I can't relate to the transport business but the same thing happens in the construction ind. all the time as others on here will attest to. You get a call, go out on your own time to talk to a person and prove your credentials. You explain everything, treat them fair and answer their questions honestly. Than you give them a price and they scoff. Because all they wanted was a ridiculous price that only "crack-head contracting" from the city can offer. These guys come in and do the worst job imaginable because they can't wait to go buy their next case of beer and screw someone else. It makes you mad when you spend alot of extra money and aggravation to do things legit. Fortunately people seem to be wising up some.

 

What really irks me too no avail is I get pulled over and inspected all the time and i almost got popped cause I was hauling load of hay and they almost dinged me for having a strap that was starting too fail how on the heck do all these guys hauling scrap piled high up with no mesh too keep falling parts in the trailer and maybe if your lucky two starts and driving a home built trailer with bent axles and a half ton chevy pickup not get arrested by port of entry.

 

Check out this trailer the roofer my wife hired uses . Not lights , brakes , safety chains , and just a nut and bolt to secure it to the truck bumper . I supervised the job VERY closely .

 

Remember now... fools rush in where angels fear to tread!

 

If you would like more information about illegal haulers look here.
http://www.stopillegaltrucking.com/forum/index.php

 

If I am driving to the coast and some one has a few boxes they want sent out there and they are willing to scoot a few bucks for it, who cares.

U Ship usually has loads that people cannot or will not pay going freight charges for which in same cases are insane.

I see nothing wrong with a person looking at u ship or what ever, picking up some extra fuel money for a trip. Trying to make a living off of U Ship is simply impossible. It may supplement your income.

I know for me to insure my Pick up truck to haul commercially costs $14,000-18000 a year. Thats a pile of money out the door and not feasable unless I run every day. For a good rate.

I see most of these adds as guys who will not pay the going rate anyways. As long as they are up front with the person with the add in reguards to insurance, and cost then so be it.

 

Vehicles under 10,000 lbs. GVWR don't fall under FMCSA authority anyway unless they haul hazmat requiring placards . So throwing a few boxes in a pickup without authority is not illegal .

 

It is, when you take pay for it, when you cross state lines it becomes interstate commerce and it does fall under FMCSA>

 

This is nothing new,wildcat haulers have always been around and always will be,simply because they offer a service that someone wants,when there's a need,someone will fill it and its really shipper beware. I doubt that trucks under 10,000 lbs. or having much impact on the transportation industry.

 

Impact is irrelevant. They get wind you even took a dollar for the load, gas money or not, you're individual state will probably consider you as commercial before you even need to worry about the state line. Better have all your ducks in a row or keep quiet about the transaction. A lot of states hurting for revinue right now, so verbal warnings tend to be scarce these days.

 

Leeches, cockroaches and blood sucking ticks!!!
While I understand that govt. needs taxes to operate they also should realize that they have a responsibility to us citizens to be frugal with our money. Had they done so they wouldn't feel the need to be the parasites that they have become!
Sorry for the rant but I believe that we have all been overly controlled for way too long and it just keeps getting worse!

 

I don't completely disagree, but threats don't seem to work these dyas, the only thing that seems to work is hitting them in the pocket. My other point was, with budget cuts, any law enforcement, probably especially motor carrier, is at a risk of lay-off right now. Easier to justify your position if you show you are working hard.

 

Try making a living in the construction business. We are up against the same thing, some hack that couldn't make it in the field on a real crew writes a book and now every homeowner with a hammer thinks he's a carpenter and an expert on pricing. Not only that but they want to supply all their own materials, which is usually not sufficient for the job, and want a contractor discount on top of that.

Its to the point around here where I think I'm going to have to change careers at the point I was getting really good at my profession.