Trucks needed to deliver trailers for FEMA...

[OCarney]

As a former Horizon contractor, I got the following email from Horizon Transport today. Sounds like there is a great need for any trucks, vans, that can pull a trailer. Thought I would pass it on to anyone who might be interested.



**** TO ALL FORMER HORIZON CONTRACTORS *****



If you have ANY vehicle with a GVWR between 8,000# and 16,500#, and

you are available to deliver trailers from Indiana to Louisana, your

help is needed immediately. Vans, SUV's, 1/2 ton trucks, Hummers...





We have THOUSANDS of trailers that need to go now. We will be shipping

these units for the next 12 months, work as much or as little as you

want.



Currently, dedicated FEMA drivers are NOT required to log and do not

have to comply with most (almost all) of the DOT regulations.



For more information, please log on to: www.horizontransport.com and

click on the "FEMA DRIVER LINK"



If you are interested, please fill out the simple one page on-line

application and PLEASE NOTE that you are a former Horizon Contractor.

This will expedite the application process and you will receive a

call from us with-in 4 business hours asking when you are ready to

work.



Many of the DOT requirements have been lifted, please help if you can

there are many Hurricane victims that are waiting for your help



Thanks in advance for your consideration. Many people want to help

the victims but don't know how, this is one way you can contribute.





Please, please, please, we are pleading. Please help if you all

possibly can.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't think you have to be a former contractor, it looks like they are just needing help. Maybe this will help, Olen

 

[dezeldog]

OCarney, maybe if they would pay a decent rate for towing these trailers they have enough drivers. I think that $1. 08 per mi is insulting, with diesel at $3. 10 here in Mi. how can you make any money at that rate, never mind the wear and tear on your truck. It doesn't make sense to go out and beat hell out of your truck just to break even. I can sit home and do that.



Jim

 

[MMeier]

That appears to be the going rate, what would you rather do, make the same owning a 18 wheeler ( that could cost upwards of $250k) , or beat on your lil' Cummins, and not have to put up with all the BS a big truck has to? $1. 08 a mile multiplied by say... 1200 miles a day is not all that shabby!!

 

[DHayden]

The gross numbers may look good, but people should look at their total costs (fuel and one way pay stubs) and if they plan on continuing pulling after FEMA is gone (back to 500 mile days max)

 

[dezeldog]

That appears to be the going rate, what would you rather do, make the same owning a 18 wheeler ( that could cost upwards of $250k) , or beat on your lil' Cummins, and not have to put up with all the BS a big truck has to? $1. 08 a mile multiplied by say... 1200 miles a day is not all that shabby!!

I'll save the truck for when the better paying freight, ie boats comes along. And no I don't think that you can make any money hauling for $1. 08 per mi. For 1200 mi it would take you a least 20 hrs to haul loaded if you could do it and then say 18hrs back empty. Now you're at 1 1/2 days plus say 6 tanks of fuel at say avg. $85. each plus food, well you do the math. I didn't figure in any rest time there either. So now your figure does look kinda shabby. All said and done if you add maintance,tires, truck payment and ins. into it that number gets even smaller and I don't think I'll beat my truck for that kinda money. Just my . 02 worth.



Jim

 

[powerwagon440]

i have been wanting to do this for a few weeks now to try and make alittle money and help the people that needs these trailors but after sitting down and figuring out the mileage and everything like u guys have ur basically just doing it to help out. with fuel the way it is and 1200 miles back and fourth ur wearing out ur truck pretty fast for not alot of profit! if the money was better i would be out the door as we speak!

 

[JasonCzerak]

If you just drop a trailer, do you get paid to "come back and get another"? or are you on your own, 850 miles from the drop off to pick up point and start to get paid again?



I would think if you are to re-use the same trailer, you would get paid to drive it back empty.



The morons driving gas rigs would lose so much money. heh.

 

[JasonCzerak]

Assuming 850 miles. Pulling 10,000 pounds at 65mph, 13mpg?



(I haven't towed 10,000 before, but what I guess was 7000 at 75mph and I got about 13mpg, but this was a car on a open trailer, less wind resistance. )



So that's about 65 gallons of fuel @ $3. 00/gallon = $195.



$723 after fuel



Say you average 65mph in 10 hours (I would go about 10 hour drive with 2 hours for food and stuff, 12 hour day) that's 650 miles per day



The next day, 3 hours to site, deal with the unload. and start the drive back. if all goes good that's a full day. . Then the next day drive 650 more miles



ASSUMING your _unpaid_ for the trip back with out trailer. 20mpg at 65mph that's 42 gallons of fuel. $127 in fuel.



$595 before food and shelter.



3 days, 2 nites. motel 6 is $40/nite ($80), 3 $10 meals a day. ($60)



$450 for 3 days = $151/day



hmm $151/day to work 12 hours, sleep in holtels and pay for food. ummm, no. I'm used to $200/day at my day job. maybe if it was $2/mile I would consider driving, selling my truck for dually and getting all the hitches and exhaust breaks and trailer brakes and other driving comforts.



Maybe be a little better if they paid for you get back home.

 

[MLee]

So as it states in there application, you are charged a "pull out fee"? 20-30 $$$ sounds as if you are paying an impound, or yard rental fee. this you should not have to pay out of your pocket. I can see good will, to help, but increase the money to defray some of the hidden cost.

Sorry if this sounds negative, but the points that have been made so far I think are right on.

I wonder how many have signed on any way.

Marv.

 

[Headshot zod]

I am not terribly thrilled about having to wear a blouse either. Probably why Fema amd Female are similar.

 

[DHayden]

The $25 dollar fee is what they charge you on every trailer pulled out of the Horizon terminal. They give that fee to guys that bring units from the surrounding factories to the Horizon terminal. Personally I think I'd rather get paid $25 for pulling the trailer's to the terminal than across country. From the way it sounded it's not a far distance at all and if you pulled in 4 units a day you would make more money than driving all day with ALLOT less wear on your truck. This service is "provided" as a "convieniance" for their contractor's.

 

[MMeier]

Don't forget the 36. 5 (or is it 40cpm?) you can deduct off your taxes next season.

 

[DHayden]

Quote from another thread on this subject:



When you use your truck to make money (the example the IRS gives is a taxi) you HAVE to use actual expenses, and can not use the mileage deduction. The ones who can deduct miles use their vehicle to maintain their business (like a plumber). Just something else to worry about, keeping EVERY recipt for fuel, maintanence, parts, etc, etc. You can take the standard deduction for meals, but the day you leave home and the day you return are only 3/4 deductions.

 

[MLee]

according to the news, they have more trailers down there than they now what to do with, sounds like the co-ordination of moving the trailers in, was a mess so far. Must be a nite-mare.

Marv.