Are cargo van runs realy THIS slow right now?

[blip01]

I signed on with a Detroit based expedite company at the first of the year. They told me that I should expect to average around $700 - $1200 per week. My 2nd week I made almost $900. Since then I haven't made over $500. Two of the weeks since, I made less than $100. Currently, I've been waiting at home with no runs for the last 2 weeks.

I know that this is the slow time of year, but this seems WAY out of line. Dispatch assures me that they are trying their best, but no runs have been available in my area lately.

Is it time for me to look for another company, or will I just find the same elsewhere?

I would really appreciate any feedback you guys can give.

 

[bryan]

HI
Personally I'd give them more time.Moving right now could just end up costing you money you probably don't have(since it's been so slow).

Right now you know your companies system and if you switch now your going to be caught figuring out a new system during what is normally a good quarter.

Build up some cash during April thru the first of July then if you ain't grossed over $20,000 I'd move on.I usually make most of my money during the 2cd and 3rd quarters.So by changing companies right in between the two good quarters you have enough cash to carry you through the change.

Panther has been getting me loads.Mostly Jap car producers or non automotive freight.Van freight should break loose here soon.

 

[hondaking38]

i am sitting outside emporia kansas waiting for the van traffic to pick up

 

[davekc]

If you are in a van unless you are home, you would likely do better closer to KC or something in MO. Current load boards show little van freight in that area. Of course no cystal ball here, but odds aren't staggering.
Hopefully you get something soon.





Davekc
owner
21 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[randy123]

yep its slow.... only two runs last week and no runs this week... thay say its going to pick up(do i belive this...NO)... we start are asphalt paving in two weeks and i sell construction equipment on ebay so i am not going to worry about it ever picking up... as far as i am conserned i belive i was lied to about the whole thing.... spent 20 grand to find out how it feels to sit in the van 1000 miles away from home... but one good thing, i have a nice van to pull my trailer with.... randy

 

[hondaking38]

ya they deadheaded me here from kc which was wierd i will head back to kc tomorrow, there was a panther van at the flying j there this morning

 

[Driveguy 207]

I hav'nt been reading this forum for a while. But except for the Names, things hav'nt changed much. Last year I was in my Sprinter in Detroit wondering the same thing. I sold my van last Summer. Now Im trying to get a loan to keep from losing my House. The one thing I wish someone would have told me before I started Expediting. was that a major goal of the company I was leased too, and the Industry as a whole is TO KEEP ITS TURNOVER OF DRIVERS UNDER 80 PERCENT. I know there will be replies saying that people fail at this because they are lazy or because they make bad business decisions.
BUT 80 PERCENT!

Sincerly Yours

Expedite Fodder
0/0

 

[LDB]

>I signed on with a Detroit based expedite company at the
>first of the year. They told me that I should expect to
>average around $700 - $1200 per week. My 2nd week I made
>almost $900. Since then I haven't made over $500. Two of the
>weeks since, I made less than $100. Currently, I've been
>waiting at home with no runs for the last 2 weeks.
>

Presuming, (because I'm a presumptuous kind of guy :+ ), you signed on Monday 1/2/06 for a 2 day orientation you'd have been ready to run by Thu. 1/5/06. There have been 11 weeks since then. For 4 of those weeks you have a total of no more than $198 to show for them. For another 5 of them you have at the very most $2495 to show for them. For 1 of them you have at most $899 to show. For the last week there isn't enough information to presume anything. I don't presume you made the most possible each week based on your statements so something more like $175, $2000, and $850 is probably more realistic. That means you've made around $3000 in almost 3 months with the last 2 weeks sitting home making nothing. I can't see that as a reasonable situation. I could see sitting up to 3 or 4 days maybe but 2 weeks is ridiculous. I'd be talking to every van driver I could find to get the straight scoop on their company and after getting numerous driver reports I think I would look for another company to run for. Good luck to you.

Leo Bricker, owner trucks 3034, 4958
OOIDA 677319
73's K5LDB
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[davekc]

Worst case scenerio is to find a company that lets you locate your own freight. Granted, van freight is tougher to find, but I wouldn't be sitting anywhere waiting weeks for a load. There are numerous options, but you have to be somewhat creative. You may not get rich, but you likely won't be broke either.




