From: grntrks@juno.com
Date: Sat Jun 04 2005 - 18:33:17 PDT
I should have mentioned I got a Level 1 inspection at a weigh station
once. When the inspector gets done, you will know if there is so much as
a cotter pin missing on your rig. They are that thorough!!
Frank Cox - 'Nam 1966
MVPA 14530
'45 GMC 353 DUKW
On Sat, 04 Jun 2005 18:35:46 -0500 MV <MV@dc9.tzo.com> writes:
> I'm sorry it didn't work out - that is a lot of money lost.
>
> I've heard heavy truck drivers say that they think the real way to
> make
> money is to get a light rig as you described and get rid of the
> heavy
> semi tractors/trailers. I guess the grass may simply look greener
> on
> the other side.
>
> You would think that if you have a rig and are willing to drive,
> that
> you should be able to make a reasonable profit - but perhaps it just
>
> isn't as feasible as it used to be.
>
> Dave
>
> grntrks@juno.com wrote:
> > Went into trucking business last summer ( hot-shot). I'll give you
> a
> > brief start up cost for our INTRAstate operation.
> >
> > 1. Driver training, 4 weeks school, $3,000.00. With no
> income for
> > 4 weeks.
> > Training is now required by USDOT with periodic
> refresher
> > courses required.
> > 2. Commercial liability coverage ($500,000.00 ), required
> by
> > State of Texas.
> > 3. Cargo Insurance ($20,000 ) required by shippers. Many
> shippers
> > wanted $50,000 to $100,000 coverage.
> > Combined Insurance cost $3,000.00 down and $600.00
> per
> > month.
> > 4 1991 Ford diesel dually crew cab $6,000.00.
> > 5. 40' gooseneck flatbed, 3 axle, $4,000.00
> > 6. 18' car trailer $2,000.00
> > 7. anual DOT inspection (1 truck, 2 trailers) $180.00
> > 8. 6ea. tires for truck and 6 tires for gooseneck
> $1,500.00
> > 8. Texas DOT registration, anual, $210.00
> > 9. Class A CDL with all indorsements $50.00
> > 10. DOT physical $60.00 anual
> > 11. Drug and alcohol screening $120.00, random.
> > 12. Office setup for DOT required files and records
> $500.00.
> > 13. DOT compliant sleeper (pickup truck) $2,600.00 ,
> unless you
> > can show reciepts for overnight rest stops ( motel).
> 14. Ratchet tie-down straps, chains, boomers. $850.00.
> > 15. Tarps = ?
> >
> > Total on above.= $24,880.00 before I left the driveway for our
> first
> > load.
> >
> > These are just off the top of my head. There are more I can't
> remember
> > right now.
> >
> > Then you should figure several thousand dollars for maintenance
> and
> > repair, fire extinguisher, tire chains, tow chains, spare lamps
> and
> > fuses, etc., emergency triangles. Not having any of these items
> will cost
> > you a citation and fine for each.
> >
> > By the way, average fuel costs = $1500.00 per month. The IFTA
> permit is
> > only required if you cross state lines. If you go INTERstate
> there are
> > more registration fees, higher insurance requirements, and vehicle
> tag
> > costs. Next time you see a sign on the back of a truck that says
> " this
> > truck pays $XXXX.00 highway taxes anually" you'll have an idea
> what that
> > means.
> >
> > We lasted from 18 June,2004 to 28 Feb, 2005, when we ceased
> operations
> > before we were forced into bankruptcy.
> >
> >
> > Frank Cox - 'Nam 1966
> > MVPA 14530
> > '45 GMC 353 DUKW
> >
> >
> >
> > On Fri, 03 Jun 2005 13:36:21 -0500 MV <MV@dc9.tzo.com> writes:
> >
> >>Yep, you are right. But I've got a bonafide corporation and I'm
> >>dealing
> >>with other corporations and they want everything to look right.
