is carhauling 4me?

[justatruck]

Hello all, hope everyone out there is doing good. New member here so be patient with me please. I'm sure this has been covered before but I need some advise on car hauling as I'm thinking about trying to make my living from it. I think I'm in a pretty good situation as I've got, I think as close to a guarenteed load as is possible, pretty much as much as I want. You all will have to trust me on that but know that I realize that this's my hiney and still I feel comfortable with knowing that I'll have something to do.

What I don't feel comfortable with is everything else:

-I'm not familiar at all with the rules/regs governing hauling cars.

-I can only guess at costs of operation

-I'm not sure that I'm looking at the best places for insurance.

-do I need to be bonded by law, how to go about getting bonded, do I have to be bonded if I'm hauling for myself, or just one company?

-by GCWR, I don't think I've ever seen a legal 3 or 4 car setup on a light duty truck.

I would be super-indebted to anyone who can offer any words of advise or provide any cost of operation info for me. Currently I am around car hauling and car haulers but my position is not such that I can ask them ?'s so I'm looking to the TDR for help. Sorry so long and Thanks.

 

[woodsrat]

hauling

done this with a buddy for the winter. He made good money at it but he also ran about 30 cars a week for various lots. You will need money for repairs, i will get bashed for this but our trucks are not semis and things do break. we lost a couple input shafts a vp44 and other small stuff (but was also running close to 400hp for 12 to 15 hours a day. If you are going to run for only on lot you can use thier name on the side of the truck and get by alot of the permits you need, if not you have to be regeisterd just like a semi. figure your cost per mile is the best way to set you price. you have to keep in mind that you have three car not seven like the big trucks. but you can usually get them to the dealer quicker.

 

[justatruck]

Thanks woodsrat,

I guess I would have to stay pretty busy. I was planning 2 6 hr. turn around runs a week loaded both ways mixed in with as much in town stuff as it takes to keep afloat. Do you guys seem to do better doing distance runs or in town? I'de rather be out on the big road but it seems like if I hustle in town maybe I could do better. Seems like $ is 3. 5 cars intown = 1 car over the road.

Is there a magical cost of operation % that people figure on or does everyone just run hard and hope they do good enough to pay the bills. I was using 9mpg to guess at fuel consumption, an oil change every month (wich is what I do now anyway), tires every nine months, and the credit card if anything went wrong before I was able to put anything away. I figured depreciation too but that was too bad so I unfigured it, sound right?

What else is there: fuel, tires, brakes, (belts, lightbulbs, binders, and such), & change my personal insurance so that it'll cover the trailer and what's on it.

I could work under/with the dealer name but how does that work on my taxes? How do I report that if I'm working for them but not really? Thanks again.

 

[woodsrat]

car hauling

just



where are you going to and from no dealer names you dont need any compition. detriot to zanesville was around 130 to 150 a car with a 3 car wedge. what type of trailer are you looking at we had one with cable straps that went to the frames it worked good but had to block wheels up on duallys due to lips on the side of the trailer, then we had one that had flat decks and nylon straps that went over the tires this one worked out best you dont have to climb under to strap down. You will probely be better off getting everything in your on name so there are no problems. we hauled for many different dealers and the scales checking your permits and insurance was the biggest problem we had. Weight was never really an issue. The way we were set up we still avg. 13 mileto the gallon. we only ran loaded one way back from the sale. If you dont have an exhaust brake it would be a wise investment.

 

[E7mack96]

insurance

if you do not have commercial liability already, get ready for a shock.



You need it. Acuity writes commercial insurance. Their rates are not bad. They get $45,000 a year from me.

 

[justatruck]

Thanks so much for the information guys.

E7Mack- I'm hoping that rate is for your big truck. That's definately something I'm trying to look into. Thanks for the referance to Acuity.

The runs would be Phoenix to Vegas ($125) or intown would be Phoenix metro ($35). I haven't gotten a trailer yet, but have access to quite a few used units. Looking at new ones I liked the flat deck like you were mentioning best as well. It has a full deck w/ a fold up ramp in front to put a car up on the goosneck, or one could leave the deck flat. I liked that so that I could haul other stuff if needed. I haven't seen any of those used for sale though, just lots 3 car wedges.

I've got the exhaust brake already, and 6sp. . Thanks again.

 

[damar]

Good Luck on your venture. You might want to get a copy of "The Successful Truck Owner Operator". It's $14. 95 and is slanted toward the big rig's but I'm sure there will be a lot of things that will apply to your type of operation. You can find it by searching "Goggle" for that title. You might have to comply with DOT requirements and also hours of service requirements, miles by state for state fuel taxes, etc. Better to know what you are up against as far as costs and other requirements before investing a lot of money. You might check with some of the "hot Shot" companies, they will know what requirement you have to meet.

 

[Peter Campbell]

I thought the one draw of the "hotshots" is the eased or no reporting requirements for fuel and such when under 26,000? I don't know- if someone in the know answers that would be good.

 

[KBalzuweit]

Thats correct under 26k no fuel tax worries. But 4 cars, trailer, and dually..... I think you will top it. Not always but sometimes. So the question is do you worry??? Thats a gray area we all face. I pull and with 36 foot on the back my gcw is almost 27,000. I do not run that load often so I guess its not an issue. That also puts me over the my DL class rating to. Do your homework, it seems alot get in this and get back as fast. I lease on with a company and insurance and such is paid by them. The only hassle I have is a log book. Hope you thought of that, thats a whole mess in it self. 10 hours driving then 8 off. It only gets worse Jan 4th. Do not get me wrong I do it and love it. I make good money. You just have to keep the wheels rolling. I will log about 200,000 miles on my dually in a year.



