car hauling

[HullD]

Can anyone give me an idea of what the going rate for car hauling is?

And an idea of how its charged,like by the mile or by the car?

 

[R C Cola]

Car Hauling Rates

I also am about to enter this field. The drivers I have spoken with have

stated prices from about . 50 to $ 1. 00/mile/car depending on what you haul. If you are new at this strongly reccomend working for a company that will allow you to lease on for 6-12 months since this saves a lot in start up costs and gives you a chance to learn about the business and get paid at the same time.

Many variables and they all affect how much money you make and how happy you are with the job. Good Luck..... RC Oo.

 

[MMeier]

Just watch out for some of those brokers out there if you go that route. Some of them like to take thier sweet ol' time in getting your money to you. I like the Cash On Delivery deals myself !!

 

[DBabbitt]

This is something I have posted on many occasions but never got any real answers from anyone. I assume that nobody wants to give up the info to protect their own interests and business. I live in Colorado and I am currently in the process of getting my authority to haul cars. I drive a 2004 QC dually and pull a 3 car wedge.

I would like to keep my runs over 750 miles distance per trip because I don't want to spend all of my time loading and unloading cars plus I have aging family members down south I would like to visit with much more regularly. I know shorter runs pay more per mile but you can't drive if you're swapping cars around plus I'm just not that young anymore. I have decided that I want to drive approx. 5000 loaded miles per month which will have me probably driving 2000-3000 unloaded for a total of 7-8k per month. I figure at $1. 50 per loaded mile (50 cents per car times 3) I should be able to make about 48k per year (before income tax & S. S. ). This is after all expenses like fuel, maintainance, repairs, tires, broker fees, tolls, taxes, hotels, truck/trailer replacement, etc. are taken out except start up cost.



I am a bit concerned though looking at the sites like carsarrive.com, CentralDispatch, CarLoadUSA and others because there are few loads on there that are paying . 50 per mile, per car. Most seem to be under 40 cents/mile which would put me from 48k per year income to under 27k!! in which case I will starve.



I am considering doing this for a year or so and if I still like it then going to an 18 wheeler with an 8-10 car trailer. However I keep hearing drivers say things like they make more money pulling 3 cars than when they drove a big rig pulling 8. How can this be? I have heard figures of drivers making anywhere from 85 cents per mile (fully loaded) to over $2. 50!



So my ultimate question is who is paying real money for moving cars? I know auctions pay more but again are generally shorter runs. Is there anybody out there who can spell this out for us newbies once and for all?



Thanks in advance, Dan.

 

[BlueDiamond]

Great question Dan. Sounds like you and I are in the same boat. I have received my quote for authority from OOIDA. I would like to know how it is possible to pull a three car wedge and legally stay under 26K?My understanding is that DOT goes by data plate of truck and trailer combined. My truck is an 05 QC 4 x 4 dually and is plated around 12. 5K. I see that a Take Three triple axle is rated at 21K. Even their two car is rated at 14K and would put me over. I've heard people say that some trailer mfg. will work with you on the plating but I would need one dropped from 21K to 13. 5K max. Is this possible?Am I incorrect about this(I hope so)or is everyone registering over 26K. Thanks for any info.



Michael

 

[R C Cola]

I also am planning on hauling cars in the future. However, I have hauled cars in the past. Worked with a flatbed trailer hauling freight and they never could get me loaded to go back for another good load. Went on Central Dispatch and they always had cars close by to move. I could haul 2 on my freight trailer (had to buy ramps). Do a search, we have one member on here who does very well with a 3 car wedge. Personally I want to stay below 26k (partly for the sake of the truck). Finally it dawned on me- - Get an aluminum trailer, they make a nice wedge under 5k I beleive.

When dealing with Central Dispatch I found that many of them could be bumped up in price, just by telling them "my price is and I can pick up today " I missed about half that way. I am doing RV's right now (pays one way only) and plan to get back into cars as soon as I find the right trailer.

Better to run empty to pick up a good load than running cheap and wearing out your truck and you. Good luck---R C Oo.

