Update on new OO ready to roll

[Doghouse]

Update on new OO ready to roll.
So far I have:
1.Managed to get insurance unlimited radius (even though I have not driven in years, but have had my CDL for 7 years) $8,741.10, per year $2,300 down,$784.10 per month for 9 months. If I want to save $600.00, I can just pay for one year up front.
2.Received my MC#/DOT#
3.Filled out my IRS 2290 ($45.16 due to end of year, this only pays for June/July, I will have to send another $550.00 by August 31st 2007 for next year).
4.The truck is almost ready,...all the goodies are installed,but I have to finish the cabinets.
5.OOIDA is filing my BOC3

Next is:
1.Receive permanent insurance card on Friday.
2.Go to Tallahassee on Monday to get my base plates.
3.Get a DOT inspection and fix anything that needs to be fixed to make the DOT man happy.
4.Find a road ready lightweight trailer (40/102 flatbed) because now my truck weighs 23,000lbs because of all the stuff I had added.
5.Find a good trucking accountant.
6.Examine my head as to exactly why I wanted to go back on the road as an OO.
7.Join a drug testing club.
8.Have my DOT physical/eye/hearing test.
9.Go back to step one because I probably forgot, or overlooked something.


I have to admit that some of this stuff is quite trying,...sitting at the IRS while the little troll man does his thing, and having to go back 2 times because none of them know that they only take check/money orders,....not cash (unless the right IRS field agent is there).

DMV in Florida can be very, very irritating, and time consuming, but its the last wait in line hurdle.

I thought that the truck being reported stolen and registered a couple of years ago (with a borrowed VIN) was going to be an issue, but since I had a cop and a person at the DMV come out to the parking lot (while the seller was there) and then verify the VIN's, and sign off on the document, all went well.
That's how I got this truck so cheap (less than $10,000) it had a bad history of being legally registered, and I had to wait 90 days for the title to come back clear and in my name. I was fortunate to have had the time to wait that out,...others drivers that went to look at it ran away screaming when the heard "this truck was reported stolen a few years ago, and it took some time to locate it" the seller was ready to deal,...and I mean ready. He had it on e-bay (where I saw it), and it was down to the last 2 days,...and nobody was bidding, and the auction started only at $9,000.

[mike3fan]

6.Examine my head as to exactly why I wanted to go back on the road as an OO.

Because that's where the BIG BUCKS are!.......LMAO. 8)

[TK THE TRUCKER]

my truck weighs 23,000lbs because of all the stuff I had added.

:shock: Ouch !!! :P Best of luck to ya

[rank]

6.Examine my head as to exactly why I wanted to go back on the road as an OO.

That's a good one.

That's how I got this truck so cheap (less than $10,000)

+1.

good luck.

[merrick4]

doghouse, did you buy your truck in South Fla? And if so, you know of a good dealer down here. I've been to them all, Freightliner, Kenworth etc but this is tough.


By the way if a moderator is reading this, I have sent in two service requests, an email to one mod and a pm to yoopr. I know everyone is busy and all but can I get my regular computer unbanned please? I don't know what happened the other night but it must have been good to put a blanket ban on a whole ISP

Thanks

[Doghouse]

Merrick,
I bought my truck in South Florida off an E-Bay seller.
As far as decent dealers, I wouldn't be able to help you with that. I tried in the beginning with the dealers, and they all seemed to be $10,000 to$15,000 overpriced. I figured, that I would save myself the headache of getting a truck with no warranty by going to a private seller, and then having whatever the truck needed fixed to make it operational.
It was dumb luck that I stumbled onto this truck.
Having tons of experience in auto mechanics helps, even though these are two different beasts,....the basics carry through.
Good luck, take your time, and don't be afraid to challenge the seller. This is no small investment.

[heavyhaulerss]

hey doghouse are you that guy in another post a while back that was putting everything into his truck including the kitchen sink ? i mean there was one guy, cant remember who. but he was putting in everything... shower, potty, 2nd floor, basement, washer /dryer. e.t.c. someone asked him if he was going camping or trucking..lol. good luck to you.. keep us informed on your progress..

[Doghouse]

Yeah Heavy,
That probably was me.(except the washer/dryer).
I remember all to well when I was OTR before, waiting for showers, horrible dirty toilets, lousy food, and I wanted to avoid that this time. I had an RV place put all the RV stuff in, and I am finishing the interior cabinets and trim.
So far it works well, and the bathroom stuff w/holding tanks only added 1,200lbs to the tractor weight.
I'll be going on my first run soon, as soon as I get this paperwork thing done

[furbis]

could you post some pics of the sleeper/kitchen/bathroom? the wife said she would go trucking with me when the boys get out of highschool and head off to college, but would need a setup like yours to do it.

[Doghouse]

Sure will, just hold tight for a couple of weeks till I get the cabinets and trimwork done.

