[gregrob]

Has anyone done this?

I know freddyfast9 and I have talked about it and he's given me some good info.

I might have some freedom from my current job coming up, and wouldn't mind seeing the country and making a few bucks with my truck.

Any idea, tips, is it feasable with today's fuel prices, what about RV sales, aren't they dropping off? Anyone know how busy you can stay right now?

 

[DSTRBD]

Dunno the answer to your questions. What I can tell you is my neighbor does it full time though. He drives to Indiana, picks up a trailer, and brings it to wherever it needs to go. He does this 8-9 months out of the year and makes 80k or so according to him. I would go ask him some ins and outs about it, but the guy is a dip####, sorry.

 

[gregrob]

Ah, sucks you are not better friends with him.

He does this right now?

 

[OldschoolPSD]

He must have some good connections to make 80k. If you have the correct insurance and all the DOT bull#### there is almost no room for profit. Your neighbor is probably grossing 80k and bringing home closer to 40k max.

 

[gregrob]

It's my understanding you run under their authority, not yours. What you need is a DOT physical, annual truck inspection, CDL, and 500K insurance.
You are a contractor and the company for which you work provides the DOT authority.

 

[slowleak]

or if you do it after a hurricane there are no rules

 

[shayb]

It's my understanding you run under their authority, not yours. What you need is a DOT physical, annual truck inspection, CDL, and 500K insurance.
You are a contractor and the company for which you work provides the DOT authority.

That is right in most cases Greg. You essentially "lease" to a company that has their DOT authority. But, don't let that make you think it is easy. Alan's Mom and Dad own a small flatbed trucking company. They own only one truck and have 8-10 lease trucks at any time. They have their authority, but it wasn't cheap to get it or to keep it, and it's even harder for new companies to get their authority. They have to deal with the DOT and they handle the billing, but the lease trucks have to carry their own insurance, pay all their own bills (fuel, expenses and repairs) and give a % to the company they are leased to. Plus you pay out for your own expenses first and collect your pay later, so you would have to have some cash in hand to get started.

I'm not saying that you cannot make a decent living trucking, but I don't know any wealthy ones either. There are a couple of reasons that Alan doesn't drive a truck and is an electrician instead. One of them is he doesn't want to be away from home and the other is he can make more money doing what he does now.

But, if you like to travel, you might like it for awhile.

 

[OldschoolPSD]

Even if you lease on you still need a DOT number, MHIC number and bobtail insurance.

When you get into the RV's, companies do some sketchy stuff with insurance and DOT requirements. Mainly because they can get away with it because they look private. Private RV's and trailers arent subject to the same rules as a commercial truck, and the only way the DOT man could tell the difference is by looking at the registration.

On a side note, why the hell can grandpa run his 26k+ RV with air brakes down the road with a class C liscense but I need a class A to drag farm tractors with a pickup?

 

[quick26]

Even if you lease on you still need a DOT number, MHIC number and bobtail insurance.

When you get into the RV's, companies do some sketchy stuff with insurance and DOT requirements. Mainly because they can get away with it because they look private. Private RV's and trailers arent subject to the same rules as a commercial truck, and the only way the DOT man could tell the difference is by looking at the registration.

On a side note, why the hell can grandpa run his 26k+ RV with air brakes down the road with a class C liscense but I need a class A to drag farm tractors with a pickup?

here in nc i have to have weighted tag to pull my atv trailer, but i dont need one to pull the camper. as long as it has a crapper in it, in the state of nc it becomes considered an rv and does not count against the weight rating of the tag on the truck.

 

[Cat_Rebel]

I know freddyfast9 and I have talked about it and he's given me some good info.

I can see Freddy doing something like this.

 

[Aljay]

or if you do it after a hurricane there are no rules

FEMA for the win! I just leased to Landstar and FEMA gets you out of all kinds of stuff. I liked the part about not having to log.

 

[shayb]

FEMA for the win! I just leased to Landstar and FEMA gets you out of all kinds of stuff. I liked the part about not having to log.

No logs???? Whoa. I would like that too.

 

[Fordgasm]

No logs???? Whoa. I would like that too.

That's sorta correct. The only time they relax the rules and regs are when there is a Presidential order and an emergency declared such as after Katrina and Rita. But even then if I remember right, you can't run over 70 hours per week? You still have to run a log but don't have to go by the 11/14 hour rules. During those times no one bothers you and you can blow right on by the scales.

When you lease your truck onto a company you run under their authority, DOT & ICC numbers and usually cargo and liability while under a load. When not under dispatch you'll need your own bobtail or unladen policy. Of course you'll have to carry your own comp and collision on your truck. This will need to be a commercial policy too cuz practically no regular insurance company will cover you when they find out what you are doing.

Greg I know this is an old thread but if you're still interested in doing this holler at me. I did it for 3 years ending in Dec '06 but I'm getting ready to go back into it here very shortly. I'll give ya whatever info I can, the good and the bad too.

 

[gregrob]

Chris, I'll send you my number.