Feasibility of pulling for profit with a tow built 2500.

[bcbender]

That's because they are doing it "anyways"

 

[NIsaacs]

My point exactly. What is the point of dragging around 40 ft of trailer if you can't carry any real weight?

Because there is a market for light bulky loads. It is a little deceiving on the net weight when you take the pin weight off the trailer.

 

[GAmes]

Because there is a market for light bulky loads. It is a little deceiving on the net weight when you take the pin weight off the trailer.

There are only a limited number of styrofoam transports and I've never seen it hauled on a flatbed anyway.

 

[NIsaacs]

You need to go fishing, Gary

 

[GAmes]

You need to go fishing, Gary

I agree. Repairing a reel as we speak.

 

[AnonEd]

Can't speak as an authority but CA doesn't seem to specify GCWR for their non-commercial stuff, and an acquaintance who pulled an 18k fifth-wheel w/a Kodiak 5500 was never bothered about GCWR, just his non-comm class A. Then again, a state trooper I knew routinely pulled in violation, claiming he didn't eevn know about the NC CDL weight limits. From CA's site:

• Travel trailer/fifth wheel (Noncommercial Class A): Over 15,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), or a trailer coach over 10,000 pounds GVWR (when the towing is not for compensation).
• Housecar/motorhome (Noncommercial Class B): Over 40 feet, but not over 45 feet (with endorsement)

My friend the tarp monkey (driving a semi) even has to tarp concrete roof shingles and waterproof membranes, says only he isn't using that stuff on his house.

 

[gsbrockman]

Because there is a market for light bulky loads. It is a little deceiving on the net weight when you take the pin weight off the trailer.

The right CVE Officer on the right day will have a field day with someone pulling a load on a trailer as I posted previously. Conceivably.....they’ll figure out one is trying to skirt the 26k limits, and start digging relentlessly.

 

[NIsaacs]

The right CVE Officer on the right day will have a field day with someone pulling a load on a trailer as I posted previously. Conceivably.....they’ll figure out one is trying to skirt the 26k limits, and start digging relentlessly.

Why? As long as the truck was 14k or under and the trailer was 12k or under, what is the violation? The laws that govern 26k or under has been around forever. Under 26k non CDL has been around since April of 1992.

The way I understand it (you would know more than I do) If you register for 26k or less, Non-CDL, but haul 28k, you would be guilty of overweight but not guilty of not having a CDL. You would also have the option of getting legal, weight wise, unload some if possible. Yes or no?

If you register for 28k and haul 26k you would be guilty of not having a CDL if you didn't have one. You would be parked until you got one or another driver that has one could continue. Yes, or no?

Back in the day before CDL, a Chauffeurs License would have covered either load.

 

[GAmes]

The way I understand it (you would know more than I do) If you register for 26k or less, Non-CDL, but haul 28k, you would be guilty of overweight but not guilty of not having a CDL. You would also have the option of getting legal, weight wise, unload some if possible. Yes or no?

If you register for 28k and haul 26k you would be guilty of not having a CDL if you didn't have one. You would be parked until you got one or another driver that has one could continue. Yes, or no?

Being loaded over registered weight has nothing to do with if you are a CDL holder or not. That is a state issue.

Registered weight is not a criteria for a CDL. It is all about GVWR and GCWR. That is a federal issue.

 

[gsbrockman]

Why? As long as the truck was 14k or under and the trailer was 12k or under, what is the violation? The laws that govern 26k or under has been around forever. Under 26k non CDL has been around since April of 1992.

The way I understand it (you would know more than I do) If you register for 26k or less, Non-CDL, but haul 28k, you would be guilty of overweight but not guilty of not having a CDL. You would also have the option of getting legal, weight wise, unload some if possible. Yes or no?

If you register for 28k and haul 26k you would be guilty of not having a CDL if you didn't have one. You would be parked until you got one or another driver that has one could continue. Yes, or no?

Back in the day before CDL, a Chauffeurs License would have covered either load.

