TowRig.com - Diesel Discussion and Tow Tech

Hey all,

i was wondering who all makes a living with their trucks like livestock transport/car hauling and the such. i am trying to start my own business doing just that and more and would like to know who else does it and what you need to do to begin. i would like to start asfter i graduate in two years with a degree in business admin. any help is greatly appriciated

Allen
http://towrig.com/forums/images/misc/progress.gif

Ask any of the Hot Shotter guys, especially Justice and a couple other guys who do it for a living...

I do. I love it so far. I dont have a business degree or any experiance in business. I'm just faking that part.:doah::D That has been learn as you go so far, but so far so good.

im just doing the degree for myself lol. right now i work at a feed store delivering and i love it but would like to do it where there is better pay and chance to move loads more frequently and in this area there is a high demand for people to transport horses to different parts of the state/ country so i figured i had an opportunity to make some $$$ until im out of school then persue it full time. what forms/insurance/etc do you have to have to begin hauling?

Allen

I do. I love it so far. I dont have a business degree or any experiance in business. I'm just faking that part.:doah::D That has been learn as you go so far, but so far so good.


you are not faking you are "LEARNING BY DOING!"

S o H K
c f a n
h r o
o d c
o k
l s

I Don't do it but I know that Leisure Days RV is looking for drivers, big plus if you are located up around sudbury. I inquired but they want people full time. Must be enough work for it I guess. I get 3 or 4 days off at a time so had asked them that's how I found out they are looking for some full time people. Guy over on thedieselplace.com already has over 210,000 MILES on his 06 LBZ. Average speed is 50mph.

Learning by doing is not faking

I am going to school too trying to finish an animal science and working on a business degree. Been in and out for 11 years.
Part of thet time I was running a hotshot too( grades showed it too:doah: )

but I had a LARGE TIME rotfl waytogo :pimp: but I was in class 2 days a week and in the road 5 days averaging 3000 a week

if your are single and have nothing to tie you down go for it
according to your location hauling livestock may be a better option for you b/c it will alow you another way to make money especially if you are able to work the back pens at the sale as well as haul to and from.

feel free to PM me about any ?'s

Well, it depends on the GVW your truck is rated at. I don't know about below 10,200, but above that, you need DOT and MC authority. They go hand in hand, and are provided by Department of transport for a fee, and proof of proper insurance (I believe it is million dollar liability) Each state can have their own requirements for additional docs. In Wyoming, we have to also have a Wyoming MC authority. If you are going to be hauling at a GCVW of over 26,000lb, you will also need IFTA, and a CDL. If you are going to be operating in multiple states regularly, you may want to look into Apportioned registration. I thought about doing all this myself, but after seeing the many different issues, I hired a Prorate company. For $300 a year, they take care of setting up and maintaining my documentation. I feel it was worth it.
Just FYI, My buisness partner and I run 2 one ton dually 4X4 dodges. We pull mobile living quarters around the oil and gas fields. We have been hassled by a few ports about our personal paperwork, but nothing serious. We are liscensed to operate in WY,UT,CO,SD,MT,NE,KS,NM,OK.
We just went through all this in Oct/Nov, 06. If you have any other questions, feel free to email me.
Darin
D&S Mobile Services LLC
odiesoxx@aol.com
Being your own boss has it's ups and downs. It is easier to get a day off, but harder to call in sick!

I Don't do it but I know that Leisure Days RV is looking for drivers, big plus if you are located up around sudbury. I inquired but they want people full time. Must be enough work for it I guess. I get 3 or 4 days off at a time so had asked them that's how I found out they are looking for some full time people. Guy over on thedieselplace.com already has over 210,000 MILES on his 06 LBZ. Average speed is 50mph.

Thats me, but its 216k:eek: now. The truck was 14 months old on 2-26-07.

