RV Transportation Driver - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Colorado_Kid · RV-Dreams Family Member

RV Transportation Driver

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm not all sure of what has to be done to be legal, but Slade at Rolling Retreats in Elk City always goes to the factory to pick up their own trailers. He is required to keep a trucker's log book in which he keeps track of when he is driving and when he is parked somewhere. Just like commercial drivers do. So, I suspect that you might have to meet DOT requirements.

I know in their case, since they are towing their own trailers, he might even open the coach and sleep inside with a sleeping bag. If both he and Alicia are on the trip, I'm not sure what they do.

The biggest thing with transport driving, just as it would be with a lot of other commercial ventures, one might be "dead-heading" a lot, meaning returning to the manufacturing area without any trailer, thus not making any money.

Terry

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

I would assume you have to meet all DOT requirements. This includes having DOT authority to run commercial, insurance, and probably file fuel taxes quarterly. If you do this on your own there are a ton of records you have to keep, fees you have to pay and taxes. It is likely that the factory has the authority to haul commercial and expects that you would use their numbers. They may even provide the commercial insurance. On the good side, every full day you are on the road hauling for someone else you get to claim $52 per diem off your income.

I guess if there is an income opportunity, I could set my authority up for this and get a bunch of you guys at want to do it and we could contract to the manufacturers.

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

Mark, they usually run under the authority of the transport company they haul for.

I don't think it is a very good job - just my opinion though. There are virtually no backhauls. Most pull with a pickup so there is no condo to sleep in. And the rate per mile is pretty low last I looked at it.

If I was going to be an owner operator I'd probably run expedited freight for someone like Landstar or FedEx. There is good money to be made there.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

A commercial Class “A” CDL is required, you provide the truck (most require a 3500 DRW at the least regardless of the trailer) and you have to pay road use taxes, insurance, etc. as it is a commercial vehicle (the truck) and must be licensed for the combined weight just like any semi- etc. There could be some individual state exceptions to this if you only travel intra-state. But when I looked into it as a curiosity those were some of the rules. And naturally you can’t sleep in the RV.

As Jack says, there are easier ways to make a living. But some enjoy the travel and driving.

Bill

Colorado_Kid · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks for the replies. I don't have a pickup truck so if I was to do this I would transport a motorcoach.