Davekc
owner
21 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[davebeckym]

My question is "Why would any company be putting on a van in January?". That is just setting him up for failure.

 

[randy123]

i think i might know why thay do that...cause the newbie might run cheaper than the ppl that know whats going on... i know i have but no more... i was sitting in the office yesterday and thay were bidding on a livonia to norcross run for me... i allways get that run so i came home to get my stuff(2 miles) but i never got the call... i talked to my buddy this morning on the two way.. guess where he is at yep in norcross for (400.00) thay gave it to him as soon as i left..... then thay tell you that thay will get a good one for you on the way back.... all the newbies are hungry and will take the run, when the newbie realizes he has been had,their is another one to take his place when he refuses the cheap load.... this is just what i have experinced where i am at, i dont know if its that way all over but it sucks.... thats just my 02.....randy

 

[Moot]

Norcross? As in Norcross, (.54/mi.) Georgia.

 

[randy123]

yes....

 

[raceman]

This may not go over all that well but I will give it a shot and am doing so only meaning well.

It is my feeling that no matter how good the Company or the people they only go so far or care so much. Why? There is a line of new drivers in Vans, Sprinters and Straight trucks a100 miles long just waiting to take your place. I used to think you could go in and talk things over and that they would care and try and help. Well in many cases I think they do try and help, but only so much. When you help requires effort, why bother. You can leave the company and someone else steps up and runs for them until they carch on then they quit and in comes the next driver and so on and so on.

It is a cold business with many availible drivers current and just coming up. No need to put much effort into any of us. There are hundreds to replace us.

Now I do not run a van, I run a straight truck but if I owned a van it would be doing local and courier work. Much better money. Trust me I do know of what I speak on this matter.

Good luck to all of you. Remember it is your business so you had better run it to make YOU A PROFIT and in turn make that company a profit. Don't let them use you to make their profit while you loose money and or your home. That is backwards thinking.




Raceman
OTR O/O

 

[hondaking38]

///question for dave reposition board shows 2 loads available a day in withchta and one load a day in kc is this what u r referring to thanks brian

 

[terryandrene]

Blip01:

I've been expediting in a van for 17 Calendar Year first quarters and heve never experienced the type of dry spell through which you are going. I believe there are some basic reasons that an O/O isn't moving at least a minimal amount of freight at this time of year; run offer to Canada or East Coast refusals; or, run offer refusals for other reasons such as cheap freight. These reasons don't seem to apply to Blip01 because they weren't mentioned.

The most probable reason you aren't moving is you are in the wrong sized vehicle for your carrier's needs. Nearly all expedite carriers have leased vans in their inventory of trucks and, if you read the EO posts on the subject for the past year, you'll notice there is no shortage of veteran, rookie and wannabe drivers looking to lease a van to an expedite carrier. Just because your chosen carrier leased you on doesn't necessarily mean they can keep your van and all their other vans busy all the time.

So, what size truck is relatively busy while we vanners sit and watch Dr. Phil for answers to life's mysteries? It's the straight truck! They are hauling the greatest majority of expedite freight, which is typically in the 5000# or less range. The straight truck owner/operators are also the group most sought after by most all expedite carriers' recruiters, and the most difficult to keep productive and happy during the slow times. Perhaps they are hauling your van freight so they won't quit and require a replacement.

If I were in your boots, I would take a realistic look at your carrier's truck size requirements and decide if you are filling there requirements or are just a utility vehicle waiting for the leftover scraps. Try calling many recruiters and ask them what type truck they need for their freight requirements. If you find a company with a van requirement, you might consider moving on.

Finally, if you really believe this expediting life is your calling, invest a couple of days and a round trip this week to the Mid America Trucking Show in Louisville. The answers to the mystery of expediting is there.

Terry

 

[ATeam]

Terry's post about van running is very informative and helpful. Seventeen years of weathering slow seasons. Wow! Even more impressive, it's seventeen years of SUCCESSFULLY weathering the slow seasons.

As a straight truck driver, I've often wondered why so many people seem so eager to jump into vans when negative van information is as prevelant as it is. No one in the EO Forums is talking about the good life of van driving. It should say something quite obvious that carriers sometimes stop adding vans altogether. Yet new van drivers seem to stream in and out without end.