That would be 507 miles per day every day. sorry I dont buy that one. i would need to see an odometer pic to believe that one. sorry.:confused:

Hey all,

i was wondering who all makes a living with their trucks like livestock transport/car hauling and the such. i am trying to start my own business doing just that and more and would like to know who else does it and what you need to do to begin. i would like to start asfter i graduate in two years with a degree in business admin. any help is greatly appriciated

Allen

http://towrig.com/forums/images/misc/progress.gif
I haul rock aggregates,gravel,mortar sand.First thing you need is a dependable Diesel Truck.And a good Tandem trailer.No Degree for me just some common sense,be Honest and take the step in faith toward being your own boss.If you never try you will never know.Aloha Ronwaytogo

A few questions for you guys.....

how can you get loans to get started? (for truck/trailers)

how do you find brokers to work for?

how can you get loans to get started? (for truck/trailers)



Up here there is a government funded agency that assists with getting your business up and running. Answer all questions and can put you in touch with the right people to secure funding. They will help you write up a good business plan which funding places want to see.

whats up guys,,i haul new cars with my truck. i have a 3/4 car hauler that is 53 ft long. i have my dot and my mc #'s i had to reregister my truck to a higher gvwr so i wont get harrased by dot. its a good job but the hours suck since its my own company. i put anywhere from 300-500 miles a day based on how many deliveries and distance.

that doesnt sound that bad...

That would be 507 miles per day every day. sorry I dont buy that one. i would need to see an odometer pic to believe that one. sorry.:confused:
Its only 507 miles a day, heck my days have 24 hours in them... 507 miles= about 7.5-8 hours here. The past few weeks I've been doing 1,000 miles days one day a week, when I do my Oklahoma turns.... 2300 mile round trip in 40-48 hours... yes by myself! :eek: Yesterday, left Vegas at 5am, arrived Coolidge Az. at 1030, picked up a Dodge 3500 4wd CC and a Bronco left there at 3Pm, arrived Victorville Ca at midnite, unloaded, shot the crapola for a bit left at 115, got back here at 4AM... Full 24 hour day and 941 miles!!!waytogo

jeez, Hope the DOT never questions you, or that you get stopped by any police with a load. How would you explain to a contract that you are halfway there, and can't finish the delivery??

jeez, Hope the DOT never questions you, or that you get stopped by any police with a load. How would you explain to a contract that you are halfway there, and can't finish the delivery??
Its called CYA!! :stir: On yesterdays load the person who's trucks I was hauling was with me, seeing as how he broke his towrig in Az. and needed to get home to Cali.:doah:

how do you log those hours in your logbook??? if you got some tricks please pass them on....i just spent the last 2 days in safety traing for ACME truck line inc. and boy they are strick about us not driving more then 11 hrs a day.......

how do you log those hours in your logbook??? if you got some tricks please pass them on....i just spent the last 2 days in safety traing for ACME truck line inc. and boy they are strick about us not driving more then 11 hrs a day.......
.... until the load is running late, then we shall see how strict they are!!rotfl How much are you going to be making once you start driving ?

dollar amount not really sure, but they will pay me two checks every week 1 for the driver(me) and 1 for the truck(my truck). the guys i have been talking too out of Lousiana are banking running 70 hrs per week. bringing home anywere from 2500-7500 per week and samefor the guys in Texas. but ACME is real strict cause they are leasing your equipment but they pay well....who do you work for?

not really sure on the dollar amoumt but you get two checks weekly. one for my truck in my name and dba name, and the other in in my name only with some taxes taken out....i have been talking to a fellow in Loiusiana and is avergeing $2500-7500 per week depending on where he drives to. i will start next monday still doing the bs paper work and trying to get my fuel tank in the bed installed....can you believe nobody in Houston had the plumbing kit for the auxillary fuel tank!!!!! my terminal in Galveston wants me to do some runs to California and Colorado so i want to be ready.... who are you working for???

:stir:You can allways tell how much a company pays just look at their contractors trucks i've seen acme trucks here in south tx i would'nt use for a parts truck makes you wonder why a person would go on if they could not afford a decent truck to make their living

not really sure on the dollar amoumt but you get two checks weekly. one for my truck in my name and dba name, and the other in in my name only with some taxes taken out....i have been talking to a fellow in Loiusiana and is avergeing $2500-7500 per week depending on where he drives to. i will start next monday still doing the bs paper work and trying to get my fuel tank in the bed installed....can you believe nobody in Houston had the plumbing kit for the auxillary fuel tank!!!!! my terminal in Galveston wants me to do some runs to California and Colorado so i want to be ready.... who are you working for???




