Regular CV freight vs. Sprinter
- Thread starter AMonger
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ErieBigDawg
Seasoned Expediter
I have a Sprinter and out of three trips last week...ONLY 1 was a true Sprinter load. That was due to height of the load.
My guess is around 5% of the freight would have to go on a straight truck if it were not for the existence of Sprinters. Part of that comes from load board and load bookers and dispatchers, and it fits with what I see out here in general. When I was in a cargo van, it sure seemed like it was a much higher percentage, tho. Seemed like every time I turned around I was having to partially break down a skid to get it into the van, then rebuild it inside the van, and then reverse the process on the other end. Or I'd get there and find that it wouldn't fit at all. Now I carry Sprinter loads, but nowhere near as much as 5% of my freight. I can only haul two skids, tho, and there are some three and four skid loads out there that are put on Sprinters. All in all, it's about 5%. It might be as much as 10% of the non-straight, non-tractor freight, but I don't think so. That's an awful lot of freight when you think about it. The number of cargo vans out there utterly overwhelm the number of Sprinters, and if the percentage was as significant as 10% then we'd see a lot more Sprinters.
Of course, there are some carriers who cater to shippers who "build" Sprinter loads, who build bigger loads specifically for Sprinters so they can ship more for less money than having to ship it on a straight truck. Those folks will see a very high percentage of Sprinter loads. But overall, industry-wide, I'd say 5% is pretty close. It's not nearly as high as I was hoping, that's for sure. But my Sprinter gets me a few loads per year that I wouldn't have otherwise gotten.
Of course, there are some carriers who cater to shippers who "build" Sprinter loads, who build bigger loads specifically for Sprinters so they can ship more for less money than having to ship it on a straight truck. Those folks will see a very high percentage of Sprinter loads. But overall, industry-wide, I'd say 5% is pretty close. It's not nearly as high as I was hoping, that's for sure. But my Sprinter gets me a few loads per year that I wouldn't have otherwise gotten.
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
Turtle wrote:
yeap it really does depend on your carrier...I know for a fact I missing 3-4 loads a week that will not go in my van that are going to sprinters and not ST's...everytime you see OVM or TJP or Tony & English Lady say they are heading to Cottondale Ala..that is a sprinter load that Load 1 owns out of the Detroit are and at times we go there everyday of the week including weekends....and that is just one example...
So yea it does depend on your carrier...and by mid summer, my next truck will be a "spinter type" van if at all possible....
yeap it really does depend on your carrier...I know for a fact I missing 3-4 loads a week that will not go in my van that are going to sprinters and not ST's...everytime you see OVM or TJP or Tony & English Lady say they are heading to Cottondale Ala..that is a sprinter load that Load 1 owns out of the Detroit are and at times we go there everyday of the week including weekends....and that is just one example...
So yea it does depend on your carrier...and by mid summer, my next truck will be a "spinter type" van if at all possible....
zero3nine
Veteran Expediter
Not to mention the mileage is generally a lot better!
ChrisGa23
Expert Expediter
If I had my pick I would go with the Chevy Cargomaxx or Ford Aerocell. If none were available I would probably go sprinter.
But when I was talking to another panther driver who had a sprinter maybe 2 weeks ago she barely gets anything a standard cv couldnt get.
But when I was talking to another panther driver who had a sprinter maybe 2 weeks ago she barely gets anything a standard cv couldnt get.
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after over 5 years in a tuna can...Amen to that Charles....I could never go back to a CV.....
No man should be on their knees with their pants down....*LOL*
once you've experienced big...you can never take anything smaller....
after over 5 years in a tuna can...Amen to that Charles....I could never go back to a CV.....
No man should be on their knees with their pants down....*LOL*
once you've experienced big...you can never take anything smaller....
This is pretty much why I switched from CV to ST in my first stint with Panther. I'm 6'4", and that low-top Ford was just not making me any kind of happy. Especially sitting for a weekend in Grand Rapids.
Christopher
Zoli
Veteran Expediter
If I would drive it I would buy a Sprinter.Not for the extra fright ,for the comfort. You need that comfort on the road. If I would put drivers I would buy Chevy or Ford vans. They are more reliable and the extra freight is not cover the extra expenses plus the purchasing price difference.
greg334
Veteran Expediter
You know it really does not matter when it comes to the bottom line.
The carrier you decide to go with may be big on sprinters but use the capacity little because of their dispatching policies and level of intelligence. On the other hand a regular old cargo van may be good enough and make you money. BUT that's all from a business point of view.
What does matter is how you want to live while on the road.
