Using a pickup with trailer

Thank you everyone. They call these guys "Hotshots". I'm a ford guy but there diesel haven't been to trustie seens the 7.3L, so I'm thinking about cummings for reliability. What trailer should I get a car hauler or flatbed that I could get cars on and what size. How do you get all the DOT, MC numbers to run legal. What insurance company do you guys use or recommend. Do you need to use a log book??

 

What do these "Hotshot" guys make a week or how ever the pay works out??

 

Pay depends on what you haul,for my neck of the woods,I tow boats and I try to get $1.25 per mile but with people being cheapo and unlicence haulers on uship,I don't pick up much loads.I used craigslist sometime also I know few boat dealers who use my service once a while.

 

You need to research rules and regulations. You need to find a source for steady loads. You need to determine what the loads will pay and how quickly they pay. Call an insurance brokerage that specializes in truck insurance. Find out what license and insurance will cost.

Once you know what the loads will pay and what your cost of operation will be, you will know what you can expect for wages and profit. Don't forget to figure in several cents per mile for repairs and maintenance, more for taxes and social security and the list goes on.

I don't mean to be negative but without driving experience, industry knowledge, business experience or knowledge you best have a large bank roll to survive while you learn.

My guess is if you check the cost of insurance and the average number of days to get paid for your load, you will change your mind unless you have an extra $10,000 or more lying around getting moldy or you are just a big risk taker.

I have no direct experience or knowledge in hotshots just tractor trailer operation. My guess is after you purchase the truck and trailer you will need At least $2,500 for authority ($300), base plates ($800), and insurance down payment ($1400). I would estimate your insurance payment around $500 per month. You will most likely need a month of operating cash which would likely be at least $7,000. You should also have emergency cash for towing and repair.

Again these are scaled down estimates from what I know for a Class 8 operation. The insurance is based on what I saw another person say he was quoted ($7,000 year) for auto hauling. If you aren't hauling autos it will probably be less.

Just offering some food for thought. You need to make some calls and see what your costs will be. If you lease to a company you will get your money faster but you will get less than with your authority.

EDIT: You might try this section of the TTR Forum: http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...er-and-hot-shot-trucking-forum/#axzz1Xmf9SZCg