what are you hauling that ur making 2500-7500 a week,,i guees im hauling the wrong stuff bc im making anywhere from 1500-3500 a week. i think its times to switch companies

:stir:You can allways tell how much a company pays just look at their contractors trucks i've seen acme trucks here in south tx i would'nt use for a parts truck makes you wonder why a person would go on if they could not afford a decent truck to make their living

lmfao i wouldnt judge people by what they drive though....there is a multi-millionaire in my dads office who drives a Honda Civic and he is a realtor. Most realtors drive pretty nice cars too for there clients lol; my dad has a brand new denali, so there ya have it.

I think your missing the point i am saying if the truck is p.o.s. and you cant afford a new one or a better one like most of the guys that run for the larger companys and companys like acme they will have contracts they call Alliances and thats just another word for screw the contractor
but the company will still make money cause the contractor will carry the overhead like truck and expenses but no matter how cheap they bid the contract it they will still get their cut but a lot of the time the driver will barely brake even

acme has a contract with EXXON, DEVON, HALLIBURTON and they are paying right now my first day will be this coming monday....so i have not made a $ yet but knock on wood cause i have seen what the other hot shot drivers are making......yes some guys drive piles of ****, dont know why but the guys that i have been talking to are all new 1tons.....

who are you hauling for???

acme has a contract with EXXON, DEVON, HALLIBURTON and they are paying right now my first day will be this coming monday....so i have not made a $ yet but knock on wood cause i have seen what the other hot shot drivers are making......yes some guys drive piles of ****, dont know why but the guys that i have been talking to are all new 1tons.....
They have anything out my way !! Might have to move to Texas and start hauling!!!! I work for myself for the time being. 2003 Ram QC DRW, 2006 PJ 35'+5' pop up tandem duals, own authority and such! Double M Transport USDOT 1291900

i know that they have some terminals in california, u might want to check it out.....

i know last year contract with HALLIBURTON one their drivers here in victoria said it came to close to 65 cent per mile and he didnt want to run that cheap i have my own authority and customers and own of their drivers had a 96 model dodge with over 900k and going to cali. and WY. running almost every day and could not afford a better truck when he finely did he had to buy a 99 with 200k and i have herd other stories like that as well and i have to try to keep my customers while they are cutting prices my trucks will sit before we run for what they run for .

i know that they have some terminals in california, u might want to check it out.....
Let us know what you are making.... and what they take out on you...as for the 65CPMrotfl :doah: :eek: my rig doesn't move for less then $1 / mile for all operated.

Sorry, still dont buy it.:popcorn:

Sorry, still dont buy it.:popcorn:
What??

Its only 507 miles a day, heck my days have 24 hours in them... 507 miles= about 7.5-8 hours here. The past few weeks I've been doing 1,000 miles days one day a week, when I do my Oklahoma turns.... 2300 mile round trip in 40-48 hours... yes by myself! :eek: Yesterday, left Vegas at 5am, arrived Coolidge Az. at 1030, picked up a Dodge 3500 4wd CC and a Bronco left there at 3Pm, arrived Victorville Ca at midnite, unloaded, shot the crapola for a bit left at 115, got back here at 4AM... Full 24 hour day and 941 miles!!!waytogo


Not impressed.

What??

Refering to the guy who says hes got 217,000 miles on a 14 month old truck. BS

Refering to the guy who says hes got 217,000 miles on a 14 month old truck. BS
well you cant get that many miles on while sitting on a computer:stir:

Refering to the guy who says hes got 217,000 miles on a 14 month old truck. BS
Why not, just last month I saw a 3.5 month old ram at the J in OKC , hasn't been home since they got the rig, was showing 73,xxx already. At that rate this guy is looking at 250k in just a years time.

well you cant get that many miles on while sitting on a computer:stir:
Good one !!!! waytogo

I can see those numbers being possible, just not legal.

well you cant get that many miles on while sitting on a computer:stir:

You would know.

Why not, just last month I saw a 3.5 month old ram at the J in OKC , hasn't been home since they got the rig, was showing 73,xxx already. At that rate this guy is looking at 250k in just a years time.

