Best State to base out of as an O/O?

[BikerDad]

Okay, so I'm looking at going O/O in a couple of years, in combination with a relocation to another state. Currently, I'm in Nevada, but sadly the tax and regulatory environment here continues to erode as ever more folks from other high-tax, high regulation states flee then foist the same madness on us. :tmad: Add to that the fact that Nevada is, essentially, just a vast black hole for trucks. They come in with stuff, but there aren't a lot of loads out.

So, what state(s) are the best for an O/O who'll be running 48 states?

[GMAN]

I am not sure that I would base a major relocation solely on the amount of freight available in the area. The Midwest and Southeast is usually better for most freight. Florida is the exception. There is plenty of freight going in but not much coming out, at least that pays anything. As long as you live within reasonable proximity to a major interstate you should not have too much deadhead in those areas. Some states don't charge sales tax on class 8 equipment when you register them. TN and OK are two such states. There are several sources which list freight densities at any given time.

[Red Clay Rambler]

Also no state income tax in Tennessee. Currently TN has a budget surplus of several hundred-million dollars, of course that hasn't stopped lawmakers from discussing more new taxes/fees. Heaven forbid they should refund our money.

[GMAN]

That is true, Red Clay Rambler. Several years ago we had a surplus of about $7 Billion. A couple of years later they came back to us for more taxes. We have no toll roads (yet), no income tax and no sales tax on class 8 equipment. We do have one of the highest sales taxes in the U.S. In my county it is about 9.25%. :shock: I want them to reduce taxes. I suppose as states and taxes go, we have fairly low taxes in Tennessee.

[Ridge Runner]

Gman, I would be glad to pay an extra 2% in sales tax to get rid of our state income tax. I get clipped for $50.00 to $60.00 per week in state income taxes. I would have to spend ( and be taxed on ) $2,500.00 each week to equal $50.00 @ 2%. I know many people who live in Tn. on purpose and drive just across the line to Ga. just for that reason. That alone will fund my IRA each year.

Does Tn. exclude anything from the sales tax? In Ga. some things are excluded. Rx drugs, food, ect... Very small list of things.

[GMAN]

Ridge Runner, right now class 8 equipment is the only thing I know of which is exempt. There has been some talk about exempting groceries or prescriptions, but nothing has gotten beyond the talk stage. This year we did have the tax free weekend to compete with Georgia at back to school time. I almost tagged my trucks in Georgia, but would have to pay the Ad Valorem tax each year plus pay sales tax on them. It is less expensive to just base in Tennessee. I keep a legal address in both states so it was a toss up. Paying less taxes won. :wink: Tennessee tried to sneak an income tax during the night about 3 years or so ago. All the soccer mom's got up in arms and they cancelled it. Tennessee cannot legally have a state income tax unless it is passed by popular vote. And I don't see that happening any time soon. I used to go across the border to buy my gas, but since Georgia raised their prices I can usually buy in Tennessee for the same price or less. At one time I could buy gas in Georgia for about $0.11-0.14/gallon less than in Tennessee. That is no longer the case.

[Red Clay Rambler]

I know a trucker who joined the soccer moms in marching around the State Capitol to voice opposition to a state income tax. :wink:

[GMAN]

These legislators were scared to death of the soccer mom's. There is a disc jockey on 1510 who was there when this happened. The newspapers showed the police dressed in swat or Guestapo attire nose to nose with the soccer mom's. The legislators tried to portray the mom's as terrorists or worst. It was funny that this DJ interviewed several of them and told exactly what was happening from the capitol. What a bunch of Winnie's. With all the police protection, they were terrified of some soccer mom's. I was going through Nashville a lot during this time. I wish I could recall the name of the DJ. Needless to say, he is not favored by the governor or politicians in Nashville.

I would vote for my state New Hampshire. No state tax, no sales tax and I never have a problem getting a good load out. My plates cost me $1,110 and when you do anything to do with your truck you sit down with a lady at the DMV and she does everything for you with a smile.

I personally don't think it should matter where you live. Once you get a load out, your out for 3 weeks.

[Graymist]

While on this topic, how's Pennsylvania in this respect ?

[BikerDad]

I'm much more concerned about the business environment than the load in/load out situation. The load situation primarily affects the opportunities for leasing on to a carrier. And no, the current plan would not include a Lease/Purchase.

Tennessee is one of the states that's fairly attractive to me, given the plethora of superb motorcycle roads. Gotta have some fun on my time off!

Hadn't really given much thought to New Hampshire, I'll have to add that to the short list for review.

There are more motorcycles per capita in New Hampshire than any other place on the earth. I ride a Road King all day and get lost in the mountains and NEVER get tired of it.

If you buy a house here be warned, we have hefty property taxes. We tend to pay our teachers much better. New Hampshire has some cities like Nashua and others that have been rated most desirable place to live in the U.S. multiple times.

On another note though. We are the only state to not require seat belts. Our freak Governor refused again last month to not sign it into law. What a bonehead.

[BikerDad]

Steve,

NH sounds mighty interesting, but the riding season is mighty short.

[Ian Williams]

Okay, so I'm looking at going O/O in a couple of years, in combination with a relocation to another state. Currently, I'm in Nevada, but sadly the tax and regulatory environment here continues to erode as ever more folks from other high-tax, high regulation states flee then foist the same madness on us. :tmad: Add to that the fact that Nevada is, essentially, just a vast black hole for trucks. They come in with stuff, but there aren't a lot of loads out.

So, what state(s) are the best for an O/O who'll be running 48 states?

Are you in Northern or Southern NV? What kind(s) of a wagon are you dragin?

There is plenty of freight coming out of the Northern Part of the state.

[GMAN]

A friend of mine loads a lot out of Nevada. Mostly around Reno and Las Vegas. He primarily goes to Salt Lake and California. He seems to do pretty well. It depends on the type of freight you want to haul.

[merrick4]

If you buy a house here be warned, we have hefty property taxes. We tend to pay our teachers much better. New Hampshire has some cities like Nashua and others that have been rated most desirable place to live in the U.S. multiple times. .

I remember about 10 years ago there was a lawsuit there where someone was complaining about how the property taxes were paying for schools. That is the poorer communities obviously had less property tax revenue and thus their tax income for schools were lower. I thought they found that to be unconstitutional. I guess that never passed?

I wouldn't mind a 9.25% sales tax here in Florida GMAN, they are killing us with property tax. There was recently talk of raising the sales tax now at 6% and abolishing property tax but that went nowhere. .

[GMAN]

I have family in Florida, Merrick. They pay a much higher property tax than I do. These politicians have never met a tax they didn't like. :evil:

[Graymist]

If you buy a house here be warned, we have hefty property taxes. We tend to pay our teachers much better. New Hampshire has some cities like Nashua and others that have been rated most desirable place to live in the U.S. multiple times. .

I remember about 10 years ago there was a lawsuit there where someone was complaining about how the property taxes were paying for schools. That is the poorer communities obviously had less property tax revenue and thus their tax income for schools were lower. I thought they found that to be unconstitutional. I guess that never passed?

I wouldn't mind a 9.25% sales tax here in Florida GMAN, they are killing us with property tax. There was recently talk of raising the sales tax now at 6% and abolishing property tax but that went nowhere. .

If you think those taxes are high, you should check out the taxes in Canada. Except Alberta ( which only has a 6% GST ) all other provinces have a GST and a PST ( provincial sales tax ), totalling around 14%. I couldn't tell you about property taxes though, as I don't own any property yet. The saving grace though, is that we have universal health care ( which is not as good now as it once was, what with long waiting lists ).