Dunno about other state's, but here in Minn. the state issue's T license plate's, they are for farmers doing farm type work. These license are considerably cheaper than the regular issue truck plates.
Yet I often get to bid against these "Farmers" in various types of construction projects. I can and will compete against anyone if the playing field is level.... thus my thoughts on Farm license..... Gramps.
Are you bidding on lawn renovations or? The difference in plate due's ,while high, is not substantial in my eyes. In WI standard Heavy Farm Truck plates will run you $640 for 80k for 1 year. Standard Heavy Truck Non-Farm plates will run you $640 PER 1/4 ($1,920 difference). I also realize you don't need to license your truck for all 4 quarters of the year either. However, I do agree with your concerns that those people should be running proper licensing with proper authority and insurance. I also understand the insurance difference is also a large factor, however they are subject to the same DOT reg's and run the same fuel as you too. In the end it is not right, but I would say if its causing your business to go under then you have some other issues.
If the guys running around with farm plates haven't been caught yet, they obviously don't do that much work or haven't been around long, thus the quality of work in turn should be low and as long as your number 2, who do they call to fix it? You, and then you get to make more money.
Farm Plate laws are vague and all in the interpretation, most farm vehicles don't need them as long as they do not haul to a point of sale. This would include feed trucks, manure trucks and apron box silage trucks. Dump body trucks are a grey area. You may only haul silage with it, but your options are very open with that type of box and if they want to pinch you they can. If hauling your own product to a point of sale you need farm plates. If hauling anything for hire you cannot run farm plates.
Are the farmers screwing you over? In a way yes they are making it tougher on you but the licensing isnt the killer, its their overall price. I'm a dairy farmer myself so time is always of the essense, but all of the CBM (Corn, Beans, Miami) farmers need something to do the other 363 days a year they dont have to work, so they often buy a truck and start trucking or start excavating, in order to keep busy they undercut because they don't have to make a profit.
Good luck in the future though.
To the OP. I like to keep names out of the name. I agree it adds a personal touch, but there are better ways to do it than with your name. Your name limits you. Why would a guy whos name is tom buy joes dirt digging? The reputation would be lost if he switched the name. Enterprises or Services keeps your options open, but I tend to think of those as "blanket" names. They sometimes end up being the operating company when people diversify and or split up their divisions. Lets say you settle on Smith as the name (which i highly advise against as it is the or one of the top names in the country). Trucking can be Smith Transit/Smith Transport/Smith Trucking/Smith Logistics/Smith Transfer. I think "logistics" is a little over the top for what you want to do, however it is the most professional sounding as it usually means your running a larger fleet and doing all of the actual "logistics" stuff in house and offer your "logistics" knowledge to others. Transit has always been my favorite I guess. Trucking sounds like a "good-ol boys" name to me, many people like it but its just not me. Transit sounds more professional and modern i guess.
Think of identifiers. What landmarks/natural features are in your area. What are your hobbies, what do people know you buy? Find something unique to you, your area, and your operation. That is what people will remember you by. If you raise hogs for a living, something as corny as "Squealin' Transit" . A person in our area named his manure hauling business "Dairy Aire Trucking". Think of something catchy on the "edge". Thats what more people remember, unfortuneatley you may loose some business to ultra conservative people which in illinois could be an issue. A buddies baling business's motto is "Because We Know You Like Em' Tight".
Try to stay away from fads in the name. Things like "Black Smoke Trucking" are going to look bad and you will regret it down the road when your mind changes.
Or use the cash grain farmer acronym "CBM Transit" (CBM= Corn, beans, Miami)
Good luck to you.
