Hauling Cars for a Living
Years ago I was sitting in truck driving school in Lewiston, Idaho, listening to the instructors tell us the good and bad about trucking one of us had asked "what is the best paying truckers job?" . I remember one instructor in particular standing up and telling us "You'll never get rich driving a truck." I never forgot that old timer nor my reaction to those words that he spoke. For some reason those words made me feel a little angry. It was like he was telling me not to aim too high or telling me what I could or could not do. Well I chose not to believe those words. I told myself I was going to search everywhere until I had found the best truckers job I could find. I wanted to figure out a way to get, what I considered at the time "Wealthy" driving a truck. I think I stayed with that first outfit for about a year before I decided to head up north to Alaska.
I ended up working in a salmon cannery for 7.50 per hour six am to eleven o'clock pm 7 days a week for the entire summer. At that time in Alaska there was a real shortage of jobs, including trucking jobs. After a summer sliming fish I was ready to start long haul trucking again. I didn't have much trouble finding my next trucking job because I was now an experienced trucker. This company had shiny red trucks and paid a few cents more per mile. I found the euphoria from a job that didn't entail smelling like fish guts all the time did not last. This company paid more per mile but their benefits left a lot to be desired. I also found myself sitting in truck stops waiting to be dispatched quite often, instead of driving.
Then one day on a Fourth of July weekend I was sitting at the flying J in Denver nursing a cold beverage when suddenly I heard a voice say, “Where you headed Driver?” I looked down the counter where a sun-burnt fellow with glasses was drinking a coffee. “Not heading anywhere,”I said. "I can't get hold of dispatch. Looks like I’m stuck here in Denver for the weekend." We struck up a conversation about trucking and I asked him what kind of driving he did. He told me, “I Haul Cars for a living.” “I have a load headed down to the border. Just stopped in here to eat.” I'd seen car haulers plenty of times but for some reason they just didn't register with me as “real truckers,” In my search for the best truckers job, hauling cars for a living just hadn't made it onto my radar. I started peppering this stranger with questions. He kept me entertained telling me about hauling cars for the next couple hours. We walked outside and checked out his truck loaded with 10 cars. He told me how you chain the cars and how the car hauler handles a lot different than most big trucks. “It sways a lot.” “Make sure if you ever accidentally let your front tire drift onto the shoulder not to yank it back. Just kind of ease it back over.” He also told me that car haulers get a lot of exercise because we do a lot of walking to find our cars at auctions and we have to load those trucks. "Those cars don't just climb up there by themselves.” Then I asked him if hauling cars paid anything. Bob thought for a minute and said “Well, I’m an owner operator now, but I think most company car haulers should make 60 grand a year pretty easy." Wow! I thought. That almost double what I'm earning. Hauling cars may be that job" I'm looking for!! Back then that was good Cheddar. That was the late nineties. Now days, most car haulers that I know make 70k to over 100k and that is working as company drivers.” So I asked Bob for a few names and numbers of good car hauling outfits that I could call.
It didn't take long in fact. The first number I called was an outfit right there in Denver, Colorado. Even though it was a Friday afternoon just before the Fourth of July weekend, they where open. I jumped into a Cab and headed over to fill out an application. I found out that this company was made up of 100% owner operators so if I wanted to work for them I'd have to qualify with a DOT Physical and good driving record etc. and then I would have to convince one of their owner ops to give me a shot!! I got a list of O/O's that might be looking for drivers from the safety lady at the front office. Then I made a few phone calls. A week later that I got a phone call from one of the "owner ops". He was looking for drivers and he was willing to train me. I Gave the dry van company I was currently working for notice that I was quitting and set up a time and place to meet my Co-Driver-Trainer.
We met in Nevada close to the California border. Marv, was a great big guy with a handlebar mustache. He stood about 6 “5 He looked about as intimidating as a human can look. I'm no small man. Marv made me look normal . It turned out that Marv was the opposite of what you would expect. As kind a person as I have ever met. I remember I was a slow learner. I pretty much needed all six months we were together to learn to haul cars properly. Even to this day I am still learning as well as making mistakes! I think that is one reason I like the job, it's challenging for me and I actually get exercise most days when I load and unload the truck. Under Marv’s instruction I didn't tear up too many cars and slowly learned the trade!! Marv and I used to average around 45k per month gross to the truck as a team. There were a few months where we made a lot more. I remember we grossed about 60k one month. My cut as a trainee was ten percent and Marv’s was fifteen. Wow, six grand in one month as a trainee!! not bad!
As a car hauler running solo often you will work for 25 percent of the gross. Sometimes guys will make 30 percent but they are top notch drivers with lots of experience. As a solo driver working for a percentage I think 20 to 30k per month is usually what a truck grosses although it can vary a lot. If you work for the right outfit and are a hard runner you can make your truck gross over 30k per month. Some companies’ pay by the mile. Now days, the outfit I work for is based on the west coast. They pay by the mile. I currently make 54 cents per mile and am paid actual miles off the odometer. I can and do make over 70k per year and have three weeks paid vacation per year and get home a couple days per week no problem. I also have a 401k which I contribute to as well as medical benefits.
