a person has the vehicle, proper insurance, can get a DOT#, and has some time, and a little business sense, and can market himself in his region he can do well to simply move trailers for "long-termer's" looking to relocate.

As fuel has risen, a lot have not been able to justify keeping their 3/4 or 1 ton vehicle and dealing with high diesel prices and the parking issues (hard to park a 1 ton crew cab at Walmart or the mall) all year, just so they can move their trailer 2 or 3 times a year. It's more cost effective for them to trade into a small vehicle, and hire their trailer moved when necessary.

But they will want to work with somebody "local" to where they are or where they are moving to and would rather not deal with the likes of UShip. They will look for bulletin board postings in wash rooms, ads in Thrifty Nickle, and business cards at RV park office counters.

 

I was leased to 2 different rv transport companies at once,

is that no longer possible ??

and a couple years later

I also worked for 2 different motor carriers (part time) at the same time.......

 

I just started hauling RVs for Foremost Transport out of Goshen, Indiana. So far, it has been great! The people are like family and always there to help you. I have had great luck in backhauls. I'm going to Detroit tomorrow to get my passport. I will get it tomorrow with a letter from Foremost on needing me to travel to Canada asap. They have a lot of trailers that need to be hauled to Canada and they pay very well.

They have orientation on Mondays and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Tuesdays in Goshen. Your truck has to be @ 3/4 ton. They accept short beds. You have to have a DOT inspection. Plated truck less than 26000lbs including trailer. You need to have a DOT physical and CDL is helpful. Also, you need to have an insurance on your truck with at least $500,000 liability. If you dont have insurance they have a company that will write you up right there.

I'm not going to sugar coat it. It cost me roughly $1000 to get all my hitches, safety requirements, physical, insurance, DOT inspection and a few other expenses.

After the 2 day orientation and your truck passes DOT you will be expected to pull your first load!!

Good luck!!!!