> >>Also I
> >>think I would have had a hard time passing my rig for a "personal
>
> >>vehicle". It's 66 feet long end to end and that's a big personal
>
> >>rig!
> >>
> >>I think I can get by with that a lot easier with my M51 dump truck
>
> >>than
> >>this rig. Plus if I keep everything commercial, my commercial
> >>liability
> >>insurance is working and if someone drops something while loading
>
> >>the
> >>truck, etc. I know I'm covered. Otherwise?? Who knows.
> >>
> >>I probably could have gone with farm tags and setup a farm
> division
> >>of
> >>the company, but those trucks are supposidly limited to 150 miles
>
> >>from
> >>home base.
> >>
> >>However from a commercial standpoint - the BS you have to put up
> >>with on
> >>a CMV makes me wonder whether it is worth it. It certainly costs
> a
> >>lot
> >>more than I had initially planned in both time and money. I've
> >>heard
> >>that independant truckers are dropping out and I can see why. For
> a
> >>one
> >>man show the legalities of trucking are pretty extreme with a lot
> of
> >>
> >>upfront costs.
> >>
> >>Dave
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>David Ashley wrote:
> >>
> >>>Um ah why did you ?
> >>>
> >>>" Proper commercial insurance and registrations onboard for both
>
> >>
> >>truck and
> >>
> >>> trailer."
> >>>
> >>>I think you put your self in this commercial arena buy having
> >>
> >>commercial reg
> >>
> >>>and ins. I don't know how much business you do but I think a
> >>
> >>personal plate
> >>
> >>>would have been a better option, Also I have heard the words
> "Not
> >>
> >>for Hire"
> >>
> >>>go a long way of keeping you out of commercial areas. I think
> you
> >>
> >>need to
> >>
> >>>go all commercial or all personal. Your business and the amount
>
> >>
> >>of income
> >>
> >>>will dictate.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>-----Original Message-----
> >>>From: Military Vehicles Mailing List [mailto:mil-veh@mil-veh.org]
>
> >>
> >>On Behalf
> >>
> >>>Of MV
> >>>Sent: Friday, June 03, 2005 8:20 AM
> >>>To: Military Vehicles Mailing List
> >>>Subject: [MV] My recent run in with the Commercial Vehicle Police
>
> >>
> >>- Indiana
> >>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>I just wanted to share my tale with you so you can possibly avoid
>
> >>
> >>this
> >>
> >>>sitaution. I'd also like to hear about your experience with the
>
> >>
> >>CMV cops.
> >>
> >>>Last week on the Friday before Memorial Day I was driving my 22
> ft
> >>
> >>>flatbed truck with my newly renovated gooseneck trailer attached,
>
> >>
> >>across
> >>
> >>>Indiana.
> >>>
> >>>Here are the particulars:
> >>>
> >>>Truck:
> >>>GMC 1984 Diesel 22 ft. flatbed straight truck with 28,000 GVWR on
>
> >>
> >>the
> >>
> >>>door jamb plate.
> >>>Indiana truck plates - 26,000 lbs tags registered in my companies
>
> >>
> >>name.
> >>
> >>>Hydraulic disk brakes on all both axles.
> >>>
> >>>Trailer:
> >>>Dual Tandem Gooseneck trailer with 16,000 lbs plates - trailer is
>
> >>
> >>really
> >>
> >>>good for 24,000+ lb payload. Plates registered in my companies
> >>
> >>name
> >>
> >>>also. Trailer was attached to the above truck via a gooseneck
> >>
> >>ball
> >>
> >>>mounted in a well in the truck bed.
> >>>
> >>>Proper commercial insurance and registrations onboard for both
> >>
> >>truck and
> >>
> >>> trailer.
> >>>
> >>>I was heading across Indiana when a semi blew by me and hit his
> >>
> >>horn
> >>
> >>>pointing behind me. I had a cop on my tail with the lights
> >>
> >>flashing -
> >>
> >>>but no siren. I pulled over.
