So if you had to tell someone what to do...

[MrSheltie]

We shall call her Mrs "X"

Mrs X has a few grand in the bank and in a settlement from her Ex hubby, she can get her choice of a brand new one ton diesel Ford van or a three year old 24 foot straight job with 38,000 miles on it, nice sleeper, DT466/ 6 speed.

She wants to get into the expediters game and holds a CDL class A with haz mat.

Which would you tell her to do to make her better off for future pay?

The van...
The Straight truck...
Or sell her sweet touche on the street and forget about freight completely? LOL

Seeing several reasons for each one being "better" than the other, which unit do you think there would be more work for in the next couple of years?

Lets forget about HOS and log books as a factor.
All else being equal, who would get more work? St truck or Van?


Also, is it possible for her to be a "Gypsy" and get her own authority so she could accept loads from anyone, anytime?

Is it less in a smaller vehicle than it is in a T/T with 18 wheels?

 

[Moot]

Lets forget about HOS and log books as a factor.
All else being equal, who would get more work? St truck or Van?

HOS and log books are part of the equation that can't be overlooked. She should consult her priest.

 

[DannyD]

I can only A part of the Q, & even then just the van part of it. Here's what I can tell ya though.

Yes there's companies that will let you drive for more than one company if you're in a cargo van. I'm not sure if straight trucks are the same or not. Whether this is an advantage or not, I'm not sure. I'm just starting to do this next week.

I would chime in w/ this, even thought ya didn't ask. I'd be hesitant about getting a brand new truck for this kind of venture. I'm referring to the van here. I'd get something a couple-three years old & let someone else take the depreciation on it. If this business isn't what she wants, she'll lose 10-15K on her truck in 6 months. Something to think about there.

 

[fastman_1]

I tried the working for more than one company with my van, I thought that was the best thing since sliced bread....till 1 company calls with a load, and your under a load for company 2...Bottom line you can't please 2 masters.

 

[cheri1122]

If you're free to turn down an unprofitable load, what's the difference? Same result, no?

 

[Moot]

You could be under load with company #2 when company #1 calls with a higher paying load.

 

[DannyD]

Yea, but what ya do is call the other company when ya get a load & let em know where you'll be next. In my case at least, I have a hunch I'll be getting a lot more work from company #2 than the first one. If for no other reason than on Mondays the husband gets the first load & I'm next out w/ the first company.

I guess I won't know until I try it, but I'm also thinking it'll be better for when I'm out somewhere. I'll have to learn the freight lanes of both companies & such. If I'm sitting somewhere I'd think it would be better having 2 places looking for ya. I guess I'll see for sure.

The down side I thought would be you're out in BFE, & end up realizing your 2 companies are bidding against each other for the same load. Like I'm the only 1 in the middle of Utah for 300 miles for ANY company, & someone needs it NOW.

So what would have been a premium load @ $4.90 (ok, I'm dreaming here, work w/ me) mile became a .55 cent/mile load cuz the 2 companies I work for are slashing each others throats bidding on the thing.

 

[MrSheltie]

HOS and log books are part of the equation that can't be overlooked. She should consult her priest.

I did not say overlooked, but some people are not scared of a logbook...they would not really mind keeping a log/adhering to HOS.
In other words, they are not part of the equation to dictate which way to go.

 

[DannyD]

You asked an interesting Q. I answered what I knew above. I re-read your post & ya asked not only which one would make more $$, but also which one would get more work.

I would think, but don't know for sure, that a ST would get more work than a van. Simply because it can hold more. That doesn't mean more profit for sure, but I'd have to think more work.

In another thread Cheri said the income for a solo is about the same in either vehicle. Not sure if that's just her experience or across the board.

Pretty good thread here. It'll be interesting to see the replies.

 

[termite289]

simple, stay home, and find a courier service that she can play with i a Honda accord for 500 bucks or so.

 

[Moot]

I did not say overlooked, but some people are not scared of a logbook...they would not really mind keeping a log/adhering to HOS.
In other words, they are not part of the equation to dictate which way to go.

But HOS are part of the equation. Especially when operating solo. There is no need to fear HOS and logbooks but Mrs. X should be aware that HOS can negatively impact her bottom line.

 

[fastman_1]

If you're free to turn down an unprofitable load, what's the difference? Same result, no?

Same Result, However I was paid by the mile by both companys, Turn them down enough and the offers quit coming.

 

[morningstar55ny]

simple, stay home, and find a courier service that she can play with i a Honda accord for 500 bucks or so.

hahahaha... thats what im wanting to do ......... serious.... i do .......

 

[Jack_Berry]

leo had an interesting take on what truck to get into here.

the cargo van pretty much stops you at 64cft/skid.

the strt even used, and for that price sounds too good to be true, would allow more frt options.

i would not tell anyone what truck to get. it is up to them and what they want to accomplish.

 

[moose]

About that own authority...
don't do it .
(unless she absolutely know what she is doing , & this is not the case if she is asking the above questions)

"X never mark the point" (Indina Johns)

 

[DougTravels]

Has She ever drover OTR before? If the answer is no, she should not buy either she should drive for an owner for a few months first and make sure that this is the life she wants before going deep into her savings.

 

[csands007]

First i run for several ones and it is workig out well, i just call others when i get a load and tell them where i'm going, i do bot get calls from them till I am ready to roll o a new one. so the part of getting an offer while on a load run does not happen with me. you jst have to find oes that will work with you, plus I bid a lot of my own loads, yes I have my own Mc number.

 

[easyrider2697]

Has She ever drover OTR before? If the answer is no, she should not buy either she should drive for an owner for a few months first and make sure that this is the life she wants before going deep into her savings.

Re-read the OP...she is not buying, it is being given to her in a settlement, thus changing the situation considerablely.....BUT if buying one..I agree with you completely.

 

[SWTexas1]

By the way that the Question is Written I would say Skip the Van and Take the Truck. It gives you more Options, and Leased on with a Good Company should have more Work then the Van.

Now as stated in the above post there are a number of other things that come in to play, HOS, Profit and Experance, but that has all been hashed over before, and I would hope that they have already study all that Info.

 

[miker]

If Mrs X has that much coming to her , she should stick most it in a CD account, drive for an owner for a year or 2 to see where the business goes, better or worse? then make her decision after that, she can live comfortably while working and using a little bit of that money to live on. I would'nt buy either one just yet, just take it slow and where for the right signs to jump at being an owner of either one.