Hauling Question

[fire8033]

Does anyone know how to get started in the Hauling Business??? I have a dually and a trailer that I am looking to use on my off days from the Fire Department. I've asked a couple of guys in town that do it but the are pretty tight lipped about the business, whats it even called??? I've heard its called hotshot. A website would be good. Thanks

 

[Ken55]

Here's a site I believe is from a TDR member who's going to start hauling. Good luck. (http://xj.cdevco.net/auto/trucking/forhire.html)

Ken

 

[R C Cola]

Trucking

Part time ? Where do you live ? How long is your trailer ? How much weight can it carry ? Most of the part-timers do not make much money.

You need something special preferably close to home that regular freight does not cover. such as filthy greasy complete engines just bought from a junk yard, etc. R C

 

[EricBu12]

a company I see alot that haul the RV's is called "Star Fleet"... ... Don't know the # or anything... .

 

[R C Cola]

R V 's ?

Where do you live? How many days off do you have at a time?

RV's pay one way only expecially for part timers. The co. I work for may pay the best and that is not a good thing. R C

 

[fire8033]

I live between Macon and Atlanta Georgia. A local friend that I have hauled for a couple of times gets loads that are in surrounding states which is nice, I work 1 day and have 2 days off.

 

[MPlunkett]

You guys need to go to a 3/4... . muuuuuucchhhh better than than the 1/2... unless you are super busy and get clobbered every shift... ..... Good luck with the business...

 

[EB]

Go to the website www.hotshothauling.com. It's what I do but I am pretty much in the middle of the oilpatch. All I haul is oilfield tools and equiptment.

 

[MMeier]

Best get all your ducks in a row first... insurance, DOT and MC stuff, truck properly set up and ready for a thorugh inspection at any given time, etc. sounds easy at first but quite the opposite. Once you get going be ready for sudden and unexpected repairs... . broken trannys, water pumps, etc. Put 7k back into my rig in the past 3 weeks!! :{

 

[EB]

Best get all your ducks in a row first... insurance, DOT and MC stuff, truck properly set up and ready for a thorugh inspection at any given time, etc. sounds easy at first but quite the opposite. Once you get going be ready for sudden and unexpected repairs... . broken trannys, water pumps, etc. Put 47k back into my rig in the past 3 weeks!! :{

Know what you mean. Over $10k in mine since Christmas. $4400 this week!

 

[DBabbitt]

fire8033, I used to live in Atlanta. I heard the guys hauling trailers out of the Pace factory in Fitzgerald, GA to the dealers are making good money moving 3 or 4 trailers at a time loaded a 3 car wedge. Here is their info from their web site. Sounds like it could be a good weekend gig. Good luck, Dan



Pace American Trailers

Colony Industrial Park

223 Rip Wiley Road

Fitzgerald, GA 31750

Phone (800) 572-2342

Phone (229) 423-7966

Fax (229) 423-3859

 

[PatrickCampbell]

what are some of those expenses not including regular items like oil, filters, tires, fuel?

 

[EdwardsW]

If you are running a NV5600 like me, the rear bearing is probabley going to cause a big expense. If you are considering hauling, add a FAST COOLER (Geno's Garage) and a trans temp gauge.

 

[R C Cola]

Part time hauling !

Your trips are limited by time off and the cash investment you can justify for part time helps eliminate some of the choices. 500 to 1,000 miles is about all the range I would want to have to get back to work from. If you decide to go with a wedge $4000 and up for a good used one you then have the option of what you will haul coming back. Cars are a good option. As a part timer strongly suggest you think about leasing on to a company which elimanates huge start up costs and allows you to test the waters. Normally they take 15 to 25 percent of the gross and provide all the legal requirements ($$$$$) for you. If you decide after 2 or 3 months its not for you then you do not want to have spent $5000 in start up costs that are wasted. Later if it works out and the money is right you can decide if you want to go the next step. Part time income is real hard to justify the $$$$ expense of the trucking business. If you want to try it without a trailer part time RV might be good, but keep in mind it is one way and therefore pays half as much as if you get paid both ways. Bennett has a terminal in McDounough, GA, don't know how far that is from you but they hire a lot of part time drivers who want to make extra cash. RV deliveries range from 150 to 1500 miles usually on the shorter side. Good Luck RC

 

[CumminsPower98]

If you are running a NV5600 like me, the rear bearing is probabley going to cause a big expense. If you are considering hauling, add a FAST COOLER (Geno's Garage) and a trans temp gauge.

Never heard of any bearing problems. I have put 175k on my 5600 transporting RVs and no problems at all. I run Amsoil in it and have no coolers or gauge.

 

[DBabbitt]

I have been hauling cars for about two months now. Getting legal was a major pain in the *****. looking back now it's not that complicated but doing it for the first time is difficult because you don't know what you will need and nobody knows what they are talking about at the dmv, at least in my state. For example, I was told I could run private plates because my GCWR is under 26,001 which is true but I get hassled at many weigh stations because I don't have commercial tags on my truck or trailer. It's also tuff starting out because every state has different rules and regs about GVW's fuel taxes, permits and so on. I wish they would standardize everything between states but I know that will never happen because it's apparent after just a short time hauling that it's all set up for the state to make money.

 

[MMeier]

I wish they would standardize everything between states but I know that will never happen because it's apparent after just a short time hauling that it's all set up for the state to make money.

BINGO !!!!!!!

 

[EB]

I will second the part about "it's all about making money for the state".



Knock on wood, but I haven't had a bit of problems with my 5600. I should roll over 300,000 miles this week. I also run nothing but Amsoil. I've had no lub issues anywhere.