Commercial Driving

[dragan54]

Not sure if this is the right place for this



Are any of you out there using your trucks for commercial pulling? I mean Travel Trailer delivery, car hauling, houling or pulling anything.



Got lots of questions and not finding much help on the internet.



Thanks

 

[jnelson]

Try HotShot Hauling

 

[bmoeller]

Do searches on here. Been brought up MANY times. Check the "towing" or "other" forums.

 

[MMeier]

Like was said above, I go by bigram there, also, try towrig.com, little more broad based, but may give you some pointers.

 

[dragan54]

Thank you for your input. From what I have seen so far this isn't for me right now

 

[MMeier]

What are you looking to get into?

 

[dragan54]

MMeir

I have an 04 LB 4x4 extended cummins. I am getting tired of the job I have right now. I have for the last 3 months been driving back and forth from East central IL to NW IA. My mom is real sick.



I have seen these guys from Hoosier transport pulling RV's and I just thought that would be something I could do. I like to drive, don't have any kids at home and wouldn't have a boss or a quota, ecpt my own.



Mostly just checking out what is involed in getting into it. So far from what I have read breaking even is real tough. any insight?

 

[MMeier]

MMeir

I have an 04 LB 4x4 extended cummins. I am getting tired of the job I have right now. I have for the last 3 months been driving back and forth from East central IL to NW IA. My mom is real sick.



I have seen these guys from Hoosier transport pulling RV's and I just thought that would be something I could do. I like to drive, don't have any kids at home and wouldn't have a boss or a quota, ecpt my own.



Mostly just checking out what is involed in getting into it. So far from what I have read breaking even is real tough. any insight?

Unless you don't want to make any $$$, stay away from the RV's... pay is pretty much nothing, then you have to deadhead back to the yard empty to get your next unit. SOMETIMES, and thats a big sometimes, you may be able to get something as a back haul, and then those companies take enough out of that that you lose $$$$ on the deal. I have my own operating authority, insurance and a 40' dual tandem GN trailer that I can haul just about anything I would want to. But even then, its up to me to find my loads, do billing and such... real PITA most of the time. also repairs are all yours, lately I can't keep the 5600 in my rig, very pricey to fix, even if the idiots working on it do get it right the first time, trans has been out 6 times the past 3 months. Then most people do not understand whats involved in transporting their "stuff" , for lack of a better term, and don't want to pay anything. I'm thinking about maybe dropping my set up for a bit. thing that may make me think about keeping it going is my trailer sales and I have an outfit that uses me to pick up repos and lease returns locally and take them to the auction yard I like those, pays me $90 a pop and one yard is only 6. 7 miles from the auction place ! :-laf

 

[GeneA]

The only way to make money with your rig IMO is to use it in conjunction with your main business pursuit. That is get private carrier permits to haul your own stuff, whether it's a furniture business or a produce business or whatever; landscaping etc the list goes on. That makes you an entrepreneuer and your own boss. Of course the risk of failure is there, but nothing ventured- nothing gained.

 

[bmoeller]

Unless you don't want to make any $$$, stay away from the RV's... pay is pretty much nothing, then you have to deadhead back to the yard empty to get your next unit. SOMETIMES, and thats a big sometimes, you may be able to get something as a back haul, and then those companies take enough out of that that you lose $$$$ on the deal.

Yep.

They like the retirees that want to see the country, have plenty of money, and don't really care what they get paid, as long as they break even at best. Hard to compete with that. Those companies want to pay you as little as possible.

Low pay, lots of deadhead, brokerage fees, fuel costs, maintenance, ins. costs, the list goes on... ... ... ... .....

Plus, some business are slow to pay, and can really cause a problem.

 

[JFaulkner]

Yep.



They like the retirees that want to see the country, have plenty of money, and don't really care what they get paid, as long as they break even at best. Hard to compete with that. Those companies want to pay you as little as possible.



Low pay, lots of deadhead, brokerage fees, fuel costs, maintenance, ins. costs, the list goes on... ... ... ... .....



Plus, some business are slow to pay, and can really cause a problem.

A big part of why the pay is low is because there isn't really any "start up costs". No offense to anyone in particular, but anyone with a pickup truck can do it. Look at it this way: I’d venture to guess almost everyone on this forum already has a diesel pickup (some have more than one) so for them to simply put a sicker on the door and pull someone else’s camper, trailer or whatever isn't a big jump. (The financial risk isn't that big) When they figure out that it isn't paying the bills all they have to do is remove the sticker from the truck they already had.



Most other businesses don't operate this way. Not many people are going to start an excavating company because they own a Bobcat, or quit their job at the bank to start an air freight business. The initial start up costs tends to thin the herd and raise the pay.



And yes, retired people are the best for the RV transport business. They were going to drive around the country anyway. If they could get their fuel covered by delivering someone’s camper it's a win/win for them.

 

[MMeier]

JF, it is a little more involved then that,even if you pull under someone elses authority, like most of these haulers do. I have my own authority, insurance and such. Mark Double M Transport USDOT# 1291900 MC# 565441

 

[bmoeller]

A big part of why the pay is low is because there isn't really any "start up costs". No offense to anyone in particular, but anyone with a pickup truck can do it. Look at it this way: I’d venture to guess almost everyone on this forum already has a diesel pickup (some have more than one) so for them to simply put a sicker on the door and pull someone else’s camper, trailer or whatever isn't a big jump. (The financial risk isn't that big) When they figure out that it isn't paying the bills all they have to do is remove the sticker from the truck they already had.



Most other businesses don't operate this way. Not many people are going to start an excavating company because they own a Bobcat, or quit their job at the bank to start an air freight business. The initial start up costs tends to thin the herd and raise the pay.



And yes, retired people are the best for the RV transport business. They were going to drive around the country anyway. If they could get their fuel covered by delivering someone’s camper it's a win/win for them.

That is true as well. Some of what I posted is what TDR member OTRPU told me. He is/was a commercial camper toter. Been a while since I've seen him on the road, though. IIRC, MM said he retired.



Some guys can make it work, others can't. Initial start up costs and overhead may be cheaper, but the operating costs really aren't.



My truck is paid for, so I should have a better go at it, than someone who is just starting out, and with a truck payment. Now, whether they'd accept me or not, is a different story. A lot of them want you to have a truck with no more than 100k miles, or maybe 3-5 years old. I'm well over both of those requirements.

 

[JFaulkner]

JF, it is a little more involved then that,even if you pull under someone elses authority, like most of these haulers do. I have my own authority, insurance and such. Mark Double M Transport USDOT# 1291900 MC# 565441

I know all about it, we have our authority for 2 separate companies. The main reason why the pay is so low is because the lowest bidder get's it. Personally I'm not working for free, I can sit on the couch and go broke I don't need to drive around wearing out a truck to do it.

My truck is paid for, so I should have a better go at it, than someone who is just starting out, and with a truck payment. Now, whether they'd accept me or not, is a different story. A lot of them want you to have a truck with no more than 100k miles, or maybe 3-5 years old. I'm well over both of those requirements.

I fully understand their reasoning for that however that doesn't guarentee anything. I know 3 people who haul campers for a living, one has an '06 2wd mega cab that is in a friends shop with a melted #6 piston (sweet electronic injectors) another has an '05 just had all 3 rear U-joints replaced, fan clutch, rear main and valve cover gasket replaced (under 100K miles) yes it was under warranty but since the dealer couldn't get it in for a week he just did it himself so he could work. The last has an '04 with a transmission (auto) that's on it's way out. (also under 100k) All this is with realitively new equipment.