RV Transport/Drive-Away: A Good Alternative to Trucking?

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  #11  
Old 10-14-2008, 01:24 AM
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http://driveaway.bennettig.com/
 
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Old 10-14-2008, 02:17 AM
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Originally Posted by BigDiesel
It is very easy to gross a 100k per year..... But remember you are paid on a 1099 and classified as a Independant contractor.... Also the driveaway industry is on its azz right now.... I can answer any question you have about the driveaway industry as my wife and I owned a driveaway company from 2002 to 2006 along side of our trucking company.

I have spoken with several who did drive away over the years. With most of them it didn't seem all that profitable. As far as what the drive away industry is doing right now, I would say that at least some segments, such as RV's, would be suffering. The guy I spoke with most recently said that he was staying pretty busy. Of course, if he is transporting city buses and similar types of vehicles he is not as likely going to have as much difficulty staying busy as someone who transports RV's.

If you are interested in this type of work, I would contact several companies to see what they offer. By the way, Colin, thanks for the link. I like the their application.
 
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Old 10-14-2008, 02:49 AM
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I thought about driveaway for a while and leaned toward rv due to less unknown costs such as fuel and repairs.

Tow the customer's trailers with your own rig = pickup payment + maint + fuel.
Drive the customer's RV = take the bus or plane to the next or drive your own (hopefully already paid for) car to the next.

A regular car would have lower maint and fuel costs than a 3/4 ton diesel pickup.

I thought about it, but decided to stay home.
 
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  #14  
Old 10-14-2008, 04:39 PM
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Thanks for the input, everyone. To clarify matters a little, I have called several of the driveaway companies, including Bennett. None other than Horizon Transport is using drivers from Nevada currently.

I would be a 1099 contractor. My tow car would be my fully paid for 2005 Honda Civic from which I can get almost 40 MPG on the highway driving conservatively.

I only need to net about $2,000 per month doing this or anything else. Driveaway is something that I think I'd really like to do, if I can earn that kind of money without having to work truck driver hours.

Given these parameters, can you guys offer any more input or suggestions?
 
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Old 10-14-2008, 10:47 PM
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2005 Honda Civic .....????

that's a tad small.........dont' ya think.....???
 
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Old 10-14-2008, 11:30 PM
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Originally Posted by GTR SILVER
2005 Honda Civic .....????

that's a tad small.........dont' ya think.....???

I think he means he will tow that behind a big RV that he is driving. SO he has something to drive back to where he came from.
 
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  #17  
Old 10-15-2008, 12:45 AM
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Horizon.. isn't that the company out of Wakrusa, IN? Or maybe they use that as one of many locations? I used to see them all the time when I hauled chassis to.... I think it was Utilimaster... the company which makes FedEx vans and such.
 
  #18  
Old 10-15-2008, 12:51 AM
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Yeah a friend of a Friend was thinking about doing that- with Horizon. Transport the Big Motor Homes out to points west, him and his wife, while towing a small car behind One ( for the ride back to- Indiana(appearently the nucleus of the RV building industry). They are currently team driving for another company.

Horizon was paying .96cpm out bound -- but they don't pay for the deadhead back or the plane ticket(s) if the (contractor(s)) choose that route.

That's .96cmp before fuel. I don't have any details on fuel surcharge or company discount(s) etc.

The second issue they encountered was the number/steady amount of those-- Drive away's. The guys with the 3/4 ton duelly pickups- pulling goose neck trailers and 5th wheels were staying busier.

But, as in any business-- you have to watch the bottom line. And that unpaid deadhead back to Indiana is the killer.
 
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Old 10-15-2008, 02:26 AM
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Originally Posted by Mackman
I think he means he will tow that behind a big RV that he is driving. SO he has something to drive back to where he came from.
oops...........my bad.........:rolleyes:
 
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  #20  
Old 10-15-2008, 02:29 AM
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There was a driver who retired from UPS to do this right? I can't remember his name.
 
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