Hotshot Freight

Making More Money by Cutting Your Cost 

In this business like all businesses, you have fixed expenses and discretionary expenses. Your fixed expenses such as insurance, truck payments, trailer payments, and permits, are going to be the same amount every month. Discretionary expenses are those expenses that you have more control over. These would include food, lodging, fuel, and preventative maintenance.

Lodging

lodging can be a huge expense. However, there are several ways to cut these cost. Depending on the type of truck you have and, of course, the weather, you can obviously sleep in your truck. It is not the most comfortable way to get sleep, and you don’t get a good night’s rest and this can affect your productivity and your driving. Since time is money in this business not getting a good nights rest can be counterproductive. It can also wear you down. So there are a few different ways to handle this. Some hotel chains, such as choice hotels offer rewards. Usually, they will offer a promotion staying two nights and get one night free. And a lot of their hotels come with a free breakfast.

On average, it will cost you between $60-$100 per night. A lot of people frown when I say Motel 6, but I have to tell you that 90% of the ones that I have stayed in are very clean and well kept. They do not have a rewards program, but they are very economical, with a price range of $45-$80 per night based on location.  If you are in this business and over 50 years old, I strongly urge you to become a member of AARP and AAA these will often earn you additional discounts at hotel chains. Obviously the cheaper hotel chains do not offer a free breakfast. So when you do the math, staying at one of the choice hotels and getting a free hot breakfast is somewhat of a no-brainer.

Another option for lodging,  depending on the truck you own is a sleeper for the truck, that is DOT certified. The initial investment for a sleeper will run anywhere from $5,000.00 to 9,500.00. One company that I talked to was Cowtown Sleepers, another source that I tracked down is Welden Manufacturing both of these companies offer a wide variety of options. If you were to purchase a sleeper that was in the middle price range and you averaged your hotel expenses at $50. A night the sleeper will pay for itself in six months or less. The advantage to the sleeper is that you can stop to rest pretty much anywhere you are. And you are able to discourage any vandals or thieves.

Food Cost

The price of eating out every day can be very high. This is especially so when you’re on the road trying to make a living. Nevertheless, you have to eat to stay healthy and be productive. There are several ways that you can control your food cost and still eat well. While I was on the road for about a year doing hotshot freight, a few years before this I spent three years driving a semi. During both of these jobs, I kept an ice chest on board with drinks, cereal, fruit, and supplies to make sandwiches. In the Hotshot freight business, you are not as limited on where you can park to dine as you are driving a semi. Either way If I had stayed at say Motel 6 I would have a bowl of cereal in the morning before leaving, later a snack chips an apple something to keep me going. When I got hungry, I would stop in a rest area to fix a couple of sandwiches. Then the last meal of the day would be a hot meal, usually fast food. Often I would get by with spending $10.00 or less on food each day, in part due to fuel incentives. At least once a week I would treat myself special to a more upscale dinner such as Outback, Red Lobster, Texas Road House, and a variety of others

Fuel

Diesel fuel is another big cost of operating a hotshot freight business. Truck stops are nice because they have a lot of roomsto maneuver. Most of the big truck stop establishments such as Pilot, Loves, Flying J, and the Travel Centers of America all have rewards programs and free showers based on fuel purchases. Although these are some great benefits, it does not mean that they have the best fuel prices. Most of us these days have an IPhone or Smart-Phone if you don't know you will want to obtain one. There are about six different Apps that I found for fuel locators and pricing. This will be very helpful in cutting your cost and increasing profits. When you take into account what the truck stops do offer it is indeed a wash in most cases.  Planning your fuel stops will save you a lot of money.

