Freight to cars?

[ETS]

I know a few of you guys on here started out moving freight with flatbeds and went to moving cars.

My questions are:

1 - What prompted the change?
2 - Any regrets?

We're looking into making the change and are just looking for some opinions.

Thanks,
Sam :D

[haulin rv]

From what I have been told by some the reasons would be down time waiting for loads which of course also leads to money. And then there is always home time.

[ETS]

The down time is what kills us! We have a 40' PJ and we've been moving 2 cars at a time up in the NW and have made as much money lately as we did out on the road with freight, and we've been home almost every night!! One or two more cars a load would make it a lot better!

[Microsoftsteve]

I personally don't think a 40 pj is a choice trailer for cars unless you had it modified to a stepdeck. Then it would be really nice. 4 cars is good before you really step up your truck and trailer needs. Good luck.

[ETS]

I personally don't think a 40 pj is a choice trailer for cars unless you had it modified to a stepdeck. Then it would be really nice. 4 cars is good before you really step up your truck and trailer needs. Good luck.

We started with the PJ doing freight. It's up for sale now and we're looking for a wedge.

[Tosch88]

I did freight for 8 months before doing cars after my dedicated OS stuff slowed down. Stuff about freight I didn't like:
Tarp Loads Suck Period!
Dealing with 30' straps all the time and having to shuffle stuff on the deck to make the most room sucked!
Building loads all the time was a pain (freight was scarce in a lot of areas)
Factoring pay.
Tie down equipment cost more
Waiting to get loaded & unloaded takes about twice as long running freight.

We changed because like you I started running more cars and found out that it was easier to load & unload, faster tie downs, 80% where COD, very little deadhead miles and it was just easier on me for dispatch, not to mention more profitable.

Only regrets I have is using wedges instead of just buying a nice 4 car right off the bat, its like putting another $1k a week in profit in your pocket. If I were you I'd steer clear of the wedges and start with the 4 car cause its easy to avg. $1.70 a mile for all miles (not just loaded) with one of these. At least it is out here in my neck of the woods.

Good Luck!

[bayou hotshot]

I dont know how people make it hauling $.50 cars and insurance is twice as much

[Tosch88]

We know the oil patch boys make good money but he was asking about coming from general freight to general cars. My insurance is $6200 a year and my equipment with everything included costs .85 cpm to operate. So if I can average $1.70 for all miles at 2800 miles a week I would profit around $2380 a week ($100k a year isn't bad money considering that gives you 10 weeks a year off). This is just using CD as a load finding tool. Luckily I don't use just CD and have my own accounts so I make a little more than that. There isn't any oil patches around here so I won't be making $3.50 a mile any day soon on a regular basis that is.

Every part of the country has its niche markets and pays accordingly.

[bayou hotshot]

Thats what it cost me to run. My buddy hauls cars and i dont see how he does it he has to go to 3 diff places to P/U than drives say 300 miles to U/L at 3 more places than spends a day finding and P/U cars to go back home 100k a year is good for any driver but maybe cars dont pay that good here you would have to load at least 3 cars all the time to make money
I know he makes $150 a car from beaumont to houston 100 miles he brings 3 over and 1 back or 2 going and 2 back but he has come home with not one car before and left with one im not about to haul 1 car for $150 never will happen
I see him spend lots of time finding cars to haul he may take a day to load a day to drive and a day to pick up to come back so he wast 2 days just looking for loads

[Tosch88]

Tx can be brutal for cars! But the route he's running is no different than running from Mi to Chicago everyday, it would be a grind to make a living because of the cheap rates.

[Buster]

Bayou, That has always been the problem with cars in TX. There aren't that many and they don't pay well. At least that has been the case for me.

Ditto what Tosch said and add that Freight rates are dropping and forcing the big trucks to take it which translates to less freight available. Also down time with freight SUCKS!!! I know there is at least one guy who swears he hates building loads with cars and yet every pic of a load I've seen him build has cars on it and it takes 4-8 days of waiting for the load. Its relatively easy to put together a 4 car load at .50 to .60 per mile each. Then it takes one day to run around and load it. Then after the driving, it takes one to two days to run around and unload and reload. This versus sitting for 5 days waiting to put $2.25 per mile on and then waiting again for 5 days to put $2.25 per mile on. I would never go back to freight under these conditions.

[jsstrans]

i did the freight thing, its a pain to load anything worthwhile, as soon as i get back on the road, ill buy a 4 car, and either sell the hefty or keep it and try to make it a stepdeck. thats my 2 cents

[TEXAS]

Dang Buster $2.25 a mile for freight must have been nice! Must have been before my time! Don't think I've ever seen any load start with a 2 or higher before!! what's worse is when you pay a service to find you loads to keep you rollin and still you sit around 4-8 days! LOL

[ETS]

I agree with what everyone has said about the down sides of freight! Exactly why we're looking more at cars. My only concern with a 4 car behind my 1-ton, is rear axle weight. Anyone running a 4 car behind a 1-ton ever hit a CAT scale?

[TEXAS]

I think you'll be fine. ccoop pulls a 4car with a 1 ton and dont worry about being over weight. Ive been doing an experiment and as of a couple of months ago I no longer stop at weigh stations to see if any one comes after me or anything! so far so good i dont think those lazy SOB's even care! that goes for ca or wa co az nm id mt wy ut nv.

[TEXAS]

lol

[LBZ]

I'm thinking we should all sign on with Bayou, if anything the weather is much better! Got an extra step deck sitting around? :)

[Buster]

Texas, Be careful with this practice!!! They WILL come after you and its illegal. FYI We advocate running legal here so if you do this please keep it to yourself. You are right about over weight on a one ton with 4 cars. If I haven't said it before....Welcome to the group! Lee

[ccoop769]

Yep. Overweight on rear dang near every load. Thank god dot thinks every axle is 20k.

