Fema Move

[haulin rv]

Saw this over on another forum, don't know anything other than whats posted. From the Cummins Forum.

My company just got awarded with a big FEMA travel trailers contract, I need some additional drivers to add to the current fleet.

You can pull as many as you want, it will be a 6-7 months operation.

I don't expect you to drop your car trailers or anything, if you familiar with FEMA ( those of you who pulled some back after Hurricane Kartina from IN-LA) knows what to expect.

We will get most if not all trailers road worthy and ready to go, drive about 500-550 miles and come back for more .

We have great reputation and will pay you on time, no games or playing around.
You must be a legal hauler - liability, cargo, MC, DOT etc, i'm sure you know

For more info please contact me at my email/pm

alonjona@yahoo.com


http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/towing-hauling/251781-looking-some-hauling-we-got-some-loads.html

[LBZ]

Would probably have to have a fifth wheel hitch huh?

I have a month to kill(well maybe) but just have the B&W gooseneck ball set up. Ehhh such is my luck. ;)

[Brisco]

No, you don't have to have a 5th wheel hitch to pull "FEMA" trailers. 99% of them are 28 to 32 ft tag trailers.

FEMA is moving these trailers from 3-4 storage lots across the country to Selma, Alabama to be auctioned off. As stated in another thread here in the RV section on this board, I would not get involved with this fiasco at all. These trailers have been sitting for years with no maintenance kept up whatsoever. I see many many tire blow outs going down the road. Windows, Doors flying off these things, and bearing being burned out left and right.

Also, FEMA is NOT paying the $2-$3-$4 a mile they were paying immediately after Katrina hit. FEMA is now bidding these moves out to the lowest bidders. This guy might be getting $1.20 a mile to move these things. Now he wants you (his contractors) to be a "legal hauler - liability, cargo, MC, DOT etc" and not run under "His Authority, INS, etc".

If the mileage pay was there to be profitable then the big guys (Hoosier-Horizon-Quality) would be involved in this and would be hiring drivers temporarily to get these trailers moved. None of the big guys in the industry are even mentioning or talking about FEMA trailer moves, so that says something in itself.

My advice, do not get involved with this. This is a lowball bidder that could very easily cost you dearly in the long run. The Government pays in 30-60 days. Does this guy have enough in the bank cover all these trucks he's looking for right now until he gets paid?? I doubt it. Be careful, very very careful. Know what I mean.

[haulin rv]

I think your wrong on this one, these are likely the units that were just sold. So the buyers are moving them out of the government yards to there own storage and sales locations. Myself I would only do it if it was a "pay as you go" type deal, my policy lately has been COD for just about everything I haul. I have a few well known brokers I'll do billable work for but I have a set limit that I allow out to any one broker at a time. As far as pay, since he is looking for people to run under there own authority and insurance it sure better be higher than the $1-1.05 the big guys are paying!

[Brisco]

I think your wrong on this one, these are likely the units that were just sold. So the buyers are moving them out of the government yards to there own storage and sales locations.

As far as pay, since he is looking for people to run under there own authority and insurance it sure better be higher than the $1-1.05 the big guys are paying!

Nah, I'm probably right on the money on this one.

The guy clearly states in the ad "We will get most if not all trailers road worthy and ready to go, drive about 500-550 miles and come back for more." It's about 520 miles from Hope, Arkansas to Selma, Alabama. The FEMA yard there in Hope had about 12 to 15 thousand of these things sitting there. The FEMA yard in Selma is FEMA's main reconditioning yard for these Travel Trailers and is also the FEMA staging area for the auctions for these trailers.

The guy also said "You can pull as many as you want, it will be a 6-7 months operation." That right there tells me he has a hell of a lot of these trailers to be moved. I can't think of any "RV Dealer" that is going to buy this many FEMA trailers to re-sell for a profit. Not a single RV Dealer out there is going to put his whole floorplan all on FEMA Trailers. Not in this economy.

Just putting those 2 facts together tells me straight out that FEMA trailers are going to be moved from Hope to Selma.

My belief, his offer of pay IS going to be under $1.00 a mile, period. FEMA is not going to dole out a lot of money to move these things. I've also learned that FEMA has gotten rid of about 2/3rds of those Ford F350's that I drove for them back when I drove there at the Selma yard. So, all of us/those drivers that were making $2-$3000 a week are outta there too and FEMA is contracting this move out to the lowest bidder.

Bet the guy doesn't fulfill his contractual obligation either. I bet his contract has some sort of "Timeline" involved with weekly/monthly quotas. If he misses 1 or 2 of those quotas, another bidder will come in and take his place. So, watch the boards/help wanted ads (anything truck related) for the next few months. There is going to be more than one "AD-Request-Message" being posted looking for drivers on various internet sources to move these things.

