part time for-hire business

I have a 99 dodge diesel that I'm going to start a part time for-hire business in iowa with and I have my cdl. My question is if I use truck for business and personal does that mess anything up. Like If I'm using my personal trailer to haul my pulling tractor. On going on a trip somewhere do I still need to run a log book on everything
thanks
 

You need a log book if you are over 100 miles from home or day for hire or involved in business. It has to have your hours for at least two days before start of trip, to show that you were resting. Don't go buying a trailer until you find out what the insurance is gong to cost you.
 
X2 on the insurance. I looked into getting into hotshotting about 10 years ago and the insurance would have had change left over after a truck and trailer payment.
 
Don't know how much research you have done, but I had a Hot Shot rig a few years back. Darn near broke me. ICC authority, DOT number, process server, fuel and oh yes 1 million liability insurance and $250.000 cargo insurance.These things are not part time. The bills keep coming. My insurance alone was $500.00 a Month. Better do a lot of calculating before you commit.This day and time if you are not 100% legal in a for hire status,you better keep it parked in the driveway, because the DOT likes to write tickets with big fines. BTDT and would not do it again.
 
Thanks I'm gonna be pulling brand new trailers so I just need 1 million in liability insurance and that was 250 bucks when I checked 6 months ago. I know there's more to it then what i know but i have a year to see if i can do it
 
I have been buying and fixing skidsteers for several years. In that time 3 or 4 guys that hauled for me have come and gone. Guys get into it, run hard and work hard, but in the end usually give it up after 2 or 3 years. Just doesn't pay.
 
If your pulling campers you will not make enough to make it worth it. Did it for 1 winter and slept in the truck and ran my azz off just to make enough to argue myself into thinking it was worth it. The hauling company's do it by design just to keep you coming back until your broke. If it DOESN'T pay at least $2 bucks a mi stay home.
 
Actually hauling brand new trailers and they pay 1.75 to 2 bucks
I've got 4 trailer manufactures within 50 miles of me 1 said a load a week, 1 said a load a month still have to talk with other 2. And I have another place that's north of me said might get a back haul every now and then
More then likely I will fail. But I'm gonna try
 
like others have said , dont, i personaly know that any kind of hauling part time with all the leagle beagle items in place will result in going broke, fast i barly made a profit running full time, its a hard life to make a living in a truck even a hot shot rig , you either have to hit full time or not at all
 
Ultimately it's up to the discretion of the LEO on whether you need a log book current. If you look like your "in commerce" you better have the log book up to date.

My personal rule is if I'm dragging a trailer, I'm on duty.

You'll need to keep up with your off duty status to reset your hours so just get in the habit of keeping it current every day.
 
(quoted from post at 17:09:38 02/14/14) Actually hauling brand new trailers and they pay 1.75 to 2 bucks
I've got 4 trailer manufactures within 50 miles of me 1 said a load a week, 1 said a load a month still have to talk with other 2. And I have another place that's north of me said might get a back haul every now and then
More then likely I will fail. But I'm gonna try

I looked into doing that very same thing. Found out that the manufacturer is NOT the one who pays you. You have to collect from the customer when you deliver the trailers, which can be a real headache. Also, while transporting those trailers, YOU are responsible for any damage that incurs, and it is YOU that pays to have that damage repaired. Might just be a tiny scratch in the paint, which may or may not have been there before you hooked onto it, but it is still YOU that pays to get it fixed.
 
^ what he said, you basically own those trailers until there delivered... the dealer will pay the manufacturer after the delivery, and if you deliver damaged trailers you just bought them.. Not sure what trailer you have but if its a pulling tractor you haul im guessing 25 or so GN... Your not going to make money hauling cargo trailers with that, you would want a 48-53' wedge, ligher and can haul way more. the dealers are going to want you to fit, 3-6 trailers on a load if you haul for them.
 
They pay 1.75 to 2.00. Well cut that in half. You have to get back home to get the next one. The secret to making money in the trucking business is being loaded almost every mile you run and get paid for every mile you run, but that is not going to happen. Deadhead miles kill you and laying in a motel waiting on a load is worse. You have to be loaded both ways to make money.
 
If you can keep your loads down in miles you can do ok. Just like weldingman said the truck won't come home for free. Look into the lanes they have to see if one is better than the rest. If its a forced dispatch run as far as you can. I figured I needed to make 70-75 per hr to make money. Mostly made 60-65 per hr. Don't forget if the trailers are stacked who pays for the equipment and labor to unload them. When I did it I wished for half the advice your getting, I would have just stayed home and played with the kids until the spring came and put the big truck to work.
 
No such thing as part-time when you're dealing with a commercial operation. I too did the hot-shot gig for a while, and if I wasn't loaded all the time I was losing money. Not to mention, you're taking a "passenger vehicle" and putting it on the road like a big truck. You will put a lot of miles on it very quickly, and you shouldn't expect a pickup truck to go a million miles before an overhaul like we do with a semi. You will have parts that should last many years wearing out faster because of the miles you are putting on them, and if you're loaded all the time, the extra stress of being loaded. My insurance was also $500/month, $1 Million liability and $100,000 cargo insurance, which is the minimum insurance required by the FMCSA in order to keep your operating authority (DOT# and MC#).
 
FMCSA (DOT) requires that the driver keeps with him his previous 7 days of duty logs (time sheets or log pages), and the office must have them on file for 6 months.
 
If you really want to do this. Talk to OOIDA. They will give you the best information. They will do your filings for Authority for about 150.00 they will help you get set up legal and help keep you legal. They will also do collections for you. The membership cost is like 45.00 per year.
The number is 800 444 5791 Or OOIDA.com
I have been a member for over 15 years.
 
Be very careful did that and it was tough. I had my own trailer and worked for a local company that kept me short and loaded everyday, yes I bounced back but it was short and had a great minimum rate. When that gig ended I sold my equipment and never looked back
 

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