Because few home owners or tenants have the time, means or energy
to do it themselves, there ia always a need for someone with a
pickup truck to transport things found or accumulated around the
house and yard.
Examples are trash from private homes and businesses (most
collection services will not pick up certain types of refuse),
carting off things that have been cleaned out of the garage or
attic, delivery of large items, picking up tree and shrub
trimmings, etc. all that is needed is a truck and a strong back.
Work that others don't want always pays best. An office worker
with a sore back and blisters from trimming the shrubs will
gladly pay someone to finish th job and haul off the mess before
his wife finds it necessary to remind him of his "unfinished
business."
Also, small businesses often want unsightly things removed from
their premises long before regular collection days.
The most jobs can probably be found with an ad in the paper,
leaving your cards at the local lumber, hardware, furniture and
catalog stores, plant nurseries and auto parts stores (especially
those without a delivery service).
Even stores that deliver often have customers who "need it now,"
where could provide express service. Leave your name, phone
number (one that will be answered) and an idea of your rates
wherever there might be need for a light hauling job.
Other possibilities are the Friday Night Auction, drug stores,
fast food places and grocery stores.
It may not be necessary to get a license or permit right away if
you (not the truck) are paid by the job and don't haul valuables
that need insuring. In this case, you personally are being hired
for an "odd job," and are using your own truck for your personal
convenience. If there is any doubt, consult city hall or the
county clerk.
However, if you are going to be a businesses, it is best in the
long run to go ahead and register your business name (city or
county clerks office), get any required permits and insurance,
and put signs on your truck to let people see your service in
action.
The most effective advertising is when people notice you doing a
job they might also want done, and note your name and phone
number.
Your (and your truck's) appearance will help make an impression
on potential customers. If you and/or truck are both neat and
well kept, your business will appear to be efficient.
If you and/or your truck looks more on the "sloppy" side, people
will assume you do sloppy work. The idea is not to wear a suit
and drive a new truck; it is simply to look clean and well kept.
A clean shirt and pair of levis and even an old truck that is
washed once in a while and shows that an effort has been made to
keep it in good repair are "well kept."
Keep a couple pairs of gloves and some basic tools that may be
required in the type of jobs you get (shovel, rake, furniture
pads). Make sure that the phone number you give out is answered
when people call, and that you will get the messages within a
reasonable period of time.
It is better to have an answering service than an answering
machine (hire one if necessary) -- but a machine is better than
nothing. When out on jobs, make it a point to call in several
times a day to see if there are any emergencies.
These often are the best paying and will often get you even more
jobs if they are performed promptly and well. Just don't overlook
or slight any customers that you have already promised.
This can be an excellent reference for you -- or it can
eventually be your downfall! Although it is tempting to "forget"
a $15 job to take care of one that will pay $150, that $15
customer can do you $500 worth of damage -- by telling the truth
(that you didn't keep your word).
It is EASY and SMART (if not common courtesy) to give that $15
customer a call and tell them something came up, but you will be
there a soon as possible (then, BE THERE).
You will also need different types of racks for your truck -- for
hauling different types of loads. With a little practice, you can
make just about any kind of sideboards. Use a strong wood (oak,
yellow pine) for the uprights, and trim them so they fit into
slots of your pickup bed.
Then, use 1 x 4's for open type racks, 1 x 12's for outside (CD)
plywood for large, lighter weight loads. Bolt the plywood or
boards to the uprights, and run a cable or long "bolt" across the
front and back to keep the sides from pulling away.
If in doubt, take a good look at some racks on other trucks and
use some of their ideas!
You can build your own racks for a tiny fraction of what
commercial ones would cost -- and much less than custom made ones
would set you back. Paint or waterproof your racks (very
important!), and if you really want to experiment, get some
stick-on letters (see Business Sources) and install your own
signs on them.
There are many possible variations in the light hauling business.
Here are but a few:
- LIGHT MOVING. You cannot legally be a mover, but you can be
hired to HELP OTHERS MOVE THEMSELVES, using your own truck as
your personal aid (to save carrying all that stuff on your
back!). Professional movers are federally regulated, and you
don't want to get into that.
- TREE TRIMMING. Either trim them yourself (learn how first), or
work with a trimmer to haul away the trimmings. If there is a lot
of business, invest in a chopper, which will let you haul ten
times as much at a time -- and probably allow you to sell the
refuse to composters or nurseries.
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