Hotshot Connect Forum :: Vehicle weight ratings

Going for broke

First of all I'm a 13 year truck driver. Both company and o/o. I'm preparing to move from WI to east TX and looking to mabey get into hauling with a one ton and trailer since I will be losing my very good job when I move. Here is my question though.
I know tractors are registered for the full 80k lbs AND THE TRAILERS ARE A PERMENANT PLATE WITH NO WEIGHT RATING. Now Pickups and trailers are both registered with weight ratings.
Now the truck I'm looking at is either a new or slighly used dodge 3500 or a ford f350. Both diesels of course. Now the ford I know has a gvwr of 11,400 lbs. That to me would mean I can only haul 11,400 lbs gross max regardless of what trailer I have. However I know I see you guys ALL the time much heavyer than that so what gives with how this all works? DOes it mean you register the truck for 11.4k and then register your trailer rating and hen you can haul the combined total? Or do I need to look into a f550 or something?
I would like to get rated as high as possible and get my authority again, I have had it once a long time ago when I owned a few peterbilts. I own an enclosed car trailer that has a 35 foot lower deck and would liek to haul some high end cars. I will also most likely buy a wedge or flat bed that I can haul cars on. I have a possible contract for hauling 4wd go cart type buggies so I need something to accomidate them. Basicly a wedge with decking in the middle to accomidate two wide wil wrk for this but limites me to only cars and these buggies.

ANy info is greatly appreciated in advace. Thanks

mhlogistics

OK lets see if I can explain this without confusing you. I'm going to be spitting some figures out, they might not be totally accurate because I don't have my cab card in front of me to go by. Lets say the front axle of your Dodge has a 4,000 GVW and the rear axle has a 10,500 gvw. Now lets say you have 3 7,000lbs axles on your trailer. The GVW on all axles added together come to 35500. Each state has a different weight chart to go by when selecting what you want to register your truck at with apportioned plates. Here in California for instance we chose 36,000 gvw when registering our Dodge 1 ton duallies.

You said you owned trucks in the past. On my 3 axle Peterbilt I registered it at 80,000 gvw when applying for my apportioned plates. I couldn't load 80,000 lbs on those 3 axles legally though. With the trailer I went with the PTI plates. Some states you have the choice of registering your trailer at the GVW or going with the PTI/Token plates. It's cheaper to go PTI/Token.

Call or visit your registration department/DMV and ask them for an IRP packet. In the packet it should have a weight chart to select from. Add your axle GVW's together for the truck and trailer and select the exact or next highest weight class on the chart. You should wait and register out of TX when you move down there. I think in TX you will either be registering your truck at 38,000 gvw or 42,000 gvw. I can't remember what the chart allows?

If I've confused you give me a call 760-868-4932 Gary M&H Logistics

Tom Cobb · Site Admin

First question is how heavy are you going to operate? Under 26K or over 26K. Under 26K apportion plates are not needed. Over 26K they are.

They way DOT determines the wt after you decide what equipment you want is by adding the data plates of the truck GVWR and the trailer GVWR. If those plates total over 26K you have no choice but to register with apportion plates. In TX you determine the total wt you want to operate at and they register the truck for that wt. The trailer is given a token tag.

Your equipment data plates still cannot be exceeded when determining the operating wt.

To make this easier go to hotshothauling.com and go the Hotshot How To section. All the rules are covered in there along with a lot of discussion on the issues and rules, etc.

Going for broke

I will register for the most I can given the equipment. My original plan was to buy a tractor and trailer but this account came along and it can be done with a hot shot so why not. I have had my authority before so I am kinda familiar with what is needed for it although it was 12 years ago and I id farm it out but I think I remember most of it. Of course that was before all the states had gone to ifta too.

I have ran across a 2000 freightliner fl70 with 173k miles and a take 3- 4 cars flatbed. He wants $25 for the pair. Does that sound fair? it does to me but i am used to 100k semi trucks. Anyone know the gvwr of the fl70?

mhlogistics

I bet TGPilot could tell you the GVWR, He has a FL70. He's on here and the other hotshot forums also. The price seems fair to me, depending on the condition. What engine is in this FL70? Does the owner have service records?

