Excavating business questions again

[RyanL]

Hi guys well here i am again with more questions. Some of you guys probally have seen my post bout service truck. But more i think bout it. It would make more sinse to use what i already own and is paid for. So ill start with a little info about what i got and so on. Im 24 yrs old i currently work for B&N coal. I have worked as operator here sinse i was 18. Ive ran everything from d-3 to d-11 dozers,320 to 5110 cat hoes and 972-992 loaders 777 trucks ts-24 pans etc. Now for what i own pertaining to excavating: 96 ford l9000 single axle 4wd dump truck 10ft dump 35,000gvw 3306 cat with jake 9spd. I have class A cdl also. John deere 450B turbo dozer with 4way blade and winch. Kubota kh191 7ton excavator with steel tracks. I dont have a tag trailer but do have gooseneck and couple pickups to pull it. Also have kubota m7040 with loader. I currently jus have all this for personal use clearing land. I jus have million liabilty coverage on truck. My questions are what do i need as far as license, insurance,etc to legally get into this part time to start out. Also any other advice.

 

[DIRTROAD]

If I were you, I would just work at the coal company until the economy improves. Currently there is not enough work to go around, so if you try to do this part-time, you will be robbing work from the guys that do it full-time. If or when the economy turns around and there is plenty of work for all, then I might consider a part time venture, but right now you wouldn't make enough extra money to cover the additional liabilities (underground insurance is expensive and you don't want to dig without it). Basically you would be pi$$ing ing the wind and working for nothing.

 

[20 20]

Go over to the heavy equipment forums, they be able to answer any questions you have. There is work out there in the right places and at the right times.

 

[RyanL]

Well ive been pickin up some stone hauling for homeowners because alot of the bigger trucks are hauling stone for the oil/gas rig locations. They are hauling 24hrs day 7days a week to build these locations. So alot guys dont want mess with little jobs. I just dont know what all i need to make my truck legally for hire? DOT numbers or names on door or ??

 

[Bob Rooks]

Ryan,
You need to talk to your insurance carrier, the DMV, and your state department of revenue before you hual another load. Foremost, you must have a business licence, and the state registration number, along with your name and phone number, must be permanent on the door or side of the truck.

My advice: Stay at the coal company, have fun and avoid the headaches and ulcers.

 

[RyanL]

Ive just been haulin for people i know so far. And this coal company is a joke somedays. So...

 

[Bob Rooks]

Ive just been haulin for people i know so far. And this coal company is a joke somedays. So...

Well, you just have to be pulled over once or stopped at the scales and the sign flashes "BRING PAPERS". You'll be the joke. You can be made to pay very stiff fines for doing what you're doing. It's not worth the risk, imho.

 

[RyanL]

True. Ive only hauled couple loads for other people. The rest of the time i use the truck for personal use. Which i think is legal to not have any lettering or anything as long as its not profit. This is why i was askin what all is required.

 

[Duffster]

True. Ive only hauled couple loads for other people. The rest of the time i use the truck for personal use. Which i think is legal to not have any lettering or anything as long as its not profit. This is why i was askin what all is required.

Are you just hauling as a favor?

If not you most likely need your name DOT number and possibly a MC number on your truck.

It doesn't have to be permanent. They can be on a magnetic sign.

If it is truly personal use then no DOT registration should be needed.

 

[RyanL]

Well... No comment on the favor. But thanks for input so far. I will keep truck for personal use. And check into legal side before i haul for anyone else. Thanks

 

[Bob Rooks]

Fresh off the press:
News - State orders Snohomish County mover to cease...

In my state, these are the hoops you have to jump through (FYI). Your state may be more or less. Check with your UTC also. There is more to hauling dirt & rocks than meets the eye, legally.
Common Carriers

 

[Bob Rooks]

It doesn't have to be permanent. They can be on a magnetic sign.

Unfortunately, there is a stigma attached to magnetic signs.

 

[Cat_Driver]

My advice is GO FOR IT. Everyone needs to start somewhere and working for yourself is far, far better than working for anyone.
There's plenty of work out there for the right price. The problem with the "old timers" is they are all charging the same prices as when the economy was booming and refuse to adapt to the changing times. That's where you can come in with fresh ideas, fresh work ethic, and a desire to succeed.

I wish I had a nickel fore everyone that told me not to start my business. Funny thing is, everything people are telling you - they told me 25 years ago.

