I dont even know where to begin

[chaz]

Hi Everyone,
I dont even know where to start. I will be losing my job this summer sometime,and am very interested in expediting cargo. I dont want to work in a factory again and I think this is something that I could be good at. I take pride in the work I do, am a team player,and am customer oriented.I am a very friendly person and take directions well. I want to make some serious money.I was thinking of starting out with a cargo van,because that is more feasible for me to purchase right now. I emailed Pantherii,and they told me that" A 1996 or newer straight truck w/ a DOT approved sleeper, 18'-26' dock high box with a minimum cargo capacity of 9,500 lbs. is far superior to a cargo van in all aspects of the expediting industry."I cant afford 1 of those trucks right now.I take it that you have to have a cdl for the straight truck? For a cargo van you wouldnt?Also,I have no experience at this type of work,although I learn fast.If I went to school for tractor trailer cdl,Would that be good for all the way down,including a straight truck with a sleeper?Could I make good money with just a cargo van and could you recommend which companies would hire a newbie with a cargo van,and how much could I expect to make with a cargo van?I really want to do with a straight truck,but cant afford that option right now.If I did do it that way,how coulkd I get financing for 1 of those straight trucks when I am going to be out of a job soon.Would the promise of a job with a company be good to get financing?I am so sorry for rambling on with so many questions,But I dont even know where to start,and I will be out of work soon.Im just staying with my present employer for the severance package .And this is what I want to do with my life.Thank you again for any help and understanding that you will give me!
Chaz

 

[Tony]

>Hi Everyone,
> I dont even know where to start. I will be losing my job
>this summer sometime,and am very interested in expediting
>cargo. I dont want to work in a factory again and I think
>this is something that I could be good at. I take pride in
>the work I do, am a team player,and am customer oriented.I
>am a very friendly person and take directions well. I want
>to make some serious money.I was thinking of starting out
>with a cargo van,because that is more feasible for me to
>purchase right now. I emailed Pantherii,and they told me
>that" A 1996 or newer straight truck w/ a DOT approved
>sleeper, 18'-26' dock high box with a minimum cargo capacity
>of 9,500 lbs. is far superior to a cargo van in all aspects
>of the expediting industry."I cant afford 1 of those trucks
>right now.I take it that you have to have a cdl for the
>straight truck? For a cargo van you wouldnt?Also,I have no
>experience at this type of work,although I learn fast.If I
>went to school for tractor trailer cdl,Would that be good
>for all the way down,including a straight truck with a
>sleeper?Could I make good money with just a cargo van and
>could you recommend which companies would hire a newbie with
>a cargo van,and how much could I expect to make with a cargo
>van?I really want to do with a straight truck,but cant
>afford that option right now.If I did do it that way,how
>coulkd I get financing for 1 of those straight trucks when I
>am going to be out of a job soon.Would the promise of a job
>with a company be good to get financing?I am so sorry for
>rambling on with so many questions,But I dont even know
>where to start,and I will be out of work soon.Im just
>staying with my present employer for the severance package
>.And this is what I want to do with my life.Thank you again
>for any help and understanding that you will give me!
>Chaz
You have made an important 1st step, being here at EO. You can learn a lot from the more knowledgable members, I will try to answer some of your questions but DO NOT take what I say as gospel, read more here and use the archives. As far as income a solo van can figure roughly 40,000 a year but that depends on you and how hard you want to run. If you go to a REPUTABLE driving school(check them out 1st) to get a class A, that will cover B and C. You do not need to purchase a truck at 1st, there are small fleet owners leased onto the larger companies that can put you in in a truck they own. You mentioned that you are a team player, that can work to your benefit, you have a possibility of not only solo but also being a team driver. I can not give an good rec. on what companies to sign with but most are all the same in the end, there are some very good companies to work for that will treat you with some respect.As far as financing, you can go with a finance co.(dealer will set up)but be carefull and go over your financial plan 1st(lots of people failed because of not paying attention to their finances). You will get a better rate with a mainstream bank but it is not easy if your credit is not good and you do not have a large down payment(depends on price of truck). I would strongly recommend to not buy a truck or a van 1st but try to find a job driving someone else's 1st, what happens if you buy one and try it and decide in a few months this is not what you want to do with your life, it is not as easy as some might think, it's not a job it's a lifestyle. There are others here that can help you much more than I can, be patient they might be out right now. I wish you the best and if this is what you decide, I wish you all the success in the world.

