From: Rick v100 (rickv100@yahoo.com)
Date: Fri Jun 03 2005 - 14:57:58 PDT
What exactly is a "hotshot"? I have heard the term
used but not sure exactly what it means in the
trucking realm.
Rick
--- grntrks@juno.com wrote:
> Went into trucking business last summer ( hot-shot).
> I'll give you a
> brief start up cost for our INTRAstate operation.
>
> 1. Driver training, 4 weeks school,
> $3,000.00. With no income for
> 4 weeks.
> Training is now required by USDOT
> with periodic refresher
> courses required.
> 2. Commercial liability coverage
> ($500,000.00 ), required by
> State of Texas.
> 3. Cargo Insurance ($20,000 ) required by
> shippers. Many shippers
> wanted $50,000 to $100,000 coverage.
> Combined Insurance cost $3,000.00 down
> and $600.00 per
> month.
> 4 1991 Ford diesel dually crew cab
> $6,000.00.
> 5. 40' gooseneck flatbed, 3 axle, $4,000.00
> 6. 18' car trailer $2,000.00
> 7. anual DOT inspection (1 truck, 2 trailers)
> $180.00
> 8. 6ea. tires for truck and 6 tires for
> gooseneck $1,500.00
> 8. Texas DOT registration, anual, $210.00
> 9. Class A CDL with all indorsements $50.00
> 10. DOT physical $60.00 anual
> 11. Drug and alcohol screening $120.00,
> random.
> 12. Office setup for DOT required files and
> records $500.00.
> 13. DOT compliant sleeper (pickup truck)
> $2,600.00 , unless you
> can show reciepts for overnight rest
> stops ( motel).
> 14. Ratchet tie-down straps, chains, boomers.
> $850.00.
> 15. Tarps = ?
>
> Total on above.= $24,880.00 before I left the
> driveway for our first
> load.
>
> These are just off the top of my head. There are
> more I can't remember
> right now.
>
> Then you should figure several thousand dollars for
> maintenance and
> repair, fire extinguisher, tire chains, tow chains,
> spare lamps and
> fuses, etc., emergency triangles. Not having any of
> these items will cost
> you a citation and fine for each.
>
> By the way, average fuel costs = $1500.00 per month.
> The IFTA permit is
> only required if you cross state lines. If you go
> INTERstate there are
> more registration fees, higher insurance
> requirements, and vehicle tag
> costs. Next time you see a sign on the back of a
> truck that says " this
> truck pays $XXXX.00 highway taxes anually" you'll
> have an idea what that
> means.
>
> We lasted from 18 June,2004 to 28 Feb, 2005, when we
> ceased operations
> before we were forced into bankruptcy.
>
>
> Frank Cox - 'Nam 1966
> MVPA 14530
> '45 GMC 353 DUKW
>
>
>
> On Fri, 03 Jun 2005 13:36:21 -0500 MV
> <MV@dc9.tzo.com> writes:
> >
> > Yep, you are right. But I've got a bonafide
> corporation and I'm
> > dealing
> > with other corporations and they want everything
> to look right.
> > Also I
> > think I would have had a hard time passing my rig
> for a "personal
> > vehicle". It's 66 feet long end to end and that's
> a big personal
> > rig!
> >
> > I think I can get by with that a lot easier with
> my M51 dump truck
> > than
> > this rig. Plus if I keep everything commercial,
> my commercial
> > liability
> > insurance is working and if someone drops
> something while loading
> > the
> > truck, etc. I know I'm covered. Otherwise?? Who
> knows.
> >
> > I probably could have gone with farm tags and
> setup a farm division
> > of
> > the company, but those trucks are supposidly
> limited to 150 miles
> > from
> > home base.
> >
> > However from a commercial standpoint - the BS you
> have to put up
> > with on
> > a CMV makes me wonder whether it is worth it. It
> certainly costs a
> > lot
> > more than I had initially planned in both time and
> money. I've
> > heard
> > that independant truckers are dropping out and I
> can see why. For a
> > one
> > man show the legalities of trucking are pretty
> extreme with a lot of
> >
> > upfront costs.
