Long post.Thinking about hauling watermelons.

[henboy1]

Originally Posted by jonp

A lot of car dealers buy from auctions and bring them right to their dealerships. Have you thought of contacting them? You wouldnt have to go to the auctions. Just be where the dealer wants you to be.

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?

[RostyC]

Originally Posted by jonp

sure you don't have me mixed up with someone else?

Earlier in the thread you quoted yourself. Looked like you were talking to yourself.

[Bigmon]

Originally Posted by henboy1

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?

The guy you're talking about is Darren. About 3 months ago Gman and myself asked about him. He replied back here. You'd have to look up the thread, but he sold the truck and is doing something else. Copart is one of the cheapest shippers and he had to drive to several lots, find the cars, walk in the mud and jump start the cars. It was too much grunt work for too little pay for 12-14 hours a day. I think he had a new baby at home too.

[RostyC]

Originally Posted by Bigmon

The guy you're talking about is Darren. About 3 months ago Gman and myself asked about him. He replied back here. You'd have to look up the thread, but he sold the truck and is doing something else. Copart is one of the cheapest shippers and he had to drive to several lots, find the cars, walk in the mud and jump start the cars. It was too much grunt work for too little pay for 12-14 hours a day. I think he had a new baby at home too.

I was wondering what happened to him also. I missed that thread I guess.

[Hoyt602]

Got news about RB. You can't just show up and expect them to let you set up a table. We checked into the Atlanta location and they advised they were full. Every yard manager determines how many and who they'll let in there. It tends to be very competitive. The few direct equipment dealers we have hauled for recently weren't the most stellar when it comes to paying on time. We can't afford to give terms anymore. Either COD or credit card payment. Went by one dealer on Thursday that owes us $2500 from Feb. Building is vacant with a for lease sign in front. No wonder we haven't been able to contact him. Just be wary, some of these dealers will use multiple carriers and brokers and live off your credit. Keep in mind these buyers tend to be on the cheap side as well.

[jonp]

Originally Posted by henboy1

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?

I had no idea what it paid, it was just an idea. Dosn't seem like much money to me. I agree, a hotshot rig might make a go of it.

[jonp]

Originally Posted by RostyC

Earlier in the thread you quoted yourself. Looked like you were talking to yourself.

lol, oops!

[LOAD IT]

Henboy,

Have you contacted Sunbelt since you did that 1 load? They may be your "in" into the next auction. Get you a booth at the next auction and have a few other flats and steps on standby near the auction when the shipping starts, if you need something posted, give me a call. That produce sales idea probably wont work but there is definitely some profit if you could make it work. You may need a PACA license and you will definitely need a retailer/vendor/peddlers license in the area you are selling in. Keep us posted. Load It

[Kranky]

Thinking About Hauling Watermelons

Maybe you should consider hauling this type of watermelon:

Spiked Watermelon

[henboy1]

Originally Posted by LOAD IT

Henboy,

Have you contacted Sunbelt since you did that 1 load? They may be your "in" into the next auction. Get you a booth at the next auction and have a few other flats and steps on standby near the auction when the shipping starts, if you need something posted, give me a call. That produce sales idea probably wont work but there is definitely some profit if you could make it work. You may need a PACA license and you will definitely need a retailer/vendor/peddlers license in the area you are selling in. Keep us posted. Load It

I made a few rounds at the GA farmers market, and it seems the smaller venors would be interested.I only talked to 3 vendors and there are more out therfe that I need to talk to.I could never find the phone# for the Cherry Albitron Farmer from Cordele, Ga.I will have to ask my friend who suggested this whole idea for this farmer's #.I pretty much slowed down on this research until april/may when the watermelon season comes around.The few I talked to wanted a price and did seem interessted, but I cannot give a price without getting the source.


I also embarked on another opportunity from Craig lists.This guy had an Ad to haul cememt slab etc..
This will be local runs to his customers.The cement slab or whatever cement weighs 3500ibs each and 10-15 can be loaded at one time.Unfortunately he wants the carrier to have their own forklift to unload the slab at his customer's sites.I told him that will be impossible becasue the guys who have their own forks also only haul their own local products for their company and they are not your typical carrier.This guy now goes and gets a forklift and wants me to get in touch with him when I get back from the road.Since I have ramps this may be a go.His customers are within a 40 mile radius and I will drive his forklift up my ramp and onto my deck and chain it down..I will then go deliver by unloading with his forklift.What is a reasonable price to charge this shipper to maintain this relationship with him?
.Please be reasonable on a price that will benefit both me and this shipper.His loads are more like once or twice a week till business picks up.From talking to him, he seems like a "small shipper" who recently got a contract from either DOT or a construction company to make these bricks/cememt slabs.I know he has advertised a while in CR, and I believe no one had a forklift to deliver his products.
He did state $300-$500 a run in CR but I wanted an opinion.

[henboy1]

Originally Posted by henboy1

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.

[rank]

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.

[RostyC]

Originally Posted by RostyC

I've thought of doing this as well, only with other commodities (not food). I'd sell it myself or partner up with some one who has a location and do it on a consignment type of deal.

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.

That's the idea I was talking about that I posted earlier in the thread. Thanks for stealing my idea and doing it before me.

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?