For example, you have two cars on your trailer, and you are leaving Portland Oregon. You are headed south to Weed California, to pick up another car. The car you pick up in Weed California is going all the way to Chula Vista California. Knowing that fuel in California is outrageous, you want to stop and fill up in Oregon before entering into California. If you fill up in Medford it is approximately eight hundred and twenty miles to Chula Vista California, from there you are going back up to San Diego to pick up another vehicle that you will drop in Phoenix along with one of the other cars on your trailer. Your truck gets about 11.5 miles a gallon loaded. You don't want to fill up in California. However, you will have to purchase some fuel to get you into Yuma Arizona where fuel will be cheaper. Your truck only holds seventy-two gallons yet to make it all the way to Yuma you are going to use almost ninety-two gallons of fuel. To be on the safe side, you will want to purchase about thirty gallons in California. Alternatively you can install another fuel tank on the truck and increase the range.

In any case, you are still going to have to plan your fuel stops to save money. Most truck stops charge the same for cash as they do for credit. That being said a lot of credit card companies offer cards with air miles or cash back, since you are going to be spending a lot of money on fuel and food those air miles or cash rewards will add up quickly allowing you to take a nice vacation at the end of the year.

Performing Preventative Maintenance.

If you are still maintaining a home base, or place of residence, where you come in off the road for a break. This is a good place and time to take the truck to the shop for preventative maintenance. You are more likely to get better deals on service and parts at home rather than out on the road. Especially things like tires and batteries and if they find something critical like a bearing, hubs, or brake issues. It is far more cost effective to work with that shop down the street than it is to fix it on the open road. Furthermore by taking good care of your truck you are less likely to find yourself broke down on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere.

Emergencies

Breaking down is not necessarily an emergency. However breaking down in the middle of the desert, the great plains, or in the mountains, can quickly turn into an emergency. As the weather in these areas can change without a lot of notice, depending on the time of year, you can find yourself in a deadly situation quickly. Whether traveling alone or with your spouse it is always a good idea to let someone close to you know where you are heading and the route you are taking. This is especially true when you are going into desolate areas of the country where cell service is sporadic.

With all the violence in our society today people are far more cautious about stopping to help someone who is broke down. And you have to wonder seriously about those that do stop. Carry two signs that you can store in the cab of the truck. The signs should read " I am broke down, please call the State police and tell them where I am" place one at each end of the vehicle so it can be seen by cars traveling in either direction. Odds are their cell phone has no service either. So it may take them a while before they can make a call on your behalf. If you have food on the truck, you should be alright for a couple of days. Make sure that you have a warm blanket and plenty of water on board as well.

 The DOT requires you to have a first aid kit in the vehicle, may I also suggest that you purchase a snakebite kit and something that you can use as a tourniquet. Because I have known drivers who just stopped to check a tire or just wanted to take a photo and wound up with a snakebite. You also will want to add some four by fours for larger scrapes and cuts. This is a very fun business to get into, but it can also be dangerous. You are dealing with machines that weigh several thousands of pounds. Accidents can and will happen, how severe they are and how badly you get hurt depends on you, how cautious you are, and you're aware of your surroundings 

Making a Living Hauling Cars.

Equipment, Permits, and Insurance

Can you make money hauling cars, and other things on wheels? The answer is yes. however, it is a business and you have to treat it like a business. In this article, we are going to talk about what you need to make it work. Like any business and job, you need the correct tools. Having the correct tools will save you time, money, and make the job more enjoyable. I did this for a year and really enjoyed it. Not having the right truck will limit your income potential and cause you a lot of headaches and costly repairs. Some trucks just will not withstand the workload. So I am telling you this from personal experiences in hopes of helping anyone who is considering this business.

The first thing that you need is the right truck. Anything less will sabotage your efforts. The Dodge 5500 with a diesel engine dual alternators and the heavy-duty front suspension is a great vehicle. The Dodge 3500 one ton is another good choice. You have to be able to haul more than one car at a time to make a profit in this business. Either truck can tow between27, 000 to 30,000 pounds it has the torque and the power that you need when you need it. If you purchase the truck new, you will spend between $42,000.00 and $48,000.00 you can find these trucks in auctions around the country for $23,000.00 or less you just have to shop around, there are some good deals out there. Adding a brush guard to the front of the truck is a smart idea. As much driving as you will be doing, the chances of you hitting a deer or an elk is severely increased. Hitting a large animal can cause you a lot of down time having a brush guard can help minimize the damage. You will also need safety triangles, fire extinguisher, and a first Aid kit.

