I've been out of trucking for the past 4 years, but thinking of getting back in. Here's the scenario; I own a 2010 hino 185 that I currently use to haul my race car. I have a 60" sleeper and 14' beavertail flatbed. I have been thinking of getting rid of the flatbed and putting a 12' dry box on her. I know the 4 cyl. is a little soft, but the mileage is great! Hauling the race car and all equipment about 3000 lbs. total I average about 14.5 mpg for all miles. I drove big truck for 14 years and miss the lifestyle, but not the big truck! Is there viable freight for a truck like this? I scale 12,800# with the flatbed, but switching from a flatbed to a box should pretty much equal out within a few hundred pounds, leaving me with about 4-5k and 6 skid payload. Thoughts and opinions appreciated! Thanks!
just a thought!
- Thread starter redwolf
- Start date
tenntrucker
Expert Expediter
I would think this would put you in the cargo hauling area of the cube vans.
Posted with my Droid EO Forum App
Posted with my Droid EO Forum App
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
Yea you will pretty much get loads that will most often go in a Cube van, but if it is dock high, that will help you get smaller ST loads also...
I agree, i wouldn't be out here without the "creature comforts"...
I agree, i wouldn't be out here without the "creature comforts"...
Redwolf: my advice would be to research the different carriers to determine which might be a good fit for you, [each has it's own style, or there'd just be one giant one, lol], then contact them to ask whether the truck you have is one they can use.
You would be kind of a 'tweener' - bigger than a van or Sprinter, but smaller than a C or D unit - I'm not sure how much call there is for such a unit, and whether you'd often be running for lower rates because it won't hold more than 6 skids/ 5k lbs.
Better to know ahead of making a commitment, methinks.
You would be kind of a 'tweener' - bigger than a van or Sprinter, but smaller than a C or D unit - I'm not sure how much call there is for such a unit, and whether you'd often be running for lower rates because it won't hold more than 6 skids/ 5k lbs.
Better to know ahead of making a commitment, methinks.
idtrans
Expert Expediter
16' box minimum, dock high is a must, landing gear is a must, and many shippers want air ride. and then make sure you get on weith a company that works hard for its OO and pays the OO on time. and call CIS for insurance they have great rates and great to deal with.
best of luck man. BTW Koenig body has a couple of empty new box take offs here in peoria, il they are selling cheap 1 is a 16' and the other is a 18 or 20'
best of luck man. BTW Koenig body has a couple of empty new box take offs here in peoria, il they are selling cheap 1 is a 16' and the other is a 18 or 20'
Deville
Not a Member
Hey Redwolf, I know FDCC has a few 12 ft cab over city trucks running around the NY metro area. They were considered C units none of them had sleepers. These weren't dock high so to speak but most company's plates are able to reach the tail of the trucks so it was never an issue. One guy I know has an 18 ft box on a dock high Mitsubishi cabover with out a sleeper & he does very well. He is breaking all sorts of rules by sleeping in his cab but that's a story for another day.
There are also quite a few guys out there with bigger sleepers than you & have 10 to 14ft boxs on there trucks, complete with refers, landing gear & liftgates. Those are usually husband & wife teams that stay on the road 48 out of 52 weeks a year.
The only thing that I think might pervent you from putting your truck on with ne of the larger carriers (FDCC, Panther & Landstar) is this; From what I understand the older Hinos are unable to have the new Qualcom hook directly into there CPUS & limits the amount of data for electronic logging & other engine statistcs. I'm pretty sure the big 3 won't sign on a Hino older than 2007 or 2008.
Other than that I think you will be ok. Do your research carefully. This business is not nearly what it was 5 years ago. It's feast or famine.
There are also quite a few guys out there with bigger sleepers than you & have 10 to 14ft boxs on there trucks, complete with refers, landing gear & liftgates. Those are usually husband & wife teams that stay on the road 48 out of 52 weeks a year.
The only thing that I think might pervent you from putting your truck on with ne of the larger carriers (FDCC, Panther & Landstar) is this; From what I understand the older Hinos are unable to have the new Qualcom hook directly into there CPUS & limits the amount of data for electronic logging & other engine statistcs. I'm pretty sure the big 3 won't sign on a Hino older than 2007 or 2008.
Other than that I think you will be ok. Do your research carefully. This business is not nearly what it was 5 years ago. It's feast or famine.
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
Don't think for a minute that those "tweeners" aren't making money, i know for a fact they are...But has Cheri pointed out, you need to talk to different carriers and see which would be the best fit for your equipment...
Jefferson3000
Expert Expediter
Hey Redwolf,
You can come talk to me about it. I'd put at least a 14 though, just like the flatbed you have now.
Jefferson3000
Expert Expediter
I guess I should've stated it this way:
Yes, that little Hino truck can make you money. At least signed on with me it could. Don't let the naysayers stop you. If it's a smaller truck with a sleeper, I'll take it. If it's a cube van with a bunk cut in behind the seat. I'll take it. Those configurations will make money, provided the owner is diligent. That's what makes the difference. There aren't a whole lot of folks driving their dream trucks in this economy. The key for many is finding someone who can think outside the box and work with what you have.
Yes, that little Hino truck can make you money. At least signed on with me it could. Don't let the naysayers stop you. If it's a smaller truck with a sleeper, I'll take it. If it's a cube van with a bunk cut in behind the seat. I'll take it. Those configurations will make money, provided the owner is diligent. That's what makes the difference. There aren't a whole lot of folks driving their dream trucks in this economy. The key for many is finding someone who can think outside the box and work with what you have.
greg334
Veteran Expediter
Redwolf,
Sell the truck and get something that will give you 18 feet of space.
As an owner and operator of a 14 foot straight truck, it is a PIA to keep it loaded. FedEx may take you, but Landstar and other companies shouldn't and on top of that, you have two disadvantages when you compete with vans/cutaways - slower speed and logging.
As for the idea that the Qualcomm won't be able to communicate with the HINO, well that's not exactly true. The problem isn't with the Qualcomm but the carrier who may not order the unit with the proper protocol. FedEx EOBRs are one that doesn't like the older J1708 system and gave a lot of grief to owners of older trucks. HINO uses the same system as FL and KW depending on the age of the truck - J1708 for older ones, J1939 for newer ones.
Sell the truck and get something that will give you 18 feet of space.
As an owner and operator of a 14 foot straight truck, it is a PIA to keep it loaded. FedEx may take you, but Landstar and other companies shouldn't and on top of that, you have two disadvantages when you compete with vans/cutaways - slower speed and logging.
As for the idea that the Qualcomm won't be able to communicate with the HINO, well that's not exactly true. The problem isn't with the Qualcomm but the carrier who may not order the unit with the proper protocol. FedEx EOBRs are one that doesn't like the older J1708 system and gave a lot of grief to owners of older trucks. HINO uses the same system as FL and KW depending on the age of the truck - J1708 for older ones, J1939 for newer ones.