 

[chaz]

Thank you so much for your response.I have been reading and reading on here.It is a confusing part of my life.I have worked at a chemical plant for awhile and dont know anything else. It would be kind of hard to go to school when I have a mortgage and bills to pay.I figured with trucking,I probably wouldnt have to worry about getting laid off. I was thinking of driving Tractor Trailer,but I think a straight truck or cargo van would suit me better.So,do you think I should go to tractor trailer school and get my cdl? Then see if someone will give me a chance driving their straight truck? I live in the Pittsburgh,PA area if that is any help. Altho I am a team player,I think I would prefer to Drive solo unless there is someone from my area that I could team with.I just thought a cargo van would be more doable right now.Panther used to always advertise in my paper looking for cargo van drivers.Them and ctx. I dont see them anywhere anymore.That 40,000 you mentioned driving a cargo van,is that after expenses?Thank you so much again,and if you can think of any companies that pay good for cargo vans,please keep me informed.
Chaz

 

[cat can do]

Hey Chaz sorry to hear about your future, I am in the same boat this year. I just went back to work after a 2 week lay off and a very uncertian summer. This is a great web site to ask questions as you can see with the other reply. In all my readings this is a hard nut to crack at first and from what I have read it is in your best intrest to drive for someone who has a fleet. Most would agree that, there is so much upfront money with having to purchase the equipment it would make it hard to survive in the beginning. Get your CDL A or B with air brake endorsement and Haz-mat that is the most importmant tool. Good luck and best wishes.

 

[Weave]

Consider going cat can do's route chaz. It will offer the best opportunities in this field. If you lose your job and go on unemployment, in many instances your state will pick up the cost of going to an accredited CDL school for a class A or B. With that in hand, you can get a job driving rather easily, say for 6 months or so, any type of expedite vehicle for a fleet owner to see if its the thing for you.
If it is, you'll know what the industry is about for the most part with no money thrown away on anything. You can then buy your own expedite truck or van, and feel a lot safer about it. This route is often recommended because if at any point you decide you don't like the trucking field, you can just walk away from it. That would not be the case if you jump right in and buy your own truck or van.
-Weave-

 

[chaz]

Thank you all so much for replying.I love this site.There is a wealth of information here.If I drive for a fleet owner,how much could I expect to make being a newbie.Also,after the 6 months of driving for someone else and I decide I like it,Is it easy to get financing for a truck with little cash down?Also,I keep seeing all these different types of units mentioned here,for example,b units,c units d units etc,What types of trucks are these?Also,I was checking that one site out,i think it is expedite solutions,where they train you and put you in a truck of theirs,have to commit for a year i think,does that sound good,and how much could i make doing it that way? Thanx for all your help,
Chaz

 

[Doggie Daddy]

chaz, first of all welcome to EO. seeing as how you have been a member for only 2 days, i suggest that you spend some time looking at current and past postings on this site. i think you will find the answers to most of the questions that you are asking. as far as the question on expedited solutions, there is a post concerning that company at the bottom of this forum. this should get you started, and for any other questions you have you will find that there are many EO members are ready and willing to help you. GOOD LUCK. DD

 

[Tony]

Take heed to Weave's rec. , he has the experience.

 

[Tony]

>Thank you all so much for replying.I love this site.There is
>a wealth of information here.If I drive for a fleet
>owner,how much could I expect to make being a
>newbie.Also,after the 6 months of driving for someone else
>and I decide I like it,Is it easy to get financing for a
>truck with little cash down?Also,I keep seeing all these
>different types of units mentioned here,for example,b
>units,c units d units etc,What types of trucks are
>these?Also,I was checking that one site out,i think it is
>expedite solutions,where they train you and put you in a
>truck of theirs,have to commit for a year i think,does that
>sound good,and how much could i make doing it that way?
>Thanx for all your help,
>Chaz
Can't give informed answer on income with a owner, sorry. As the units go, A&B basically vans,C&D straight trucks,E tractor trailer. For expedite solutions, well there have been some heated discussions on them, use the search functions in the forums because I am NOT getting in on that topic. Just gather all the info. you can before deciding. Your income will not be the best until you learn the ropes,everyone has to start at the bottom unless you were the V.P. of Operations best man at his wedding :7

 

[ihatejeffgordon]

i wish i had known about this site when i got into this business. you are doing a wise thing by looking into this site. there is alot of good advice to be gotten here from people who have been successful, and people like myself who failed horribly due to poor planning.
when i first got into expediting, i got a class c cdl w/hazmat. this license, as far as i can tell, is useless for anything other than expediting. when it became clear that i had run myself into the ground, financially, i went to a truck driving school at the expense of an otr trucking company to get my class a. the catch is i had to drive for them for a year. for me this is no biggie, 'cause they pay for everything, and i just cash my check every week. if i had it to do over again i would have taken this step first, allowing me to get familiar with the business of moving things from here to there before having to learn to run a small business at the same time. if you can find somebody else to foot the bill while you figure everything out, that may be the way to go. (and remember to beware of advice from someone who has failed )
if this lifestyle is for you, you'll find a way to make it work. this stuff gets into your blood. i'm coming to the end of my 1 year hiatus, and am chomping at the bit to get back to the world of expediting. but this time i will be 1 year smarter and better prepared.

Remember, Two wrongs don't make a right... but three lefts do.