The next thing you need is a good trailer. You will definitely want a Fifth Wheel or a gooseneck. Personally, I like the fifth wheel I find that it is easier to hook up. There is a wide selection of designs and layouts if you purchase a car hauler that is all you are going to haul so you limit your income potential drastically. However, if you purchase a deck over then you can haul between two or three cars on the deck. A few of the trailer manufacturers will build a platform over the king pin. This allows you to haul three Motorcycles, or two ATV’s, or a couple of Golf Carts increasing income potential.

 Most deck over trailers have what they call a dovetail. This is about a three-foot section at the rear of the trailer bed that is tapered so that you have a lower ground clearance at the rear. This is great for hauling cars. However, it can cause some problems in hauling pallets of product. A few manufacturers offer what is called a pop-up dovetail, which rises once you are loaded so that the deck is flat. This option is well worth the investment

There are many small moms and pop businesses that cannot afford to purchase an entire truckload of product for their inventory, so they purchase a smaller quantity. Most trucking companies like to deal in full truckloads so they charge exorbitant rates for smaller loads. This has made it easier for the small transporter to make money on these deals.

A few pieces of equipment that you are going to want on your trailer, includes a generator, Air Compressor, Marine battery, and a power winch. Other equipment includes air hose an impact wrench, air nozzle for inflating tires. I have picked up cars from insurance salvage yards and they will usually load them for you. Nevertheless, when you get to the receiver and one of the vehicles has a flat tire it is a challenge to unload. Other equipment includes several short pieces of chain two feet long. I always used a threaded chain link to attach the chain to the rub rails of the trailer. I would then hook the end of the ratchet strap to the chain. Attach the other end of the to the ratchet strap to the frame of the car. If your trailer is equipped with floor mounted D rings, you can hook the ratchet strap to it, and avoid using the rub rail. A couple of long chains at least twenty-five feet with hooks on each end. You can never have too much chain or secure a vehicle too much. I always used ratchet straps to tie the vehicle down. Some drivers use chain binders either of these will get the job done. I have seen some drivers use a combination of both. There are many good trailer manufacturers out there that will custom build you a trailer when you tell them what you are using it for they will know what you need. Flat tires on your trailer or truck will happen. Depending on where you are, it could be hours for roadside assistance to reach you. With a generator and air compressor, you can have the tire changed and back on the road in thirty minutes or less. In this business, time is money.

Most of your auto shippers are going to be car enthusiasts who have purchased the car from other individuals and they are restoring them. Sometimes the car does not run. Alternatively, it will be in a place that is hard to get into. This is where the winch and the chain come in handy. Especially when you have to unload one vehicle, so you can load another car because of the delivery locations.

Along with the right equipment, you have to have the right insurance and permits, it is just good business and it is ethical. Insurance is going to be one of your biggest expenses. You want to have at least a million dollars in liability. Depending on the types of vehicles that you are, hauling it is suggested that you carry at least five hundred thousand dollars in cargo insurance. You can save some money here by choosing a higher deductible however you need to have the deductible amount in a separate bank account in the event of a loss.

For example, you have a five thousand dollar deductible for cargo insurance. Loaded on the trailer; you have a 1969 Mustang, a 1976 VW Beatle, and a 1980 Corvette. Somehow or another the Corvette comes loose the back end of the Corvette hits the pavement before you can get stopped. You can see that there is some serious damage done to the undercarriage. The total value of the Corvette is valued at eighteen thousand dollars. You find out that you have seven thousand dollars in damages and you only have three thousand in your bank account. Your insurance company is only going to pay your customer two thousand dollars, you give the customer the three thousand that you have, and this still leaves you two thousand dollars short. This could be very devastating; you have to either to take out another loan, deplete your operating account, or risk a lawsuit by the customer. In addition to the bad word of mouth that you are getting. 