You are correct.....IF the truck and trailer remains at or under those stated weights.

At the end of the day....as previously stated, no one is gonna limit themselves to such a ridiculously low cargo amount. They’ll constantly keep pushing the envelope, instead of declining load(s), in the interest of keeping loaded more often. Sooner than later....the owner operator will exceed 26,000 at the scales......and the right CVE Officer WILL figure it out.

I think one thing you’re overlooking, Nick, is the other “fun stuff” associated with 26,001 lbs and up. IFTA. Apportioned plates. Drug Consortium. National drug and alcohol clearinghouse.

Read this

https://www.ttnews.com/articles/fmcsa-clearinghouse-records-more-56000-truck-driver-violations-2020

and tell me why so many want to skirt the 26,000 lb requirements.

I own my company, I am the only driver for my company, and I only have one truck. I’m still required to take an unannounced pee test.

 

[slowmover]

Looked at using a 1T CTD of my own ten years ago after running hotshot in Texas oilfield.

If you don’t make enough in profit to buy a new truck after 300k or 3-years as well as make a decent living you are subsidizing someone else’s business.

If life on the road is new to you (and it’s changed enough the past five years previous experience doesn’t qualify), it’s much easier to be an ordinary truck driver for a few years than to start from scratch.

Life on the road isn’t easy (just a night or two qualifies), and it takes a plan born of experience

Don’t forget your competition is subsidized. Girlfriend with Section 8 apartment, no medical costs, and state, federal and local government looks the other way. They have their own mafias to worry about, but you’ll NEVER touch their lower overhead or racial-kin networks strung across the country. Separate nations within this nation. Rules only apply to Americans.

Being that bona-fide American at any truckstop is becoming more of a rarity. Midwest, not bad. South or East, it’s diversity world.

Collect a paycheck and keep your eyes open. They’re organized — accept it — and you’re a loner.

 

[GAmes]

https://www.ttnews.com/articles/fmcsa-clearinghouse-records-more-56000-truck-driver-violations-2020

and tell me why so many want to skirt the 26,000 lb requirements.

I own my company, I am the only driver for my company, and I only have one truck. I’m still required to take an unannounced pee test.

Those of us under 26,000 have to comply with everything except IFTA and apportioned tags. For interstate commerce we too have a DOT physical, drug testing, annual truck inspections, display of USDOT numbers, log books and so on. Technically I'm a one truck, one driver company too. I lease to a carrier but am not an employee.

 

[slowmover]

Local truck driving that’ll have you all over a metro region:

1). Rock hauler (end dump or belly dump)

2). Rental Equipment (lowboy or Landoll)

— places you didn’t know existed.

— construction & demo companies

— landowners renting a track hoe, etc.

(I’d avoid logging).

You have to meet people to find the work.

On a big truck job is the best way to be seen as competent for any smaller work.

Local truck companies can be hit or miss. As a new guy you might could get on with the low rent outfits. That’s a two-edged sword as your DOT record matters most. Bad equipment can knife you.

Bigger companies may have better equipment but more stringent insurance requirements (your experience). Exceptions can be made.

— In short, what do you offer he doesn’t already have Miguel and his work crew of cousins take care with the corporate pickup & dump trailer?

You want to net $100/day, or $200/day. A big truck job will do the latter till you get a handle on how to work for yourself, is my take.

FWIW, I’m also single and basically no bills. $300/day is closer to my gross as an employee with employer paid insurance. Big truck money is in acquired skill. Haz-Mat tanker or Heavy Haul. Pneumatic tanker, or oilfield. Something with specialization. Reputation. That’ll get you up past $100k without being a brain-dead Walmart slave.

A truck driver can move anywhere in the USA and be working the following week.

There is no shortage of truck drivers. Pure D hogwash. There’s a GENERAL shortage of decent paying truck jobs and there’s a HUGE shortage of available drivers with brains (no post-1965 immigrants meet the problem-solving standard; can’t be trained. Someone sez they can be trained is hiding too many situations where what pioneers had to have is necessary).

