[motorscot]

Originally Posted by onevoice

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


Very doable for a driver, just not how you describe



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.






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.



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.



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.


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




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.

I'm not sure where you are coming from with your charges of law breaking and under the table antics of my example. I am not attempting to glorify this local transporter and (in your opinion) his blatant disregard for the law (your words).

I am a LEO with over 20 years on the job and don't appreciate your insinuations.

Apparently my words were taken out of context and as the true gospel. Sorry for that. The dude was legit, he had insurance, he was DOT registered. He told me about deductions, maintenance, depreciation, etc.

When he said he wasn't sure if he wanted to deal with the extra paperwork of DOT regs, he was referring to the extra steps and issues with going over the 26,xxx lb GVWR and the included legalities. Much like Greg's concerns with truck/trailer GVWR and overall length which he could have been faced with when considering his car hauler.

Did I take his words as gospel? No. Did I feel like breaking down each and every minute of travel time through 5 states and varying traffic conditions, foul ups, and other unforseeables in my post so that I would have no chance of being misinterpreted? No.

I am in complete agreement with you in your assertion that you can't travel that far in two days. I merely used Mapquest.com to get general information.

I am in complete agreement with you when you talk about loaded windshield time being the way to maximize your income. I used the original poster's question as my premise of a part time operation.

I shouldn't have generalized so much and perhaps my words would not have been misconstrued. I was only trying to pass along info that I gleaned from my conversation with him. I would hope that being the logical and intelligent men that I believe all of us are, that we, or anyone, wishing to get into hauling would research it completely and go about it legally and responsibly.

As I have NOT done further investigation because I won't be eligible to retire for another 3 1/2 years, I wasn't going to waste my time right now.

When the time comes, I will do my due diligence and make a rational and informed decision.

I didn't ask if he was being emotionally or spiritually fulfilled by being a small time car hauler. BUT, he said that he made good money working for himself, and liked the job.

If any of my responses have come across as hostile, my apologies.