Alright guys, I want the facts... the reality. Is this something I could do? My situation is I'm just outta my certification and training courses and am in the process of getting my accounting business of the ground. However, it's looking like I'm gonna need a few years of experience before people will hire me. Plus, there's also the family farm to run... I need to be free to run for feed or make a delivery or help out with processing. So I'm thinking maybe I could bid on jobs on uship and pick up some money on the side. Insurance is looking like about $6k/yr... I figure if I could pick up one $500 job a week (the typical boat goes for about that much with less than 500 miles to the job), I could make around $25k a year... take out insurance and it's about $20K yr. Fuel? I don't know... need to do more research on that. Be honest! Any hot shotters on here? Is this even something that works part-time? It's looking like the bulk of the money is in hauling cars... they seem to be able to be found anywhere and can be picked up and dropped off along virtually any route. Thanks guys... I look forward to y'all's responses!

 

$20k before fuel costs?

OK, very optimistically, say you get 15MPG. Diesel duel is averaging $3.85 a gallon. So, 3.85/15 = 25.6 cents per mile fuel cost. You think you will average 500 miles a week, so fuel cost is $128 per week, or $6656 a year. So, you're looking at a net of around $13,400 a year, before you factor in maintenance, wear and tear, depreciation, your travel expenses (you won't sleep in the truck all the time).

 

I am in the final days of starting my own hotshot business. It's a decent way to make a dime, but you'll only make pennies if you can't devote yourself to it full-time.
The expenses you will incur will not be offset by running one or two 500 mile loads a week, plus you'll have deadhead miles back to the farm (nobody pays for that except you). You can't legally sleep in the back seat of a pickup, so a $50/night hotel is in the picture. Vehicle repairs, insurance, commercial tags, and all the other 'stuff' that you must have to be a legal commercial freight carrier will drill a BIG hole in your back pocket. I have figured my expenses at about 80 cents a mile if I can run 2000 miles a week. That includes fuel, insurance, plates, hotel room, and equipment payments, and more. With my 40' trailer I am projecting $1.60 to $1.75 per mile when loaded.
As far as what makes money, yea there are some short runs that might look good, but most of that stuff doesn't pay much. Most LTL (less than truckload) freight is going for 3.5 cents to about 5 or 6 cents per foot per mile. Cars usually pay about half that.
With a 300k truck the only loads you will get are private loads. No freight broker in the world would book a load on a truck with that kind of mileage. I just traded my 2001 F-350 SRW for a 2006 F-350 DRW because vehicle age and mileage are things a broker will look at before hiring you to carry some freight for them.
I have reading a forum at ltlhotshot.myfreeforum.org. Gary is the owner/moderator and he has done freight hauling for over 25 years. He is a true 'been there, done that' kinda guy. He has set the record straight for many who, like you, have great asperations of making some money out on the road.
You might be able to do some work 'on the side' but if you get caught or involved in an accident and it's found out you are getting paid from customers, the DOT will fine your @$$ into the next decade!
My personal advice, for what it is worth, is to get a part time job doing something close to what your degree is in and get some experience. Trying to start another business while trying to start your business just sounds like a really hard way to go for you.
Please don't think I'm against you starting out in trucking, but it's not for everyone. And it's not really something you can do one or two days a week.

 

I've been thinking the same thing as you... from what I can tell, it's probably impractical to do this on the side. Plus, your point about doing something more related to my degree is something that has been eating at and hasn't stopped. As for my mileage, I never figured that would be an issue but I guess to a huge broker, that wouldn't look good. But if I had to buy a newer truck, I don't know if id buy a Ford so I guess I'm out there as well. But hey, it was worth a shot. Thanks for the input, guys... more is welcome, though. I'd still like to understand some of the terms better!

 

My view on this is you have to stay on the road to make the money for the over head required to get into this.

Don't forget and business license you maybe required to have. Not sure on that one.

I don't know what I would do. Become an LLC. Separate business and personal income-separate checking/business accounts.

Get a business credit card to conduct your business.