Did I do the right thing? I think so,sort of.

[HoboOfTheHwy]

I was contacted by an owner with a cargo van,picked up the van,and went home. After I got home I started thinking,about the 50 percent,plus FSC.and me paying for the gas,along with the $120 a month for workmans comp.That was the deal.I must have been stupid !No bed,nothing to lay on,except etrak,and plywood in a E350 short van.
While I was gone to get that van,another owner calls me,offers me 45 cents a loaded mile in a Sprinter,with a tv,microwave,dvd player,and fridge.Owner pays for everything including fuel.Now I know that some people use owners for that fuel.I'm not like that.
Well, I accepted that offer,and returned the E 350. I feel bad about doing that.But there was no protection from the cold winter air that is about to come,no cruise control,a 1.5 inch tv,just a am/fm radio,and no cb.I have seen frost on the inside of vans before.Maybe I just got spoiled with the nice Chevy Express van I drove before,with a bed behind the seats,with a bulkhead.Just wondering what y'all thought?

 

[ATeam]

I'd say the owner of the first van may have learned a bit about the competition he faces in recruiting and retaining drivers. He'd probably regard the other owner as a poacher. If you turned the first van in with a full fuel tank it might help.

 

[letzrockexpress]

In this business or in any business you have to do whatever it takes to maximize your earning potential.No matter who you drive for there are only 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week.The only variable is
your number of runs and your cut. I believe you did the right thing.
The owner who made the first deal with you should have known that nobody is going to stick to such a proposal for very long. It is really a no brainer in my opinion.

 

[LDB]

This is kind of a "how high is up?" question. For your long term well being both physically and financially it sounds like you are in the better vehicle with the Sprinter. The original owner is offering a less than typical arrangement which would be 60% plus all the fsc. His 50% plus fsc shorts the driver some. Getting 45cpm in a van is a really good percentage any way you look at it so it sounds like you found a very good deal.

Another direction to look at it would be backing out on an agreement without at least giving 2 weeks notice. If there was no written agreement to specify termination procedures for both parties then technically there was no foul. It could be argued, either by outsiders or internally by conscious, that it should have been handled some other way. There may be other directions it could be looked at as well but those are the main factors. Good luck in the Sprinter.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5507, 5508, 5509
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[Dreamer]

It kind of amazes me that someone would offer substandard pay for a substandard van. But, the facts show, someone will accept it. This is where that research, and your prior experience comes in Hobo. I'm sure you wanted to get on the road ASAP, but you should never have accepted a deal like that.

The Sprinter sounds like a much better deal, and sound like you're driving for an owner who understands what life on the road is like. Someone who would expect you to do this job for 50% in a stripped down van, probably has never been out there LIVING in that van for days/ weeks at a time.

Just my opinion.




Dreamer
Forums Administrator


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[letzrockexpress]

24 to 7.....how about those horns??? GO Bucks!!

 

[DannyD]

Hi,

I totally agree w/ what ya did. I was in a similar situation & worked one day for the guy. Pretty much the same type rickety van & same pay rate to. It took exactly one day to realize this wasn't the right situation for me. I made $68 or something like that for the day & was freezing trying to get some sleep. You have to make a living for yourself. Making money for someone else is fine as long as you're putting some in your own pocket as well.

Another post refers to a two week notice. I agree w/ that to a point. If ya've been there for awhile I'd say two weeks is the best thing to do. In a case where ya haven't even started w/ someone, it's more hassle working 2 weeks for someone & then leaving than it is to simply not start. Plus, you don't know for sure that this guy is going to pay ya. A lot of times start up costs will eat up a good part if not all of the money you've made in those two weeks. So my opinion is it's better to just not get started if ya know you're going to leave so soon.

It seems like ya have a pretty good situation w/ this new van & I think ya did the right thing. Good luck to ya.

Take care,
Danny

 

[rfrogger120]

I think you made a good decision, 50% is to low for me personally, maybe you could have asked him to pickup 50% of the fuel and 50% fsc. like was mentioned before, I think a 2 week notice was'nt warrented here because you did'nt start working yet. Like has been mentioned here before, many times, get a contract, everything must be in writing. A van without a partition would have definetly been colder than one with a partition.

 

[wahoofan]

You made the correct decision. Live and learn as they say. I made the same mistake and drove junk for like 6 months. Learned my lesson the hard way. I will not drive junk again. Make sure when you talk to an owner, that you will drive only a certain year van (preferably new or no older than 3 years old). Van or truck must have A/C, cruise etc. This will save both you and the owner alot of headaches etc.. Boy the junk i have seen on the road!! Drivers driving for fleet owners and the trucks are 8 or 10 years old, fuel leaks, bad tires, broken heaters, no A/C.:'( :-( . Just make sure you are happy with vehicle you are operating to make $$ out here. Good luck:7

 

[LDB]

As an owner I'm going to partially disagree. I have no intention of replacing an acceptable piece of equipment after 3 years just so a driver can be driving something only 2 or 3 years old. Rather than setting age limits I'd look for equipment with ongoing verifiable maintenance records. There are vehicles out there 5 years old that are much nicer than 2 year old vehicles because they've been properly maintained. This leads back to the oft repeated "be sure you have a written agreement spelling out all details of your arrangement". An owner who has a written agreement that protects the interest of both parties is most likely going to have properly maintained, decent quality equipment as well.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5507, 5508, 5509
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[elton10]

I have to side with Leo and I am NOT an owner; just a driver. I think the issue is the quality of equipment not simply age. Driver comfort is certainly a factor to consider(esp for old guys like me *L*)

 

[panthervanman]

hobo dont feel bad for what you did that owner must be nuts if he thinks he could keep anybody out in his van with out a nice place to lay their head. the other owner is very fair with his offer that sound great.good luck and stay warm this winter,see ya

 

[geo]

driving for some one is like buying a truck, if you can't look at maintance file wouldn't drive that truck
just like i wouldn't buy that truck if i can't see the maintance file
if it isn't a new truck

 

[Tennesseahawk]

If an o/o lived more than 100 miles away, I wouldn't go look at a van over 3 yrs old. That's if I drove a van... Straight trucks are a different story, tho there are some that I wish I never went to drive.

"If I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know." - Kansas