Hey, if a guy has to run that many miles to make a good living, well, good for him.:rolleyes:

You would know.
seems like you here as much if not more than me waytogo

Funny I post while on the road. My laptop has a broadband card, so I can connect from anywhere.

Hualiday,
Seen you on 59 about a month or so ago. I used to drive a maroon QC with stacks and a diamond plate fuel tank. It is easier to remember than my current truck. What is the name of your company? Been doing this 10 years this summer. I am with Lonestar (Whitey Patten). Got an 83% lease and a 5% finders fee. I really enjoy working for them. Been to Houston (Baytown and Huffman) 2 days in a row, where you been runing?

got back tue. night from casper wy then today over to carthage tx and back

Hey jnelson or hauliday, or even mr big ram

A couple of years ago, I (and a friend of mine) hauled a old antique JD combine out to long island NY. We took turns driving/sleeping until we made the drop then found a motel. It was way expensive :doah: I was curious if you guys nap in the cab at say a truck stop or find a hotel 6 somewhere. I think when the kids get a little older I might seriously give this a try. I drive locally (road construction) now and have some otr under my belt. Always wondered how you guys did that.

Do you guys do alright at tax time? Didn't quite know if it's worth it or not. I see one tons all the time up here in chicago pulling campers and cars and other trailers around. Mostly on wedges. You can PM me if you don't want to tell everyone. Or not. Thanks in advance.

the only time that i sleep in truck is when i dont want to waste money on a motel if i only going to sleep a couple of hours and in my bussiness if i cant afford one i need to stay a home and find a differnt line of work jut my 0.02

the only time that i sleep in truck is when i dont want to waste money on a motel if i only going to sleep a couple of hours and in my bussiness if i cant afford one i need to stay a home and find a differnt line of work jut my 0.02
Yep, pretty much what he said! ;)

Thanks guys

I made $1500 to deliver and spent about 5 on fuel and 1 on the room. Thats why I was asking. It seemed a bit high

Hey, on a different note, have you guys heard about a 'driver shortage' ? Supposedly ( according to a newsletter from the teamsters ) spending on pipeline projects is going to double from 5.6 billion to 11.3 billion this year. What does this have to do with me you say? Again, supposedly, the biggest demand is going to be for stringer drivers. A stringer truck hauls up to 80' pipes to off road job sites. Some have steerable trailers. I didn't know if that sounded like a opening for you guys or not. Or even who to talk to or if it pays good. Just thought I'd pass that along.

Refering to the guy who says hes got 217,000 miles on a 14 month old truck. BS



that figures out to around 93 mph

I DON'T Think so!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BS!

that figures out to around 93 mph

I DON'T Think so!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BS!
What kind of math are you using!!?? :confused:

sorry mis calc it is 21.?? mph for 217,000 / 14/ 30/ 24= 21.???

o.k. $1500 ??? where did u pick up the load and where did you drop it? are you getting 70% or working for yourself? just curious, because i just got done doing my first run from Galveston, Tx to Durango, Co and i spent over $600 in fuel and $200 in motels, round trip. i feel like i should have made more $$ or spent less in fuel and motels but what can you do.....after driving for 11 hrs you need to recharge your brain and body.....

o.k. i just got done doing my first run from Galveston, Tx to Durango, Co and i spent over $600 in fuel and $200 in motels, round trip. i feel like i should have made more $$ or spent less in fuel and motels but what can you do......
$200 in hotels... where'd you stay, 4 Seasons!!?? :doah: And on the last part above... welcome to the biz!

Well.....A friend of mine sold this old pull behind combine to a guy out in Long Island NY, just shy of 1000 miles. I charged $1.50 per mile and tacked on a few $ for all the toll bridges out in NY (boy are they expensive :doah:) My truck got 10 MPG - 84 chevy 1 ton dump w/ 6.2 diesel. My friend and I took turns driving and left Chicago area fri nite and got to Long Island sat nite. Had I been driving one of those new fangled 6.5's with auto, I might have done better rotfl. Fuel was a lot cheaper 3 yrs ago too. I would have done better also if we had just driven another 20 minutes or so and got a 39.99 room.

