So you want to hot-shot? (Will be updated/edited frequently)

I have purchased and put some money into my 1997 T600 but if I had a choice between a new truck and this one I would take my old one. That said I understand what you are saying. A lot of angles to this business, like how much money would I save if I dropped an axle and registered fo 54,000?

 

Exactly, would it do anything for your fuel mileage? Being around semi trucks all my life, like I have, I doubt just dropping that axle out would make much of a difference.

Of course there's other things you could do to it, like re gearing the rear end, reprogramming the ECM, or reworking the pump (depending on what engine you're running) to make it as much of a fuel squeezer as possible. And pulling as lite of a trailer as possible.

What exactly is your op cost right now, running what you have? Figure it with a truck payment because if you don't have one right now one should still be figured in. At some point you will need to replace it.

If you don't want to publicly post what your current op cost is running you can send me a private message if you'd like.

 

thanks for all the info im new to trucking period I do have a class a with tanker and air brake endorsement I plan on going to work for tmc to get some flat bed experience and start piecing together everything I need as I go along I got a 2011 f250 right now but I heard its not recommended to use it would it be alright just to get started with or no thanks

 

Probably OK to get started with but a lot of guys get Cummins dual lies to hot shot with.

 

You want a DRW truck.

 

what about driving under someone else's MC, Dot numbers ? say as a leased on hot shot driver. any of that happen ? We're looking to get into Hot shotting, and getting everything legal. But have had some people tell me I can sign on some places, to haul under their MC. Any input would be appreciated, thanks

 

Not a great idea. I could write paragraph, after paragraph why I say that. It's been a long day here though so I'm gonna try keep it short.

Most "Independent" Owner Operators net anywhere from 55 to 65 percent of what they gross . In a lease where you split a percentage with a company you end up giving up 50% or more of what aIndependent Owner Operator Nets. Basically a large part if not all of that 25, or 30 percent you give up in a lease is what makes a Independent Owner Operator successful.

I'm not saying the company that leases you on doesn't earn, or deserve their cut. I'm just saying that in my opinion there's simply not enough in this line of work after the percentage split to please most leased owner operators.

 

Hello guys Im new to actually posting on this forum even though I have used thetruckerreport.com for the past 8 years or so for viable information. This website has done a lot of good for me so I have decided to sign up and watch this thread. That being said I want to give a little info about my future plans and an endeavor I hope will end up landing me in the drivers seat of my own company. I have been a company driver for various companies for the past 8 years. I drive local home every night now for a living and I recently have had an expansion in my household. The local work I do is very demanding on my body and for the amount of money i earn i have came to the conclusion its just not worth doing this line of duty much longer. I plan on working as much as I can over the next 18 the months or so and sock as much money as I can (about $10,000) then getting into hot shoting loads. Ive researched this several times in the past but Im now ready to pull the trigger on this idea. Here's what I have as far as startup so far. I welcome any ideas and advice of course.