As for bypassing scales. I did for 6 months till marianna fl luetenant saw me and decided to come after me. They didn't give me a ticket for bypassing the scale which is a $1000 fine but he did give me a overlength ticket which is a $1000 too.feel bad for the other guy who had no irp ($1000) and overlength ($1000) and a few others. ($1200). He prolly closed shop when he got home.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

[haulin rv]

Unless your running rv's skipping scales is a risky move. Not that it's legal with an rv, its just that your much less noticeable.

[TEXAS]

There always seems to be 1 year old lowboys for sale so LBZ if you need one.

[Microsoftsteve]

I wouldn't recommend pulling a 4 cars with a 1 ton, just my two cents. I know coop does it and seems to have no problems but I'd be careful. Good luck

[ra57.2008]

coop may not have any legal problems pulling a four car, but look at all the repairs he has done to his rig. Not trying to be ugly, Just something i have noticed, I run a three car on my dodge and it eat tires and brakes.


Rick

[Brisco]

But it seems like 75% of Coops problems have been with his trailer and driver, and both combined.

Besides his truck wheel passing the driver that night, his truck seems to be holding up just fine for hauling what he's been hauling for 330K miles on that truck.

[haulin rv]

Makes me wish I bought the 6.7 auto truck instead of hunting for the 5.9 manual!

[bayou hotshot]

Dang Buster $2.25 a mile for freight must have been nice! Must have been before my time! Don't think I've ever seen any load start with a 2 or higher before!! what's worse is when you pay a service to find you loads to keep you rollin and still you sit around 4-8 days! LOL

What the hell are yall doing wrong i turn down loads all the time thats to cheap for me hell the 20ft flatbed gets $2.50 a mile im not about to leave the drive way for cheap $3.50 a mile or im not taking it i try to get $4 a mile and do with some people but not all of them

[bayou hotshot]

And thats one way i never do back hauls unless its way out (over 500 miles)and pays $1.85+

[ETS]

There always seems to be 1 year old lowboys for sale so LBZ if you need one.

Hey! I know exactly where a 6 month old one is....... hint, hint..... ;)

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/for/2107487480.html


:cool:

[Mrs Coop]

The only major repair we have had on the truck is the Tranny. Coop does everthing in his power to prevent problems and does a damn good job. Stupid drivers are another story LOL. We have not had anymore problems with the 4 car vers the wedge. I understand that this forum is for people to voice there opions but I don't like people talking sh*t. Your right, we don't have any legal problems because we run a legit business and bust our asses doing it. Thanks Haulin and Brisco for sticking up for us cause it seems on this thread everyone else thinks other wise of our operation. Actually 99% of our problems have been with the trailer and driver... Our truck has been great. With a truck with so many miles on it you would only have to expect repairs.

[bayou hotshot]

The only major repair we have had on the truck is the Tranny. Coop does everthing in his power to prevent problems and does a damn good job. Stupid drivers are another story LOL. We have not had anymore problems with the 4 car vers the wedge. I understand that this forum is for people to voice there opions but I don't like people talking sh*t. Your right, we don't have any legal problems because we run a legit business and bust our asses doing it. Thanks Haulin and Brisco for sticking up for us cause it seems on this thread everyone else thinks other wise of our operation. Actually 99% of our problems have been with the trailer and driver... Our truck has been great. With a truck with so many miles on it you would only have to expect repairs.

Yall have had more luck with that truck than anyone else i have ever talk to at 250,000 miles i was on my 3rd motor in my 06 so yall doing something right keep up the good work

[h2oskibumz]

Just 'cause we think Chris is a bit of a squirrel doesn't keep us from lovin' him...

[NDanecker]

I don't think anyone is really bustin on Chris's operation. I respect what Chris & Mrs. Coop has built in the last few years. It's always a pleasure to browse that one picture thread on another forum where he takes us from day 1 to what he has today. They have done a great job! Actually, not just them but all of you. This isn't easy work. Ya have to juggle so many things to keep the wheels rolling I question if its all really worth it. Its certainly not for everyone.

IMHO, ya select what equipment works best for them. Sure there will be people who like 1 tons vs. class 7 or baby 8's just like people who prefer manual over automatics. To each their own I guess. As long you can make a living 'safely' and legally.....all the power to ya! To everyone -- keep up the good work!!!

[ra57.2008]

Mrs. Coop, I'am Sorry if it came out like i was busting on you guys, It was not meant to be I was just saying that when you pull a four car unit on a one ton it is going to take it's toll on it. Chris posted in one fourm of a whole list of things that he has done on the truck. Like said i pulled a three car with my Dodge one ton and i have 392000. on it, so I could see what a four car with the extra weight would do. I know you guys are working very hard to make out.

[Mrs Coop]

It's all good. With our wedge we had flip outs on the front and the rear. We normally hauled 4 small cars on 3 Large vans or truck. The trailer we have now weights alittle more than the wegde but not much to make a big difference. I don't think. Hey Coop... what is the weight difference?? I admit it does take it's toll on these trucks. They are not ment to haul that much but always having the 4th car is nice. So far so good...somethings gonna blow eventually.

[ETS]

Well we did it! The PJ is sold and on it's way to North Carolina and we picked up an '07 Kaufman wedge out of Phoenix. Just working on getting it back up to the Northwest to actually get some good paying cars on it.... :D

[haulin rv]

Congrats

[h2oskibumz]

Congrats

& Condolences all at the same time!

Honestly I hope it works out for you and wish you the best of luck... and cheap fuel LOL!

[ccoop769]

cheap fuel??? where I want some................. hehe