transportation advice

[Dhruv Patel]

I'm 19 years old and I'm interested in transporting wood, but I have no knowledge, I was wondering if I can get help from some people and guide me, or if anyone has knowledge about the business.

 

[Michael E]

I think you may have to give more information: What size wood? What quantity? What distance? Also, where are you located? Transportation advice might be different for the US compared to Europe or Asia, for example.

 

[Dhruv Patel]

I don't know all of that yet but I am located in Columbus Ga

 

[Lee192233]

There's a big difference between hauling firewood and saw logs for a mill. I think you need to be more specific before anyone will give you advice.

Good luck!

 

[Dhruv Patel]

Hey, what do you mean by more specific?

 

[Lee192233]

Hey, what do you mean by more specific?

What kind of wood to start with.

 

[Dhruv Patel]

Lets say timber for example

 

[Lee192233]

I can't answer that. I think asking the question and starting a new thread, "What do I need to do/buy/insure to start hauling timber?" would be a good way to start.

Are you looking to haul for someone or starting your own business? Those are two very different ways to get started in any career.

 

[Dhruv Patel]

Im looking at opening a bussiness that hauls wood place to place.

 

[Michael E]

OK, sounds like you are not very specific in your questions because you are not very specific in your plans yet...

Let me begin to tell you about my own - very specific - transportation setup. I only transport firewood, but often over a distance of 300 miles. I use a trailer that is rated at 1500 kg/3300 lb, because my vehicle (2004 BMW 320d station wagon) has a tow capacity of 1600 kg/3500 lb. The trailer has high side walls, so I can really fill it to capacity. Towing the full trailer, I still get 30 miles per gallon of diesel on the highway.

My setup may not apply to your needs. But if you already own a vehicle with some towing capacity, buying a used trailer is a very low-cost way to start a transportation business. Of course, having a commercial truck, crane, fork lift, etc. gives you more possibilities, but at a much higher investment.

 

[GenXer]

Guys that do that around here have a semi and a self loading trailer.

 

[pdqdl]

Rule #1 about any business: know who your customer is and what they want. After that, meeting those expectations becomes relatively simple.

 

[lwmibc]

Do you mean that you want to drive a logging truck?

 

[lone wolf]

This guy seems awfully vague to me! What's up? Bot?

 

[lwmibc]

This guy seems awfully vague to me! What's up? Bot?

I'll accept that's honest; he's 19 and asking. What did you or I know about logging trucks at 19?

 

[lone wolf]

I'll accept that's honest; he's 19 and asking. What did you or I know about logging trucks at 19?

I knew they were big, expensive and way out of my price range!

 

[singinwoodwackr]

I knew they were big, expensive and way out of my price range!

What’s the age minimum for a CL1 ?

 

[lwmibc]

I knew they were big, expensive and way out of my price range!

Yep. And yet, by the time I retired, I had learned that you can make one of the most deadly occupations on the planet completely safe, that it is the most maintenance-intensive uses that a truck can be subjected to, that I could chain up 4 sets of triples in 15 minutes and change a set of brake shoes in 20. He can learn that too if he wants to--but start with a smaller truck and work his way up, don't try to get into 6 or more axles and steep grades for the first few years; that's a way to die young.

 

[lwmibc]

What’s the age minimum for a CL1 ?

19 in our jurisdiction.