I think I may be done with Walmart loads.

[Electric Chicken]

What do you THINK I was doing this past year? Your definition and my definition of "looking into" something are entirely different.

So you're saying you went out and bought a dually, a gooseneck, ran it for a year, and gave up?

That isn't what you posted before. Before it was "looked into it, decided it wasn't worth doing."

"Looking into" isn't doing. It never has been never will be.

 

[Electric Chicken]

Anyway I really need to stop letting this guy get me defending myself at every turn. It's ridiculous.

How about permanently banning me @Mike?

 

[mndriver]

yeah, I'm totally clueless to what hotshotting is all about.

I have a Ram 2500 I pulled a tandem and gooseneck trailer with on and off trying to make those "local runs" that he talks about. All because I was attempting to put myself into a position to not require a CDL and DOT physical.

Minnesota is so unpopulated, you can drive 8 hours and never run across another small town or see another person.

There's so many local small town operations around here, it's ridiculous.

Even making daily contacts and people "yeah man, I'll call you if I need something moved" it didn't develop.

Every local shop said they could get someone to do it for cheaper and cheaper. So knock yourself out. The operations that are doing it are the J&R Shugels, the D&A, the Prime, O&S who are using their trucks to shuttle trailers around to get to their regular accounts so all these short hops for them are actually paying the fuel costs to shuttle trailers to drop accounts.

 

[Electric Chicken]

yeah, I'm totally clueless to what hotshotting is all about.

I have a Ram 2500 I pulled a tandem and gooseneck trailer with on and off trying to make those "local runs" that he talks about.

Minnesota is so unpopulated, you can drive 8 hours and never run across another small town or see another person.

There's so many local small town operations around here, it's ridiculous.

Even making daily contacts and people "yeah man, I'll call you if I need something moved" it didn't develop.

Every local shop said they could get someone to do it for cheaper and cheaper. So knock yourself out. The operations that are doing it are the J&R Shugels, the D&A, the Prime, O&S who are using their trucks to shuttle trailers around to get to their regular accounts so all these short hops for them are actually paying the fuel costs to shuttle trailers to drop accounts.

Okay yeah we agree it isn't as viable in MN. I've already stated this for the same reasons you give.

But I'm not in MN. I'm not even in the Midwest. Or as @Injun calls it, the Far East.

I've already stated it before. There are businesses EVERYWHERE here. There are consumers EVERYWHERE here.

 

[Steelersjunkie]

I can guarantee at least a couple people would be getting punched in the mouth before the night was out

That would most certainly defeat the gesture of good will lol

 

[Ontario Outlaw]

That would most certainly defeat the gesture of good will lol

It might finally help certain people to not be so uppity

What’s this thread about, anyway?

 

[mndriver]

Okay yeah we agree it isn't as viable in MN. I've already stated this for the same reasons you give.

But I'm not in MN. I'm not even in the Midwest. Or as @Injun calls it, the Far East.

I've already stated it before. There are businesses EVERYWHERE here. There are consumers EVERYWHERE here.

you obviously responded as I was trying to put in the eyeroll.


I'll end with simply saying, I think it's a fools way you're going and you'd be better off to get a straight truck or at least a Class 5-6 to do what you want to do. I still think you'd just be better off to get a Class 8 and go regional.

But you do you.

I agree with @Steelersjunkie that there are $1000/400 mile loads out there. I also know they aren't enough for me to rely on them. Hell I could have booked 3-4 of them yesterday. But my trucks weren't in the correct location for them to make them cost effective. There comes a time that bouncing to them isn't worth it.

Minneapolis might not be the population density of the Baltimore region, but it's not that sparse.

 

[Electric Chicken]

you obviously responded as I was trying to put in the eyeroll.


I'll end with simply saying, I think it's a fools way you're going and you'd be better off to get a straight truck or at least a Class 5-6 to do what you want to do. I still think you'd just be better off to get a Class 8 and go regional.