You can also save money on your comprehensive and uninsured motorist insurance by having the higher deductibles again you will want to have the money in the bank to cover the deductible. Otherwise, it could easily put you out of service if you were to hit an elk, a deer, or if someone hit your truck that was uninsured, the repairs could be costly. Check with your insurance carrier, sometimes it makes more sense to pay a little more for the insurance for a lower deductible until so you save up the money to set aside.

To operate a truck and trailer of this size, you will be required to have a commercial driver's license. Many people cringe at the idea of obtaining this. However, it is not that hard to do, and it is well worth it. It is the only way that you can haul enough freight at one time to make a good living. Should you choose to risk it as some drivers do. Keep in mind that a single violation from the department of transportation could put you out of business quickly. Not to mention the possibility of jail time, it just is not worth the risk. You will also need a DOT number and an MC number. I contacted a company by the name of Foley Carrier Services they will be happy to help you set everything up and they stand behind their work. If you do it yourself and make a mistake, it can be costly. One driver I knew was stopped in Indiana he filed his own paperwork and had the wrong GVWR on his permit he received a ticket for over three thousand dollars. It just is not worth it. Foley Carrier Services also offers a wide variety of others services that you will be interested in. You will also be required to keep a logbook, this really is not as hard as it seems and often drivers make a bigger issue than they need to. As I mentioned I did this for a year, I did not have the correct truck, which cost me a lot of money in repairs. I also had a trailer that would only haul one vehicle; on occasion, I would have a motorcycle in the bed of the truck. I could not afford the cargo Insurance. That being said there were a lot of tense moments and the stress was just unbearable. Fortunately, I never lost anybody's vehicle. I was below the weight rating so I never had to enter the DOT scales nor did I keep a log book. Be sure to visit my blog often as I will be posting additional articles about the hotshot freight business. 

Things You Need To Know Before Buying A Cab-Over Camper

Cab-over campers, truck campers, or slide in campers as some folk's call them all started back in the early 1950's. The pioneer of this camping phenomena Was Merle D McNamee After world war two the pickup truck rapidly gained popularity amongst the general population. Prior to the war, pickup trucks were primarily used for businesses and farms. Merle was an avid camping enthusiast, who knew that there had to be a better way to go camping. So he designed the first slide in truck camper, which was not much more than just a box with a couple of cots thrown in to sleep on.  We can thank Merle for many of the features that cab-over camper manufacturer's use today. These features include the stand-up height, the bed over the cab, corner mounted jacks, indoor appliances, and more. From Merle's truck camper design, the Class C or mini motor home was born.  

There are just a few companies, that are still manufacturing cab-over campers in the United States today. These Cab-over Camper manufactures  are at the top of the RV marketplace. Part of this has to do with the roller-coaster economy over the last 20 years, which has  put some of the smaller manufacturers out of business; leaving the older and stronger companies to grow and prosper. Cab-over campers seem to be more popular in the Western, one-third, of the United States. This is also a contributor to the decline in the popularity in this segment of the RV industry across much of the nation. The popularity of these campers in the west has to do with ruggedness terrain which we enjoy. It is not uncommon to see a truck with a Cab-over camper pulling a  boat, horse trailer, or a utility trailer loaded with ATV’s. 