Some are content with a ford or GM product and can do amazing things with the little living space while others like the space of a straight truck sleeper that is in the sprinter.
From the business point of view, the numbers can all be aligned, but those number mean little because you can't put a price on comfort.
By the way, a van is a van is a van. A sprinter is a van and it is limited by weight. If you expect a special price for your load because of the type of van you drive, then you should expect that van to be stuffed every load.
The carrier you decide to go with may be big on sprinters but use the capacity little because of their dispatching policies and level of intelligence. On the other hand a regular old cargo van may be good enough and make you money. BUT that's all from a business point of view.
What does matter is how you want to live while on the road.
Some are content with a ford or GM product and can do amazing things with the little living space while others like the space of a straight truck sleeper that is in the sprinter.
From the business point of view, the numbers can all be aligned, but those number mean little because you can't put a price on comfort.
By the way, a van is a van is a van. A sprinter is a van and it is limited by weight. If you expect a special price for your load because of the type of van you drive, then you should expect that van to be stuffed every load.
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
I run a CV and have for the 3 yrs i have done this...my next van will be a "sprinter type" van, but not a sprinter...I honest believe that theay of carriers running more cv's then "sprinter type" vans are limited...has units are replace , they will be the bigger vans....
purgoose10
Veteran Expediter
I'm with Dennis. I ran a D unit and dropped down to a CV and dropped down comfort wise as well. When you get older you need to have somewhat better living conditions.
On another note I am also with ChefDennis and that's a new Sprinter type van coming soon. I personally think the Sprinter needs some serious competition as far as pricing and maintenance. But that's just me talking.
You have to keep up with or surpass the competition if you want to stay in business. Trucking is not what it was. Fuel prices in the coming weeks are going to spike with the problems in the middle east and our administration won't do anything. We have the resources available in this country to supply ourselves, but then again we ether have an oil man or a complete idiot in the white house so all we can do is keep voting those moron's out and try try again.
This is almost two threads in one, sorry about the soap box.
greg334
Veteran Expediter
Just random thoughts.
Sprinter type vans?
Haven't found one yet, Ford isn't going to have the Transit here for a bit, the CargoMaxx seems to be one of a few retrofitted bodies but I think seem too heavy, the Aerocell SRW is nice but as mentioned a while ago in a conversation and yesterday leaves a bit to be desired be not allowing freight to be placed side by side. Hightop vans? What is the cost of the weight added to the top.
our administration won't do anything?
I don't see what they can do. It isn't like they control the market and drilling and harvesting domestic oil means nothing when it is ALL controlled by a speculation worldwide market. We are dependent on Oil for more than fuel, and any administration can not do a thing outside of nationalizing then subsidizing the gas and diesel fuel. Outside of that drastic step, maybe we need to actually just live with it as part of life. The sad thing about higher oil prices isn't the spurring of ways to save because that will according to most mean Government Money for research and development but rather the downfall of companies like GM who depended on the lower fuel prices in order to get away with their poor product planning and their p*ss poor marketing.
Again just random thoughts.
Sprinter type vans?
Haven't found one yet, Ford isn't going to have the Transit here for a bit, the CargoMaxx seems to be one of a few retrofitted bodies but I think seem too heavy, the Aerocell SRW is nice but as mentioned a while ago in a conversation and yesterday leaves a bit to be desired be not allowing freight to be placed side by side. Hightop vans? What is the cost of the weight added to the top.
our administration won't do anything?
I don't see what they can do. It isn't like they control the market and drilling and harvesting domestic oil means nothing when it is ALL controlled by a speculation worldwide market. We are dependent on Oil for more than fuel, and any administration can not do a thing outside of nationalizing then subsidizing the gas and diesel fuel. Outside of that drastic step, maybe we need to actually just live with it as part of life. The sad thing about higher oil prices isn't the spurring of ways to save because that will according to most mean Government Money for research and development but rather the downfall of companies like GM who depended on the lower fuel prices in order to get away with their poor product planning and their p*ss poor marketing.
Again just random thoughts.
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
the 2009 early 2010 cargomaxx single rear wheel vans are really dual rear wheel cutaways that have a different wheel for the single wheel application and they are also still have the 10,000 lb gvw "incomplete" sticker on the door from GM and the "final stage manufacturer" ( the upfitter) leaves it at 10,000 lb gvw...it will carry 3200 lbs cargo....with the gas motor...
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they are,,i want to see one,,If their gas engines last as long as their 4 cyld engines in their cars,,they should be a great competitor in the market, but it may take them a few years to to get it right, but they will.