[Doghouse]

So it turns out that the "authority" MC# dept. seems to have a deal with telemarketers from:
1.Factoring Co's
2.Drug testers
3.Load boards
4.Dispatch services
I have been blasted by these guys, probably 8 to 10 calls a day, for the last week.
Well, anyway,
I'm headed to Tallahassee on Monday to get my base plates, and jump through their fiery hoops of BS.
For those of you planning this in Florida, I'll post the results, and if the process is as simple as DMV claims.

[merrick4]

Have you checked into any of the services down here (you're in south florida too no?) about getting the baseplates? I was told by one that they would do it overnight obviously for a fee. What about all your other permits are you doing that on your own?

good luck in Tallahassee.

[Doghouse]

Merrick,
As I stumble through this process, I am trying to get things done,
So far I have done everything myself with the execption of my BOC3, and I don't even know what the hell that does, but OOIDA said they would file it for me.
After I get my base plates, I'll probably find something I forgot,....or it will happen as I'm staring directly at the person at the DMV. You know the look,...its the "I called you on the phone 3 days ago, and you said all I need is what I brought,....now you want a DNA test also?"
I fully expect to have this happen, but there are some trailers up that way I want to look at, so maybe I can save the trip if I spend more money,....LOL!!

[GMAN]

Doghouse, the BOC-3 is the form you need to file for your registered agents. Carriers are required to have a registered agent in every state in which they do business. A registered agent can accept service should you get sued in a particular state. OOIDA can take care of that for you at no charge if you are a member. There are also services around that can do it for a fee.

[Doghouse]

Thanks Gman, I'll have OOIDA cover that one. I'll get the hang of this eventually,....its so different from driving while a big company holds your hand, but then again there's a lot of good and bad with that.

[GMAN]

You are welcome, Doghouse. Each aspect of this industry has it's pro's and con's. You just need to find the one which best meets your needs.

[Doghouse]

What a time consuming process.
I live in St Petersburg, so I had to make the 600 mile round trip to get my base plates. All went smooth,..here is what you need if your in Florida.
1.You will have to:
a.wait 4 to 6 weeks for delivery of your plates if you do it at your local DMV.
b.Go to Tallahassee yourself and wait in the lines.
c.Pay a carrier services person to do it for you and overnight the plate to you. (the one in Tally that is in the same shopping center at the DMV commercial services building is called Carrier Services of Florida, his name is Johnathan Rabon 850-942-7323)
I'm telling you about this guy because he was very helpful and had I known about him, I would have had him do it for me, but I accidentally went into his place (same color business sign as the DMV one) also the location has changed for the commercial division of the DMV. It is located in a shopping center at the corner of Capitol Circle, and Appalacee. It is next to a Big Lots, Quiznos, in the same center. The guy who's office I went into is on the North side of the parking lot with the same large blue sign as the DMV.
OK that's how you get there,...here's how the process went.
1.Go in take a number
2.Wait to be called
3.You will need to show them your:
a.2290 with a paid stamp on it.
b.valid CDL with your address on it.
c.Utility bills showing the same address as your CDL.
d.Insurance info
e.If your truck has sat for any time not being used or registered you have to fill out a non-use affidavit.
f.Articles of incorporation if you are an Inc.
g.Smile,.. laugh at their jokes and then go get a certified bank check or cash because for your first 2 years they won't accept anything else.
Its as easy as that,..now I don't know what the guy I ran into at the Carrier Services of Florida would have charged me, but he said it would have been less than the gas money I used to get there and back to St Pete.
Also he was very knowledgeable and hooked me up with papers I did not have with me.
There you go, I went home threw the plate on the truck and took it out for the first time since I bought it 10 months ago.
All in all it ran really good and the numbers are like this.
1. Top speed 72mph@ 1800rpm
2. 62mph@1500rpm
3. 55mph@1450rpm
It took me a good hour in the city before I was able to shift it without destroying the tranny. And the best news is that with all the stuff I added, the truck weighs in at 20,680lbs, I thought it would be closer to 23,500lbs. This little tidbit allows me to get a 9,000lb trailer, and be able to scale 50,320lbs. I wanted to be around 49,000lbs, and I made it under the wire on that one.

[Doghouse]

I forgot to add the IFTA stickers $4.00 add the registration and the price,........$1,286. it better be worth it.

[BikerDad]

It seems to me that the very first thing you should have done is taken care of the medical and drug. Those are the lowest cost hurdles that will stop your trucking company "dead in its tracks." Imagine, if you will, what would happen if you fail either of the two? Insurance, registration, base plates, authority, flushshshshshhssh swirl swirl down the toilet.

[Doghouse]

I'm not worried about the drug or medical aspect. I've been adventure racing for 15 years, don't drink often at all,don't smoke, and don't take anything stronger than ibuprofen.
I've seen some of the guys who can pass a DOT physical and a drug test,,,. I'm confident that I can pass those hurdles,but thanks for the advice, everything helps.