> >>>
> >>>I was not breaking any laws apparently when the cop pulled me
> >>
> >>over.
> >>
> >>>Commercial motor vehicles can be stopped without cause. It was
> my
> >>
> >>turn
> >>
> >>>apparently. This was the first time I had the trailer attached
> to
> >>
> >>this
> >>
> >>>truck.
> >>>
> >>>I was asked for my license (standard issue - non-CDL).
> >>>I was asked for my medical card. I did not have one.
> >>>The officer did a 100% inspection on my rig and found a tail
> light
> >>
> >>on
> >>
> >>>the trailer has stopped working - everything else passed.
> >>>I had the proper USDOT numbers on my truck.
> >>>I did not have a truck inspection sticker or documents.
> >>>
> >>>She asked me how many trucks I had in my fleet. I only have
> one.
> >>>She asked where I was coming from and where I was going and the
> >>
> >>plans
> >>
> >>>for my trip.
> >>>
> >>>The officer told me that all 3 axle trucks and all combination
> >>
> >>vehicles
> >>
> >>>with total GVWR weight ratings of over 26,000 require a CDL. I
> >>
> >>told her
> >>
> >>>that the BMV told me that my truck did not require a CDL even
> >>
> >>though it
> >>
> >>>says 28,000 on the rating plate (which they did).
> >>>
> >>>After the officer did an entire truck and trailer inspection, she
>
> >>
> >>mulled
> >>
> >>>things over for a long time and finally said that she can't allow
>
> >>
> >>me to
> >>
> >>>drive the vehicle because I don't have a CDL. She said that she
>
> >>
> >>really
> >>
> >>>wished that she had not pulled me over since it was obvious that
> I
> >>
> >>was
> >>
> >>>trying to do everything correctly.
> >>>
> >>>She said I needed to call someone who had a CDL to come and drive
>
> >>
> >>the
> >>
> >>>vehicle from where it was. I made a couple of phone calls but I
>
> >>
> >>knew
> >>
> >>>that no one was immediately available. After sitting on the side
>
> >>
> >>of the
> >>
> >>>road on the back edge of the trailer for about 2 hours waiting
> for
> >>
> >>>people to call me back - she re-emerged from the car and gave me
> a
> >>
> >>bunch
> >>
> >>>of info - a department of revenue booklet with a bunch of pages
> >>
> >>turned,
> >>
> >>>a warning ticket for no CDL and a tailight out, and an actual
> >>
> >>ticket for
> >>
> >>>not having an IFTA fuel tax license and stickers. She then told
>
> >>
> >>me that
> >>
> >>>she would follow me down to a truckstop. She pointed out that
> the
> >>
> >>>truckstop was on a north-south county road and she drove on and
> >>
> >>did not
> >>
> >>>stay with me at the truckstop. Since I had to go north anyway,
> >>
> >>that
> >>
> >>>location was a convenient drop off point.
> >>>
> >>>There is a lot of confusion over the 26,000 lb limit for a CDL
> >>>requirement. But the officer said that since the truck was rated
>
> >>
> >>for
> >>
> >>>28,000 it was clearly over even though the plates say 26,000 lbs.
>
> >>
> >>The
> >>
> >>>fact that I had a combination vehicle with a total plated weight
>
> >>
> >>of
> >>
> >>>42,000 clearly put me in CDL land she said.
> >>>
> >>>I knew that by pulling the heavy gooseneck trailer that I was
> >>
> >>running
> >>
> >>>the ragged legal edge pretty hard - but I didn't think I would
> get
> >>
> >>>pulled over so quickly. The pullover and the almost 3 hour delay
>
> >>
> >>(while
> >>
> >>>I paid for guys to wait for me at the destination) was costly.
> I
> >>
> >>have
> >>
> >>>called the courthouse to find out what the situation is with the
>
> >>
> >>IFTA
> >>
> >>>ticket and they could not tell me if it required a court
> >>
> >>appearance or
> >>
> >>>if it was just a fine. I'm guessing it is a fine since it is not
>
> >>
> >>a
> >>
> >>>moving violation, but who knows.
