[onevoice]

I will elaborate a little since I am in the transportation business. Not being critical, but clarification is necessary

Originally Posted by motorscot

........Anyway, he says he clears $1200+ a week.

Very doable for a driver, just not how you describe

Originally Posted by motorscot

He is a member of 4 different sites that advertise transport jobs. He did not mention bidding for jobs. What I gathered was that he queried the sites, picked the jobs he wanted, and took off.

Anyone can be a member of the load boards, some are even free, so that doesn't imply any credibility. Since he is running illegal, he is probably using someone elses MC number(seen it). Possibly even a stolen one(ditto). Or maybe he is picking up loads for a shady operation. Trust me - there are plenty in the transport world.

Originally Posted by motorscot

He said he was spending $100-150/day in diesel with a Chevy Duramax, shortbed, crewcab, gooseneck, SRW. He packed meals in a cooler to cut costs and stayed in cheap hotels.

No way should anyone let their car be picked up by a transport company, if the driver shows up in a SRW, crewcab pickup. Probably doesn't have the required insurance either. New pickups are great vehicles, but they just aren't made for non-stop hauling like a big truck. Over the long haul, maintenance will be a nightmare.

Originally Posted by motorscot

For instance: if you have a pick up in Savannah GA, that is going to Nashville TN, you pick it up and then grab another car in Asheville NC on the way. The Ashville car is going to Memphis TN. So, 24 hours and 1450 miles later, you are back home from a big circle trip.
Costs: Fuel $450, hotel/food $150
Breakdown: B'ham/Savannah, 395 miles @ 6hrs
Savannah/Asheville, 310 miles @ 5 hrs
Asheville/Nashville, 294 miles @ 4.75 hrs
Nashville/Memphis, 212 miles @ 3.25 hrs
Memphis/B'ham, 232 miles @ 4 hrs
Gross Pay: Savannah/Nashville job = $495 for 495 miles @$1/mile
Asheville/Memphis job = $505 for same
Net Pay (less expenses): $400. This breaks down to $18/driving hour

These number are just nonsense. You cant legally go anywhere close to 1450 miles in 24 hours. Not to mention all those pickups and deliveries. Your time is worth something, even if it is spent loading or unloading. The last bit is the exact opposite of how to make money driving - paying attention to $ per hour. Drivers make bank by working (rolling) the MAXIMUM legal number of hours in a week.

Originally Posted by motorscot

So, yes it can be worth it if you plan correctly. Taking a single pick up and then dead-heading home doesn't make you money. 4-5 pick ups a week can make you pretty good money, ie; $1200+. Mileage deduction is $0.51/mile IIRC, plus other write offs. Insurance, bonding (if required), initial vehicle purchase ($15k-50k), trailer ($5-9k), and other misc expenses.

You cant set up a hauling company and be taking the deductions like you are a trucker without being a trucking company, unless you love DOT and IRS trouble. Also, you aren't going to be able to buy the insurance you NEED if you tell the insurance company you are operating under the table. And when you need the insurance - the insurance company won't pay when they find out you obtained it fraudulently.

Originally Posted by motorscot

The guy I spoke with seemed pretty happy,

Because he hasn't been caught YET. Talk to him again after he finishes paying his fines.

Originally Posted by motorscot

Regardless, if you are selecting jobs from a national shipper like my driver was, instead of bidding for them, then I think it's a worthwhile endeavor. The shipping company was out of Phoenix, called me for vehicle info and such, and told me their driver would call me for final pick up notice. I was expecting a tractor/trailer to pull up, not a pickup truck.
Good luck

Don't do it. Shipping companies like this are sleazes that will run for cover if the driver ever has a problem. They will claim he was a "contractor", and leave him dangling in the wind when something happens. Not to mention the trouble coming from when a wheel falls off his unmaintained equipment or especially when he falls asleep on the above mentioned 24 hour illegal run. There are plenty of cases of drivers going to prison for doing exactly that. Fraudulently doing business is all easy money until you end up someones bitch in prison.

The trucking business is dog eat dog. There are really good companies, and real **** ones.

Stay out of jail - do it right, do a good job, and you will do ok.