> >
> > Dave
> >
> >
> >
>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >
> > David Ashley wrote:
> > > Um ah why did you ?
> > >
> > > " Proper commercial insurance and registrations
> onboard for both
> > truck and
> > > trailer."
> > >
> > > I think you put your self in this commercial
> arena buy having
> > commercial reg
> > > and ins. I don't know how much business you do
> but I think a
> > personal plate
> > > would have been a better option, Also I have
> heard the words "Not
> > for Hire"
> > > go a long way of keeping you out of commercial
> areas. I think you
> > need to
> > > go all commercial or all personal. Your
> business and the amount
> > of income
> > > will dictate.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Military Vehicles Mailing List
> [mailto:mil-veh@mil-veh.org]
> > On Behalf
> > > Of MV
> > > Sent: Friday, June 03, 2005 8:20 AM
> > > To: Military Vehicles Mailing List
> > > Subject: [MV] My recent run in with the
> Commercial Vehicle Police
> > - Indiana
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I just wanted to share my tale with you so you
> can possibly avoid
> > this
> > > sitaution. I'd also like to hear about your
> experience with the
> > CMV cops.
> > >
> > > Last week on the Friday before Memorial Day I
> was driving my 22 ft
> >
> > > flatbed truck with my newly renovated gooseneck
> trailer attached,
> > across
> > > Indiana.
> > >
> > > Here are the particulars:
> > >
> > > Truck:
> > > GMC 1984 Diesel 22 ft. flatbed straight truck
> with 28,000 GVWR on
> > the
> > > door jamb plate.
> > > Indiana truck plates - 26,000 lbs tags
> registered in my companies
> > name.
> > > Hydraulic disk brakes on all both axles.
> > >
> > > Trailer:
> > > Dual Tandem Gooseneck trailer with 16,000 lbs
> plates - trailer is
> > really
> > > good for 24,000+ lb payload. Plates registered
> in my companies
> > name
> > > also. Trailer was attached to the above truck
> via a gooseneck
> > ball
> > > mounted in a well in the truck bed.
> > >
> > > Proper commercial insurance and registrations
> onboard for both
> > truck and
> > > trailer.
> > >
> > > I was heading across Indiana when a semi blew by
> me and hit his
> > horn
> > > pointing behind me. I had a cop on my tail with
> the lights
> > flashing -
> > > but no siren. I pulled over.
> > >
> > > I was not breaking any laws apparently when the
> cop pulled me
> > over.
> > > Commercial motor vehicles can be stopped without
> cause. It was my
> > turn
> > > apparently. This was the first time I had the
> trailer attached to
> > this
> > > truck.
> > >
> > > I was asked for my license (standard issue -
> non-CDL).
> > > I was asked for my medical card. I did not have
> one.
> > > The officer did a 100% inspection on my rig and
> found a tail light
> > on
> > > the trailer has stopped working - everything
> else passed.
> > > I had the proper USDOT numbers on my truck.
> > > I did not have a truck inspection sticker or
> documents.
> > >
> > > She asked me how many trucks I had in my fleet.
> I only have one.
> > > She asked where I was coming from and where I
> was going and the
> > plans
> > > for my trip.
> > >
> > > The officer told me that all 3 axle trucks and
> all combination
> > vehicles
> > > with total GVWR weight ratings of over 26,000
> require a CDL. I
> > told her
> > > that the BMV told me that my truck did not
> require a CDL even
> > though it
> > > says 28,000 on the rating plate (which they
> did).
> > >
> > > After the officer did an entire truck and
> trailer inspection, she
> > mulled
> > > things over for a long time and finally said
> that she can't allow
> > me to
> > > drive the vehicle because I don't have a CDL.
> She said that she
> > really
> > > wished that she had not pulled me over since it
> was obvious that I
> > was
> > > trying to do everything correctly.