There's a site that always has tractors and parts going here there and everywhere, PM me if you want, and I'll give you the name, not sure if I would be violating some rule or not if I just blurted it out

Scott

o.k. $1500 ??? where did u pick up the load and where did you drop it? are you getting 70% or working for yourself? just curious, because i just got done doing my first run from Galveston, Tx to Durango, Co and i spent over $600 in fuel and $200 in motels, round trip. i feel like i should have made more $$ or spent less in fuel and motels but what can you do.....after driving for 11 hrs you need to recharge your brain and body.....


Line haul - 2412.90
FSC - 603.23
ISC- 349.87
Totaling $3,366.00

At a 25% lease you should get $1809.68 + the 603.23 in FSC. I hope your $1500 did not include your fuel. the rate above is what I would have charged myself.

Remember, its your truck and trailer. Ask what it pays. The dispatch will usually give you the total ticket price, which usually sounds good. Ask them what it pays the truck minus insurance and what the fuel is. You got to be careful.

Line haul - 2412.90
FSC - 603.23
ISC- 349.87
Totaling $3,366.00

.

line haul = mileage...?
FSC = ?
ISC = ?

thanks

Boy......$1500 looked pretty good back then, but now.... it kinda sucks :doah:. No extra FSC or ISC, just a strait $1.50 / mile. Guess $1.50 is a cut throat price. A lot of adds in big rig magazines are only in the .95 CPM to $1.50 range and I think one was at 1.75 CPM

Do you go through a broker or line up stuff on your own? A friend of mine placed an add on the worlds biggest auction site (I didn't ask him to, he just did) and before they booted the add, I think I got something like 5 phone calls. None paned out, but not too bad for only 2 days.

Scott

Line haul = $ per mile/total
FSC = fuel service charge
ISC = insurance service charge

Line haul = $ per mile/total
FSC = fuel service charge
ISC = insurance service charge

yeah... that makes sense... now i feel like an idiot... lol

so, how do you figure ISC? and FSC would be a calculated guess of MPG over current average nation wide cost of fule times miles?

thanks....

yeah... that makes sense... now i feel like an idiot... lol

so, how do you figure ISC? and FSC would be a calculated guess of MPG over current average nation wide cost of fule times miles?

thanks....here is the link i use for my fsc i take that % X's the line haul = fsc then for isc it a flat 23% of the line haul http://www.rollrock.com/Fuel.htm

hmm, cool... that just became a PDF... lol

pdf ?

pdf ?
Adobe Acrobat file....
Makes it easy to not lose.

Wed 12:00PM left Dublin, GA with 9 head of cattle went to Warner Robins, GA to get clothes packed for the week.
3:00PM North bound to Columbus, Indiana.
3:00AM Arived at destination
3:30 Crash and burn @ hotel:doah:
Thursday
9:00am Bright eyed and freezing my butt off
Lay over 'till 4:00 PM
4:00Pm south bound deadhead to Hartselle, Al
10:00 PM arive in Hartsell
Friday
6:00AM Southbound to Hattiesburg, MS (after a trailer swap and loading 2 horses)
11:45 AM Hattiesburg

Lay over "til
Sunday

4:00 PM back to Hartselle, Al ( with 3 horses)
9:00 PM drop horses and horse trailer swapped to stock trailer and back to Warner Robins,Ga

3:00 AM Monday HOME SWEET HOME!!!!!!:eek:

grand total of +- 2200 miles

Boogity boogity

Refering to the guy who says hes got 217,000 miles on a 14 month old truck. BS

You can read all about my truck over at the dieselplace.com, service history, reg updates, AND NOW ITS AT 243K!!!! We don't have the gravy runs up here like you guys do in Tx, so to make a living you have to bust your butt!! In 2006 I was in the top 10 for miles accomplished like 46 or 47 weeks out of 52, and we have anywhere from 130-190 drivers that pull out of are yard depending on the time of year.

I can see those numbers being possible, just not legal.

I have never turned in a log thats not legal;). Running 65mph you can run 4550 miles for your 70 hours, the company I haul for has 65mph loaded speed limit and empty we can get away with logging higher.