I do not mean this as criticism. I'm asking out of curiosity. What is it about van driving that draws so many people in? Why do van drivers flow into the business at the rate that they do?

 

[Moot]

If you can drive a car you can probably handle a van. Some carriers don't require a CDL for a van. Initial cost and up-keep cost are less than a truck. No log books or scales. These are all reasons prospective expediters go the van route. I have always wanted to be an owner/operator but the cost of a truck, the maintenance and where to park it when I'm home have been a major drawback. I have been doing the van thing for 9 years and really enjoy it. I'm not in it to get rich. But I must admitt the last 2 years have been a struggle. I know my company will run a team in a D unit for a van load bypassing the van on the board. I asked in a previous post what D units were getting paid for van loads and got no response.

If I was serious about staying in expediting to make a bunch of money then going with a D unit and team is definetly the way to go.

I still like what I'm doing and plan on hanging in there. My wife has a very good job so I can afford to take a wait and see attitude.
I enjoy my free time and try to make the most of this present down time. Money ain't everything. I couldn't go back to being an employee. That's my story and I'm sticking to it..

 

[davekc]

Several responses. A van in Kansas needs to move east. I would question two van loads a day from Wichita. Possible, but I would question it. Those sound like straight or tractor numbers rather than van numbers. But, anything is possible depending on the customer(s). Columbia and Joplin are other alternatives depending on how many trucks are there.

I would say that most get into a van for several reasons. Investment is lower, qualifications are relaxed, and no logs to maintain. Add those together and you have a line of willing participants. On the downside based on frieght volumes, it is a feast or famine business. In otherwords, only the strong survive. Running a seasonal business requires alot of patience and discipline.








Davekc
owner
21 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[randy123]

I HAVE THREE BUSINESSES, THE FIRST AND FORMOST IS THE ASPHALT AND CONCRETE..I STARTED THAT 15 YEARS AGO, THE SECOND IS MY EBAY SELLING, AND THE THIRD IS THE VAN, I KINDA THOUGHT THAT I COULD RUN THE VAN AND IN THE SUMMER MONTHS PUT A DRIVER IN IT. BUT THAT WILL NOT WORK BECAUSE I AM PICKY WITH MY EQUIPMENT AND A LITTLE DIRT OR PAPER IN IT WILL GET ME GOING. SO I AM GOING TO RUN IT AS LONG AS THAY HAVE RUNS(BUT) WHEN ITS TIME TO PAVE A DRIVE OR SEALCOAT AND STRIPE A LOT I WILL JUST BE OUT OF SERVICE.... THEY PUT ON A SPRINTER LAST WEEK AND THE SPRINTER CAN ONLY TAKE ONE 48X48 SKID DUE TO THE BUNK THATS IN IT, SO THE SPRINTER IS TAKING SOME LOADS THAT I MIGHT HAVE RUN(MABY THATS WHY I AM NOT RUNNING AS MUCH).... KNOWING WHAT I KNOW NOW WOULD I BUY A VAN AND SPEND ALL THAT MONEY (NEVER)

I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT I WOULD RUN EVERYDAY AND WAS TOLD MOST OF THE DRIVERS THAT THEY HAVE WERE MAKING 2000.00 A WEEK....(WRONG) I WAS NEVER TOLD THAT THE FIRST FOUR CHECKS I WOULD GET WERE ONLY HALF CHECKS..(THEY HOLD YOU TWO WEEKS BEHIND SO THEY TAKE HALF YOUR CHECK FOR FOUR WEEKS..) THEY NEVER EXPLAINED THAT THEY BID ON THE LOADS AND IF THEY WIN YOU WILL GET A RUN, IF YOUR NEXT IN LINE.... MY BUDDY WAS GONE ALL THE TIME SO I FIGURED THAT HE WAS COOKING(NOT) SITTING IN ANOTHER STATE FOR DAYS WATING TO MAKE SOME MONEY... SEE I WAS NEVER TOLD ALL THIS STUFF SO TO ME IT LOOKED SUPER SO I JUMPED IN. THIS BUSINESS HAS TOUGHT ME ONE THING LOOK AND LOOK AGAIN BEFORE YOU JUMP...........

sorry about the caps...