These campers come in various sizes, as small as six foot, and as large as thirteen foot, Since the popularity of Cab-over campers has grown, they are becoming more luxurious with slide+outs, side entrance doors. Which makes it easier to get in to the camper. Most of the campers contain the same amenities as full size travel trailers, such as refrigerator, stove, oven, water heater, bathroom, microwave and more. Obviously the bigger the camper the more it weighs. This could be a problem, for you the buyer. If you already have a truck it is crucial to pick the right camper that will not overload the truck. Just an example, the Palomino Backpack HS800 weighs in at 1675 pounds. This camper will be fine on your Ford F150, Dodge 1500, or the Chevrolet 1500 series. If you have an F150 or the 1500 series trucks you can push the envelope slightly by adding overload springs to your truck. You have to understand that when they made that truck; the engine and drive train were designed to move a specific amount of mass down the road. The brake system was also designed to stop a specific amount of mass. You should visit your owner's manual for more specific information. One of my favorite trucks for hauling a cab-over camper is the Ford F350 or the F450 with dual wheels. This truck will accommodate just about any cab-over you choose.  If you are looking for both the truck and the camper you should purchase a truck, slightly bigger than what you need. The advantage to this is that you have a truck that will handle the load. Also in the event that you decide, that you want a bigger camper at a later date, you have enough truck to handle it. This also goes well if you are towing a trailer or boat.

Cab-over campers appear to be very expensive. When you think about the size of it compared to the price of a travel trailer or fifths-wheel,  The reality of it is this, Cab-over campers have all the same amenities that a travel trailer or fifth-wheel will have; in a more condensed space. Because of this, a cab-over camper can seem quite costly you have to look beyond the price tag, and at what you are getting for the price

 Since these campers are somewhat condensed it can feel cramped with five people in it on a rainy day, or at night when you are getting ready for bed. For a family of three or four it is very comfortable. Most all of these campers have a place for a television DVD player with theater sound. Most of the luxuries that you have at home  

Back in the late 90's Manufacturers of cab-over campers solved the space issues by adding floor plans with slide-outs. This feature added eighteen square feet or more to the livability of the camper This also makes the cab-over camper weigh more Northwood's Arctic Fox model 1140 weighs in at 3465 pounds. If you are trying to keep the weight down the Bigfoot 25C10.6E weighs in at 2600 pounds dry weight and has no slide out.  Another option is the CLTC10 Camplite it comes in at 2190 pounds dry weight

Structural technology has come a long way. Back in the early 70's cab-over campers were all made of 2X2 wood construction and tin metal skin. Now, most of the high line cab-over campers are built using a 2X2 aluminum structure for the floor joist topped with one and one quarter inch plywood. Walls are made with 1X1 inch aluminum studs welded in a jig. The vacant areas are packed with foam insulation. Afterward, both sides are sprayed with a very strong adhesive; this is then overlaid with a fiberglass skin, on one side, and interior paneling on the other side. This structure is then run through a set of pinch rollers. When the structure is done it is three times stronger with half of the weight, of the old stick a Tin construction. This type of construction has allowed manufacturers to build larger campers that weigh less than those of days gone by.

Space has to be used wisely. In the smaller Campers gray and black holding tanks are significantly smaller. The bathroom is another area which space is condensed. Smaller cab-over campers have what they call a wet bath. When you step into the bathroom it is a one piece shower pan with a curtain that goes across the door, keeping it as dry as possible. The toilet is also located in this small cubicle. On the larger campers, the holding tanks are larger. And depending on the floorplan you could have a dry bath or a wet bath.

Storage can be an issue. Obviously you lose the use of the bed of your truck. Most cab-over do not have a lot of outside storage. Therefore, you have to use the floor space in the camper for larger items. This means that you have to be very frugal about the amount of camping gear that you pack; the way you pack it is just as important. With my experience in the RV industry, I can offer you a few tips. Lay a carpet runner down on the floor that has a rubber backing. Place cardboard on both sides of the floor area leaning it against the paneling to protect it from scratches. You can also wrap any sharp objects with a cloth and duct tape.

These campers are a unique unit within the Recreational Vehicle industry. If you use your truck for work as well as play, the cab-over camper is a good way to go. Simply remove the camper from your truck, for work. Then reload it for the weekend trip. This camper also allows you to pull a trailer hauling your other toys. You are not limited to the places that you can camp; the cab-over camper will go where ever your truck will go, so if you have a favorite fishing spot that is off road, then go. Cab-over campers can actually save you money. If you owned a motorhome and still had to have the truck for work now you have two vehicles that you have to perform preventive maintenance on Two vehicles to purchase gas, tires, and oil for, just to mention a few.