> > >
> > > She said I needed to call someone who had a CDL
> to come and drive
> > the
> > > vehicle from where it was. I made a couple of
> phone calls but I
> > knew
> > > that no one was immediately available. After
> sitting on the side
> > of the
> > > road on the back edge of the trailer for about 2
> hours waiting for
> >
> > > people to call me back - she re-emerged from the
> car and gave me a
> > bunch
> > > of info - a department of revenue booklet with a
> bunch of pages
> > turned,
> > > a warning ticket for no CDL and a tailight out,
> and an actual
> > ticket for
> > > not having an IFTA fuel tax license and
> stickers. She then told
> > me that
> > > she would follow me down to a truckstop. She
> pointed out that the
> >
> > > truckstop was on a north-south county road and
> she drove on and
> > did not
> > > stay with me at the truckstop. Since I had to
> go north anyway,
> > that
> > > location was a convenient drop off point.
> > >
> > > There is a lot of confusion over the 26,000 lb
> limit for a CDL
> > > requirement. But the officer said that since
> the truck was rated
> > for
> > > 28,000 it was clearly over even though the
> plates say 26,000 lbs.
> > The
> > > fact that I had a combination vehicle with a
> total plated weight
> > of
> > > 42,000 clearly put me in CDL land she said.
> > >
> > > I knew that by pulling the heavy gooseneck
> trailer that I was
> > running
> > > the ragged legal edge pretty hard - but I didn't
> think I would get
> >
> > > pulled over so quickly. The pullover and the
> almost 3 hour delay
> > (while
> > > I paid for guys to wait for me at the
> destination) was costly. I
> > have
> > > called the courthouse to find out what the
> situation is with the
> > IFTA
> > > ticket and they could not tell me if it required
> a court
> > appearance or
> > > if it was just a fine. I'm guessing it is a
> fine since it is not
> > a
> > > moving violation, but who knows.
> > >
> > > This week I called the Indiana Department of
> Revenue - as they
> > handle
> > > the IFTA licensing - this was all news to me but
> I'm sure heavy
> > truckers
> > > are very familiar with this BS that they
> apparently have to deal
> > with
> > > every 3 months. IFTA is all about fuel taxes
> and trucks and the
> > states
> > > struggles to grab as much money from truckers as
> possible. If
> > your rig
> > > is licensed over 26,000 lbs, and commercial -
> you have to get an
> > IFTA
> > > license and stickers. Note that I said licensed
> - not rated. The
> > DOR
> > > doesn't care if you rig is rated for 80,000 and
> licensed for
> > 26,000 they
> > > said. The proof is when you run it across
> the scales. If you
> > exceed
> > > your plates, or the maximum axle ratings - then
> you are in
> > trouble.
> > > They also don't care if you have a CDL or not -
> the DOR is all
> > about
> > > money. The cops at the scales and the CMV cops
> enforce the DOR
> > laws.
> > >
> > > Then I found out about interstate laws with a
> rig over 26,000 lbs
> > total
> > > licensed plates. My rig was officially at a
> total license weight
> > of
> > > 42,000 lbs. (26K + 16K) Since the total rig is
> over 26,000 lbs
> > she
> > > told me I would need trip permits to visit other
> states with this
> > rig.
> > > (What? I already have plates - Indiana ones -
> what is this about
> > I
> > > thought - again caught off guard!)
> > >
> > > If you take a rig that is over 26,000 lbs across
> your home state
> > lines
> > > you either need an IRP apportioned plate or a
> trip permit to enter
> > that
> > > state. (Yes, more BS) I told her I may be
> going to Michigan, IL,
> > OH,
> > > and Kentucky and NY with my 42K licensed rig. I
> said how much
> > would an
> > > IRP plate cost for that weight. She said about
> $942.00. The
> > truck cost
> > > $1800!!! She said that I could get a credit
> for the unused
> > portion of
> > > my Indiana 26,000 lb truck plate - which cost
> about $350.
> > >
> > > I checked on the cost of trip permits and they
> are not cheap, but
> > a lot
> > > cheaper than an IRP plate. A 3 day pass to New
> York is $25, etc.
> > Ohio
> > > about $15. You need a permit for each state you
> pass through. So
> > much
> > > for the "United" States - this is expensive, and
> obviously very
> > > politically centered on the individual states.
