Long post.Thinking about hauling watermelons.
#31
11-01-2009, 10:07 PM
I talked to 2 tow truck drivers who are almost going out of business.They get $60/car to drive about 50 miles from the auction.On one loaded trip(2-3 cars), they make $120-$180.That may seem good for a flatbed straight truck getting 9-11mpg and with insurance costing about $$170/month.These guys haul 2-3 cars at a time and make 3 rounds a day from the auction, and this is if they are not competing with other haulers on the auction lists.I can haul 3 large and 1 small one and I know what they would wanna pay would be chump change.Heck, I can run local loads from GA and get between $200-$300 a load that requires strapping/chaining and driving.There is much more work involved when using ramps for the top deck and the lower deck.Last night this dealer gave me the scoop on the current rates he pays to haul cars to his dealership.I am better of doing Ritchie Brothers than the Adessa Car auction.
Almost 2 yrs ago, you guys remember a tow truck driver who went and got his authority and was hauling cars from Copart and some of these auto salvage yards?The guy had a flatbed truck(straight) that could haul about 5 cars at a time.I forgot his handle but he was from the Ky area.He came on here to tell his story but he vanished after 2 months of making it.Where is he? These are some of his emails. that would probably work fine, though to be honest with you, I am not exactly sure of what a stepdeck trailer is. If you could send me a picture of it, that would be great. Pretty much anything that has no rails and can be loaded from the side by a forklift would work fine. Can you tell me what the length of the trailer is also? If you want to give me a call sometime, we can talk about the specifics of the job, and maybe talk about rates and such. Thank you, That trailer would work fine. I will talk to you when you get back. I have had to turn away business because I cannot deliver these pallets, so I am looking forward to being able to do so. I wish we could figure out a way to unload them at the delivery site if they do not have a forklift though. Any ideas on that? I have a forklift, but the ramps would have to be pretty long so that it isn't too steep for the forklift. In reading some of his emails, it leads me to believe this guy can get "big" if only he can supply his customers with his products.Not just that, this Joe Smoe off this Craig Lists, has his own domain name for his company as his email and not just some free yahoo or hotmail account.I will talk to him again when I get back from the road. 
#32
11-02-2009, 03:41 AM
I've moved a few loads out of RB auctions. You might want to consider asking an equipment dealer in your area if he is planning to buy anything.
I don't know anything about produce, but I like your idea. Last winter there was a shortage of wood pellets in my area. A few hours on the net and I found a manufacturer that would sell to me. I bought them, trucked them and sold them. There are opportunities like that if you can find a demand. Last edited by rank; 11-02-2009 at 03:44 AM.
#33
11-02-2009, 12:42 PM
Originally Posted by rank
I don't know anything about produce, but I like your idea. Last winter there was a shortage of wood pellets in my area. A few hours on the net and I found a manufacturer that would sell to me. I bought them, trucked them and sold them. There are opportunities like that if you can find a demand.
 Wood Pellets and salt or calcium for ice melting was the two I had in mind. Right now I'm a little short on cash to work on these idea's. I'm guessing I'd have to buy the truckload up front. Would you mind pm'ing me the place you bought the pellets from? |
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