You can read all about my truck over at the dieselplace.com, service history, reg updates, AND NOW ITS AT 243K!!!! We don't have the gravy runs up here like you guys do in Tx, so to make a living you have to bust your butt!! In 2006 I was in the top 10 for miles accomplished like 46 or 47 weeks out of 52, and we have anywhere from 130-190 drivers that pull out of are yard depending on the time of year.



I have never turned in a log thats not legal;). Running 65mph you can run 4550 miles for your 70 hours, the company I haul for has 65mph loaded speed limit and empty we can get away with logging higher.
waytogo :popcorn:

Sure am glad I dont have to work that hard, as I sit in a Motel 8 in Santa Nella CA. on my way to San Fransisco :D . I hate California!!

Sure am glad I dont have to work that hard, as I sit in a Motel 8 in Santa Nella CA. on my way to San Fransisco :D . I hate California!!
If you're right along the 5 there across from the 76, be sure to try out that Pea Soup Andersen's next door.I try to stop in there whenever I go by!waytogo

If you're right along the 5 there across from the 76, be sure to try out that Pea Soup Andersen's next door.I try to stop in there whenever I go by!waytogo

YUM YUM YUMwaytogowaytogowaytogo

Sure am glad I dont have to work that hard, as I sit in a Motel 8 in Santa Nella CA. on my way to San Fransisco :D . I hate California!!

This year I do not either. Too many other kettles on the fire. If I am gone more than one night a week its unusual for me now. BTW do you mean Super 8 or Motel 6? Either way, its getting hard to find a nice one those.

Super 8. where the hell did i get motel 8?

I was taking a permit load to San fran. Here was my route in claifornia: I10W, 30N, 280N, 15N, 395N, 58W, 99N, 58W, 43W, 58W, I5N, 152W 156S, 25N, 101N, 380W, 280N, chavez street.

ended up spending 3 hours on the banning scal cause my permit said 3 axle tractor instead of 2 axle p/u. great place to visit, wouldnt want to live there.

BTW, if any of you ever get down 152 past the lake, stop at Casa de Fruta. Well worth the visit.

I agree. If its true i feel sorry for ya!

I don't make a living but the BF does. He hauls amish furniture and also has a flatbed trailer for hauling.

Hey there, all ya big time haulers, I have a 2009 Dodge 4500 with a triple-turbo cummins puttin out about 956 horses and and 4,382lbs'ft tq. to the ground. I am getting about 34.792 MPG while loaded. I've been afraid to figure the MPG while empty as I might have the big one when those figures come in! So I just stay loaded 99.846 % of the time. I drive about 358,625 miles a year and should maybe change the oil.rotfl If I can figure out how to make this big rig run on hot air{that I will get free from some web-sites} I should be able to get over 50MPG:stir: . I gotta go take my pills, so later fellows. I would post a pic of this amazing truck, but I don't workin long enough to take a pic!!!!!

Seems to me that Cisco don't want to believe that some of us want to actually get ahead instead of just squeek by. I would love to be filling my log, having to make a few "adjustments" just to stay legal. Some weeks I run more hours than I can stand, but most I work a day here and there. Hopefully that will change soon. I think I am about to get another contract that will make me a real tired man, and fill my business partner's log as well. If that happens, I will be in the market for an employee to take the dodge, and a Medium duty truck for me soon.

Seems to me that Cisco don't want to believe that some of us want to actually get ahead instead of just squeek by. I would love to be filling my log, having to make a few "adjustments" just to stay legal. Some weeks I run more hours than I can stand, but most I work a day here and there. Hopefully that will change soon. I think I am about to get another contract that will make me a real tired man, and fill my business partner's log as well. If that happens, I will be in the market for an employee to take the dodge, and a Medium duty truck for me soon.
Know what you mean, might be in the same boat here soon also! Leaving for OKC in the AM, be back Thursday morning.....;)

I agree. If its true i feel sorry for ya!