What You Need to Know
Being a Car Hauler doesn’t take any special skill’s. It does take a bit of mental toughness though. You are outside in all kinds of weather and responsible for loading and unloading those cars onto your rig as well as keeping them from getting damaged. Sometimes you'll be outdoors in freezing cold. I've unloaded in - 20 F weather more than once. When it gets that cold you may have to use a propane torch to unfreeze ramps also called “decks” that may stick. Sometimes you'll find yourself working in Auto Auctions having to search acres and acres of asphalt for nine or ten cars. It may be 100+ degrees or it may be real cold and your cars might be covered with snow. Most times you can brush off the snow with your gloves. I remember one time I started loading in an auction in the afternoon. The next morning as the sun came up I was finishing up. The reason It took me so long was that I was at the world’s biggest Auto Auction, Manheim Auto Auction in Manheim Pa. I had to walk miles just to find my cars. As a Car Hauler you will do a lot more walking than any other type of trucking that I'm aware of. You also need to have at least average balance and shouldn't be afraid of heights. I once had a trainee that just couldn't get over his fear of heights while being on top of the truck loading. He decided car hauling wasn't for him. When Loading stay focused. If another driver comes over and wants to talk to you while youre loading then tell him hold on until you finish. Either that or stop loading and finish the conversation before you load. Dont try to work and talk at the same time, you're liable to dammage something, get hurt, or make a mistake with your load that puts you and the general public at risk. Dont get in a big hurry, especially when driving. Safety is your number one goal.
Best Car Hauling Companies I've worked for:
If you're just starting out and want to learn how to haul cars I'd recommend working for an owner operator or small fleet owner. Often O.O.’s are willing to take the time to teach you.
One good outfit that's based in the midwest (Denver) and is 100% owner operator's is FleetCar Carrier’s at www.fleetcar.com. I started out working for one of their Owner Operator’s years ago, then I bought my own truck and leased on with them.
If you live out west and have at least one year car hauling experience then you may want to give Selland Auto Transport a call. This is a family owned company. I worked for Selland Auto Transport as a company driver for eight and a half happy and Prosperous years. If you're hired by Selland plan on doing thier 401k and staying with them long term. They have terminals in Washington,Oregon,Utah,California and Montana Their main office is in Seattle, here is their link: www.sellandauto.com
There are a lot of other car hauling outfits. I only recommend these two because I've worked for them both, and had a positive experience with both. I've just given you the same information that another Driver gave me a few years back. I hope it helps you along your journey to success in trucking and it may have even helped you find the best trucking job. Have a fabulous day. Burnie
I ended up working in a salmon cannery for 7.50 per hour six am to eleven o'clock pm 7 days a week for the entire summer. At that time in Alaska there was a real shortage of jobs, including trucking jobs. After a summer sliming fish I was ready to start long haul trucking again. I didn't have much trouble finding my next trucking job because I was now an experienced trucker. This company had shiny red trucks and paid a few cents more per mile. I found the euphoria from a job that didn't entail smelling like fish guts all the time did not last. This company paid more per mile but their benefits left a lot to be desired. I also found myself sitting in truck stops waiting to be dispatched quite often, instead of driving.
Then one day on a Fourth of July weekend I was sitting at the flying J in Denver nursing a cold beverage when suddenly I heard a voice say, “Where you headed Driver?” I looked down the counter where a sun-burnt fellow with glasses was drinking a coffee. “Not heading anywhere,”I said. "I can't get hold of dispatch. Looks like I’m stuck here in Denver for the weekend." We struck up a conversation about trucking and I asked him what kind of driving he did. He told me, “I Haul Cars for a living.” “I have a load headed down to the border. Just stopped in here to eat.” I'd seen car haulers plenty of times but for some reason they just didn't register with me as “real truckers,” In my search for the best truckers job, hauling cars for a living just hadn't made it onto my radar. I started peppering this stranger with questions. He kept me entertained telling me about hauling cars for the next couple hours. We walked outside and checked out his truck loaded with 10 cars. He told me how you chain the cars and how the car hauler handles a lot different than most big trucks. “It sways a lot.” “Make sure if you ever accidentally let your front tire drift onto the shoulder not to yank it back. Just kind of ease it back over.” He also told me that car haulers get a lot of exercise because we do a lot of walking to find our cars at auctions and we have to load those trucks. "Those cars don't just climb up there by themselves.” Then I asked him if hauling cars paid anything. Bob thought for a minute and said “Well, I’m an owner operator now, but I think most company car haulers should make 60 grand a year pretty easy." Wow! I thought. That almost double what I'm earning. Hauling cars may be that job" I'm looking for!! Back then that was good Cheddar. That was the late nineties. Now days, most car haulers that I know make 70k to over 100k and that is working as company drivers.” So I asked Bob for a few names and numbers of good car hauling outfits that I could call.
