LIFE OF A CARGO VAN DRIVER

[hotdog]

HELLO, IM CONSIDERING AN OPTION FOR A CARGO VAN, AND I WOULD LIKE SOME INPUT OF THOOSE WHO COULD GIVE ME A TYPICAL WEEK IN EXPEDITING. LETS SAY LEASED TO PANTHER SOLO, WHAT WOULD BE A TYPICAL WEEK SAYING I START OFF FROM THE COMPANY HEADQUARTERS. WHAT WOULD TYPICALY BE A START OFF WEEK FOR ME, SAY TYPE OF RUNS, MONEY, SAYING 60/40 SPLIT WITH OWNER, LAYOVER TIME, AND ALL THAT COULD ACCURE. ANY INSITE WOULD BE GREAT.EXPECIALLY WINTER TIPS, FOR A CARGO VAN STANDPOINT, ANY TIPS ON WINTER DRIVING WITH CARGOVAN.

THANKS,

 

[apollo]

Great topic. I would be interested in this also.

 

[terryandrene]

Hotdog:
I believe the best way to learn 'the ropes' is to find an owner who will help you learn the business for a few months with the understanding that you will leave him to purchase your own truck if this is the life for you.

If that is your intent then you're on your way. I suggest you talk to a recruiter after you've read a few responses here and get the company's view as well.

If you're in this to earn a living for yourself, I'm afraid you'll be struggling to make ends meet with only partial revenue from a van operation. Most of the van folks you meet will tell you a pretty good week running solo in a van is 1500 paid miles and another 400-500 unpaid miles. Let's assume the van owner gets $.77 per paid mile and you get 60% of that. that would be a gross amount to you of about $700. You'll usually be expected to pay for fuel and tolls and at $2.00 and 15 miles per gallon, you'll spend over $250 a week to operate the van. You should not have any other van operating expenses if your owner is typical.

That's pretty good money if you are getting paid to 'learn the ropes'. Remember too, included in the learning process, are weeks with much less revenue than the good weeks.

I'm sure our fellow EO'ers join me in wishing you success with your choice.

 

[hotdog]

thanks for all the good info, i do believe that this is the carrer for me, and i will be patient to find that owner to drive for first. i know ive got to start at the bottom to reach the top, and im willing to make this work. i have talked to a few owners, and will hopefuly make a choice soon, but untill then, ill keep my eyes open, and try to find that owner, that would make it all worth while. dont get me wrong, im not looking for a hand out from theese owners,and im willing to do the work nessacary to make all parties involved a little money, but yes the intention is to become that buisness owner, that will in one day give a chance to another individual to get started in this buisness, so we can continue to strive in this world as individuals, and respected buisness partners. and i must ad, ive driven big trucks, and researched trucking links, and to all the frieght hauling sites out there for a certain skill, i believe this site has everything to offer for not only beginners, but for owners, to ad succes to their buisness, and to all the people of this site, i salute you, for running your own buisness, and taking time out of your busy daily routine, and come here to give advise and help others like me get started in this industry.