> It's basically a
> > big
> > > money grab from truckers. If you are an
> independant heavy truck
> > owner
> > > operator - I have newfound respect for your
> ability to put up with
> > all
> > > of this BS.
> > >
> > > Anyway - even though I am setup as a Private
> Carrier - I move my
> > own
> > > commercial stuff - not for hire - this
> commerical truck stuff is
> > darn
> > > expensive. Especially for only occasional use -
> which is what I
> > bought
> > > the truck and trailer for - to haul machines
> that I purchase,
> > rebuild
> > > and sell. I'm going through the CDL licensing
> process which I
> > don't
> > > think will be much of a problem - just a time
> eater. Will it make
> > me a
> > > better driver - probably not. But it will make
> me 100% legal.
> > >
> > > The lesson that I have learned from all of this
> is to avoid
> > getting into
> > > the commercial end of truck situation if at all
> possible. I have
> > an M51
> > > 5 ton dump with Indiana historical plates and I
> intend to keep it
> > that
> > > way. If you attempt to go commerical with a
> truck like a 5 ton
> > M54 type
> > > truck - make sure you have a lot of money to
> spend and you like to
> > fill
> > > out fuel tax returns every 3 months as that is
> what is legally
> > required.
> > > If you miss a filing there is a $50 fine.
> Also you will need
> > trip
> > > permits to cross state lines. More BS. If you
> don't intend to
> > use the
> > > vehicle for commerical use - stay as far away
> from the commerical
> > stuff
> > > as possible - In fact I would avoid getting a
> CDL since it may
> > make you
> > > look like you are a commercial driver attempting
> to skirt the
> > law.
> > >
> > > If you are going to be using a truck for
> commercial use - go all
> > of the
> > > way and do it 100% correct. You will just end
> up paying for doing
> > it
> > > right or pay even more for doing it wrong.
> There seems to be no
> > in
> > > between - at least that is the way I look at it
> now.
> > >
> > > I'd be interested to hear other people stories
> and experiences
> > regarding
> > > this type of thing and how far you can push the
> envelope before
> > the CMV
> > > cops come down on you.
> > >
> > > Do many people have 5 ton trucks licensed as
> CMV's. What about
> > M35? If
> > > a vehicle is over 10,000 K lb GVWR and
> commerical it is suppose to
> > have
> > > USDOT numbers (free to get) but it exposes you
> to more scrutiny.
> > >
> > > I have talked with some Commercial drivers and
> some have said that
> > they
> > > have never been pulled over by the CMV cops. I
> think there are
> > only
> > > about 10 CMV cops in the entire state of
> Indiana. Obviously last
> > Friday
> > > was "not" my lucky day.
> > >
> > > Dave
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ===Mil-Veh is a member-supported mailing list===
> > > To unsubscribe, send e-mail to:
> <mil-veh-off@mil-veh.org>
> > > To switch to the DIGEST mode, send e-mail to
> > <mil-veh-digest@mil-veh.org>
> > > To reach a human, contact <ack@mil-veh.org>
> > >
> > > ===Mil-Veh is a member-supported mailing list===
> > > To unsubscribe, send e-mail to:
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> > > To switch to the DIGEST mode, send e-mail to
> > <mil-veh-digest@mil-veh.org>
> > > To reach a human, contact <ack@mil-veh.org>
> > >
> >
> > ===Mil-Veh is a member-supported mailing list===
> > To unsubscribe, send e-mail to:
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> > To switch to the DIGEST mode, send e-mail to
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> > To reach a human, contact <ack@mil-veh.org>
> >
> >
>
>
> Frank Cox - 'Nam 1966
> MVPA 14530
> '45 GMC 353 DUKW
>
> ===Mil-Veh is a member-supported mailing list===
> To unsubscribe, send e-mail to:
> <mil-veh-off@mil-veh.org>
> To switch to the DIGEST mode, send e-mail to
> <mil-veh-digest@mil-veh.org>
> To reach a human, contact <ack@mil-veh.org>
>
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