Attn: Hot Shot Drivers

[lawdog]

For all of you in the biz, Looking for some advice. I have the opportunity to start my own business with a dedicated run. approx 5000 lbs in cargo but 5 large tube frames so hauling air basically. in round numbers it is an 800 mile round trip paying $1,200 a trip. 210 loads going, I can average 3-4 a week I believe.

In buying a trailer, is it worth the extra money to upgrade to the Air Ride suspension, and if go with air ride is it worth the extra for the lift axle. Standard deck height with lift, low pro without. next is Electric / Hydraulic Disc brakes or standard Electric Drums? 10k or 12 k axles? Hydraulic Dove, Straight Deck with ramps or dovetail with Monster ramps. My thought with a Hydraulic Dove is more chances for a back load of cars if needed to make more money. Looking at PJ and Load Trail. Load Trail is about $1500 cheaper.

Thanks in advance.

 

[NIsaacs]

Sounds like a good run. Unless you want/need to go over 26k, I would go with a 16k trailer in the length/configuration you need. The dually trailers are heavy and pull hard empty. Buy the best and the most options that you can, a winch is a must have.

Nick

 

[JR]

Deck overs are nice because you can load them from the side and don't have to worry about beating fenders up like you do on the low boy. Low boys are nice for the lower center of gravity while towing but that's about the only advantage they have. A deck over will be more versatile for what your doing. Unless you plan on hauling that heavy I would stay away from the tandem duals and definitely stay away from the triI axles. Maintenance costs are higher and the ride is poor if your only loading it to a third capacity or so on a regular basis.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Never limit yourself to what you need to haul NOW and buy only what is needed to haul the loads you have. It prevents the need to buy more equipment later, no matter how much people say that the job or haul will last for ever, that's a pretty long time, you may have to haul something heavy and cant because your rig ain't up to it, Just my $.02 worth

I don't have air ride on my Goose-neck Big tex 30' trailer and sometimes if its loaded just right (to be legal) it back slaps the **** out of the truck. It has the elect/ hyd disc brakes on it and I WOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE

It has the tandem dual's on the trailer and with my 3/4 ton truck I can haul more weight than what the truck is supposed to be able to LEGAL just because of the ability to lay the weight on the trailer tandams

 

[lawdog]

Thanks,

I may plate for 26 for now to see how it goes because I can always increase without penalty and add the fuel tax stuff.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Just looking at the 800 mile round trip and 3-4 trips a week. Don't know anything about trucking in MI so forgive me if im wrong.

I always figured a 50 MPH average driving speed, (the speed limit was 55 for trucks or cars with trailers) , I assume that your going to be legal and do this SORT OF LEGAL and that the DOT will look at your rig as they do any for hire trucking company with BIT inspections and the works. 800 mile turn at average speed of 50 makes 16 hours to just make the drive, figuring that hills and Pi** stops and coffee stops, food stops are all figured into the drive time. So lets round things off and say your able to drive a bit faster than I was.

800 mile turn at avg speed of 60 MPH 13 hours x 4= 52 hours of driving alone, your truck going to have a sleeper? if not better find a way to get some motel receipts. I haven't had to worry about any of this kind of thing for a VERY LONG TIME so forgive me if im wrong but the DOT ain't playing any games anymore they are getting kind of serious about **** since the likes of the FEX driver that killed a bus load in Calif and others that have done similar things

don't know if you have a family, but time away is always hard on a marriage unless she goes to help drive then the whole game changes.

Good luck,


BIG

 

[lawdog]

It will be a 2 day trip or 2 loads in 3 days type of thing… UNLESS.. I cut across Canada, but that could be another can of worms…but it is 120 mile shorter…… As far as DOT…Well I know a thing or two about it since I was a Traffic Enforcement , Accident Reconstructionist and Motor Carrier Officer since 1995 at my old job My other option is to go back to work full time at another PD and work Midnights for the next 5+ years Either way Im gone

 

[NIsaacs]

Do the trucking, it's funner:-laf

If there is no time restriction to get the loads all hauled, as in will they hire more trucks, I would haul 3 a week and make it last. At 250K for the total loads, thats a chunk of change for about a year and a half.

Nick

 

[jelag]

I drove in and out of Canada for years.... I found that the guys at the scale house looked a lot closer at a 3500 flat bed pulling a trailer over a larger heavier truck... and towards the end before I retired.. I found the wait going north and south getting longer and longer... the broker fees getting higher.... If I had a choice I'd go the 120 extra miles and save the in and out brokerage fees... and the issue at the border...

The last 5 or 6 months coming south into the US they would put me in line for x-ray... and that often would cost an additional 30 min...

 

[lawdog]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I bought a Load Trail - Load Max 40ft (35+5) dovetail with Monster ramps, Air ride with Elec / Hyd disc brakes with the Tandem Duals. I bought it out of The Trailer Guys in Texas. Dealing with the owner and he did me right on the trailer and is bringing it up as he is coming about 3 hours from my house on vacation Once I spoke to the company I will be doing the hauling for to start out, and he reminded me of fork lift drivers unloading who are not always careful, the deck over was a good idea.

 

[NIsaacs]

I went to their web site and looked at the trailer, nice, looks like you got all the options but the kitchen sink! I would treat the deck with some good stain/sealer right away.

Nick

 

[Wayne M.]

Hi lawdog, please post some pics of your rig once it's up!

 

[BIGNASTY]

hi lawdog, please post some pics of your rig once it's up!

DO WHAT??? :-laf


PS: SORRY!! It was a long Party it started Thursday and Ended at 3am today

 

[SnoKing]

#ad

 

[lawdog]

I'll post some pics of the truck and trailer when I get it….

 

[Wayne M.]

DO WHAT??? :-laf


PS: SORRY!! It was a long Party it started Thursday and Ended at 3am today

Ya, let's see them puppies!!!! Uh, wrong site.....