Should I get C and D class truck

[zenrider]

Hi everyone. Me and my wife are starting out in this field for the first time. I been looking at the different trucks available and having trouble deciding on going D class or C class. I plan to go with FedEx custom critical, and have a truck picked out that is all setup for them. Got 16ft insulated box, and 5,000lb liftgate. Also has 96in Bentz sleeper. This truck is a bit pricey but it has a lot and low miles. Other choices we have are cheaper dry box trucks with 22ft boxes. We were told working with FedEx we would get 3 cents less per mile going C class than going D class. But C class has higher load offers.

What do you guys think?

 

[layoutshooter]

If you are just starting out in this business I suggest that you do NOT start out by buying a truck of any size. It is not always the best route to go. If you are not able to pay cash for the truck you are "stuck" with payments starting on day one.

What happens if you get out here and find out that either you or your wife cannot take this life style, OR, you and your wife cannot work together in close quarters.

I always think it best to drive for an owner for at LEAST a year before you jump into your own truck. That would answer a LOT of questions for you.

Welcome to the forums, don't be a stranger.

One other thing to think about. Will that truck be usable with another carrier if things don't work out with FDCC?

Read as many back postings as you can. Take your time before you jump into this.

 

[TeamCaffee]

Since you said you are starting out new I am going to assume you will be in Surface. What we have seen is that a C unit does not work well in Surface as they get to many B load offers.

You are looking at a nice truck and a nice payment I would assume and B loads will not make that kind of payment.

As a surface truck I would suggest you do everything you can to be available for ALL loads. This means a D truck, a lift gate as well as all White Glove Equipment and get your clearances.

We do see a lot of C loads BUT being available to take a D load will get your out of an area quicker. The trick for us has been to make ourselves qualified for any load offer that would come out in Surface and we have done well with that policy. Next is learning where to go and where to sit. Find a mentor and lean on them not the computer within FCC.

Good Luck and I hope you guys enjoy this lifestyle as much as we do.

 

[ATeam]

I think that a lot of what people have to say about the difference between C truck and D trucks is made up, especially when reefers are involved.

Diane and I decided on a CR-unit after driving D and DR fleet owner trucks for two years. Based on what we saw with our loads, it made sense then. But in the year our truck was being built, the freight shifted such that the CR decision may not have been as strongly supported by the "facts." Yet, when we got into our CR-unit, the freight shifted again such that we made more money with this truck than any previously driven.

People can spin almost any story they wish to support a C or D decision. That said, if I was going with a dry box truck, D would be the better choice, I think.

What layoutshooter says about not committing to a truck of any kind before you know that you have what it takes to make the business work should not be taken lightly.

As far as buying a White Glove truck goes, the truck is only part of the story. Driver credentials and getting into WG in the first place also matters. Just because you have a WG truck, it does not follow that you will be a WG team. Check that part very carefully before you commit to that truck.

 

[greg334]

Hi everyone. Me and my wife are starting out in this field for the first time. I been looking at the different trucks available and having trouble deciding on going D class or C class. I plan to go with FedEx custom critical, and have a truck picked out that is all setup for them. Got 16ft insulated box, and 5,000lb liftgate. Also has 96in Bentz sleeper. This truck is a bit pricey but it has a lot and low miles. Other choices we have are cheaper dry box trucks with 22ft boxes. We were told working with FedEx we would get 3 cents less per mile going C class than going D class. But C class has higher load offers.

What do you guys think?

Well seeing that no one seems to think ahead, and you are not with FedEx right now, I would offer this bit of serious advice;

Get the biggest truck you can get.

Trying to lock yourself into a truck with a single company without being on with that company is not the best idea.

What if you fail to make good at FedEx, a lot of people tried and it didn't work out for them, so you are now stuck with a truck that limits your opportunities at other companies. Even in some cases, the size of the box will cause you to get nothing but B unit offers with an occasional C/D unit offers.

This is a business, not a paid vacation nor a hobby. Taking it seriously seems to be the best thing to do and this would include not going for status by contracting with one company but leaving options open for the future. MANY assume they may make it with FedEx, some have a good track record with them and it is a good company but it is not for everyone.

IF you want to know why I'm saying this, it is because I was sold on the idea of a C unit and when I got one, I had to compete with vans in the fleet and it wasn't by choice. I had to move and that alone left me with only a couple options. After three years, I finally have been making what I should have made at FedEx. As Linda said, surface freight is tough, WG is may be a different story but ...

 

[zenrider]

I was sold on the idea of a C unit and when I got one, I had to compete with vans in the fleet and it wasn't by choice. I had to move and that alone left me with only a couple options. After three years, I finally have been making what I should have made at FedEx. As Linda said, surface freight is tough, WG is may be a different story but ...

Thats an interesting point. When you competed with B trucks, did you ask for more pay to match your C truck pay schedule? Also did your C truck have a Reefer? I read someplace else that they get a lot of reefer loads if the truck has a reefer. Lastly, were most of your loads very short runs, like less than 1,000 miles?

