Vehicle Hauling, new and looking to expand capacity

Talk with ins agent happening soon

IFTA doesn't apply to me. My rollback is under 26k lbs and only has two axles.

"IFTA defines a “qualified motor vehicle” as a vehicle built and used to transport property or people. Qualified motor vehicles must also fit any of the following descriptions:

• Any vehicle with two axles and a gross vehicle weight of over 11,797 kilograms or 26,000 pounds
• A vehicle of any weight but with three or more axles
• A vehicle that exceeds 11,797 kilograms or 26,000 pounds"

To keep the truck near full, I plan to dispatch. I've been hard at work getting signed up with brokers large and small, and using central dispatch to find loads.

 

And also, I'm really enjoying reading all of your responses, even if I already have the answer. This is such a great learning exercise for me!

 

Yes I agree. My ins agent told me that lots of the hotshot folks are taken aback by the insurance costs to get started. The fact I had an existing towing operation and I wasn't traveling more than 500 miles from my dispatching location allowed my yearly insurance to only go up $2.5k. I'm still under $20k a year all-in for insurance.

 

I'm too legit to quit!

 

I don't make it out to SW VA ever. Just too far. I'll go up to Richmond, or Roanoke though. I'm told Danville, VA is a popular place for troopers and the weigh van to hang out. Makes sense since it's just north of Greensboro, NC.

Yes I really only pass one weigh station in my normal travels, I40 near Hillsborough/Graham. Rarely are there troopers hiding to catch breeze-byes.

VA however, I've been warned about. Everything strapped down to the 9s, and also someone warned me that each county requires a permit to pickup from each respective county, with hefty fines if an operator doesn't have that. Delivering doesn't matter at all, just pickup. I learned that after a couple hauls, so i guess I got lucky. I do my best to stay out of VA, but if a good paying haul comes up I'll consider it. I have 8 point tie-downs for the wheels and run four safety chains, two front and rear each, which is above and beyond.

 

Yeah, I guess I didn't want to get too wordy off the bat. And thanks! It's been like drinking from a fire hose these past few months getting the kinks worked out. I am worried about the economy turning down more so if I did it's been my capacity I really don't think I could be convinced of doing it too greatly.

one of the considerations if I went away from running a rollback would be the inability to get inoperable vehicles. right now I can get in and out of tight spots, as well as winch up vehicles that don't run, and sometimes don't even steer. To further increase my capabilities, I recently purchased a set of highway capable dollies so that I can transport all-wheel and 4 wheel drive vehicles on my wheel lift.

most operable vehicles seem to be listed for anywhere from $0.75 to $1.10 per mile. Inoperable vehicles are often listed above $2 per mile.

but not just that, the marginal insurance increase for me hauling vehicles is extraordinary low. If I did not have a local towing operation bringing in good money, and all I did was run a 3 or 4 car trailer and paid $15k-$20k a year in insurance, I can see how it would be tough to stay on top of overhead and maintenance costs.