No, that is gross to the carrier for a typical truck move as drive-away. Driver gets about 60-70% of that and they have to pay fuel, tolls and their own way home.
This is a good way into the market, most truck dealers need people to move their inventory and many will contract with you, provide the dealer plate and insurance even. Doesn't pay any better than being a contractor for Quality or one of those outfits, but a lot less formal and more laid back.
True. Very had to break 1,500 miles a week and that is working at it full time. Most driveaway contractors are semi-retired folks just looking for extra money and something to do. That is part of what keeps the rates so low, hard to compete with someone collecting retirement money that just wants some casino cash! For me, it fits my other businesses, and I only work with a handful of specialized dealers moving mostly heavy duty wreckers, cranes and stinger-steer car haulers. Stuff they have tried moving with the traditional driveaway companies and have had high damages and poor service. My typical run is from Greencastle, PA to either Chicago, W. Memphis, AR or Los Angles, CA area serving one new equipment manufacturer and three distributors. I also run car hualers out of Gainesville, GA up to Chicago for one of these distributors. Are there guys doing it half-arsed, you bet. If you ever stop at the Arizona Port of Entry in Sanders and have to go inside, look at their wall. It is covered with fake IFTA decals and transporter signs from the folks trying to fake their credentials. ANd don't get me started on them, cost $155 in permits for the truck I delivered last week!
When I was doing it they paid for everything. Flights, rental cars, bus tickets hotels, fuel, and all my meals. Not the usual drive away. I was also paid an hourly rate. What tipicly happened is the salesman would buy x number of fleet trucks or a specific truck a customer wanted. Myself and another driver would fly out to get them so they could be run through the shop. The rest would come in from a drive away company weeks or months later. All the cost was put towards the vehicles sale price. All the drivers were part time. None of us drove full time for a living. Lot of retired guys. Was a good way to make some extra money.
Here is the stack of weight, length and trip permits I needed for a move last week. Greencastle, Pennsylvania to Riverside, California 2,540 miles. Cost close to $1,900 with fuel, tolls, permits, hotel and airfare home. Still made good money but what a hassle. Truck was 42' overall length and 71,900 gross on 4 axles Problem was that the tandem drives were 38k and outer bridge limit was 64,500 so it was both over axle and over allowable gross in 10 out of the 11 states I went thru.
