Car Hauling - Diesel Forum

LHM · 03-02-2005, 11:06 PM

I had a post similar to this in the General Forum, but really didn't get alot of feedback. Is anybody out there hauling cars for a living. I am talking about on a 3 or 4 car wedge trailer. If so who are you hauling for and can you provide any insight to someone looking to get into this type of business. My father and I have been contemplating starting a business doing this type work, it's just that I don't know where to start and if it would be profitable at all.
I am in NC btw.
Thanks
LHM

OB-1 · 03-03-2005, 03:29 PM

Do a web search and you should find several companies that transport cars. The trucking business is a highly regulated industry and more regulations are coming down the pike all the time. The bureaucrats have to have something to do. The amount of regulations and paperwork can be daunting. Contact OOIDA, (Owner Operator Independent Driver Association), for real information on becoming an owner operator.

If rules, regulations, and paperwork don’t scare you away, the next step is deciding on your equipment. Some people think that because they have a diesel pickup truck they can latch onto a gooseneck trailer and gross 30k to 40k pounds everyday and make money. While any good diesel pickup can pull quite a load, none of them can do it economically everyday for very long. You can make a little truck do a big truck’s work, but only for a little while and at substantial cost. For your line of work you really need a good medium duty truck and those aren’t made by Ford, Chevy, or Dodge. With a little work, you can spec out an International, Freightliner, Pete, etc., that will cost a bit more than an F-550 but be more than twice the truck.

**MJPliska** · 03-03-2005, 03:36 PM

LHM,
This is only somewhat related. I used to work across the street from Grady-White Boats in Greenville, NC. They apparently shipped all of their boats out via private contract haulers, most of whom used Ford Powerstroke Duallies. I don't have the contact info any more, but I almost bought a dually from one of the G-W haulers. You might try Grady White, and they may be able to put you in touch with one of their contract haulers. The guy I talked to also knew a lot about the car hauling business.
Regards,
Michael Pliska

**Kanman** · 03-03-2005, 07:16 PM

Plan on Insurance being at least double your monthly truck payment. Buying the actual trailer will be your smallest investment.

allentaylor · 03-03-2005, 08:00 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Plan on Insurance being at least double your monthly truck payment. Buying the actual trailer will be your smallest investment.

[/ QUOTE ] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]So do you know what his payment is?? Maybe he doesnt even have a payment........

LHM · 03-03-2005, 11:12 PM

Insurance that hight huh?? I don't plan to use the truck in my sig, but buy something like an XL Dually or maybe even a chasis cab with a diesel and a manual tranny. Is there enough money to be made to justify the high insurance?? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]
LHM

alumrollback · 03-05-2005, 12:22 AM

Hard to find loads with 3 or 4 at a time. You end up pulling a big heavy trailer with just one car on it. There are a couple of sites that you can get jobs to get you started but most of them are just single items.
hotrodtrailers@yahoo.com is my e-mail