Good Luck,

Karl

 

[OTRPU]

I haven't done cars, but have a friend that does them, and anything else he can find. Like me, he's broke alot, (the truck). Haulin under his own authority and running a 50 foot 2 axle wedge. He says his insurance runs him $1,100 a month with no claims in 3 years. Guys I talk with say not much money in cars. One reason could be that everybody uses them for backhauls rather than running MT. But if you've got a dependable source that can keep you busy, I imagine is good work if you can get it. DOT seems to pay particular attention to OTR pickup haulers, good source of revenue for them. If I were you I'd lease on with a company at first if you can, long enough to learn the ropes. I can't keep a paper log straight to save my butt. My solution, DDL on a laptop. If you run a computer log you'll need an inverter and printer to print logs for DOT inspectors when stopped. Search on Driver's Daily Log, $70 bucks, DOT likes it and sometimes doesn't make me print the logs when they find I'm running DDL. If you're doing long hauls, take it from me, when you get drowsy. . . GET OFF. Good luck and much success with your new venture.



Note to KB, if you're doing 200k solo partner, I bow to you. . . you're an iron man.



Tow Safe,

Steve J.

#ad

 

[justatruck]

Thanks all, you've given me alot to think about. Thanks too for the advise on the paperless logs, I think I'll run with that one if this works out. I'll have to check out that book as well.

-What happens 4 January? I'm guessing some sort of tighter regs but what?

-insurance seems pretty steep, I'll have to get some more real #'s this coming week. Maybe it would be better to run under the dealer name, seems like there are +'s and -'s.

I'll let you all know when/if, I'm out there with you guys. Take care, happy trails, and thanks again.

 

[Oasis-3]

Carhauling

Justatruck

I started my own carhauling business in July-2003

Old Chickies Hill Auto Transport Inc.

I got a 1999 Freightliner FL-70 and a 1998 Waly-Mo 4 car trailer.

So far I got $6,000 in truck repairs and $2,000 in trailer repairs $8,000 in truck and trailer payments 10,000 a year for insurances. Now add fuel / tags and acountant fees. The normal day is 16 hours or more and I mean more.

With that all said I am still doing it and I like what I am doing.

If you really want to work for your self and are a hard worker not afraid to put in the time required. Go for it But don't just try to get your feet wet DIVE IN



Good Luck

Cliff

 

[KBalzuweit]

Note to OTRPU,



Tried to pm you. Your box is full. Also for what we make doing this you really need to do the miles. I have some specific goals set then I will slow my pace a bit. I am going back out tomm. and will be out pretty much til Christmas. Karl

 

[OTRPU]

Hi Karl, sorry bout the full box, just cleaned it up some. Me Too. . . leaving Monday morn around 10:30am, would be gone now but vehicle registration offices were closed Friday. Hope to get home for Christmas.

justatruck, Jan 04, new HOS Rules, now 10 hrs driving then 8 hours off, New Rules 11 hours driving then 10 hours off.



Cheers,

Steve J.

 

[98rammer]

Re: insurance

Originally posted by E7mack96

They get $45,000 a year from me.

it must cost a lot to insure that red beetle and all it's added "equipment"



well, not much to be left said. the numbers are too risky at my time in age to make a career out of. though i love driving for a living, the money is what really scares me. $10,000+ for insurance, plus the DOT #, log books, fines, inspections, medical card?, etc. don't plan on eating out a lot and geting a sleeper seem to be two big things at keeping $. DTR's Haulin In Dixie could help you out as he tows cars.



and Steve, he knows his stuff (met ya getting diesel in nebraska on my way back to the northeast there with Mike Lowry). one sweet rig- that's the way to set up, or take the bed off and license it as a tractor (that's what Haulin In Dixie has done- now with a dual rear axle- registered for 33,000-36,000 pounds)



good luck justatruck!



Tom

 

[E7mack96]

the 45,000 is for my fleet of trucks.



Wish insurance would come down to what it was 3 years ago.

 

[QRTRHRS]

All I can say is....

After 20+ years doing something else, I am back in the "saddle" again. Way back when, I used to run for small fleet owners, I could see being an OO was a minimal win situation. Maybe I am blind but I don't see where things have changed all that much. I see how drivers get jerked around at various warehouses and shake my head. Just how the heck is this going to fly come January 1, 2004 when the HOS rules change? I think about when I was in my "prime" and ran ~125K/year then read about someone doing 200k in a Ram? Dang! I don't mean to discourage anyone but gee whiz, do your math.

 

[Coalsmoke]

Hmmm

Well, I did a little math and if you are pushing it on open road, it will be an average of 7. 82 hours a day driving at 70MPH 365 days a year, or 9. 13 hours a day driving at 60 MPH. Keep in mind, this is purely time spent full tilt on the road.

 

[OTRPU]

I'm a Ram Rod. . . like I said, he's got more balz then me.



Cheers,

Steve J.

 

[KBalzuweit]

Well us Ram drivers have an advantage no long waits to load and unload. I go to the terminal get my packet out of a lock box and hook and go. In 15-20 min I am on the road. Most dealers we deliver to get you in and out. My longest wait has been about an hour. Most of the time they inspect while I unhook. Yes I run hard actually very hard, but it can be done. We also usually do not have to deal with weigh stations and such which also take up alot of time. I am usually leave 4am on Monday and am home on Friday by Mid. night with an occasional stop at home mid week. 10 on 8 off and plan and you can do it. I just ran into another TDR member at a dealer he runs about the same as me. His 99 has 678,000 on it.