Using my truck and trailer to move other people's equipment

[Builder]

There's a guy near me who owns an old IH 1900 with a 9L diesel and a lowboy. All he does is move backhoes & excavators around with it for cash. Buddy of mine uses him. He charges ~$100 bucks to move it within a 5 mile radius, maybe $150 to the next town. I won't put my equipment on his trailer......looks too shaky & old for reliable safe delivery to me.

 

[JoelD]

Thanks for the responses so far.

I'm thinking that I would start by contacting the department of motor vehicles here in NH and see what they have to say.

Some good ideas on how to find customers, thanks for that.

I'm thinking that if I can stay within a couple of states (assuming any work would come out of this), that would make things a bunch simpler.

I'm thinking a strong winch would be a pre-requisite?

I'd try to stay at 10K loads and under, typically more around the 7K and under range. Would think initially I'd not be able to compete with the pro's who move the big stuff all the time.

Joel

 

[em14]

I think you better read and understand this specialy if you cross state lines! Registration & Assistance: USDOT Number/Operating Authority - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Leo

 

[Builder]

Wouldn't be a bad idea to start up a uship.com account and start out small by hauling local loads-see how you like it.

 

[patrick_g]

I skimmed the thread but didn't see anything about a winch so you can load disabled equipment. One of the reasons someone may want something hauled is because it is disabled.

I'd recommend a minimum of $5 megabucks of liability. If you are in an accident you may be sued. The owner of the equipment you are hauling could sue you if his equipment got damaged, even if you were not at fault since his equipment was in your safe keeping.

Pat

 

[JoelD]

Thanks builder and patrick, I had thought about the winch, not sure if I posted that thought.

The u-ship account is a great idea. Nice way to test the waters.

I'll call the DMV this week to get a clearer understanding of what needs to be in order for me to be legal.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to go about getting an answer on the insurance question? I've never had such insurance and am not certain on just what it is I should ask for.

Thanks again guys,
Joel

 

[Wis Bang]

SSRS is now the UCRA 'Unified Carrier Registration' VRS Single State Registration.

Hauling interstate [crossing state lines] means Federal rules apply. I think the min in Auto Liability is $750,000.00 and that just protects the public from the damage you do to other peoples property. You need Cargo coverage to cover the stuff on your trailer and you would have to get Physical Damage coverage [fire theft & collision] on your equipment to get that fixed.

I have 140 Tractor trailers operating w/ $1,000,000.00 liability [Haz Mat lite, the nasty stuff needs $5mill] that runs just under $900K a year including 'interchanged equipment' as we haul ocean containers. No deductable on the liability and $1,000.00 on the interchanged stuff. Our cargo another $10,000.00 with a $5,000.00 deductable and a $300,000.00 limit [the owner was really sweating one stolen shipment of crab meat that was worth $280.000.00]. We use Owner Operators & their PD coverage is around $0.35 per $100.00 of the stated value and only pays book value on a total loss...

You don't want to go into this without doing it correctly. That trailer sitting there dosent eat much!

 

[rdln]

When you say part time, are you going to be able to pickup and drop off during business hours monday thru friday?

Obviously, you would make calls to tractor dealers and weasel out what they charge. I dont see an owner that needs his tractor in to the dealer for service paying you more than what the dealer charges, for that matter such a person might not hire you over the dealer unless he can save a good amount.

Yes, a winch would be in order, along with compressor or air tank.

If you can see a future for this, start looking for used roll back flatbeds.

I get a good deal on insurance with Farm bureau, They hold my farm policy and the landscaping is a rider as long as I stay under a certain amount of gross receipts.

 

[crashz]

You may want to contact a small repair shop and offer your services or maybe just a handfull of homeowners with CUTS. Keep you customer list to only a few people and see how you like it.

In MA, the minumum you would need is commercial insurance, commercial plates or apportioned plates, a businees license, Fed and State tax ID, mandated workmans comp insurance, company offered health care (or pay a fine), Federal DOT number, possibly Federal fuel users tax, and probably a host of other small things that I can't remember.

Since we live in a society that sues upon spilling hot coffe in one's lap, what ever you do, you will want to seperate yourself and your assets from the "company" you create. You could start an LLC and lease or sell your equipment to that LLC. Nothing will completely isolate you from a determined lawyer, but the everything you do now to protect yourself will help.

 

[LoneCowboy]

Go read FMCSA website.
You'll be a public carrier (interstate or intrastate)
Interstate, DOT rules apply
Intrastate, your state's DOT rules apply

You'll need an M/C number, which is your operating authority, which has all kinds of nasty rules with it. Cross state lines and you need UCR (some states you need UCR anyway)

But minimum, USDOT and all that joy, insurance, cargo insurance, new entrant program

etc, etc, etc

There's a reason it costs so much to move stuff around, and it's NOT the cost of the truck.
Random drug tests, annual inspections, commercial plates, commercial insurance. never ends.

I"m a private carrier (I move my own stuff) and it KILLS me to not be able to use the truck to do stuff like that, but it simply isn't worth all the extra money, paperwork and hassle.