Just got handed a hot shot business

[OSCS]

Not so much what the trailer can handle....
The truck is overweighted by th gvcw, which is the effective amount you can handle " safely". Not saying it can't be done, but protecting yourself is what is important, as in, if you need to stop quickly, a tire blows, or any other of the bad sh!t that happens on the road.

They make trailers up to any size you want, lol.

Im somewhat jealous, sounds like a good gig!

I would like a dually but am trying to keep the initial investment as low as possible at first. I realize asking to pull 20K plus the trailer is a lot to ask of a SRW f250 but i want to keep costs down at least for the first few months.

 

[Spatel23]

Not at all trying to be rude here but you have a LOT of work to do before you haul your first load.

If you are hauling for a company, you need to be totally legal, insured, numbered, etc.
go to fmsca.dot.gov and get going.

Your truck isnt going to cut it, forget it.

40ft dual tandem axle (12k) are the most useful hotshot trailers in my opinion. Straight deck no dove tail.

 

[neverkickn]

Well when i said they took a dump what i really meant to say is that i got tired of seeing our company payout 6-7k a month for 3 hrs of work a day.. So i told the supply chain manager that im leaving and starting a hotshot company and now you call me when you needed something moved. He said ok and that was that.. I put my 2 weeks in today

If you lo balled that figure then I think you should recheck your math. Running a business is mother ***in expensive!

 

[TrailerHauler]

40ft dual tandem axle (12k) are the most useful hotshot trailers in my opinion. Straight deck no dove tail.

I would disagree with it being "the most useful hotshot trailer". However if your doing hotshot work for the oilfield and just the oilfield, that's the best trailer in my opinion. I don't like those trailers for anything but that type of heavy hauling, equipment, pipe, drills, ect.... because they are so damn heavy. A 40' tandem dual gooseneck by itself weights around 8k - 9k. That is the main reason for other hotshot work I would recommend a triple axle "bed between the wheels" gooseneck with a 102" wide deck, lower and lighter overall trailer.

As far as the truck goes, I would bump up to a dually. The trailer you need for this kind of work will push a SRW all over the road, not to mention I wouldn't want to lose a tire hooked to the trailer. Sure you can do it with a SRW, but breakdowns or accidents cause down time, unexpected expenses and can ruin your clientele.
Also you can legally haul up to, but not over, the weight rating of your truck and trailer axles. So as long as your under the weight ratings of all of your axles and under your tire weight ratings then you are legal.

I'll second what Spatel said above me though, you have a lot to do before you get started in order to do it legal.
-Liability insurance
-Vehicle/ Cargo insurance
-DOT numbers
-MC numbers
-Annual DOT truck and trailer inspection/ inspection sticker
-I believe an IFTA sticker for texas and any other states you travel, if your over 26k.

Take my input with a grain of salt, this is just what I've learned and how I've interpreted the rules. Others might say something different. Just do as much reading as you can to properly prepare yourself so you don't go in completely blind.
Here is a sight with some good info, not all the info is good and I don't really agree with everything posted over there but there aren't to many places to read about this type of info.
http://ltlhotshot.myfreeforum.org/index.php

 

[OSCS]

Guys all the legal stuff is covered. Ive read into that plenty and have a plan of action. Thanks for the advise. Ill keep an eye out for a 450 or 550 DRW flatbed

 

[OSCS]

If you lo balled that figure then I think you should recheck your math. Running a business is mother ***in expensive!

If i low balled that number than i would have more money at the end of the month not less. Im well aware of what it cost to run a business like this (im in supply chain) and know many people who own hot shot companies. I did'nt just wake up and decide to be a trucker driver this morning.

 

[neverkickn]

If i low balled that number than i would have more money at the end of the month not less. Im well aware of what it cost to run a business like this (im in supply chain) and know many people who own hot shot companies. I did'nt just wake up and decide to be a trucker driver this morning.

Ok, so long as you know the numbers. It's a jungle out there!

Hammer down and good luck:thumbup:

 

[OSCS]

Ok, so long as you know the numbers. It's a jungle out there!

Hammer down and good luck:thumbup:

Your right it's not going to be easy, Thanks for looking out.

 

[bruce]

I'd try to find a nice inexpensive 450-550 that is super reliable

 

[6.0Dually]

I think binder has a red f450 for sale on here? Either way man best of luck to you. It's nice to see people still pursuing their dreams.

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

 

[Ad8 PRODIGY]

I'd try to find a nice inexpensive 450-550 that is super reliable

Yep. I see used f550's up here on cl a lot. Cheap usually too.

 

[Jomax]

I'm just going to throw this out there... If all you're doing is local runs.. I think you'll be fine with you're truck till you get a bigger truck and keep yours as a back up.. IF you're tires and axles aren't overloaded. I've towed quite a bit with different trailers, I own a srw and my dad owns the DRW. I will say having a tandem dual makes it a TON better. I've hauled 20k on our tandem dual with my srw, while having most of the weight on the trailer axles. Towed amazingly well that way. Now I also towed a cclb truck on a 24 ft 2 axle bumper pull and that thing was everywhere.. If you get a tandem dual, that will help a ton till you can buy a truck.

My uncle just started enclosed car hauling. And he's broken down a couple of times already. Luckly I was with him and was able to do a roadside repair. But, breakdowns WILL happen... will probably get flamed for this post, but just my .2 cents.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[bruce]

Yep. I see used f550's up here on cl a lot. Cheap usually too.

The farm just sold a F-450 crew cab 4x4 that they bought at auction for like 4500 bones. I would be ideal for what the op is doin. If its only around town then the tall gears windin out on the highway won't be a problem.

 

[Ad8 PRODIGY]

The farm just sold a F-450 crew cab 4x4 that they bought at auction for like 4500 bones. I would be ideal for what the op is doin. If its only around town then the tall gears windin out on the highway won't be a problem.

Exactly

 

[drunk on diesel]

I'd have a 350 and 450/550. Down time is a killer and there's a lot more to hot shotting than the 3hrs of actual drive time.

It honestly doesn't seem like you've really thought this through, but I wish you nothing but the best of luck

 

[OSCS]

There are aspects of this that I have not thought threw and this is why I am seeking help from you guys on equipment suggestions. Legalities/financial/time have been hashed out. I can't emphasize the amount of time and relationships I have with these companies. I'm well aware of what I'm getting my self into on the business end it's just the equipment side I'm a noob on.

Thanks to all the guys that have made suggestions helpful or not. I've got my eye on a few 550 flat beds locally and think that is the way to go on the super heavy loads. With that said I will also utilize the 250

 

[drunk on diesel]

I would have researched the equipment before turning in my 2 weeks, but that's just me

 

[dsberman94]

I know where there's a 650 at a dealership. 4 door with a pickup bed.

 

[OSCS]

I would have researched the equipment before turning in my 2 weeks, but that's just me

Yeah your right about that one But with a sizeable cushion/investors if needed and contract work on the side to keep me busy during slow times I felt like a swift departure was acceptable as I need time to search for good equipment and get my CDL

 

[bruce]

put a gooseneck ball on that 5 ton in your avi