Owning a Class 5 or better stakebed and a decent open trailer will be WORTHY as things fall farther apart. When the rules collapse a leetle bit more.

Just need diesel and someone to ride shotgun.

Get a handle today on who WILL have tires.

.

 

[slowmover]

Get you a VERY GOOD CB Radio Installation in that CTD. AM/SSB. Lots of good operators in NC.

PRESIDENT McKinley
Breedlove puck mount
SIRIO 5000 Antenna
KENWOOD KES-5 Speaker
RM ITALY KL-203 baby amp

Cut no corners on installation or antenna system. Don’t put it off one day. Gear is disappearing RIGHT NOW.

www.k0bg.com

I’ve come to incorporate HAM radio gear in my 11-Meter system as performance goes way up. Just a regular GALAXY 959. But I can hear farther than anyone with a big truck mobile you’ll ever meet.

It’s a money-making tool, and necessary as things only get worse.

My highly expensive system (for a CB) pays for itself 2-3X every year.

So when you’re 260-miles from home and the jesus-phone don’t work no more . . . .

 

[slowmover]

8541 Electronics
Laurinburg, NC

Has a reputation for CB/11-Meter that we know about them in Texas. Maybe a dozen shops nationally worth using.

BELLS CB
BOBS CB
CLAYS CB

- are all good online sources and retail for CB gear.

NORTH CAROLINA and somewhat less the surrounding states has many well-informed and helpful locals on air. Mobile & Base. Many on Sideband (relatively).

Yer Cobra 29 and K40 antenna from Cletus & Cooters Bait & CB Shop don’t get the job done a real system will.

I was north out of Charlotte on 77 one day this last winter. Road problems. My radio made me $100 richer for the day NET.

Or you could say other drivers didn’t break even as a consequence of the same problems. I used radio, atlas and info from locals to re-route.

Takes practice. Isn’t automatic.
Not all re-routes work out.

Your friends will be listening for you, and you for them. Take up the microphone and start meeting those you haven’t met.

The better the radio system the more that others will try to converse with you. It’s a little uncanny that, you’ll hear more (several levels of meaning).

.

 

[gsbrockman]

Those of us under 26,000 have to comply with everything except IFTA and apportioned tags. For interstate commerce we too have a DOT physical, drug testing, annual truck inspections, display of USDOT numbers, log books and so on. Technically I'm a one truck, one driver company too. I lease to a carrier but am not an employee.

Your drug testing requirement is based solely on the the discretion of the leasing company you’ve signed with though, correct?

 

[GAmes]

Your drug testing requirement is based solely on the the discretion of the leasing company you’ve signed with though, correct?

I don't know who initiates the random tests. We get a call and are instructed to go to a lab.

 

[gsbrockman]

I don't know who initiates the random tests. We get a call and are instructed to go to a lab.

I can almost state with 99.9% certainty that it’s initiated by your leasing company, not FMCSA.

The screenshot below indicates mandatory drug and alcohol testing (drug consortium) over 26,001 lbs...

 

[GAmes]

I can almost state with 99.9% certainty that it’s initiated by your leasing company, not FMCSA.

Perhaps the random checks are, but the requirement for drug testing comes from the FMCSA. "Leasing company" is a misnomer. They are a motor carrier, complete with USDOT & MC numbers, with the same requirements as Landstar or any other carrier that has leased on OOs.

 

[gsbrockman]

Perhaps the random checks are, but the requirement for drug testing comes from the FMCSA. "Leasing company" is a misnomer. They are a motor carrier, complete with USDOT & MC numbers, with the same requirements as Landstar or any other carrier that has leased on OOs.

My point is....those of you under 26,000 lbs GVW are not required to be enrolled in a drug consortium. Yes....everyone is subject to drug testing, as evidenced by the drug clearinghouse.

That’s one of the reasons sooooooo many are trying to skate the 26,000 lb threshold and slide in under the radar. Apparently lots (not stating you) are more interested in partying as opposed to pissssssing clean and earning a better living.