Hey Guys,

Looking into getting a enclosed car hauler for just one, so small. What kind of permits would I need and I shouldn't have to even get a CDL B for that right? Unless over 10,000# Maybe a med card? What about usdot#?
Insure the truck and trailer under a commercial plan. What about crossing state lines? I'm in Phoenix. Thanks for the help.

 

FIRST and most important........ What are your intentions for trailer.????

Are you towing for Hire?
Is it your show car to events?

basically if you are involved in ANY commercial enterprise, then you WILL need to follow Federal Commercial Motor Vehicle rules. ANy diesel truck with a car trailer will exceed the 10,001 or more pound limits to become a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). The 10,001 mark is based on Actual gross weight or gross vehicle weight rating or combined weight or combined weight rating. Once you enter CMV rules, you need a USDOT number, Annual inspections for truck and trailer, fire ext. and triangles, DOT Medical card, Log Book if going distances over 150 miles(i think). Carrier ID on the truck, apportioned plates if crossing state lines. You ONLY need a CDL if the vehicle or combination exceeds 26,000 lbs IE 26,001 lbs then you need a class "B". This includes towing a trailer that has a gross weight or rating UNDER 10,000 lbs. If over 26,000 with a trailer over 10,000 then you need a CDL class A.

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/

 

Logbook minimum miles is "100 Air-mile" radius. Used to be if crossing state lines, not any more.
I have been unable to clarify or define exactly what is an "air-mile"? Nautical mile? Statute mile? They are not the same. Could make a difference.
My daily run goes from Detroit, MI to Twinsburg, Ohio.
110 statute miles away.
96 nautical miles away.

 

Air miles is as the crow flies...straight line from point A to point B...... Sorryon wrong miles...been awhile since I did any log book stuff...

 

Technically the log-free zone is within a 100 Air Mile Radius. You could drive hundreds of miles inside that circle.
I understand about the straight line miles, point A to point B. Still doesn't answer the question of statute vs. nautical.
Point A is my Detroit Terminal. Point B is Twinsburg Ohio. 96 miles or 110 miles?

 

their are two rules to lookup 395.1.e1 and 395.1.e2 and they will tell you if you are exempt from the logbook rules. here the txdot rule is 150 miles check with your states dot

 

One car or three cars the only difference will be the class of DL you need (unless u go over 26k gcwr). By time you factor in all the costs of this business hauling 1 or even 2 cars at a time makes it virtually impossible to make and money. 3 is tough (believe me I know) 4 get better. Then of course for more than that its a whole different world.

 

Thanks again guys! I am getting very discouraged at this point! I really want a nice gooseneck, 20ft deck with a 4-5 ft dovetail and haul what ever needs hauling in the Phx valley and maybe out of town a bit. Stay in state. I will be talking to my progressive agent today and just see how much this will cost. I will keep working at it. If I could make 15 to 20,000 a year thats good for me my wife makes most of the money and we have no kids.

 

Insurance will be $2500 for the year! Some guys said they pay $6000 per year! They may be young and have tickets?

 

Chances are the $2500 they quoted for the liability portion not cargo too. Myself I am above 40, clean record and for a million liability, about 40,000 in coverage for my truck and trailer (1000 ded), and 100,000 cargo its about 5k a year. The quotes you get will be all over the board, I have seen close to 10k for the same coverage.

To do this part time is really tough due to the costs of insurance and so on, myself If I was going to do something part time I would just hook up with a local dealer. Many have there own equipment and just hire a driver to run back and forth to the auction. They also tend to have a group of guys they pay by the car to drive vehicles to and from the auction.

 

Thanks Haulin-RV for takin' the time!

 

A 20' deck won't get you many loads . You'd be better off with a straight truck with that . Most hotshotters I knew starting out with 32' trailers moved up to 40' trailers when they saw how many loads they had to turn down .