Camping World Starts RV Transport Business

Sign on bonuses are'nt good for much. Liability is around 6K a year. I'd have to get $2/mi loaded on a one way. I hauled boats and TTs and got $1/mi when I did it. Broke even on hauls roundtrip. Motel at $90/avg a day, fuel $3.80, Fuel taxes in every state you had to file, maintenence, replacement costs which at 50K for a pickup is about and 500 to IRS every August and Tires and ... I'm going to buy 2 trucks, go broke twice and fast and be twice as happy. You cannot make minimum wage. Heres a quick breakdown on a 1300 mile trip. Income $1755. Expenses $1092 and I'm sure I left out something. My pay would be $663 gross - 398 after taxes and I forgot to eat, give my wife half and buy any clothes for the rest of my life. Telephne, computer GGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Under 26,000 no CDL required. Yes DOT rules have to be followed, Truck has to have a current DOT inspection about $40, Fifth wheel hitch rated for 18,000 lbs different companies different requirements. Have to have triangles,extinguisher,truck registered for 26,000 gvw,Commercial insurance which is expensive.

I read an interview in RVBUSINESS dated 8/15/2013 he said he expects to recruit drivers from goodsam members and customers of camping world to transport his units. He said the reason for this is he wants to speed up delivery time from the manufacturer to dealerships. I am sure he is a great business man but he needs a reality check when it comes to this it is not some lemonade stand setup for someone to setup as an independent contractor for these deliveries.

Most existing transport companies pay $1.30 to $1.60@ mile while loaded very few reloads going back to Elkhart,IN for next load, so that in actuality makes it .65 to .80@ mile , you pay all your expenses except tolls and permits are usually reimbursed.

If Marcus Lemonis wants to make this transport company successful he needs to upgrade the pay package considerably. There is a shortage of drivers as it is every transport company there is has a recruitment issue. Some offering sign on bonuses as incentive.

In Tn you do not need a CDL you just have to have an F endorsement. Which is for hire. The only way you need CDL is if you are over 26000lbs. Hauling trailers is just like driving big trucks, if you are not on the road you are not making any money. If you have family it can be a very hard life.

bob2247 wrote:
Do not have to have a CDL though, and you do not have to wash the RV's before delivery.

I'm not so sure about this, you do have to keep a log book and are subject to DOT rules and hour of service laws. If my information is accurate you DO need a CDL.

Steve

The president of his Transport company use to be the CEO of Horizon Transport for years and he also use to be the Mayor of Elkhart IN. Still an expensive venture, only paid one way and collect lot of miles on your truck, you break down you pay for it and all fuel. Do not have to have a CDL though, and you do not have to wash the RV's before delivery.

57 panhead, You sure have that pegged. I actually think , they ought to pull in the rv's when they go by the scale. And have a special license. Imagine what fun the DOT would have with some of the people I see going down the road in their rv's.

Marcus probably just went out and purchased the company who used to do their transport and re-branded it there by being able to claim a long history. Doesn't really matter though.

Think I'm going to look into this and see if they will hire a broken down old trucker but just for the West, got no desire what so ever to go so far that I can't be home in a day or two. Lots to consider here though, first you have to have a CDL, regular license won't do. Then there is the issue of Pro-rated registration, Fuel permits, COMMERCIAL insurance, Hours of Service laws, and a thousand other issues that we don't need to concern ourselves with when we are pulling our own fiver. When pulling commercially you also have to stop at the commercial scales and can get pulled in for inspection.

Lots to think about

Steve

I am still wayne_tw wrote:
Camping World is starting a new section of their business- transporting their RVs to their stores. The business model apparently is the same as other RV transporters in that they hire drivers with their own trucks and pay per mile. This brand new business is set to go live in September. Interesting, however, is that their logo clearly states they have been moving RVs since 1984! Is this deceptive or sloppy copy proofing? You decide!!

http://cwrvtransport.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/CWRV-Transport.png

Why do you even care?

I guess that they have been selling rvs since 1984 and been moving the rvs from 1 lot to another. I think that the moving was a differant devision that the sales. Now they are hiring their own drivers rather than subbing the moving out to another company. I don't know if that is what is happening but that makes sense to me.
Ron