Pulling others trailer's

[Okie-Go]

I think it was here that someone said you could drive your truck and pull their trailers. I think it was car haulers but wouldn't bet on it. Does any one recall info about this. Need to do something soon! Thanks, Okie

 

[R C Cola]

Looking for a job ?

Economy is down and will be for a while. RV's are not moving. Yes I too know a guy who is busy, but he has been with the company 5 years longer than I have. Dealers are folding up like flies leaving a clean table. Box trailers are not selling well right now. New car sales are DEAD. You live in Texas ? If so I would look into oilfield hauling some call Hot Shot ( Oil business is still booming and will continue to do so as long as the pump price is over $ 1. 50/gal. OK WY LA and TX have busy oil patches. I definitely would not buy a new trailer or truck right now till I knew how the business was going to pan out. Used equipment now is cheap since people are bailing out of things that are not paying well.

 

[RVTRKN]

A lot of capitol requirements needed for an upside down market, I know I am one of them unemployed now due to this. I planed on pulling RV's this winter and spent that capitol needed, only to be sitting at home with my wife telling me "I told you so". :-laf:-laf



BTW the only job I got was a net loss of $300 after the cost of fuel to get back home. I would wait!

 

[HBarlow]

Okie,

I think you are referring to using your truck and pulling a car hauler trailer belonging to a company who would also find your loads and allow you to operate under that company's operating authority. That type of hauling is often referred to as "Hotshotting" although the term more accurately describes hauling smaller/lighter pieces of general freight not heavy enough for an 18 wheel tractor trailer and needing to be delivered quicker.

It is a tough industry to make a living in. Car sales are soft right now so it is probably difficult to find loads if you are not already established. There is simply not enough money in it to make it pay. Anyone who hired you to do this providing you with authority and a trailer would expect you to do it for less than $1/loaded mile. That would barely cover your expenses and wouldn't pay you any income. You'd just wear out a truck.

Even if you have your own authority, your own commercial liability, and your own trailer there is not a lot of money in it. You could make more money or, looking at it another way, you would spend less trying to make a few dollars as a Wal-Mart greeter.

I started hauling travel trailers commercially in January 2005 when the economy was booming and RV sales were great. I worked very hard, ran 400,000 miles in less than 3 years, and made a little money but I already had a pension and my wife has a good job, no kids, no mortgage, etc.

Now the economy is soft, RV sales are in the tank, and guys who have done it for years are looking for other driving jobs.

I'm not sure if you are fully aware of the strict DOT enforcement that apply to any commercial driving job. You would have to have a $1 millon commercial liability policy which is very expensive, CDL Class A, driver's annual physical and physical card, follow very strict hours of service rules, keep a driver's logbook, have commercial inspection sticker, reflective triangles, and fire extinguisher, stop at all scales, obey weight rules, and possibly even get into IFTA fuel tax reporting. It is not something you can just do part time or occasionally and ignore the DOT.

My sincere advice would be if you want a driving job, apply to one of the big truck companies and learn to drive an 18 wheel OTR rig. Most of them are hiring. Be a company driver and wear out their equipment, not your own.

I loved RV transporting. It was a lot of fun. But it is a grueling job that requires you to drive 600 to 650 miles seven days a week, in all weather and road conditions, live away from home, sleep in cheap motels, eat bad food, and wear out a new truck in a very short period of time.

 

[RHestand]

I would not recommend working for one of the big OTR companies, unless they are a lot better than the one I worked for.

Especially if you have or want any kind of home life.

I broke-in with Werner Ent. starting last Feb. and promised myself I would stay there a year before I made any decisions about truck driving.

I only lasted seven months.

They promised you three days off (thats 72 hours, not like, Mon. Tue. & Wed) every three weeks.

If you are not near home, at the end of three weeks, you can take your time (72 hrs. ) off at a truck-stop. Thats nice! Oh yes, and you can't accumulate time off.

I actually enjoyed driving and seeing new scenery, but this company does not care about their OTR drivers.

I went into this, not for the money, but because I had always wanted to drive OTR, since I was a kid. So I had retired (for two years)as a const. contractor, and tried it.

I made $14-15/hr while behind the wheel, little or nothing for loading/ unloading, waiting to load/unload, fueling truck, getting truck serviced (that was 3 days once) I could go on & on.

It is soooo nice to be home, enjoying my wife, my dog, and retirement again.

Ray

 

[HBarlow]

Ray,

I remember a few months when you posted about starting an OTR driving job. I'm sorry it didn't work out but am not greatly surprised. I appreciate your honest reporting of your experience. Feedback from someone who has tried it is valuable for anyone considering it.

I thought about applying to a trucking company a year ago when I decided to quit transporting RVs. I figured it would be about like you experienced and decided to leave the road.

I think the truth is any driving job is tough. Hours are long, pay is not great, and it requires living on the road.