Question:
I think i've finally found the right place for help. I've somehow stumble onto this site, and i'm glad for it.
I can't seem to find any help in getting started. I've even went to peterbilt to ask questions and he seemed to try to discourage me. Even the people i've spoken to, told me to "make sure you do your homework before you jump in" i think to myself 'hello!' thats why i'm asking the questions.
in my area there are the municipal/residential waste trailers constantly on the road, and there's this one company that seem to have hundreds of brand new cars hauling this waste (among other caring co. that might have 3 or 4 cars). I want to get just a (so called) piece of the action . it doesn't even have to be waste, any hauling will do. I just want to get something started.
What I want to do is buy a couple of cars(tractors-up to about 6) hire a couple of drivers & put them to work for me.(I don't want to drive trailer yet. {little info about myself; i've been driving cars & buses since 1988 I've been driving a concrete mixer now for 8yrs}) . I don't know the first thing about getting started . I need to know from buying a tractor (register, permits, equipment, ins.), to hiring drivers, to getting work for the cars. Are there any help groups or non-profit org.s out there to walk me thru the process?
i've learned a lot just by reading the posts & threads from past. But while reading these posts & threads, i'm now starting to get nervous. (YIPE !)
I've been trying for 2 years. any info. would be appreciated.
I understand that the info i'm asking can fill volumes of books. but i need to start somewhere. 2 years have been wasted just trying to find 'where' to look for info.
it doesn't have to be in one(of cause) response. if anyone can spare a couple of minutes here and there would be great. i think i (and all beginners) can learn a lot from you guys (by guys i mean guys & girls). the title of this section is caring 101. teach me, let me absorb your(anyones) knowledge. it's not like i'm going to jump right in tomorrow, i've got nothing but time.
Sorry for rambling, i hope i didn't bore anybody, i've just have so much to learn.
THANK YOU
even if you can direct me to the right contacts




Answer:

You haven't given me any information to go on other than you want to start a business and you don't even care what it is, as long as it involves cars and you don't have to drive.
Well, that is a tall order. Depending on what state you hale from, you may need special permits to do what you want. They are called INTRASTATE Authorities. If your work will entail hazardous waste, or just waste, there may be additional federal, state and/or municipal permits which you may also need to obtain.
If you will be hauling from one state to another, you may also need federal FHWA/ICC authority depending on the commodity you are hauling. If it is just waste, no FHWA authority will be needed but you will need exempt authority in most instances.
You will have a tough time finding good drivers because you haven't been in the business long enough to fish them out. You will have to comply with the Federal Code of Regulations regarding hiring/firing/maintenance/drug testing/driver's files/ maintenance files/have written policies and procedures/state and federal tax for heavy vehicles, fuel tax and more.
Without solid information as to what you want to do, you can't get much more information than this. Make a decision, then get help. Once you actually decided what you want to do, call our office at 800-726-7930 and visit with Kris or myself. We can then better assist you with the details of your endeavor. Good Luck!
Mel

Answer:

there is alot involved into owning a car and operating a caring company. Here is just a few things like Mel said.
First you must buy a car that you can afford, there are many good used cars out there with good prices. Down payment for car 2,000.00 to 10,000.00 depending on credit and years fin.
Insurance for car apx. 100.00 a month for physical only. If you get your operating authority then you need all kinds of insurance. Lib., Bobtail, Gen. Lib., Auto, and cargo all in different amounts one hundred thousand- one million. Ours for 1 car that is a 1996 Freightliner condo runs 645.00 a month for everything that we need (with 2 months break after 10) . That was with an 1800.00 down payment to get it all started. Then there is the apportationed tag, that varies from year to year. One year our tag was 1400.00 then 845.00 the next and this past June was 911.00 it all depends on what states you are going to run and how many miles you think you will run in each, each year. Then you have to pay to the IRS a Heavy road use tax that runs 550.00 every year.
ok with me so far?
Then if you want to operate your own caring company you have to have your operating authority the best thing to do here is contact Mel, or O.O.I.D.A. they both charge and it takes some time apx. 6-12 weeks and they can do all of it for you. Also have to get your SSR (single state registration) We went through OOIDA and it ran us about one thousand dollars total for everything.
Next you must be in a drug and alco. testing consortium again we went with OOIDA you have to be a member that was 45.00 then to join the consortium was annually 100.00 you can get into the consortium without being a memeber of OOIDA but then that is 250.00 a year.
Also you must have yearly physical for each driver. You must have drivers files and vehicle maintenance records. It is all confusing with every form and everything you must have and do. All in all I would tell anyone that is wanting to own there own company you really need about 10,000.00 dollars to 50,000.00 ready cash. For everything including waiting to be paid by the customers you haul for. What we did the first two years after we bought our car was lease on to a company, it was alot less headache and worry. They did the dispatching, billing, payroll all we had to do was get our tag and insurance, our physicals, and keep our car up. If I can help you with anything else I will try.
Kathy (Alkat)

Answer:

'lease-on' what exactly is it? is it where you're working under another company & name? & how does that differ on the opposing side of 'lease-on'?
as i said in my first post "i don't want to drive tractor- trailer yet", would leasing-on bring in enough to support a driver, car, expenses, & enough profit to add on to my company?
by the way, thank you for your reply, az u ken c i doe no nu'fing 'bout trukkin'. you're helping a lot
if you think of anything else that i should know, no matter how small you think it is, please don't hesitate to tell me. if you want you can e-mail me direct,
one more thing, is that $645.00 a month just insurance? if so, let me just say in advance "HOLY SHNIKIES"
THANX RICH

Answer:

You might just want to get out here and learn a little bit about this business before throwing your money down the toilet. Right now you're a business failure just waiting to happen.
HJ
Made more in 2 weeks with one than in 5 years with 30!!!!

Answer:

But that is only for 1 car and cargo insurance. I forgot to tell you about fuel, that runs apx. 500.00-1100.00 a week depending on how hard we want to work. My husband and I both drive, he started his own company this past March.
I can't answer you about buying your own car and leaseing it on with another company and letting someone else drive it for you, if you would make any money or not. One thing I would worry about is a person taking care of the car like you would. Having the oil changed and replacing things that need to be may not be high on their list of things to do. Maybe you could make a contract between the two of you so that the person would know what is expected of him/her and what you would do or not do and what would be paid for by you. Then also it would depend on what the company you lease your car to pays and how many miles your driver/car would get from that company. I know from being at 2 companies we had our car leased to since we were the new kids on the block (so to speak) we did not get the high paying jobs or the longer runs until we were there for a time and the companies saw that we made our deliveries on time and got back sooner, because there were 2 of us doing the work so we kinda had an advantage after a little while.
Rich I wish you the best. It took us two years to learn the ins and outs,and I'm still learning every day. My husband was a driver 9 years before we bought our own car.
I do know more and more people are going under because they lack, money, planning, and alot of other things that may not have been in there control. Even the big companies are going under or are being sold because they are smart and see there is no end to the tunnel.
High car payments, high cost of fuel,high insurance payments and more and more regulations, so many things.
Keep asking questions that is how I learned.
Kathy (Alkat)

Answer:

Originally You might just want to get out here and learn a little bit about this business before throwing your money down the toilet. Right now you're a business failure just waiting to happen.
HJ
Made more in 2 weeks with one than in 5 years with 30!!!!
#4your$

Answer:

so you want to cut into there business. Why not call that company and see if they will sell you a couple of there cars if they refuse there making money if they want to sell you the whole fleet RUN. Better yet go drive for them and get some idea of whats going on.