Stroker

I believe TG has a FL60.

Tom Cobb · Site Admin

For truck and trailer assuming they are in good condition, that is a hell of a good price. I base that on what I have been seeing for trucks with a lot more miles on them.

Going for broke

It apears to be in good shape. It has a custom bed built on it and des not hav a sleeper which I would prefer. It's set up for g/n and 5th wheel. It has the mercedes motor though which I'm not fond of. We have the bigger version of it in a tractor at work and thm things will make you broke fast if they have problems. Ours has like 400k on it and has had at leas two ful sets of injectors already

Tom Cobb · Site Admin

With that kind of maintenance record for the engine and no sleeper it might not be worth it at any price. If the bed could be moved to allow for a sleeper it might be worth considering. I have heard similar stories about that engine though. My neigbhor used to have a 80 something mercedes sedan and when it need a part it was unbelievable what they cost. A heater switch was over $300. The trans was a standard shift and was over $3000 and that was about 15 years ago.

Going for broke

he says it has never had any issues. I didn't get far enough into it to find out if he had records. I didn't get what I wanted for my house so that put an end to thinking about buying a truck right now.

The bed could be modified that's not an issue, I'm a fair faricator and could get one on there no problem.

I love the old mercedes diesel sedans. I'v had a few. Some of the parts are pricey but you just can't beat the cars

chargerhunter

Considering starting my own gig...this is what I'm looking at to buy:

2007 Dodge chassis, Cummins/6 speed
40' Goose with a dove, most likely (3) 7k axles.

How much freight can I haul and no be required to carry a CDL. Do you guys think I should go shorter and have a deck on the goose neck (it is kind of wasted space isn't it?) I have experience pulling a 35 with a dove tail, dual tandems. I hauled logs for a small sawmill operation in East Texas while I work a M-F, 8 hour day job and make around 35K a year. I would love to double that Very Happy

> I know it is very possible, I'm just one to do a lot of research before jumping in. My job is stressfull but I have decent benefits and weekends off. I have a friend that drives for a company out of Ft. Worth and he tells me it is really up and down right now.

mhlogistics

Chargehunter, trying to stay under 26,001 gvw to avoid the CDL can make it hard to earn enough money. You'll find most guys staying under CDL and making a decent living are well connected. I'm not up on TX Law as I am with my own State but here if we have a trailer with over a 10,001 gvw we need a CDL.

As for the deck on the neck. We've found it's not worth having mainly because the wind gets under it and reduces our fuel mileage. All the guys working with us ended up removing the deck over the neck. Some guys here say they seen as much as 2 more miles per gallon without it.

In my oppinion the longer, lower, and the lighter your can go with your trailer the better. You may want to reconsider the CDL

Good Luck Gary M&H Logistics

bth9461

I think you will find that anything over 26k in combined GVWR (truck 12k+ trailer 21k) will require a CDL. Gary is right about the under 26k freight, it is tough. If you have a ready supply of freight thats different, but if you are going to rely on load boards its going to be tough. Before you buy research the customer base and estimated revenue, then crunch the numbers. You might find it hard to match what you are getting now.

There are two camps concerning over 26k work, one advocates the 1 ton with a 22k to 26k 40' gooseneck trailer, the other advocates Medium duty truck with the same type of trailer or slightly bigger. Thats your call, search the other threads, you will find both positions advocated by good guys. Driving experience and terrian do make difference.

Plan well, it will make you or break you.

Brian

chargerhunter

Thanks for the insight, after talking with my wife a a buddy the CDL is not hard to get. I guess we lamens get intimidated by the unknown. I think I will work on the little stuff first CDL as well as more research on the business. There is a good number of loads near me for tree farms that I could stay under the 26K, but really I don't want to limit myself to one market. My wife had her CDL when she was married to her ex. (It is funny backing a 16' trailer and seeing that "isn't that cute" look on her face.) Laughing

You guys have a hoard of information on here and it is very helpful.

Marlin