Try getting into a couple car auctions and see if you can get some leads and advice. There is a big, dealer auction in Lansing every Thursday. Maybe see if any of your dealerships hit these. If they don't deliver every time, they could possibly page you if they make some purchases.

 

The same as leased with a big truck, "deadhead and bobtail" insurance is a particular type of policy that truck related insurance companies carry. Generally all leased truck must carry it. The insurance is much cheaper than full liability coverage. Where you can get in trouble is if you put a load on the truck that is not the company you are leased to, you have no insurance.

Generally the bobtail is just the tractor, the deadhead is with our own trailer deadheading to a load. I have never seen one without the other. Sort of fuzzy is that if you had regular insurance and were deadheading to an RV to pull it, you are technically commercial going to a load to make money. If you are going to Waffle House to eat, you are not commercial and standard insurance would cover you.

Remember also that you have to be insured to go to the company and sign the lease, get inspected, etc.

 

I looked into this a few years ago in the west, out here and then most of the companies did not want to use four wheel drive pickups is that still the case and does anyone know why?? I had a friend that use to drive for a company named Morgan, a lot of their drivers seemed to be retired from something else and for what they were paying it seemed like a must!! I know he stayed busy but they sure ran him empty a lot!!

 

I would like to get into this also, nothing big, maybe every other weekend, or almost like a backup if someone needs something delivered, and no one else answers or reports. hmmmm. Not too fond of a ton of miles without getting another truck first.

 

So what are we looking at for ballpark insurance costs?

Richard

 

The 4x4 rule is because generally 4x4s bed rails are too high. You can easily get around that if you have to by removing 1 of the blocks on the rear axle (?)

Tons of miles is part of the fun I'd love to do OR to Alaska runs... but... not in my 2wd.

From what it sounds like you just need regular old insurance + deadhead/bobtail insurance... but I don't know what your "regular old insurance" would say when you tell them you want to transport RVs for hire... I'm sure they'd try to force you to get commercial insurance (???) Maybe you need commercial insurance, but just for your truck... not primary liability/cargo.

 

on the phone with my insurance girl, reg. insurance covers only liability for what you are towing, not phys. damage. in order for what you are towing to be covered, you need to insure that item. i dont know how this works for cargo, she is looking into that for me.

 

when you tow for someone like Horizon, they pay primary liability and cargo. you pay for personal liability on your truck only, comprehensive on your truck only, and non-truckers liability.

if you work for yourself you need primary liability and cargo.

 

Bobtail and Deadhead will cover you for when not under a load to a leased company. Cargo insurance will only come with a full package. Do yourself a favor and use a big truck insurance company, you will pay through the nose not using a truck company for the insurance. The collison and comp will be rolled into the deadhand and bobtail.

 

I haul campers for a living and if you have the truck and the hitches you can get into it pretty cheap. I worked for Hoosier transit in milford,In his pay rate is a little less then everyone else but he pays 100 percent up front he don't require a $1000 down for deposit all you pay for is the deposit on the license plate for the trailers which is I think $30.00 After pulling single trailers I seen I could make more doing doubles so I streched my truck put a hauler bed on my truck for $12,000 and now I have a haul n tow I now work for another company they do have a $1000 deposit and no it don't pay double but it does pay $1.50 a mile and you can haul a car back Oh yeah when your pulling single trailers no matter what they tell ya you will be coming back empty I know of only one company taht offers haul backs that is Quality there in Indiana too. Hope this helps you all.

Reno