1. Sock as much money as I can while Im still working my local job
2. Decide what type of equipment I will need (advise needed) I was initially going to go with a F450 or Dodge Cummins but recently Im thinking about going with a Freightliner M2 112 with a small sleeper. And either a 48' or shorter dry van trailer or a flatbed trailer.
3. Decide whether to go in and get a small business loan and buy new with warranty and have a high payment or lease a truck. Not sure which one will be cheaper and therefore lower my operating costs. But it seems at this point these are my only options because I'm looking to save maintenance costs.
4. I have already talked to my insurance man and he's working on quotes for me. Of course I have nothing specific as far as vehicles so he said he could run some general ideas with progressive and see what we would look like as far as cash flow. Of course I realize this will all change once Ive got the truck and trailer and I'm fixing to haul loads.
5. Heres a few questions that are still lingering in my head.
- Should I pay out of my companies expenses to have a few subscriptions to load boards and if so any suggestions that any of you guys have had luck with?
- There's several accounting firms and websites out there that will pretty much do all the accounting for me and this will free up my time while I'm home with my family. One of these is trucking office.com. Have any of you used anything like this and if so any luck with them? I want to make sure I do everything legal from the get go. No shady business practices happening here.
- While signing up with drug testing companies any suggestions?
6. I live in the state of Tennessee and I have a class A CDL no endorsements. My father will be going along with me as a driver. He's got over 40 years in the industry. Has hauled every type of commodity you can think of. Everything from glass to radioactive material. He recently in the last few years let his CDL go because he was no longer using them and didn't think he would need them again. So I understand he will have to test again to get them but when it comes to road testing can he test in our truck? Or will he have to go to a school. He was grandfathered in when the CDL program was enacted and he has more knowledge than most of anyone still doing this. But were both at a loss with this question.
7. How can I check the current rates for freight in TN say going to TX or anywhere in the Southeast or Midwest?
8. How could I book some regular loads? And how long does it usually take to get your name established in this industry of hot shoting loads. 1 year 2 years?
9. My business plan is to go out with me and my father team driving and knocking down about 1,920 miles in a day and half. Legally I know this will be pushing it but I know in 34 hours with us both maxing our 11/14 hour clocks it can be done. Ive drove 1200 miles in 48 hours as a solo driver before. We then after making our day and half run plan on going home for 2 days and then back out for another day and half run. This is why I need a sleeper. I plan on paying myself a wage personally and of course my father one as well. My wife will be dispatching us from my house. My dad and myself live in two different parts of the state. And we both live in and around pretty good freight lanes. I being in Nashville and Dad being about 50 miles north of Knoxville Tn. So finding loads to load out on and return trips I don't think will be a hassle. We plan on going anywhere we can get a load but eventually would love to a have dedicated freight line going to TX or OK or anywhere in the Midwest. So that being said, am I missing anything here? I know if Im over 26,000 lbs I will have to file IFTA and have quarterly fillings and reports to do with that. I want to do more than 26,000 lbs so I won't be so restricted on loads to pull hence why I'm wanting that Freightliner M2 112. Plus I drive one of those at work currently and they are a beast of a truck for being a smaller truck.
10. I know I will have to have a DOT an MC number. How do I go about filing for that and how long does it take to get approved? How much does it cost?

Anyway sorry for my post being so long and dragged out I just want to make sure I have all my ducks in a row before jumping ship. I'm a self described cautious type and having a family I need to make sure they eat and the bills are paid on the homefront as well before doing such a risky jump. I have heard hot shotting loads has gone down hill over the year but there are still guys making a good living at it if they are smart enough to run it the right way. As I said before I am open to any and all advise here. Thats why I have come to this forum in the past and that is why I am here now. Thanks for all your input.

 

This is by far the most informational thread I have come across so far.

Here's my situation:

I am starting a large area mowing business (I will be the owner/operator with no employees) using a 100HP John Deere tractor and a 15ft batwing cutter. Down here in south Texas that is a pretty common business to get into these days as there are many weekend ranchers/vacationers and many new pipelines being built each and every day. Anyway, I am needing to get a less time demanding fill in job that can act as a cushion whenever things get slow with the mowing business.

My equipment:

I have a Ram 3500 DRW truck with flatbed and gooseneck hitch and a Big Tex 22GN 30'+5' trailer with standard ramps (I can add megaramps if needed)

My questions:

Can I use my existing equipment to haul LTL freight and small equipment around Texas and possibly surrounding states during slow times if I do already need to have DOT numbers, insurance, etc?

Will I need to get DOT #'s for my truck and trailer since I am using them for my business? If so what kind of insurance will I need for the truck and trailer?

I will be moving within the next month or so to a rental house on a guys ranch. I should be able to apply for farm plates for my truck and trailer hopefully. If I am eligible for farm plates, would I still need all of the DOT #'s, insurance, etc for my business use or if I haul for hire?

I know the farm plates changes things a good bit, but I have been kind of under the understanding that I would still need everything If I haul for hire or use it for my business as it would technically be for hire. Is this correct?