It didn't take long in fact. The first number I called was an outfit right there in Denver, Colorado. Even though it was a Friday afternoon just before the Fourth of July weekend, they where open. I jumped into a Cab and headed over to fill out an application. I found out that this company was made up of 100% owner operators so if I wanted to work for them I'd have to qualify with a DOT Physical and good driving record etc. and then I would have to convince one of their owner ops to give me a shot!! I got a list of O/O's that might be looking for drivers from the safety lady at the front office. Then I made a few phone calls. A week later that I got a phone call from one of the "owner ops". He was looking for drivers and he was willing to train me. I Gave the dry van company I was currently working for notice that I was quitting and set up a time and place to meet my Co-Driver-Trainer.
We met in Nevada close to the California border. Marv, was a great big guy with a handlebar mustache. He stood about 6 “5 He looked about as intimidating as a human can look. I'm no small man. Marv made me look normal . It turned out that Marv was the opposite of what you would expect. As kind a person as I have ever met. I remember I was a slow learner. I pretty much needed all six months we were together to learn to haul cars properly. Even to this day I am still learning as well as making mistakes! I think that is one reason I like the job, it's challenging for me and I actually get exercise most days when I load and unload the truck. Under Marv’s instruction I didn't tear up too many cars and slowly learned the trade!! Marv and I used to average around 45k per month gross to the truck as a team. There were a few months where we made a lot more. I remember we grossed about 60k one month. My cut as a trainee was ten percent and Marv’s was fifteen. Wow, six grand in one month as a trainee!! not bad!
As a car hauler running solo often you will work for 25 percent of the gross. Sometimes guys will make 30 percent but they are top notch drivers with lots of experience. As a solo driver working for a percentage I think 20 to 30k per month is usually what a truck grosses although it can vary a lot. If you work for the right outfit and are a hard runner you can make your truck gross over 30k per month. Some companies’ pay by the mile. Now days, the outfit I work for is based on the west coast. They pay by the mile. I currently make 54 cents per mile and am paid actual miles off the odometer. I can and do make over 70k per year and have three weeks paid vacation per year and get home a couple days per week no problem. I also have a 401k which I contribute to as well as medical benefits.
What You Need to Know
Being a Car Hauler doesn’t take any special skill’s. It does take a bit of mental toughness though. You are outside in all kinds of weather and responsible for loading and unloading those cars onto your rig as well as keeping them from getting damaged. Sometimes you'll be outdoors in freezing cold. I've unloaded in - 20 F weather more than once. When it gets that cold you may have to use a propane torch to unfreeze ramps also called “decks” that may stick. Sometimes you'll find yourself working in Auto Auctions having to search acres and acres of asphalt for nine or ten cars. It may be 100+ degrees or it may be real cold and your cars might be covered with snow. Most times you can brush off the snow with your gloves. I remember one time I started loading in an auction in the afternoon. The next morning as the sun came up I was finishing up. The reason It took me so long was that I was at the world’s biggest Auto Auction, Manheim Auto Auction in Manheim Pa. I had to walk miles just to find my cars. As a Car Hauler you will do a lot more walking than any other type of trucking that I'm aware of. You also need to have at least average balance and shouldn't be afraid of heights. I once had a trainee that just couldn't get over his fear of heights while being on top of the truck loading. He decided car hauling wasn't for him. When Loading stay focused. If another driver comes over and wants to talk to you while youre loading then tell him hold on until you finish. Either that or stop loading and finish the conversation before you load. Dont try to work and talk at the same time, you're liable to dammage something, get hurt, or make a mistake with your load that puts you and the general public at risk. Dont get in a big hurry, especially when driving. Safety is your number one goal.
Best Car Hauling Companies I've worked for:
If you're just starting out and want to learn how to haul cars I'd recommend working for an owner operator or small fleet owner. Often O.O.’s are willing to take the time to teach you.
One good outfit that's based in the midwest (Denver) and is 100% owner operator's is FleetCar Carrier’s at www.fleetcar.com. I started out working for one of their Owner Operator’s years ago, then I bought my own truck and leased on with them.
If you live out west and have at least one year car hauling experience then you may want to give Selland Auto Transport a call. This is a family owned company. I worked for Selland Auto Transport as a company driver for eight and a half happy and Prosperous years. If you're hired by Selland plan on doing thier 401k and staying with them long term. They have terminals in Washington,Oregon,Utah,California and Montana Their main office is in Seattle, here is their link: www.sellandauto.com
There are a lot of other car hauling outfits. I only recommend these two because I've worked for them both, and had a positive experience with both. I've just given you the same information that another Driver gave me a few years back. I hope it helps you along your journey to success in trucking and it may have even helped you find the best trucking job. Have a fabulous day. Burnie
