RV Transport
07-15-2006 | 05:16 PM
#16
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 820
Likes: 0
From: Owensboro KY
Originally Posted by jmack9288
I get a real kick out of all the people who think you must have a new truck to do this job. I have worked in the trucking industry for 22 years. I have never seen a trucking company start out with all new trucks and make it. Most OTR company are running 3-4 trucks to pay for 1 new one. New trucks are a luxury, that is hard to make money with.
I said you could make a living by controling your expenses. I started hauling on the Fema relief effort with a 12 year old ford truck. I got some money built up and bought a 5 year old dodge. It came with the gooseneck hitch and tow package. I found a 5th wheel on e-bay for $250. I built the required mud flaps and holders from scrap around the shop. I don't change all fluids every 30,000 miles. More like every 150,000. I change the engine oil every 5,000 and use the old oil in the fuel tank. I buy parts as cheap as I can find. Often used parts.
I also average 2700 loaded miles a week. between travel trailers and motorhomes. I fly home on the airlines for motorhomes and deadhead home from trailer loads. I am able to make a fair living delivering Travel trailers and motorhomes through these methods. I can chose when I want to work and where I want to go. Not too bad an existance really.
jmack9288
I said you could make a living by controling your expenses. I started hauling on the Fema relief effort with a 12 year old ford truck. I got some money built up and bought a 5 year old dodge. It came with the gooseneck hitch and tow package. I found a 5th wheel on e-bay for $250. I built the required mud flaps and holders from scrap around the shop. I don't change all fluids every 30,000 miles. More like every 150,000. I change the engine oil every 5,000 and use the old oil in the fuel tank. I buy parts as cheap as I can find. Often used parts.
I also average 2700 loaded miles a week. between travel trailers and motorhomes. I fly home on the airlines for motorhomes and deadhead home from trailer loads. I am able to make a fair living delivering Travel trailers and motorhomes through these methods. I can chose when I want to work and where I want to go. Not too bad an existance really.
jmack9288
07-16-2006 | 07:13 AM
#17
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 820
Likes: 0
From: Owensboro KY
O.K. Enough BS
I'd like to know what all the RV haulers out there reported for a net income on their tax return last year . Never mind how much you took advantage of legal deductions and I only want to hear from those with RV hauling as a sole source of income and I don't want you including what your spouse made on a joint return . What did your business make ? A low income or loss looks good for the IRS but if you need to borrow money the bank wants to see your tax returns from the last 2 years . A while back posts on this site and another site showed the best you could expect to net after running hard 70+ hours per week was a little over $20,000 . Anybody can get a CDL A and make more than twice that working a lot less hours and have full benefits . RV transport is only suitable for retirees or others with another source of income . Hotshotting can be profitable if you're lucky enough to find a customer with the need for a dedicated carrier .
07-16-2006 | 09:29 AM
#18
Muted User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 713
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by jmack9288
I get a real kick out of all the people who think you must have a new truck to do this job. I have worked in the trucking industry for 22 years. I have never seen a trucking company start out with all new trucks and make it. Most OTR company are running 3-4 trucks to pay for 1 new one. New trucks are a luxury, that is hard to make money with. ack9288
I disagree completely! My family have been in the trucking industry since 1943 and started with one straight truck hauling milk. Old trucks are a liability. Sure your payment is lower with a used truck but your maintance is higher. A working truck will only make so much money in it's lifetime before the expences overshadow it's profit. For example a friend had a 95 freightliner a few years ago with a $1000.00 a month payment. I had a new truck with a $1600.00 payment, sure I spent 600 more per month on the payment but had almost 0 maintaince costs. He on the otherhand, since his truck had 600,000 miles, needed a clutch, rear main seal, brakes, tires, suspension bushings, u joints, transmission oil cooler (due to a leak), and not to mention all the little nickle and dime crap such as turnsignal switch, seat cushion, air leaks, exhaust parts. Old trucks are great if you want to drive all day and wrench all night.
07-16-2006 | 02:40 PM
#19
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 820
Likes: 0
From: Owensboro KY
I had enough downtime with an '04 truck to realize how much lost revenue is involved just having the truck in the shop for a day or 2 . I was fortunate enough to have warnings of needed repairs to have work done at a local , reputable shop . Frequent oil changes and tire rotations helped my mechanic spot a bad tierod end and bad wheel bearings so I didn't break down on the road .
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