But you do you.

I agree with @Steelersjunkie that there are $1000/400 mile loads out there. I also know they aren't enough for me to rely on them. Hell I could have booked 3-4 of them yesterday. But my trucks weren't in the correct location for them to make them cost effective. There comes a time that bouncing to them isn't worth it.

Minneapolis might not be the population density of the Baltimore region, but it's not that sparse.

I have a deeper desire to get out of the Class 8 truck. I don't need to make what I make now but if I do, fantastic.

My motivation doesn't stem from the expectation to earn more money than I currently earn.

I'm not expecting to make any money with the little 10k trailer either. I'll definitely be running CDL with a 30k rated 40' gooseneck. If that's successful I'll add a 5 car gooseneck hauler and run those when the market is hot if it looks viable. Basically switching out as needed.

And no, I'm not quitting the day my 401k vests. I'm going to try to hang on until I can cash flow a trailer. Interest rates are stupid high on that stuff.

 

[mndriver]

Interest rates are stupid high on that stuff.

define "stupid high"? Just curious how it compares to what I just paid for 2 semis and 3 trailers. Because I got 4.5%

 

[Electric Chicken]

define "stupid high"? Just curious how it compares to what I just paid for 2 semis and 3 trailers. Because I got 4.5%

Oh nowhere near that. Well over 10.

I got 3.79 on the dually and 3.84 on the Jeep. The trailer rate shocked the sh*t out of me.

Could be that I didn't shop around hard enough or it could be that not having a business already is bumping it up. But I was going to go ahead and get one to get closer numbers figured out but....nope.

I paid that enclosed one off so fast because it was 9.99 as a personal loan and I hated that. I don't want to do it again...let alone higher on a larger amount.

 

[Mike]

The arguing is getting nothing accomplished.

When it comes to hotshots, most of those I know who do it successfully do it with larger equipment. A single axle tractor is comparable to the cost of a diesel pickup and the operating expenses of the tractor will typically be much lower unless you are pulling around cheap rv’s.

On the exterior, rates look good in the hotshot market, but the silent killer is the very low amount of daily loaded miles and the high amount of deadhead miles.

Can it be profitable? Of course it can. Can you lose your shirt? Of course you can.

The true tell on this will be where you are at when the equipment dies on you. Will you have the profit set aside to replace that equipment. Or at least a big portion of it, or will you be diving off deep into debt to acquire more equipment?

As for the short haul vs long haul, either can be a good business model. With a dry van, unless I am just itching to run some long loads, I can always be more profitable with short hauls. I can get a much better rate per mile, stay in better market areas, and reduce wear/tear and fuel costs. You have to bid smart, though, because the rate must factor in your operating costs and expected profits. Bidding loads on the average market rate per mile will break you over time, just the same as running long haul for consistently low rate per mile numbers.

 

[Electric Chicken]

The arguing is getting nothing accomplished.

When it comes to hotshots, most of those I know who do it successfully do it with larger equipment. A single axle tractor is comparable to the cost of a diesel pickup and the operating expenses of the tractor will typically be much lower unless you are pulling around cheap rv’s.

On the exterior, rates look good in the hotshot market, but the silent killer is the very low amount of daily loaded miles and the high amount of deadhead miles.

Can it be profitable? Of course it can. Can you lose your shirt? Of course you can.

The true tell on this will be where you are at when the equipment dies on you. Will you have the profit set aside to replace that equipment. Or at least a big portion of it, or will you be diving off deep into debt to acquire more equipment?

As for the short haul vs long haul, either can be a good business model. With a dry van, unless I am just itching to run some long loads, I can always be more profitable with short hauls. I can get a much better rate per mile, stay in better market areas, and reduce wear/tear and fuel costs. You have to bid smart, though, because the rate must factor in your operating costs and expected profits. Bidding loads on the average market rate per mile will break you over time, just the same as running long haul for consistently low rate per mile numbers.