 

[Grizzly]

I did not read every word on the thread and maybe it has already been mentioned. I have not seen anything on bonding and insurance. This is your largest investment in this business.

 

[DBabbitt]

Grizzly, Getting your authority, insurance, bonding and registrations is a long drawn out process. I have been working on it for six weeks now.



There are a few companies that will do it all for you but from what I've seen they will charge you about $500 for the service. (looking back now it may be worth it!)



There have been other posts on this topic in the past. PatrickCampbell (TDR member) has posted a very informative page to help all of us get into the biz. Here is the link:



http://xj.cdevco.net/auto/trucking/forhire.html



The above link also contains some links for companies to help you get your auth and other services.

Once you file online with the FMCSA to get your DOT number and MC numbers you will get a ton of phone calls and junk mail from companies that offer services from getting your auth to insurance to bonding to load factoring, etc. The mail and phone calls will start within two days of filing online. It's actually a great help!



The insurance is of course the biggest expense. I did a lot of price comparing and ended up going with Truck Insurance Mart (1-800-255-0416). It ended up costing me $2265 down and monthly payments of $765. This is for 1 million liability & 100,00 cargo.



Now I am waiting for the FMCSA to send my certificate of authority then I can get my single states registration (SSRS done locally) for the states I will be operating in.



Good Luck, Dan.

 

[DBabbitt]

Great question Dan. Sounds like you and I are in the same boat. I have received my quote for authority from OOIDA. I would like to know how it is possible to pull a three car wedge and legally stay under 26K?My understanding is that DOT goes by data plate of truck and trailer combined. My truck is an 05 QC 4 x 4 dually and is plated around 12. 5K. I see that a Take Three triple axle is rated at 21K. Even their two car is rated at 14K and would put me over. I've heard people say that some trailer mfg. will work with you on the plating but I would need one dropped from 21K to 13. 5K max. Is this possible?Am I incorrect about this(I hope so)or is everyone registering over 26K. Thanks for any info.



Michael

BlueDiamond (Michael),



I have heard that DOT goes by both vehicle data plates and actual weight. In either case I have a 2004 QC dually GVWR = 11. 5k & my 2000 Appalachian 3 car wedge GVWR=14k for a total of 25. 5k which will keep me under 26k. I recently weighed my truck with a full tank of fuel and empty trailer and it came up at 15,100 lbs. So I can add 10,900 lbs of payload to be at 26k. my truck is a 2wd so your's will be a bit heavier. Staying under 26k should be no problem with 3 small cars on the trailer but add 1 SUV and it will be close!

 

[Otis Calhoun]

Iv hauled cars a few years ago with an FLD 120 and a 7 car trailer. I haul them now on a 3 car wedge and a 98 3500 CTD. you wont make any more money net ,generally speaking hauling 3cars or 12. If you need me to break this down I will but trustme Iv been there done that and theres no difference long term other than you will work yourself to the piont of injury or worse if you go with any kind of stack and rack. get a map of the usa. draw a small circle around NY city. Draw another around L. A. now draw 7progressivily larger circles around each town until the last circle over laps in the middle of the US. Number them 1 -8. Each circle represents the number of car you haul and how large of an area you have to bounce around in to keep loaded . the last run I made from the midwest to L. A and back with a 7 car took 2 weeks and I drove a little over 8k miles. (4400 miles if you go streight there and back) it came out to about 80 cents a mile for all miles ran and I was leased onto a company that has been around for 20+ years. Before you consider doing three cars take a look at rates for enclosed cars and consider a 2 car enclosed trailer. It might allow you to pull it with a reg hitch and keep the bed free for a small camper that would be your sleeper. you mite be able to stay under 26k like that. I think you would net a little more doing 2 cars enclosed than 3 on a wedge.

 

[Stake Man]

I'm just wondering how many log books some of you will run? :-laf



I don't know about other states, but in CA they can/will ticket you for not having a log book(no matter the weight) if you are hauling for pay.

