>Hello all. I am getting very close to starting my new Career
>in Expediting. I live in Knoxville, TN and tonight I went to
>the EO Workshop that was held here locally. I met some great
>people and it just re-enforced the fact that I want to do
>this. I am getting conflicting information on one thing,
>however. I am wanting to get started in a cargo van (most
>likely a Sprinter). Jon Moser at Freightliner Of Knoxville
>is going to keep his eyes open for me. Thanks Jon! Here is
>my confusion..... on these forums I see many people saying
>that most companies are not putting on cargo vans. The
>recruiters at the workshop said they "suggested" going to
>something else but did not say they were shutting them out.
>If I am going to invest in a van, I would like to be assured
>that I am going to be able to put it on the road. In the
>real world, are they allowing them on with new drivers? I am
>leaning very heavy towards one company and the recruiter
>said the Sprinter was the way to go in the cargo van. I tend
>to agree, but again, those are expensive and if I buy it and
>they refuse me I will end up selling it. Any real world
>advise?
"REAL WORLD ADVICE"
DON'T EVEN CONSIDER BUYING A NEW VEHICLE UNLESS YOU HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS IN THIS BUSINESS. THAT GIVES YOU THE OUT WITHOUT LOSING THAT FIRST YEAR DEPRECIATION. FORGET THE ADVICE ABOUT SPRINTERS........THEY ARE DEFINITELY CREATING THEIR OWN PLACE IN THE INDUSTRY, BUT THIS BUSINESS WAS BUILT UPON THE BACKS OF THE TRADITIONAL 3/4 OR 1 TON CARGO VAN CARRYING 1 OR 2 SKIDS AND UP TO 2500 LBS.
UNLESS YOU HAVE $35,000.00 TO SPEND FOR A DIESEL SPRINTER AND A GOOD AUTOMOTIVE DIESEL MECHANIC NEAR YOU, YOU WILL HAVE FIXED COSTS AND REPAIRS THAT WILL TAKE A MONTHLY DRAIN ON YOUR EARNINGS THAT WILL DISCOURAGE YOU. THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS FOR DRIVERS WITH PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AND EARNED RESPECT OF THEIR BROKER'S/OPERATING COMPANY'S.
AND YOU BETTER LIKE SPENDING 2-3 WEEKS AT A TIME ON THE ROAD. (DEAD/HEAD'S TO HOME EVERY WEEK CAN BANKRUPT EVEN THE BEST DRIVERS).
A RELIABLE LOW MILEAGE CARGO VAN CAN BE FOUND MOST ANYWHERE LESS THAN 3 MODEL YEARS OLD AND FOR LESS THAN $10,000. AFTER SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR, YOU WILL KNOW BETTER THE ADVANTAGES OF THE $1,200.00 MONTHLY LOAN PAYMENT FOR THE SPRINTER AND MAKE A WISE DECISION.
THIS FORUM IS FULL OF POSTS LIKE YOURS, BUT TAKE SOME ADVICE FROM THOSE OF US THAT YOU SEEK......LOOK THRU THE ARCHIVES, DON'T LISTEN TO THE RECRUITERS TOO MUCH. THEY WON'T BE THERE WHEN YOUR BANKER CALLS AND WONDERS WHY YOU ARE BEHIND ON PAYMENTS! YOU MIGHT ALSO CONSIDER SIGNING ON WITH A REPUTABLE FLEET OWNER FOR THE EXPERIENCE WITHOUT INVESTMENT. JUST A THOUGHT FROM SOMEONE THAT HAS 4 YEARS IN CARGO VANS AND NEVER HAD TO BORROW TO OWN ONE.