Yeah until you actually do it it's hard to say. Just like running Class 8.

Some succeed, some fail.

 

[Steelersjunkie]

Anyway I really need to stop letting this guy get me defending myself at every turn. It's ridiculous.

How about permanently banning me @Mike?

Hey, knock that off! So far, you're one of my favorite people here.

 

[Electric Chicken]

Hey, knock that off! So far, you're one of my favorite people here.

Now that's just straight up sad.

 

[Rigjockey]

The true tell on this will be where you are at when the equipment dies on you. Will you have the profit set aside to replace that equipment. Or at least a big portion of it, or will you be diving off deep into debt to acquire more equipment?

This right here is the meat and potatoes of it!
I have seen lease ops and o/o's spend every dime. The joke is first they buy a truck and then go out and buy a brand new pick-up truck!
That equipment has a life span. with a new purchase and a loan one can find themselves at a point where they are upside down on a loan. The loan is more than the vehicle is worth.

I am not an o/o or independant and probably should not be commenting here.

 

[Electric Chicken]

This right here is the meat and potatoes of it!
I have seen lease ops and o/o's spend every dime. The joke is first they buy a truck and then go out and buy a brand new pick-up truck!
That equipment has a life span. with a new purchase and a loan one can find themselves at a point where they are upside down on a loan. The loan is more than the vehicle is worth.

I am not an o/o or independant and probably should not be commenting here.

How dare you have an opinion.

 

[Ontario Outlaw]

Hey, knock that off! So far, you're one of my favorite people here.

 

[Electric Chicken]

There's a former Pumpkin rail who went on his own to do the rail. Several have, most are doing okay. He started with nothing, is spending all his money on a clapped W900, chrome, and lights, isn't deducting for his taxes, and is staring at needing a loan from his broker for a rebuild.


So yeah he's doing it wrong.

The ones succeeding have modest day cabs, plain, inconspicuous, minimal expenses to get over the humps and figure out what their true costs are.

 

[Mike]

This right here is the meat and potatoes of it!
I have seen lease ops and o/o's spend every dime. The joke is first they buy a truck and then go out and buy a brand new pick-up truck!
That equipment has a life span. with a new purchase and a loan one can find themselves at a point where they are upside down on a loan. The loan is more than the vehicle is worth.

I am not an o/o or independant and probably should not be commenting here.

When I was at the Ford dealership, going completely upside down on loans with diesel pickups was a regular thing. RV haulers and gooseneck pullers alike. They would start out with a nice new top of the line pickup, quickly run it up over 100k miles, then unable to pay for enormous repair costs. Next truck would be bare bones, sometimes even used, as they kept trying to keep the business going.

Me personally, I would not run hotshot with a pickup. I’m convinced the risk of failure is much higher.

At the same time, with class 8 OTR equipment, I am likely going to spend more upfront for more durable equipment for the simple fact of longer life from that equipment and less breakdowns. A 13-14k front axle might not ride as smooth, but it will take more abuse than a 12k axle.

 

[Electric Chicken]

When I was at the Ford dealership, going completely upside down on loans with diesel pickups was a regular thing. RV haulers and gooseneck pullers alike. They would start out with a nice new top of the line pickup, quickly run it up over 100k miles, then unable to pay for enormous repair costs. Next truck would be bare bones, sometimes even used, as they kept trying to keep the business going.

Me personally, I would not run hotshot with a pickup. I’m convinced the risk of failure is much higher.

At the same time, with class 8 OTR equipment, I am likely going to spend more upfront for more durable equipment for the simple fact of longer life from that equipment and less breakdowns. A 13-14k front axle might not ride as smooth, but it will take more abuse than a 12k axle.

Yeah I didn't pay anywhere near what some of these guys are paying. I'm already 13k ahead of KBB. Cash flowing the trailer will free up more revenue monthly to stash away and it won't go to a bank in the form of interest.

I gotta get out of these day cabs even if just for a couple years. Like a working break.