The 'PERFECT' Trailer?

I bought a new trailer today.  I found it on eBay.  This will get matched up to the new truck I bought last month and be operated by my oldest son, who is about to become a (very, very, very, very, very,very) small part-owner of the company.  So let's go back to the beginning.

I am always thinking how to fine-tune the niche of the trucking industry that we operate in and make it more profitable.  Since fuel is our number one expense, we must find a way to do what we do the most efficiently.  I believe the Cummins 5.9 diesel produced in 2005, 2006 and early 2007 is THE BEST motor on the market for what we do.  I bought a 2006 Dodge 2500 ready to go.

My almost 28 y/o son has perhaps reached a point in his life where what he has achieved so far is not good enough and he is prepared to do what it takes to move forward.  I'm quite proud of him reaching that point 25 years ahead of his old man.  Smart kid.  He actually came to me with the idea of driving, not that I haven't drop a hint for a long time.  He will be available to drive July 1 but he has no CDL, a requirement for all my equipment; until today.

I found a 36' gooseneck car hauler.  Several things make THIS trailer special.  Most importantly are the axles.  They are 7,000 lb Dexters (2 tires each axle) rather than the 12,000 lb Dexters (4 tires each axle).  Obviously I can't haul as heavy a load with this trailer, but that is okay.  I get alot of lighter loads too.  And because of this lower rating -- 14,000 lbs for the trailer and 10,000 for the truck -- this combination is below the 26,000 mark set by the feds and is therefore non-CDL; perfect for my son.

And for the return trip home we can easily get TWO cars up when the opportunity is there.  More income per trip means higher cents-per-mile -- the ultimate number that tells you if this was a good trip or not.

Now, truth be told, I don't own the trailer yet, officially.  I have a gentleman's agreement over the phone.  He faxed me a copy of the clear title and I mailed him a check today for 20% with the balance to paid in cash within two weeks, when I go pick it up.  So, here we GROW AGAIN.  Very exciting.

I'm also excited because I saw the sun for a few minutes earlier today.  That was the first time in three or four days -- MOST unusual for these parts.  We have been stuck in this same weather pattern since Tuesday and it is just pumping one wave of rain after another.  It is tearing up the beach, too.  I'll bet we lost another foot or two of waterline as the waves reclaim the beachhead.  The city spent a whole lot of money pumping sand ONTO this beach two years ago.  Mother Nature has something else in mind.