Wanting to start a 3/4 ton/enclosed trailer based gig and NEED SOME POINTERS PLEASE!

Can't see how you can do it non commercial and be legal, and even though you are driving a small outfit, you will still need a DOT authority. I found out that years ago the hard way. and yes....... you have to log when going more than a 100 mile radius from your home base.

 

10,001 lbs or more combination weight will put you in the commercial regulations. Your 06 Dodge 2500 is GVWR at 8800 lbs or better. Pretty much anything you hook to the back will put you over 10,000 lbs. As far as insurance you will need a commerical policy. You will need a USDOT number as well as a MC number as from what you post you will be "for hire" and not hauling your own product. Some exceptions exist for MC number, but from what you describe getting loads off of load boards, you will need it. The MC number and USDOT number can be obtained at www.fmcsa.dot.gov

The MC number does cost money. Depending on the size of the trailer you buy will determine what class license it will require. Since you have a Class A you will be fine. If the vehicle requires a CDL, and you meet all the requirements for the "short haul exemption" you can operate within 100 air mile radius without using a log book, just need time records and maintain them for a period of 6 months. If the vehicle does not require a CDL, you can operate within 150 air mile radius provided you meet all the short haul exemptions. The short haul exeptions are listed here:

(e) Short-haul operations—
(1) 100 air-mile radius driver. A driver is exempt from the requirements of § 395.8 if:

(i) The driver operates within a 100 air-mile radius of the normal work reporting location;
(ii) The driver, except a driver-salesperson, returns to the work reporting location and is released from work within 12 consecutive hours;
(iii)(A) A property-carrying commercial motor vehicle driver has at least 10 consecutive hours off duty separating each 12 hours on duty;
Code of Federal Regulations479


(B) A passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle driver has at least 8 consecutive hours off duty separating each 12 hours on duty;
(iv)(A) A property-carrying commercial motor vehicle driver does not exceed 11 hours maximum driving time following 10 consecutive hours off-duty; or
(B) A passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle driver does not exceed 10 hours maximum driving time following 8 consecutive hours off duty; and

(v) The motor carrier that employs the driver maintains and retains for a period of 6 months accurate and true time records showing:
(A) The time the driver reports for duty each day;
(B) The total number of hours the driver is on duty each day;
(C) The time the driver is released from duty each day; and
(D) The total time for the preceding 7 days in accordance with §395.8(j)(2) for drivers used for the first time or intermittently.

(2) Operators of property-carrying commercial motor vehicles not requiring a commercial driver's license. Except as provided in this paragraph, a driver is exempt from the requirements of § 395.3 and § 395.8 and ineligible to use the provisions of §395.1(e)(1), (g) and (o) if:
(i) The driver operates a property-carrying commercial motor vehicle for which a commercial driver's license is not required under part 383 of this subchapter;
(ii) The driver operates within a 150 air-mile radius of the location where the driver reports to and is released from work, i.e., the normal work reporting location;
(iii) The driver returns to the normal work reporting location at the end of each duty tour;
(iv) The driver has at least 10 consecutive hours off duty separating each on-duty period;
(v) The driver does not drive more than 11 hours following at least 10 consecutive hours off-duty;
(vi) The driver does not driveA) After the 14th hour after coming on duty on 5 days of any period of 7 consecutive days; and(B) After the 16th hour after coming on duty on 2 days of any period of 7 consecutive days;
(vii) The driver does not drive:
(A) After having been on duty for 60 hours in 7 consecutive days if the employing motor carrier does not operate commercial motor vehicles every day of the week;
(B) After having been on duty for 70 hours in 8 consecutive days if the employing motor carrier operates commercial motor vehicles every day of the week;
(viii) Any period of 7 or 8 consecutive days may end with the beginning of any off-duty period of 34 or more consecutive hours.
(ix) The motor carrier that employs the driver maintains and retains for a period of 6 months accurate and true time records showing:
(A) The time the driver reports for duty each day;
(B) The total number of hours the driver is on duty each day;
(C) The time the driver is released from duty each day;
(D) The total time for the preceding 7 days in accordance with § 395.8(j) for drivers used for the first time or intermittently.

My suggestion before you buy anything is to decide what type and size trailer you want to buy. Contact your State's MCSAP Agency, from your post I presume you live in Utah. COntact the Utah Hwy Patrol and speak to one of the Troopers assigned to commercial vehicle enforcement. Ask them your questions as to what you will need. It is helpful to have the gross vehicle weight ratings of each vehicle. These are found on the VIN plates of each vehicle. Also ask what is needed for you and you vehicle. A far as log books, FMCSA has logbook examples on their homepage that can assist someone learning how to use a log book.

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/topics/hos/hos-logbook-examples.htm

Also FMCSA has a PDf file for "Interstate Drivers Guide to HOS". This is a useful tool as well.

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/truck/driver/hos/fmcsa-guide-to-hos.pdf

Good luck with your idea. But I would research it to know what you are getting involved in before you put a lot of money out.

 

U-Ship.com is what your looking for.
It's a free load board and the only one I know of that is for the general public with no requirements.
Not that I care at all for u-ship. Most guys on there run without dot numbers or insurance which creates a lot of competition. On their you bid down the load until the customer decides to taket he bid.

 

This should probably be in the expedited freight section. If he keeps it under 10,000 lbs, he doesn't need a CDL or logbook.

 

Sadly most customers on uship don't ask about insurance. But it use to show in your profile.
The big problem, I see with uship is the rates. Though you may see high bids, most customers on uship waits till the rate gets down to or below the cost of fuel.
Be sure to ask lots of questions from the customer before placing a bid. Customers tend to expect drivers to have a way of loading.
I've yet to hear of anyone making a living from uship, more a way to make some money while traveling.