Like I said, if the pay was going to be profittable the big RV Transport companies would have jumped all over this. I know Horizon would have committed all their trucks to do this, but not a single "reputable" transport company is looking for drivers for such a project as this. So again, steer clear of this, know what I mean.

[haulin rv]

See I'm thinking it has to do with that huge auction in January when they sold 15000 units to one buyer.

[Brisco]

See I'm thinking it has to do with that huge auction in January when they sold 15000 units to one buyer.

Wow.............

First I heard about this. :eek:

http://www.hopestar.com/news/x1685911547/Ross-Ark-AG-blast-FEMA-deal

Lots of information about the "upcoming" auction can be found, but this is the only article I can find about the auction results. Wonder who the 27 Million dollar buyer is.

Doesn't say the deal has been finalized yet and the Arkansas State Representatives have filed paperwork to see why the GSA didn't sell them off in 200 unit lots like they have in the past.

If this deal is finalized, it will just be another flucking of the taxpayers money by the government. These trailers cost between $12-$15K each when bought. The majority of these trailers that were stored there in Hope were never put to use. They were bought from the manufacturers, shipped to Hope and stored, that's it. Almost all the trailers that were shipped to both Selma and Purvis were issued out as temporary housing. Hope was the "Back Up" lot. Now they sell these things for $1,825 each???

Intersting, very interesting. I may be wrong in my thoughts after all.

[Brisco]

Just did a little more searching................

Greenlawn Homes in Ohio bought the whole Hope Arkansas lot.

http://www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?ID=504689

Greenlawns website.

http://www.greenlawncompanies.com/Home

They not only bought all the "Travel Trailers" in Hope, they also bought all the "Manufactured Homes" in that one bid too. So that throws the "average" price off for each unit.

Greenlawns location up in Ohio is over 800 miles from Hope. Wonder where they have their "reconditioning" center set up at.

Still, I can't see any money being made running these things out of Hope to wherever they are taking them to. Especially if they're looking for "Legal" haulers to move them. Again, I stick to my original thoughts that since the "Bigger" established RV Transporting companies are not involved in this move, then the money is not going to be there to be profitable. Know what I mean.

[Microsoftsteve]

I emailed him. Here is the response.
My company is Dotan Transports, llc dba interstatehaulers ( www.interstatehaulers.com )

I am not sure if you familiar with FEMA loads but they not the best paying loads out there per unit but its a quantity over quality.

They will pay $1.10 each to go about 550 miles . You can tow as many as you want every week. you can tow with one truck or more, we have 9000 units ready to go. Right now we have about 12 trucks and working to get 20 everyday.

Main location will be Columbia MS to TX - some go to Austin others different places.

I will have a crew in MS that will check every unit and make it road worthy but you will require to have basic tools which i'm sure you do.

We book many boats, trailers and LTL freight as well so if we will work together we can set a driver file for you and access to our load board and keep you very busy year round as well.

We are licensed, bonded, insured as well as Federal approved .
We work with the Coast Guard, FBI, FEMA, NASA and many others.

Payment will be a direct deposit once a week, no games no waiting time, we know you need your money asap.

Let me know if you interested or need more info.

Alon Dotan.

[Microsoftsteve]

My question to him was can we get a trailer to pull back because if we go back with nothing 550miles plus food and hotels and you wont make anything. At least with my calculations. I haven't heard back but when I do I'll post it here. :o

[ccoop769]

im having to much fun on there!!!!

[ccoop769]

Isnt this guy paying more then the big 3 rv companys?? Didnt think even working for the big 3 you can make a profit as it was!!! unless of course you always had some type of haul everywhere you went with little deadheads.

[Brisco]

My question to him was can we get a trailer to pull back because if we go back with nothing 550miles plus food and hotels and you wont make anything. At least with my calculations. I haven't heard back but when I do I'll post it here. :o

This has kind of turned into a "Who Shot JR" conversation. :D

Steve just did what I was going to first thing in the morning. I was going to send an "inquiry" e-mail.

Totally off from what we were "assuming". Guess the "ass" belongs.....well.......nevermind. :rolleyes:

To answer above, he says you must have your "authority, insurance, and be legal" in all aspects. So, backhauls are up to you to find on your own. By looking at this guys website, he's an "online broker", that's it. I bet he hasn't been behind the wheel of a truck for quite a while, if ever at all.

Coop said:


Isnt this guy paying more then the big 3 rv companys??

He's paying right at what the big 3 are paying. The big "2" (Quality-Hoosier are averaging $1.10 to $1.24 a mile) Big difference is that when you run for an "RV Transport" company, you're running under their authority, their insurance, etc. You don't have the HIGH overhead you have when you're supplying your own insurance, authority, etc.

