Changing Times in Expediting.

[Bruno]

With the Expediting changing so much over the last ten years. Where do you see it going in the next ten years with carriers going to flat rates programs as to paying a percentage . I think the C unit and a cargo van are units that will no longer be needed. The Sprinter has replaced the cargo van and can do loads that a C unit once did because a Sprinter can hold more weight. The single axle straight truck is being replaced with the ten wheel straight truck as the truck that gives the better bang for the buck.

Owner's and Fleet Owners are seeing that the ten wheel D-units with the lift-gate can hold more weight and keep the wheels turning more doing loads that are 15,000 lbs that was once put on a tractor. I think over the next few years rates will go down as every one will try to fight for Expedite freight and lower the rates to get loads. I don't agree with this way of thinking, but it may happen. I hope it doesn't as it will hurt the expedite business and put many small companies out of business.


What is your thoughts on where the Expedite market is headed?

 

[OntarioVanMan]

I'll just straighten out one misconception for ya Dave..

Sprinters do not do weight well....a cargo van can take more weight then a sprinter....BUT we do and can do 6- 48x45's auto bins if not too heavy...something that used to go on straights before the sprinter come along....we can take 1 rack of exhaust assemblies that went on a straight before as well...and we do not have to wait for a dock door like straights do....

 

[Bruno]

I'll just straighten out one misconception for ya Dave..

Sprinters do not do weight well....a cargo van can take more weight then a sprinter....BUT we do and can do 6- 48x45's auto bins if not too heavy...something that used to go on straights before the sprinter come along....we can take 1 rack of exhaust assemblies that went on a straight before as well...and we do not have to wait for a dock door like straights do....

Ken

Before the Sprinter came along the weight for a B-units was 0 to 2000 lbs. Most carriers changed it 2500 lbs because of the Sprinter Ken. A Sprinter can hold more freight than a cargo van in most cases, that's why I say the Sprinter will replace the cargo van. Only thing I see is the rates need to increased for Sprinters when they do loads over 2000lbs at most carriers except one. With that being said the best carrier for a Sprinter is Load1 as John sees the big picture when it comes to value of Sprinters.

 

[blizzard2014]

lol. I just saw a company post a load yesterday that said ( need sprinter van now weight 3400 pounds). They were originally requesting a cargo van but upped it to a sprinter van because of the weight. As if a 2500 sprinter van can haul more weight than a 3500 cargo van. But there are guys who load them sprinterd down all of the time. It reminds me of that movie "norbit" when restbutia "the heavy set woman" goes for a piggy back ride on a pony and the pony has a tear falling out of its eye. Load em down...

 

[Jefferson3000]

Ken

Before the Sprinter came along the weight for a B-units was 0 to 2000 lbs. Most carriers changed it 2500 lbs because of the Sprinter Ken. A Sprinter can hold more freight than a cargo van in most cases, that's why I say the Sprinter will replace the cargo van. Only thing I see is the rates need to increased for Sprinters when they do loads over 2000lbs at most carriers except one. With that being said the best carrier for a Sprinter is Load1 as John sees the big picture when it comes to value of Sprinters.

I don't think they upped the weight because of the sprinter, they upped the weight to 2500 and beyond in order to get their trucks loaded before the next guy. I believe this has occurred as a reaction to the recession we've been experiencing, not just since 08, but since 2000-2001.

In a different economic situation, I think you'd see some different patterns.

I could tell you who one of the biggest offenders for overloading trucks is......but privately of course.

 

[Jefferson3000]

lol. I just saw a company post a load yesterday that said ( need sprinter van now weight 3400 pounds). They were originally requesting a cargo van but upped it to a sprinter van because of the weight. As if a 2500 sprinter van can haul more weight than a 3500 cargo van. But there are guys who load them sprinterd down all of the time. It reminds me of that movie "norbit" when restbutia "the heavy set woman" goes for a piggy back ride on a pony and the pony has a tear falling out of its eye. Load em down...

Some of those games come from sales folks who don't know their butt from a hole in the ground.....or maybe the difference between a cargo van and a 53' dry van. Some of it starts with the ignorant requests of their customers. Put 35oo pounds on a cargo van, 4500 on a Sprinter. Many have never seen one of our vehicles up close, except in a seminar. I had a potential customer talk to me about needing box trucks for her company's freight. They made aluminum sheet products. I finally had to convince her that the ONLY way she was going to move that load was on a 48' flatbed. No clue. They reason that a sprinter is a larger vehicle than a van, so it MUST be able to carry more weight.

 

[davekc]

I am amazed at how high the weight has been set on the Sprinters that I see available from different carriers. Really is a safety issue as many of these folks have limited experience and have no clue of the safety or the maintenance issues associated with running over all the time.
I would say on any given day, a quarter of the Sprinters out there are running overweight.

As for rates, they seem to be holding pretty steady and increasing in some places. But, there are some nameless carriers that are paying less to their contractors.

 

[Turtle]

As one who has owned both a Sprinter and a Ford E-350 cargo van, I can state with more than a little confidence that a cargo van has more weight hauling capacity than a Sprinter. Diesel versus gas makes a difference with a cargo van, but on the average a cargo van can haul 500-1000 pounds more than a Sprinter.

