when i was younger i was on the road alot with my father (whenever i wasnt in school) he was a truck driver that was often gone 2 weeks at a time, not the greatest thing in the world but he made awesome money. I did think that what he did was 2nd to none, towing huge loads cross country. allthough this wont toot many ppl's horns i love the idea... As i grew older (and my parents ended up divorced) going threw high school i saw an oportunity to take a vocational class after it was explained for me that it wasnt just retarded ppl that went like all the "smart kids" thought it was actually a good idea for ppl that didnt like the idea of sitting behind a desk for 8 hrs. I looked threw the book that had all the classes i could take in it and i ended up going for a Welding class i loved it threw both years... At the same time i was turning 16 and getting my learners permit... any 16 yr old boy loves this time in his life.. my father was the one who took me to get my learners permit and by this time he was the owner of his own landscaping business. i went into DMV took some stupid test and came out ready to hit the open road.... my father threw me the keys and we started walking back to his vehicle... in the parking lot i was staring at a 3rd gen cummins crew cab with an 24' enclosed trailer at which i had been told was the widest you could legaly go (102'' wide) my father being the man who didnt let his son back out of anything if you know what i mean, told me to get in it and drive... (lets ignore the fact that on a lerner's permit this is completly illegal) and he would watch what i was doing... to shorten up this story a lil bit i drove the truck and loved it. went to college for welding got loads of certs. even a NYSDOT cert. and went out inot the working world.. once that happend i bought my own truck (you can guess what it was) after a few months im starting to realize that maybe the welding industry that i got into isnt what i really have the mind set for... i LOVE welding but im thinking it should be more of a hobby. with all that said im thinking of going back to what i loved as a boy and what i grew up around with my father. would it completly unfeasable for a 18 yr old green horn kid to open up his own car hauling/heavy equipment moving business (im not even sure if there is alot of work like that around me) i am unfortunitly a few yrs under the age to get a class A CDL that is #2 on my list behind fixing my 1st gen up all pretty. i am also thinking about getting a generator welder and doing some minor fab and repair work for some of the farmers in my are. are any of you in this business and what do you think??? is 18yrs old just simply too young for this kind of stuff? any and all of your opinions are VERY appriciated please speak up!!!


please ignore all the grammer issues, im having my girlfriend help me with the problems i have in writing

 

The portable welding business is a good idea and needed anywhere.

It will get you out in breathable air and let you be your own boss.

You will have more work than you can do, so no need to have to deal with people that can't be got along with.

Maybe I'll start me a portable welding business; I already talked myself into it.

 

Whatever you decide, weld or haul, do not get caught up in what the compatition charges, charge what you need to make a profit and don't listen to customers or care what a competitor get's. If you have to justify your rate, it's because your better. And follow thru with that statement.

 

i was kinda hoping to make a full time thing with the hauling business, maybe do a we bit of welding on the weekend or something when my girl and friends are busy. Is getting into the hauling business profitable with plenty of work? I'm not looking for really long hauls just around the northeast.. not sure how to get business from out of surrounding states tho

 

Ok my idea is probably not on your list but here goes:

Right now where I live (Alberta, Canada) we need welders, pipefitters, tradesmen of all sorts. And at the moment welders are making rediculous amounts of money (think 30-40 bucks and hour starting for a journeyman welder). And depending where and who you work for that amount can be a lot more. So with that in mind, if you have nothing holding you back in New York, try and move here or move west. I understand that Wyoming has the same need for tradesmen.

I'm 18 as well and I'm going to be starting my heavy duty technician apprenticeship within the next week or two. Should be fun

 

i do plan on moving west and opening my own business most likely in Wyoming/Montana area just waiting on my girl to finish college. although i do appreciate your information on welders out west im not really in the position to move that way so soon... which is why im interested in the amount of business i would get in the northeast moving heavy equipment/cars and sorts.

 

If you half try to be legal, there is no way to turn a profit with a truck.

I make decent money; but, I am so illegal that it even scares me.

If you must drive, then drive the other man's truck; let him pay all the expenses.

I also agree with sdstriper, put the pencil to what you do, be sure to take good care of yourself when figuring, add a decent profit, and don't feel like you are robbing someone when you state your bill.

They don't care if you file bankruptcy next week, so long as you work dirt cheap for them.

Also, the competition probably hasn't sense enough to know what it costs to operate and will burn out soon; so, don't let their rates govern what you charge.

 

Grab a welder and go for it. If it doesn't work out you can always go and work for somebody else.

JP.

 

I agree with BearKiller. Owning and running a buisness has it's downfalls, But over all it is better that working for some one else. Besides that at your age before you have a family of your own it is a better time in your life to establisha buisness. But just remember that when you do own your own buisness it's just like having a second family you have to be that commited to it. And the buisness has to come first especially in the early years of the buisness.

 

theres is lots to be made welding like mentioned above. dont take this the wrong way, but i wouldnt let an 18 y/o haul anything for me. nothing personal, but i dont even know what kind of insurance if any you could get for hauling for hire. i know it seems like a glamorous life and would be fun to be on the road, but your still young. go back to school, get your degree and make lots of money. dont make the mistake i did by not finishing your degree.

brett

 

I dropped out of college to start my hot shot bussiness. I wasn't 18 at the time (I was 30) so my situation was a bit different. I was in my junior year at Texas A&M University Kingsville, getting a Range and Wildlife Science degree. I loved being able to go to school and I was doing great. I was working 2 jobs at the time to put myself thru school. I had been an OTR driver for the 6 previous years which led to a divorce. I really enjoy my job now and I make a 6 figure income, but..............

at 18, go to school and get a degree. the trucking bussiness was here before you were born and will be here when you die. Get educated, mature, and enjoy being young. Driving up and down the road may seem like the great adventure......until you have to do it everyday. There's plenty of time in your future to truck it up.

Remeber, nobody likes a stupid truck driver.

 

20 years ago, geneticians and computers were overcrowding the credits at the university but when you look at the big picture, if you have talent in fabricating / welding, there is no limits. My dad was welder but, of course, you never listen to your parents...! I'm 54 and cannot weld two wires together...! Go for it man.

 

we need a "qoute of the month" club...

search for HOT SHOT hauling in this forum, and on the 'net.

from what i have read, not much $$ in it.

i think your education is what you need. READ more. anything, magazines, Tech/trade articles & magazines. the written word is an indicator of your abilities, now more than ever, since we use e-mail so much.

read in between the lines in every thing you read, and you may see that welding is better than trucking.

if you are a man, and
--good work
--stand behind your work.
--show up on TIME.

you will be ahead of 75% of the folks out there running their own business.

go work for a shop till you finish your degree, learn a few things, and talk to the boss, tell him you want to run a mobile shop, maybe you can work together.

just talk to everyone.
and ALWAYS be honest.

a man who's word is good, will always have good work.