 

[greg334]

When you competed with B trucks, did you ask for more pay to match your C truck pay schedule?

I asked for fair rate that equated for the work done with the truck I owned - actual cost plus a 23% margin. This sounds like a lot but overall it was usually 10% less than what others were getting. It wasn't asking for $1.75 a mile but not the 1.10 a mile being offered.

Also did your C truck have a Reefer? I read someplace else that they get a lot of reefer loads if the truck has a reefer.

Yes, also a lift gate and other monitoring equipment. It didn't matter, the stats showed that the dry freight ran at 89% of my work while the reefer work was less than 8% of the work and the remaining amount was special handled freight (i.e. inside delivery, less than 20 lbs, etc. ...)

Lastly, were most of your loads very short runs, like less than 1,000 miles?

No, the average run for FedEx was 346 miles, while the longest was 1434 miles and the shortest was less than 100 yards.

Oh and just to add a couple other things;

the size does matter. It isn't what they put on your truck but how much you can put on the truck.

The weight capacity matters more. It isn't what you have hauled but how much you can haul.

You are competing with internal fleet contractors, not outside trucks so it is important to look at the overall fleet and how you would fit in. FedEx, like others will use your capacity on demand with the idea that your truck can fit their requirements. When you look at fleet specs (which you can get from FedEx), it will tell you where to target your truck.

 

[zenrider]

the size does matter. It isn't what they put on your truck but how much you can put on the truck.

The weight capacity matters more. It isn't what you have hauled but how much you can haul.

Hmm, it sounds like it would be worth throwing a drop axle on this truck. I've been told it would cost about $5k to do that.

 

[layoutshooter]

Hmm, it sounds like it would be worth throwing a drop axle on this truck. I've been told it would cost about $5k to do that.

If you put a lift axle on a truck with a 16ft box, you will still be a "C" truck. You have to have a minimum of 20' of usable floor space to be a "D".

Things seems to have changed from when Greg was with FDCC. His reefer work only amounted to 8% of his work. Our reefer work is 63% of our work and 75% of our income. That is combined temp assured and TVAL.

 

[layoutshooter]

Hmm, it sounds like it would be worth throwing a drop axle on this truck. I've been told it would cost about $5k to do that.

If you put a lift axle on a truck with a 16ft box, you will still be a "C" truck. You have to have a minimum of 20' of usable floor space to be a "D".

Things seems to have changed from when Greg was with FDCC. His reefer work only amounted to 8% of his work. Our reefer work is 63% of our work and 75% of our income. That is combined temp assured and TVAL.

 

[greg334]

Layout,
Not really.

There are a couple trucks in the surface fleet who have near the same numbers. These are non-wg trucks.

BUT as Layout mentioned, you are still a C unit.

The point is, regardless how anyone cuts it, the C unit is limited to FedEx and if you get into a situation where FedEx doesn't want you or doesn't load you with minimal paying loads, then you are very limited to where you can go with that truck.

I don't get this idea that someone can only make money with FedEx, a lot of people are struggling with them while they could be doing well with others. It is a good company but it may not be for everyone.

 

[layoutshooter]

Layout,
Not really.

There are a couple trucks in the surface fleet who have near the same numbers. These are non-wg trucks.

BUT as Layout mentioned, you are still a C unit.

The point is, regardless how anyone cuts it, the C unit is limited to FedEx and if you get into a situation where FedEx doesn't want you or doesn't load you with minimal paying loads, then you are very limited to where you can go with that truck.

I don't get this idea that someone can only make money with FedEx, a lot of people are struggling with them while they could be doing well with others. It is a good company but it may not be for everyone.

What reefer trucks that are not WG? You lost me here. I was only commenting on your statement that YOUR reefer only accounted for 8% of you work. Also our average run is just shy of 800 miles.

I also never said that someone can only make money with FDCC. NO company is 100% right for everyone. Shoot, someday FDCC might not me our needs. The is only one thing that never changes and that is the fact that everything changes.

 

[greg334]

I don't know, go down to Memphis or green and ask for a list of surface trucks in the fleet.

I answered questions ask to me, I ran as a solo those are numbers after some ~ 400 loads I did for FedEx.

I wasn't directing the last two comments towards you, but in general. I stand by this idea that people see the name, read what a few are doing (how many millions they are making) and they want in the action while never doing this work in the first place.

 

[layoutshooter]

I don't know, go down to Memphis or green and ask for a list of surface trucks in the fleet.

I answered questions ask to me, I ran as a solo those are numbers after some ~ 400 loads I did for FedEx.

I wasn't directing the last two comments towards you, but in general. I stand by this idea that people see the name, read what a few are doing (how many millions they are making) and they want in the action while never doing this work in the first place.

I am not aware of any "surface" reefer trucks. I could be wrong. Global Supply Chain has some reefer straight trucks. I know you were not speaking to me. I was just commenting. Might have worded it badly. Some people do read things, get dollar signs in their eyes and jump. You can, without a doubt, make good money with FDCC. You can with Panther, Landstar etc. What works for us might not work for others.