There are two people that will tell you to NOT do your own business. The ones that don't have the stones to do their own business and the ones that think you are stealing money from them by being in business.

You need to make three phone calls. 1- your insurance agent, 2- the city/county people on business requirements. 3- the highway patrol. Talking to these people won't cost you a dime and these people will advise you far better than all of us arm chair consultants.

Good luck,- - be fair to people, be honest,work hard and you will make everyone eat their words.

 

[Cat_Driver]

Fresh off the press:
News - State orders Snohomish County mover to cease...

YA and A & R Moving, will be named R & A Moving this week and business as usual. Even if he pays the 4K in penalties he probably saved more that that by NOT following the rules and buying all the permits over the last 20 years.

So I can't see how this Company was penalized AT ALL.

If this Company was Illegal I'm sure they cam out ahead on this deal.

 

[RyanL]

My advice is GO FOR IT. Everyone needs to start somewhere and working for yourself is far, far better than working for anyone.
There's plenty of work out there for the right price. The problem with the "old timers" is they are all charging the same prices as when the economy was booming and refuse to adapt to the changing times. That's where you can come in with fresh ideas, fresh work ethic, and a desire to succeed.

I wish I had a nickel fore everyone that told me not to start my business. Funny thing is, everything people are telling you - they told me 25 years ago.

There are two people that will tell you to NOT do your own business. The ones that don't have the stones to do their own business and the ones that think you are stealing money from them by being in business.

You need to make three phone calls. 1- your insurance agent, 2- the city/county people on business requirements. 3- the highway patrol. Talking to these people won't cost you a dime and these people will advise you far better than all of us arm chair consultants.

Good luck,- - be fair to people, be honest,work hard and you will make everyone eat their words.

Thanks for some good words. I'm more of a go getter person and i dont like nay sayer's. That just drives me harder, im sure it is hard long road but sitting around dwelling on the negatives never gets a person anywhere. Gotta take risks, just make them calculated risks i havent got where i am now or got what i got by sittin around ive pushed and worked hard for my equipment. I would buy a piece of equipment rather than go out and lay around a bar and blow money. I like to work and enjoy doing it, makes me feel good. Again thanks

 

[High Compression]

I would wait for the economy to improve as well. I just shut down my business a month ago. Bidding is getting too tight. There is no use working for free. I haven't taken a pay check since Sept. 2010. I made sure my employees were all paid and my bills were paid. Do what you want, but a steady paycheck and benefits are hard to come by right now. I just sold over $450,000 worth of equipment for $144,000.

 

[Verticaltrx]

I own a small construction company and do a bit of excavating/grading work from time to time. I've found the best money to be made with equipment isn't from doing hourly work, but using the equipment complement some other part of the business. For me that is building agricultural buildings and fencing, the grading is secondary to that.

For me this does two things, it allows me to do a small amount of custom work and keeps me from having to hire out as many services. As an added bonus, I can get insurance for a reduced rate as a general contractor vs an excavating contractor, even though I'm sometimes doing the same work.


As for what you need to start the business, you'll have to do some research and figure that out for your state, county, etc. Here in VA all you technically need is a contractors license and sometimes a business license, depending on the county. Insurance isn't required, but I'd highly recommended it. I keep all my trucks/trailers fairly low key and under CDL requirements which makes things easy. In your situation since you would also be hauling for hire (dump truck service) you'd need to deal with all the DOT stuff as well.


Lastly, don't always listen to the naysayers, if you have enough desire and drive to do something you can make it happen. I started my business in '07-08 right as the economy was headed south, which by most would be exactly the wrong time to start a construction business of any sort. My business has increased steadily every year since then and now have projects lined up until the middle of next year.

Good luck with your endeavor :thumbsup:

 

[Duffster]

Unfortunately, there is a stigma attached to magnetic signs.

Like what?

 

[Duffster]

Fresh off the press:
News - State orders Snohomish County mover to cease...

Not sure what household moving has to do with the OP but household movers are notoriously at the peak of DOT regulations.

 

[Bob Rooks]

Not sure what household moving has to do with the OP but household movers are notoriously at the peak of DOT regulations.

Simple. Look at the big picture. It's trucking. Doesn't matter if it's a lowboy, high cube van trailer, or dump & pup. Same basic rules apply to all. And as for these guys starting up a week later under a different name? Ain't gonna happen unless they aren't involved with the new company.