 

[jjoerger]

I for see a continuing shortage of qualified drivers.

 

[greg334]

Bruno(dave),

We haven't seen much in the changes of vehicles in the last 6 years, the c unit is still a viable truck for one company and independents while the sprinter is just a PIA that needs to be eliminated so those c units can get more work - just kidding.

The biggest change will be more of the elimination of that line between what was expedited freight and LTL, with less and less true expedited freight being handled and more "self-imposted" time sensitive freight being handled.

I also think the rates will go down before heading back up, seeing we are in a deflationary period. This will more or less be for those vans/sprinters and I think in the past week it was mentioned that van freight is slow.

 

[iceroadtrucker]

I am amazed at how high the weight has been set on the Sprinters that I see available from different carriers. Really is a safety issue as many of these folks have limited experience and have no clue of the safety or the maintenance issues associated with running over all the time.
I would say on any given day, a quarter of the Sprinters out there are running overweight.

As for rates, they seem to be holding pretty steady and increasing in some places. But, there are some nameless carriers that are paying less to their contractors.

The above being said those contractors that are being paid less are your and my compatition. I thought u being my compation was bad enough.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Bruno(dave),

We haven't seen much in the changes of vehicles in the last 6 years, the c unit is still a viable truck for one company and independents while the sprinter is just a PIA that needs to be eliminated so those c units can get more work - just kidding.

The biggest change will be more of the elimination of that line between what was expedited freight and LTL, with less and less true expedited freight being handled and more "self-imposted" time sensitive freight being handled.

I also think the rates will go down before heading back up, seeing we are in a deflationary period. This will more or less be for those vans/sprinters and I think in the past week it was mentioned that van freight is slow.

I haven't seen a downward trend on rates yet...they've been good actually....but the loads are getting bigger...shippers are filling us up...I can see why some sprinters are going with heavier loads....as it has been spotty the last while for us small guys....

 

[purgoose10]

I am amazed at how high the weight has been set on the Sprinters that I see available from different carriers. Really is a safety issue as many of these folks have limited experience and have no clue of the safety or the maintenance issues associated with running over all the time.
I would say on any given day, a quarter of the Sprinters out there are running overweight.

As for rates, they seem to be holding pretty steady and increasing in some places. But, there are some nameless carriers that are paying less to their contractors.

You really hit the nail on the head as far as people overloading Sprinters. Saw one the other day loaded so heavy the back end was swaying back and forth, and driving about 45 mph on the interstate. I bet 50% of the operators on the road haven't got a clue about maintenance or wear and tare.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

You really hit the nail on the head as far as people overloading Sprinters. Saw one the other day loaded so heavy the back end was swaying back and forth, and driving about 45 mph on the interstate. I bet 50% of the operators on the road haven't got a clue about maintenance or wear and tare.

A little factoid...with the unibody sprinter...if overloaded....there is a chance one could ever so slightly twist the frame in certain conditions...

 

[purgoose10]

A little factoid...with the unibody sprinter...if overloaded....there is a chance one could ever so slightly twist the frame in certain conditions...

That's scarry.

 

[FlyingVan]

Yes, I have seen a few overloaded sprinters. It is scary.

My sprinter can legally carry 3200 lbs since I don't have a bunk or anything else in it except me and some clothes. However, I rarely do over 2000 lbs, unless it is paying extremely good. Most of my loads have been 1000 lbs or less. 450k miles and counting. Hehe.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

I've been towed twice in 6 yrs ever since I've got this...
I've grossed about a half million dollars with it in that time and maybe $30,000/$35,000 over its life span on repairs/maintenance altogether....if that is called unreliable?

 

[moose]

the class 7 trucks are here to stay, as they provide for an economy transport.
at 250,000$ a pop those new D units are priced out of the market for most O/O, fleets or shippers.
the new tree huggrs will stay vacan, as they reach 7 years or a million mil.
CharlesD said it best 'the load pay per load, not per truck'.
from an perspective F/O, both D & C have it's value's.
the D units have a longer lifespan, and needs to keep busy at a higher rate. the C' can seat in Laredo for Mon. no biggi.
buy less, drive less, be happy.
in a few short years, you won't be able to find a good used class 8 str8Truck. as those SCR motor out perform .
there's also a Transit in OVM future ...

 

[greg334]

I think that the problem with the overloading of the vans comes from in part the carrier and in part the driver. I don't think many carriers require a weight ticket to prove what one can haul and it seems that with the common knowledge that a 2500 model sprinter hauls X at most or a GMC 3500 hauls X isn't used much if at all.

Case in point - I am going across I80 on my way to my pickup the other day and passed by a FedEx van that was squatting pretty bad, I would venture to guess there was a lot more on the van than what should be. On the way back I was passed by an E-1 sprinter in the same form and behind him a panther van who struggled to keep it on the road because it appeared he had air bags but from his actions was still a bit overloaded.

As for rates, it depends on the carrier OVM, I was looking at them lately for vans and was surprised at what the shippers are paying.

 

[iceroadtrucker]

I for see a continuing shortage of qualified drivers.

Yupp Qualified.