 

[MMeier]

I'm just wondering how many log books some of you will run? :-laf



I don't know about other states, but in CA they can/will ticket you for not having a log book(no matter the weight) if you are hauling for pay.

Not to mention SSR, proper cab card, etc. , so on and so forth!

 

[PatrickCampbell]

The manufacturer should be happy to de-rate the trailer but some won't do it, or some will do it for a fee. If you are buying a new trailer, they should all do it for free.



Make sure they don't jip you out of your 7000 lbs GAWRs so that you can load it unevenly if such a condition happens to come up. I. e. you don't want 14,000 lbs / 3 axles = 4666 lbs GAWR because then you are "forced" to put exactly 33% of the weight on each axle which is not necessarily realistic. If you have 7000 lbs axles with 6084 lbs worth of tires so you should be able to put up to 6084# on each axle. My trailer was 21,000 lbs now 14,000 lbs GVWR, GAWRs = 6084 lbs each.



I am still getting up and running over here as well. Thinking about doing some sea port -> dealer runs in the beginning. While these are said to not be the best paying, they will allow me to run whenever I want so I can keep my day job

 

[DBabbitt]

Finally got my authority! Now I'm starting to put together my first load of cars going from Colorado down south.



Does anybody know or ever heard of a book or web site that lists curb weights for all cars? I've used edmunds & vehix but they don't go back far enough for a lot of the cars out there that need to be moved. For example I need to know how much a 1972 Jeep Commando weighs. The shipper tells me 1500 lbs. but I really doubt that! Surely the transport companies must have something they use to get info! Any thoughts?



Thanks, Dan.

 

[R C Cola]

Weights

Received this in an email from a co. that wants me to sign on with them to pull cars. Have not checked it out, but it should be just what we need to haul cars. R C Oo.

 

[R C Cola]

Weights

Received this in an email from a co. that wants me to sign on with them to pull cars. Have not checked it out, but it should be just what we need to haul cars. R C Oo.





"Paul" <paul@roadtriptransport.com> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert

To: "Paul Moseley" <paul@roadtriptransport.com>















I have found a valuable resource that you and or your drivers may find very helpful on road as they schedule their loads.



It is a book compiled by Tom at AutoGo that gives weights and dimensions of almost 10K cars it can be found on www.loadhub.com or click on the link below



http://loadhub.com/bisbee/index.html



I just thought this might be a very valuable resource for you and or your drivers.



Have fun and drive carefully out there.



Paul

Road Trip Transport

 

[BlueDiamond]

Hi Paul,

I am interested in the book as I am getting ready to start hauling cars but I am unable to get the link to work. Do I have to sign up to have access?



Thanks,

Michael

 

[R C Cola]

Car weights ?

Michael Just received this response. Will continue to try to get one. R C



RC,



Load Hub... . Loadhub.com had them for sell for the

fellow that was selling

them but that guy went out of business and since his

book was not selling he

just closed up shop so I don't think the book is

available any more. Tom

Bisbee was the author of it and at one time I had

contact with him but since

he is out of business now he doesn't have company

email... .



Wish I could help further but loadhub.com is a posting

site so you might

find some info there... . That is all I know at this

stage in the game...



Paul





On 3/15/06 3:06 PM, "R. C. Tingle"

<rccola_84367@yahoo.com> wrote:



> Paul--- How can I get one of these books ? I will

be

> switching to car hauling in the next couple months.

> Thanks R C

>

 

[R C Cola]

Weights update info

Name of book and author as follows. Now we can try to look it up thru book sources. R C

RC,



The name of the book is Transporter's Vehicle

Directory pub. by "Bisbee

Enterprises" hope that helps...



Good Luck... ... R C

 

[R C Cola]

Weights

Googled this up.....



Bisbee Enterprises Transporter's Vehicle DirectoryFrom 1995 to 2005, 51 Manufacturers sold 9900 different vehicles in the USA Now you can find the exact Bumper to Bumper length, the height, weight, ...

bisbee-enterprises.com/ - 7k - Cached - Similar pages



R C