Has anyone started in Cargo Van and gone to Straight and been dissappointed?

layoutshooter

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
All the straight truck owners are trying to go to vans and sprinters but its hard to get rid of your straight because the market is saturated with them i don't suggest anyone buy a straight but go to sprinter if you are in a straight get out while you can.

IF the market is saturated with straight trucks why is DH for our offers continuing to rise?
 

Rising_Cow

Active Expediter
I don't Owen this tt but came really close to buying one and Contracting it with panther really close, but so glad I didn't. And I haven't noticed that many ST's out there but a fair amount of TT's.
 

Rising_Cow

Active Expediter
Last time I was in a ST didn't go so well, and what made it worse the owner didn't even care about the truck. And as I can see for the ST's I don't see that many as I do TT's, I see a lot of panther TT's heading to the east cost.
 

RedBird

Veteran Expediter
Fleet Owner
Just wanted to get some feedback. Thinking of selling my sprinter this spring and getting into a class 7 straight or volvo.

Anyone here that has gone to straight as a owner operated and didn't like it or is it all around a better move. I know you loose you freedom but do you guys ever sit for more then 48 hours in a straight when in cities like Atlanta, NYC, PHilly, LA, Denver, KC, CHicago, Detroit etc? Wondering what the longest someone has had to sit in a straight in a Major city? Also are the rules and everything worth the extra money? I hear you can earn 2 bucks a mile opposed to .90 to a dollar a mile in Sprinter.

Talk with Jenny & her hubby I believe they went from a Sprinter to a Straight truck! Good Luck and hope you find the answer you seek!
 

Daffyduck528

Expert Expediter
We are o/o in a straight truck. You plan on doing this solo or as a team ? I think it makes a big difference. We do really well in a straight truck. Our DH is crazy high but with FedEx we have a little room to add some $ in if it saturates the offer too much. And no forced dispatch so if the load doesn't make financial sense you can turn it down completely and as of this afternoons email it won't hurt your chance of getting another load.

Also, as far as freedom we have had problems bringing our truck to see hoover dam and into the sequoias in California. Outside of that we can bring it pretty much anywhere we want to. And as a team the hos regulations rarely pose a problem for us. Most weeks we get a reset and don't need it.

Have you talked to Expediter Services about their equipment financing and truck management services? It's really a good deal and you don't have to have anywhere near 1/2 your trucks cost up front. Plus their insurance rates were great when we shopped them out. I know a lot of people are nervous because they come off as the big corporate company but I think once you talk to them you'll find them very different than that. They are very approachable and down to earth nice people. ES is really all about you succeeding as an owner opp.
 

zorry

Veteran Expediter
There's another thread about an open house event they're doing soon in Memphis if I remember right.

Straight up folks from what I hear.
 

T270_Dreamin

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
We are o/o in a straight truck. You plan on doing this solo or as a team ? I think it makes a big difference. We do really well in a straight truck. Our DH is crazy high but with FedEx we have a little room to add some $ in if it saturates the offer too much. And no forced dispatch so if the load doesn't make financial sense you can turn it down completely and as of this afternoons email it won't hurt your chance of getting another load.

Also, as far as freedom we have had problems bringing our truck to see hoover dam and into the sequoias in California. Outside of that we can bring it pretty much anywhere we want to. And as a team the hos regulations rarely pose a problem for us. Most weeks we get a reset and don't need it.

Have you talked to Expediter Services about their equipment financing and truck management services? It's really a good deal and you don't have to have anywhere near 1/2 your trucks cost up front. Plus their insurance rates were great when we shopped them out. I know a lot of people are nervous because they come off as the big corporate company but I think once you talk to them you'll find them very different than that. They are very approachable and down to earth nice people. ES is really all about you succeeding as an owner opp.

Looking to run Solo Straight as a owner operator. I don't want to finance much... as soon as the truck is paid for everything coming in goes in the pocket just like my current 06 Sprinter is paid off. My credit already sucks and last I checked ES doesn't have any Volvo 780's or Pete 335's. A t700 strait would be nice as well to see.
 
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Rising_Cow

Active Expediter
Talk about open house, ain't there a expeditor gathering event in April? Or is that the same? That would be a great place to ask questions in person.
 

Daffyduck528

Expert Expediter
I'm a believer in talking to everyone and see who has the best offer. You never know what may be the best for your situation based only on your assumptions.

Also, Expediter Equipment Finance will finance trucks other than what's on their lot and the website isn't necessarily all their available inventory. They also have special programs for people with less than good credit. It's worth talking to them.
 

skyraider

Veteran Expediter
US Navy
Remember: for every 100 that start in this business, at the end of the year, only 1 is left....u gotta watch that sizzle of the steak.........................
 

aquitted

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
If I had a truck payment it wouldn't have lasted long, But I don't work for fedex or run team either
 

T270_Dreamin

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
If I had a truck payment it wouldn't have lasted long, But I don't work for fedex or run team either


please explain, because you paid it off or because you sold it and went back to something else? Fleet owners feel free to chime in :)
 
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Daffyduck528

Expert Expediter
The more I think about your question of if anyone had moved to a s/t from a cargo van and being a solo driver I'm not sure I would do it. All the positives I can think about are taken away with the regs of being a solo opp. I think if I were a solo I'd either go TT or sprinter/promaster/gmc with narrow 12-14' box and make a nice cozy sleeper in it. Maybe do a refer version, like a br with fedex. I'm not sure the income as a solo would justify the s/t.
 

Rising_Cow

Active Expediter
In away I'm almost paying mine off, that's why waiting on it. It's waiting on me so Monday I'm going in and pay off my wife's van, put money on the van I'm getting, being used cost is low, so my payment will be low and I'll have two years on it, And I'll pay off early. Wife's happy I'm happy till she tells what she wants for me getting van. :)
 

T270_Dreamin

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
So if I can't drop 30-35k on the truck and don't have another 10k for a box and 10k for a used sleeper don't get into a straight? Stick to sprinter and keep saving... Looking like a decent straight that I would want to go coast to coast in would cost me 45-60k when it is all said and done. Looks like I'm building another -06 sprinter 158 this time around. Dang I wish they would have put the OM651 4 cylinder in earlier. More years of waiting till they get on used market prices! Sticking to the 04-06 for now.
 

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
So if I can't drop 30-35k on the truck and don't have another 10k for a box and 10k for a used sleeper don't get into a straight? Stick to sprinter and keep saving... Looking like a decent straight that I would want to go coast to coast in would cost me 45-60k when it is all said and done. Looks like I'm building another -06 sprinter 158 this time around. Dang I wish they would have put the OM651 4 cylinder in earlier. More years of waiting till they get on used market prices! Sticking to the 04-06 for now.

you can not lose with the 04-06 models...they are a money maker....
 
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