> >>>
> >>>This week I called the Indiana Department of Revenue - as they
> >>
> >>handle
> >>
> >>>the IFTA licensing - this was all news to me but I'm sure heavy
> >>
> >>truckers
> >>
> >>>are very familiar with this BS that they apparently have to deal
>
> >>
> >>with
> >>
> >>>every 3 months. IFTA is all about fuel taxes and trucks and the
>
> >>
> >>states
> >>
> >>>struggles to grab as much money from truckers as possible. If
> >>
> >>your rig
> >>
> >>>is licensed over 26,000 lbs, and commercial - you have to get an
>
> >>
> >>IFTA
> >>
> >>>license and stickers. Note that I said licensed - not rated.
> The
> >>
> >>DOR
> >>
> >>>doesn't care if you rig is rated for 80,000 and licensed for
> >>
> >>26,000 they
> >>
> >>> said. The proof is when you run it across the scales. If you
>
> >>
> >>exceed
> >>
> >>>your plates, or the maximum axle ratings - then you are in
> >>
> >>trouble.
> >>
> >>>They also don't care if you have a CDL or not - the DOR is all
> >>
> >>about
> >>
> >>>money. The cops at the scales and the CMV cops enforce the DOR
> >>
> >>laws.
> >>
> >>>Then I found out about interstate laws with a rig over 26,000 lbs
>
> >>
> >>total
> >>
> >>>licensed plates. My rig was officially at a total license weight
>
> >>
> >>of
> >>
> >>>42,000 lbs. (26K + 16K) Since the total rig is over 26,000 lbs
>
> >>
> >>she
> >>
> >>>told me I would need trip permits to visit other states with this
>
> >>
> >>rig.
> >>
> >>>(What? I already have plates - Indiana ones - what is this about
>
> >>
> >>I
> >>
> >>>thought - again caught off guard!)
> >>>
> >>>If you take a rig that is over 26,000 lbs across your home state
>
> >>
> >>lines
> >>
> >>>you either need an IRP apportioned plate or a trip permit to
> enter
> >>
> >>that
> >>
> >>>state. (Yes, more BS) I told her I may be going to Michigan,
> IL,
> >>
> >>OH,
> >>
> >>>and Kentucky and NY with my 42K licensed rig. I said how much
> >>
> >>would an
> >>
> >>>IRP plate cost for that weight. She said about $942.00. The
> >>
> >>truck cost
> >>
> >>> $1800!!! She said that I could get a credit for the unused
> >>
> >>portion of
> >>
> >>>my Indiana 26,000 lb truck plate - which cost about $350.
> >>>
> >>>I checked on the cost of trip permits and they are not cheap, but
>
> >>
> >>a lot
> >>
> >>>cheaper than an IRP plate. A 3 day pass to New York is $25, etc.
>
> >>
> >>Ohio
> >>
> >>>about $15. You need a permit for each state you pass through.
> So
> >>
> >>much
> >>
> >>>for the "United" States - this is expensive, and obviously very
> >>>politically centered on the individual states. It's basically a
>
> >>
> >>big
> >>
> >>>money grab from truckers. If you are an independant heavy truck
>
> >>
> >>owner
> >>
> >>>operator - I have newfound respect for your ability to put up
> with
> >>
> >>all
> >>
> >>>of this BS.
> >>>
> >>>Anyway - even though I am setup as a Private Carrier - I move my
>
> >>
> >>own
> >>
> >>>commercial stuff - not for hire - this commerical truck stuff is
>
> >>
> >>darn
> >>
> >>>expensive. Especially for only occasional use - which is what I
>
> >>
> >>bought
> >>
> >>>the truck and trailer for - to haul machines that I purchase,
> >>
> >>rebuild
> >>
> >>>and sell. I'm going through the CDL licensing process which I
> >>
> >>don't
> >>
> >>>think will be much of a problem - just a time eater. Will it
> make
> >>
> >>me a
> >>
> >>>better driver - probably not. But it will make me 100% legal.