So No, this is not a good deal if you're out there with your authority, ins, etc. Still, I see problems arising moving any sort of "used" FEMA trailers anywhere. He also states "must have own tools". That right there says a lot, know what I mean.

OK, I'm tired of this discussion already......................:p

[Microsoftsteve]

yeah deadheading it back would wipe out the profit on this one. I don't see how you can make money if you are not hauling something back to MS. If your not using a trailer you have no way to make money unless you haul a trailer back. And a guy's got to sleep so if you have no sleeper your really in trouble. Oddly I haven't heard back from him after I asked about dead head miles...

[ccoop769]

Hi Chris,


Thank you for your interest in pulling FEMA trailers for us.



There are 9100 units in this lot and our goal is to move at least 20+ out per day.



Please complete the attached paperwork and fax back to 910-295-7040 along with your certificate of insurance, showing Dotan Transports, 50 Brirawood Circle , Pinehurst , Nc 28374 as Certificate Holder.



You will need an active DOT # and liability and cargo insurance to pull these units.



Right now the units are moving from Columbia, MS to Austin, Tx and from Columbia, Ms to Buda, Tx. All units will pay $1.10 per loaded mile to the truck. Payment will be made once every 15 days. Should you wish, we can offer quick pay, once a week for 2% charge off each load?



There is a crew there pulling them out and getting them road worthy before you arrive. However, you still need to be prepared to change a tire or two. You will be compensated at $35 an hour driver downtime and parts (you must keep receipts).



Keep in mind, this contract is based on quantity vs. quality. Meaning the load per mile isn’t the best, however, the quantity is there, that you can do an unlimited amount of units that you can handle each week. This will be steady work for at least 8 months (maybe longer). Team drivers, and drivers with trailers capable of loading multiple units, will ultimately be able to do even more units per week.



You will be issued a driver’s #, upon completion and approval of your driver’s file.



Once your driver’s # has been assigned you can begin moving loads immediately.



Here are a few supplies you must have, including but not limited to;



stick on lights ($50 from Walmart)

2 5/16" ball hitch

Orange hazard vest (walmart $15, you cannot come onto the lot without it)

tool kit

spare trailer tires on hand ($85 per tire Walmart)

extra fuses

lug wrench

jack

bumper plug

flash light

Credit card for emergency break downs ( you will be reimbursed for any un road worthiness of the trailer)



Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.





We look forward to working with you!

[LBZ]

Wow, what a deal! Always wanted one of them cool orange vests.:D

Wouldn't it just be easier to go get whatever is left in your bank account, fill out the with drawal slip, grab cash available & throw it to the wind?

[ccoop769]

im such an ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Brisco]

im such an ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, you have been the "assss" in that past, but not this time. :p ;) :p

I am clearly the "asssss"uming one in this thread. Goes to show that even with my wealth of knowledge, I can be wrong at times. Doesn't happen that often though.................:D

[bighornrmk]

Brisco The other one of the BIG 3 that you did not mention has a contract to haul 11,000 trailers out of Hope,AR for the next year.















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[Brisco]

Brisco The other one of the BIG 3 that you did not mention has a contract to haul 11,000 trailers out of Hope,AR for the next year.

I found out that Horizon has the contract from a PM sent by a member on another board.

Said Horizon is only paying .87 cents a mile for these moves. No wonder Horizon isn't advertising this big move on their website. If they did, then drivers that were looking to drive for Horizon pulling trailers out of Indiana would see that rate, and then see the posted rates from other companies websites (most of which are over $1.00 a mile right now) and apply elsewhere.

Horizon RV Transport, once the great company everybody wanted to drive for, has truly become a bottom feeder in the industry. RIP and we miss you Mr Schrock!! Sad to see what your son has done to your once great company . :(

[haulin rv]

That's just sad, I too remember when the were the hot ticket.

These trailers have big headache written all over them, I just see lots of blow outs, toasted bearings, electrical issues, and likely a hassle getting them out. And a whopping at a whopping .87cents too!! And the other guy wanting to a pay $1.10 and I have to have my own authority and insurance, thats just plain funny!! I've got a better idea sign up for Uship and make real money:p.

[Dorsey]

I sure seen quite abit of FEMA trailers going up I65 yesterday. Only seen one single axle semi with writing on the side(couldn't see what it said because it was at night). The rest of the trucks ranged from a newer f150 to a beat up 70's model dodge 3500 with no Dot or MC numbers or even a trailer tag on them.

[Dutch]

There is another twenty one thousand being auctioned right now out of Louisiana. The GSA auction site http://gsaauctions.gov/gsaauctions/aucitsrh/
in the trailer section has them going right now for thirteen million. I too dont like the idea that someone without the proper authority and insurance etc. is hauling them. Dutch