Cab-overs are great for dry camping, especially if you do live, or travel in the Great Northwest. In most places, here in the northwest you can get by without an Air-conditioner. Therefore, the only electric power you really need is to charge the batteries in the camper. With the modern technological advances that they have made in solar power, more camping enthusiast are turning to solar power each year. It is little pricey to get started with solar power. You will find that the investment is well worth it. You can purchase an 85-watt solar panel with everything you need to install it safely and correctly for less than a thousand dollars. Some solar panels are mounted on the roof of the camper. There are pros and cons to this. Pros include, that it is always working. One of the cons are that to secure it you have drill holes in your roof; this can lead to a potential leak   When dry camping you will only have 12-volt power. If you have the desire to have 110-volt power you can purchase a portable generator, there are several of them on the market. Keep in mind you want a 4000 watts or larger, this will carry most of your appliances plus your air-conditioner.  You will also want to make sure that it has a 30 amp outlet on the face panel. Depending on where you are going you will want to carry a good supply of water.

There are several ways to install your Cab-over camper onto your truck. The most common for smaller comb-over's; use mounting brackets which fit into the four corner stake pockets Turnbuckles are connected to the brackets the other end is attached to the cab-over then tightened. The Belly Bar is another method this is recommended for heavier and larger campers. If you are purchasing the camper, new ask the dealer for his recommendation. You can also ask him about the Happijac system or the Torklift tie downs both of these seem to be safe and very durable.  

Cab-over campers have a natural tendency to feel top heavy when going around corners or in windy conditions.  This is one of the reasons that I prefer the Ford F350 with dual rear wheels; the wider footprint in the rear gives it more stability at corners and in windy conditions. If you don't have the luxury of owning one of these one-ton trucks, there are other options. Camper struts; these are like shock absorbers which will help to absorb most of the side to side motion. The upper end connects to the bottom side of the cab-over. The other end connects to brackets mounted to the truck at the lower corners of the windshield.

I hope that I have provided you with some helpful information about truck-mounted campers. There is a great wealth of information out there concerning this segment of the Recreational Vehicle Industry. In my next article, we will talk about truck campers for the smaller trucks.  Below is a list of Cab-over Camper manufacturers that you should check out.

·       Lance

·       Real-lite

·       Maverick by Palomino

·       Bigfoot

·       Eagle Cap

·       Arctic Fox

The Loud Music Murder Mistrial

By Friday evening the jurors involved in the Michael Dunn, loud music murder trial had been in deliberation two days. During the deliberation, Jurors asked Judge Russell Healey, questions in regards to the verdict. Judge Healey informed them that if the jury could not come to a unanimous agreement on some of the charges that it would result in a hung jury, on the charges that they could not agree on unanimously. This left little doubt that Michael Dunn might be found guilty on some of the other charges. This means that Michael Dunn would still face imprisonment. The prosecution in this case pushed for first degree murder. This decision left many of the well-known legal critics to criticize the prosecutors. Because, first-degree murder would mean that Michael Dunn knew Jordan Davis, had an argument with Jordan Davis and then planned out how he could kill him. This, by any stretch of imagination was not the Case. This incident happened within a 10 minute time span. It was rather spontaneous there was no premeditation to kill Jordan Davis.

Character witnesses testified, to what a great guy, Michael Dunn his calm demeanor, level headed he is. Does not really matter Michael Dunn's own testimony was fairly weak from the beginning. He stuck to his story that he thought that Jordan Davis had a gun, not just any gun, but what looked us like a shotgun. When he was asked, why he continued shooting at the SUV as it was leaving.