> >>>
> >>>The lesson that I have learned from all of this is to avoid
> >>
> >>getting into
> >>
> >>>the commercial end of truck situation if at all possible. I have
>
> >>
> >>an M51
> >>
> >>>5 ton dump with Indiana historical plates and I intend to keep it
>
> >>
> >>that
> >>
> >>>way. If you attempt to go commerical with a truck like a 5 ton
> >>
> >>M54 type
> >>
> >>>truck - make sure you have a lot of money to spend and you like
> to
> >>
> >>fill
> >>
> >>>out fuel tax returns every 3 months as that is what is legally
> >>
> >>required.
> >>
> >>> If you miss a filing there is a $50 fine. Also you will need
>
> >>
> >>trip
> >>
> >>>permits to cross state lines. More BS. If you don't intend to
> >>
> >>use the
> >>
> >>>vehicle for commerical use - stay as far away from the commerical
>
> >>
> >>stuff
> >>
> >>>as possible - In fact I would avoid getting a CDL since it may
> >>
> >>make you
> >>
> >>>look like you are a commercial driver attempting to skirt the
> >>
> >>law.
> >>
> >>>If you are going to be using a truck for commercial use - go all
>
> >>
> >>of the
> >>
> >>>way and do it 100% correct. You will just end up paying for
> doing
> >>
> >>it
> >>
> >>>right or pay even more for doing it wrong. There seems to be no
>
> >>
> >>in
> >>
> >>>between - at least that is the way I look at it now.
> >>>
> >>>I'd be interested to hear other people stories and experiences
> >>
> >>regarding
> >>
> >>>this type of thing and how far you can push the envelope before
> >>
> >>the CMV
> >>
> >>>cops come down on you.
> >>>
> >>>Do many people have 5 ton trucks licensed as CMV's. What about
> >>
> >>M35? If
> >>
> >>>a vehicle is over 10,000 K lb GVWR and commerical it is suppose
> to
> >>
> >>have
> >>
> >>>USDOT numbers (free to get) but it exposes you to more scrutiny.
> >>>
> >>>I have talked with some Commercial drivers and some have said
> that
> >>
> >>they
> >>
> >>>have never been pulled over by the CMV cops. I think there are
> >>
> >>only
> >>
> >>>about 10 CMV cops in the entire state of Indiana. Obviously last
>
> >>
> >>Friday
> >>
> >>>was "not" my lucky day.
> >>>
> >>>Dave
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>===Mil-Veh is a member-supported mailing list===
> >>>To unsubscribe, send e-mail to: <mil-veh-off@mil-veh.org>
> >>>To switch to the DIGEST mode, send e-mail to
> >>
> >><mil-veh-digest@mil-veh.org>
> >>
> >>>To reach a human, contact <ack@mil-veh.org>
> >>>
> >>>===Mil-Veh is a member-supported mailing list===
> >>>To unsubscribe, send e-mail to: <mil-veh-off@mil-veh.org>
> >>>To switch to the DIGEST mode, send e-mail to
> >>
> >><mil-veh-digest@mil-veh.org>
> >>
> >>>To reach a human, contact <ack@mil-veh.org>
> >>>
> >>===Mil-Veh is a member-supported mailing list===
> >>To unsubscribe, send e-mail to: <mil-veh-off@mil-veh.org>
> >>To switch to the DIGEST mode, send e-mail to
> >><mil-veh-digest@mil-veh.org>
> >>To reach a human, contact <ack@mil-veh.org>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> > Frank Cox - 'Nam 1966
> > MVPA 14530
> > '45 GMC 353 DUKW
> >
>
>
Frank Cox - 'Nam 1966
MVPA 14530
'45 GMC 353 DUKW
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Fri Oct 28 2005 - 22:47:27 PDT