You can run the hours you want but most of them run as mentioned - 4,000 miles a week to net $30,000 a year . That figure is close to what was calculated recently at hotshothauling.com . Run less , make less . DOT regs are waived for drivers pulling FEMA trailers and those guys run insane hours . Transport companies are easing their requirements . I've seen a lot of trucks more than 5 years old . I was hauling until June then quit when fuel prices went up and there was no fuel surcharge increase . The more experienced drivers get the loads like bluepuller . All of the country new guys get to see is between Indiana and the Gulf and forget backhauls when starting out . If you're serious about it I'd look into a low profile flatbed that could carry one trailer and pull another . ( No , the pay isn't double . You get 60 - 80 cents a mile to pull the second trailer . ) On the backhaul you could load one pickup and tow another and split fuel costs . Transport companies also have driveaway divisions delivering motorhomes . You see the country and don't wear out a pickup every couple of years . If you check transport company websites , Horizon is a little decptive in their chart showing what drivers make . They show net after fuel cost . That's after fuel cost for the loaded triup . The cost of deadhead fuel isn't figured and comes out of your "net " .

 

Actually Rick I just checked into the lowboy thing the other day ..THE PAY IS DOUBLE for the fema trailers but you need a 53 foot lowboy to run them which is no cheapy in itself ..I have been doin this since january so not real long its over 2 dolloars a mile for any lowboy where I am driving. The way they dispatch doesnt have anything to do with time spend there simply first come first serve. you can pick what you want from what they have however drivers that are willing to run east coast will get prefrence in the slow months. I do Caution others wanting to get into this becouse all companys are not the same. I did alot of Looking before I Leased onto this one becouse they do vary so much the person that owns this is a woman that used to drive so shes knows how hard it can be to make a living and is fair right on your check she puts how much she got paid for the load and your percentage and she pays the driver 100 percent of fuel surcharge and udjust it well in time for the price increases unlike some of the others I know of we were getting .32 cents for fuel when evrybody else was still down in the 20's

 

Horizon is one of them that has really waived the requirments for what they will lease on they are not even requireing any experience at this point.Kinda Scary.

 

Yea some of the drivers on the road are scary!
I was wondering , do you still fill a log book or is this diferent than what the big trucks have to fill out?

 

yes have to do evrything big trucks do as far as weigh stations and logging unless you are running fema stuff

 

No doubles, no flatbed/pull another, was what I was told. That could have just been the info they wanted me to have though. I'm sure they're like most companies....make the rules for however it suits them/whoever they want them to suit. I'm gonna make a couple of rounds I think. I'm not trying to justify buying a truck/ins/this/that/the other. I just want the money. I'll have more when I come back, than I did when I left....mission accomplished.

 

You might have more money but think about depreciation on your truck and tire wear , etc.

 

its a truck its made for work and at the current Tax deduction for these things it pays you to wear them out especially if you have a good accountant and a spouse with a good income .this way you ahve so many write offs you still make a decent paycheck withought paying income taxes . and it also takes a big bite out of what your wife will pay to .

 

The spouse with a good income ( or other income like a farm , rental property , retirement income , etc . ) is a good point . So is the tax credits for buying a new vehicle , meal deductions , etc. BUT , you better not show a loss year after year or the IRS will be all over you . Another thing is a small net income or loss is great as far as taxes go but your credit will go to hell . Once you start a business most banks want to see your net income as a business for the past 2 years if you try to borrow money . You better not need a loan before two years in business . It won't matter what your personal income was in previous years .

 

true rick i belive you get 5 years of losing money on paper with the IRS nit sure since i only have about 6 months left to drive I dont have to worry about it I am actually a Journyman toolmaker the company I work for is in the process of rebuilding and will be ready for my return feb or march so this had been a good deal to keep the bills paid make some decent money in between .

 

I have sent out several inquiries and gont negative responses on all. I'm not sure who you have to know to get into this racket.

 

Rattle rattle , do you have towing experience ? Insurance companies require contractors to have experience . How's your driving record ? As far as equipment goes I've seen more and more older trucks out there . My truck is still parked and I'm not making any recommendations to anybody . Bluepuller and a few others get a reasonable amount of backhauls to make a decent income but they are the minority .

 

The only experience I have is pulling my own stuff. My driving record is clean. My truck is set up to pull.

 

Who have you applied to ?

 

I drove hotshot for about 5 yrs and you are correct about the deductions ........ paid my taxes at the fuel pump . I got out when fuel was climbing over a dollar a gallon . I used to haul alot of aircraft parts for Garrett Aviation in Springfield ,Ill , steel ,electric motors, etc . Price of fuel bouncing around so bad and all the other bs makes me cringe at the thought now . My uncle got called out of retirement with the Corps of Engineers to work on New Orleans levees and the thought of tooling down south a couple times a month has crossed my mind lately . Took several jet engines up to Kellogg airport back in the day .