His response was, "I was afraid they were going to turnaround; come back to kill me." (Maybe not his exact words but reasonably close). I'm not sure about you, but I'm thinking really Michael, with the gun they didn't even have. By that point they were probably terrified and just wanted to get out of there. He also testified that he called the police the following morning after he heard that Jordan Davis had been killed. Then his fiancée took the stand and weakened his testimony even more. She testified that Michael Dunn never made a call to the police. She also mentioned that it was her idea to get out of there, before the police arrived. Because she was afraid that she would be arrested. She also testified that when she got back in the car, Mr. Dunn made no mention of any type of weapon or any stick that they were going to kill him with. She also made mention of a derogatory statement that Michael Dunn had made when they parked next to the red Dodge Durango, that Jordan Davis was occupying.

Now today at 4:40 PM In Florida the jury had a verdict of guilty on four of the five charges. The jury was hung on the first-degree murder charge. At that time Judge Healey declared a mistrial on that charge. This tells all of us that not even the jury believed it was premeditated. I dare to say that had the prosecutors ask for a lesser charge that it would have been slam-dunk, over and done with. Michael Dunn would have been found guilty, and the family of Jordan Davis would have felt that justice was served. Now that the first-degree murder trial, has been declared a mistrial. The family and friends of Jordan Davis will get to relive this tragedy once again. Not that I am too worried about Michael Dunn, I would imagine he is furious with this. All the legal fees he is paying, has surely caused a lot of financial stress. In addition to that, the emotional stress that he must be feeling now.

Mr. Dunn killed a teenage boy over loud music, and would like for all of us to believe it was self-defense. And I don't doubt that there might have been a few hostile words exchanged between Mr. Dunn and Jordan Davis. After all we were all teenagers at one time, and even a little cocky when it came to adults; that did not approve of the things we did back then. The jury may have or have not, believed his story of self defense. One thing is certain though, they were not persuaded by the prosecutions attempt to prosecute Michael Dunn on the first-degree murder charge.

Tomorrow, February 16, 2014 Jordan Davis would have been 19 years old. His parents were hoping that they would have a verdict before his birthday. So they could celebrate his life; that justice was served for taking his life. That is not going to happen though since it was declared a mistrial. Michael Dunn probably is a nice guy, like his friends have testified. However, on that night in November 2012 Mr. Dunn let his anger get the best of him and took the life of the teenage boy. And who knows what would have become of Jordan Davis had he lived.

I think we can all agree that no matter how much time Michael Dunn serves in prison it will not bring Jordan Davis back to life. And being found guilty on a lesser charge will be of little comfort to the Davis family. It is plain and simple that this was murder and Jordan Davis didn't stand a chance once the shooting began. And even though I don't agree with Michael Dunn's actions, I have to say that Jordan Davis also made a very bad decision that night. He had the opportunity to just say okay no problem will turn it down. However he decided to make issue of it, which led to his own death. As we all know it was not the gun that killed Jordan Davis, it was the man behind the gun. It is sad but true that there are some hot headed people in this world who let little things get to them. Then they snap, which results in a tragedy such as this. I am also the parent of a teenager, and I would be devastated if anything happened to my daughter or son. So I say to all the teenagers in the world, who may be reading this. I urge you to be cautious and to be considerate. You never know who you might be dealing with. Loud music and those other things that adults don't care for, is never worth getting yourself killed.

Is Loud Music A Motive for Taking A Life?

I do not know about you, I really am bothered when some car or SUV pulls up around me, music so loud. So loud, that I can feel my car vibrating. If I wanted to listen to that garbage I would have it in my own car. For those of you that enjoy the music this loud, please has some consideration for those around you. Not everyone wants to hear this, or feel it for that matter. The one thing that we can all be certain of is that audiologist are going to have a lot of job security in the future. Because as you get older you are going to suffer, a significant amount hearing loss. You will eventually need hearing aids. I often get mad over this; I wish that I had a gun in my glove compartment or under the seat. Not to kill anyone but too disable the vehicle so that as I continued my journey I would not have to listen to it any longer. However, I never carry a loaded gun in my car, so there is no need to worry.