Well the miles are true, and no reason to feel sorry for me! I enjoy it (most of the time anyway;)). I basically have no boss, I have seen parts of our beautiful country I would have never seen if not hauling, and best of all I make a living doing it. This summer my "job" allowed me to travel all over with my 2 kids along so they could experience the "road" and see our country. From a kids standpoint they had fun (I think:)), we visited some waterparks, saw some sites, and since we delivered to San Antonio, Tx a few times we spent about 7 days at SeaWorld San Antonio. Best part is all the hotels and fuel are a tax deductions. There may be some downsides to this career choice but the one big upside is every time (almost) I want to vacation, get a load going there and I get paid to have fun.

why wouldnt you believe that # its very realistic. I used to drive OTR and I did 3800 miles a week or better, now I did have my off weeks. But I really dont know what type of DOT rules the HotShot trucks have to follow or even if the Chicken Coups require you guys to drop in for a visit.Right now I work in Iraq where the pay is not bad considering the first 85k is tax free but getting shot and having IED's go off is no picnic either. Once you see one of your buddies is gone it puts alot of things in order of what is important and what is not. I am planning on leaving this place of maddness in April or March and heading home for good in Orange Grove,Tx
I was sort of kicking around the idea of doing this but I really dont want the head ache of dealing with rules and such. After being over here and living with No Rules as far as weight restrictions, EPA, or speed limits its going to be a hard adjustment. Plus after seeing some Jordan or Turkish trucks that are a good 30yrs old or better and still hauling 140,000lbs or more and we now have US spec Internationals that get a bloody nose if we put more than 110,000lb on them. We used have mainly Mercedes trucks but some DA wanted that US look as in a Conventional truck. Want to live drive a Mercedes best proven truck over here hands down.

why wouldnt you believe that # its very realistic. I used to drive OTR and I did 3800 miles a week or better, now I did have my off weeks. But I really dont know what type of DOT rules the HotShot trucks have to follow or even if the Chicken Coups require you guys to drop in for a visit.Right now I work in Iraq where the pay is not bad considering the first 85k is tax free but getting shot and having IED's go off is no picnic either. Once you see one of your buddies is gone it puts alot of things in order of what is important and what is not. I am planning on leaving this place of maddness in April or March and heading home for good in Orange Grove,Tx
I was sort of kicking around the idea of doing this but I really dont want the head ache of dealing with rules and such. After being over here and living with No Rules as far as weight restrictions, EPA, or speed limits its going to be a hard adjustment. Plus after seeing some Jordan or Turkish trucks that are a good 30yrs old or better and still hauling 140,000lbs or more and we now have US spec Internationals that get a bloody nose if we put more than 110,000lb on them. We used have mainly Mercedes trucks but some DA wanted that US look as in a Conventional truck. Want to live drive a Mercedes best proven truck over here hands down.

I could not imagine working over there. But as far as rules we have to follow the same as the big boys. The only difference is that since we saty under 26k we do not have to due IFTA (fuel tax). Keep safe over there!

Krackerjack9 - Went thru Orange Grove TX today on my way to Laredo. There is a lot of construction on hwy 44 between San Diego and Freer. I like the new "Stripes" (Circle K). It was about time.

Well I guess things have changed while I been over here, I would have never thought a non comercial vehicle like the 3/4 and 1 ton vehicle would quailfy for a DOT regs. Oh well change is always happening. Well I am looking pretty hard for either the Chev 2500hd or the Dodge 2500 going to need something to putt around in once I bail out of this place.

I own a small trucking company. Technically we are not hot shots as hot shots were originally short haul, high priority commodities usually within a 300 mile radius. we run the same licensing, rules and regulations as the big trucks, but do it in fuel efficient 1 ton dually pick ups.

There are is a lot that needs to be done to operate legally, and while many will tell you that you can cut some corners, with the new UCRA (Unified Carrier regulations) it is going to get very tough very fast on most small truck trucking companies.

There is a lot more to it than is feasible to post on this forum, I can however tell you that I increased my sales of non repeat customers by over 700% in less than 2 years, and maintained my repeat customer base retaining an estimated 58 percent of my prior years manufacturing and transporting customers.

The trick is being fair to your customers, and really knowing what your cost are. I have seen company after company fall by the way side from lack of understanding and I have seen those who do survive, do it by not growing and just sustaining their ability to keep their trucks on the road.

I am always available to help anyone with anything to do with this topic. I would like to see everyone run legal, put illegal transporters out of business and have fun doing it.
waytogo