Under no circumstances is it ever Okay to hurt or kill someone for something as trivial as loud music, cussing, or drinking.  Unless you are being attacked or fearful, of losing your life; should you ever resort to this type of conduct. This is what Michael Dunn resorted to after he had asked some young men who he had pulled up next to him at a gas station in Jacksonville Florida, on November 23 2012. After he had asked them to turn it down, the teens did as he asked, for a moment. Knowing that it was going to upset Michael Dunn they turned it back up. According to Michael Dunn he could see, and thought he heard one of the teens, Jorden Davis threaten him. Then after seeing what he thought could be the barrel of gun, or a large stick. Dunn pulled the gun from his glove compartment. He put four bullets in the Suv. Now if I was being shot at and I had a gun I would definitely be shooting back. I think that most people would. There was no return gunfire. That is because there was no gun. As the Teens were leaving the scene Dunn shot at least 4-6 more times at the SUV. A total of 10 shots were fired into the vehicle. Jordan Davis had taken 3 of those bullets. If they were leaving the scene then there is no longer a threat. Therefore, why did he need to continue shooting? He didn't need to, Michael Dunn chose to.

When the teens left they drove to the plaza not far from the shooting. The police never searched the plaza, or the dumpsters around the plaza for a gun. This has led to a lot of criticism of the law enforcement agencies that were involved in the investigation. This causes a problem for the defense, because now they cannot prove beyond a shadow a doubt that Jordan Davis threatened Michael Dunn. To the best my knowledge, and from what I've heard while watching the trial. None of these teenagers had any prior police records. After emptying his 9 mm handgun, Michael Dunn sped off. He and his girlfriend registered at the bed-and-breakfast they had reserved. And then they ordered pizza. If he felt that he was justified in shooting at the SUV then why did he drive off? Why not stay at the scene and make a police report. Prior to this incident Michael Dunn had been at a wedding where he had been drinking. Yet supposedly it wasn't enough to impair his judgment.

So far Michael Dunn has denied that race had anything to do with this. It was all about Jordan Davis threatening him. And of course this makes sense, because to kill somebody over loud music would surely end in a verdict of guilty. While no one can confirm what Michael Dunn was thinking at that time we can surely speculate. Unfortunately we live in a society where we profile people by the way they look, the way they act, the way they dress, and their ethnic background. Now you have four African-American male teenagers riding around in an S UV listening to loud rap music, that a lot of people find offensive, and being somewhat disrespectful. For a lot of people that spells trouble. You be the judge.

Yet all three of the remaining teens have testified that Jordan Davis did not make any threats toward Michael Dunn. They also testified that the music was loud and that they couldn't hear anything Michael Dunn was saying. So if they could not hear Michael Dunn, then it is obvious, that if Jordan Davis had threatened Michael Dunn they would not have heard that either. According to Michael Dunn, the victim Jordan Davis was getting out of the vehicle. However, evidence shows that the trajectory of the bullets that hit the vehicle, it was not possible. There are so many things about this case that just don't add up.

It is this writer's opinion, that what we have here is a middle-aged man that made a very bad decision. I also believe that Jordan Davis and his friends, deliberately instigated Dunn's enraged state of mind. But in no way does that justify Michael Dunn's actions. I have serious doubts that the teens had a gun or any other weapon in the vehicle. If they had you can rest assure that they would returned fire, and would have been justified in doing so. It is also my belief that Michael Dunn might have consumed more alcohol than what he stated. This would have impaired his ability to make rational decisions. This whole thing is certainly a tragedy; several people's lives have been affected by this crime. I also have to wonder why this is just now coming to trial; this crime took place more than a year ago. It would appear to me that the memories of the witnesses wouldn't be as fresh. And that this would cause problems for both the defense and the prosecution. One would, also think that the more heinous crimes would go to trial much quicker.  All People need to be more respectful of others. People should not let trivial things, such as bad driving, loud music, and vulgar hand gestures, cause them to be enraged. Something that a friend told me, "Don't allow others to have free rent in your head." As you are running their dastardly deed through your mind; thinking about what you should have told them. Or what you should have done to them. They are driving merrily along, totally unaware that they have control over your thoughts.