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Sprinter van newbie - status?

A

Aviator1980s

New Recruit
Owner/Operator
Hello everyone!!

I have been researching on sprinter van driving for a couple months and keep reading contradicting information. The owner operator guys that I know that do it say that they make about $1/mile, have plenty of work, pretty easy flow, etc.. I keep reading that it has gotten worse lately and it's like $0.70/ mile now? I don't know if the guys are inflating the info they give me to make it seem like they are doing good in life so I come to you. I have never done OTR and looking to get into it.

What is the status of Sprinter/van jobs? Is it pretty easy to get freight? How is the daily life of this job?

PS: I would be purchasing a newer Mercedes that can hold 3-4 pallets and be under 10k.
 
ucfd608

ucfd608

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
I am not a cargo van driver never have been but from I have gathered it is hit or miss with good rates what is good for you might not be good for another I have heard of ppl getting well over a dollar a mile one day then the next under a dollar all in all with everything averaged together they might get a dollar a mile. Now to your next questions the status of one the market is saturated with van drivers an u are not gonna make good money driving for someone after they take there cut. The best thing you can do honestly is get your class b cdl an go to a straight truck drive for someone for a year or two get to know the business then if you are interested buy you a truck. If it was not for my dad needing help with his funeral home I would still be on the rd but probably now in a bigger straight than I had. But my wife an I have been talking about it an she is gonna get her cdls an go out on the rd with me when I go back out in the next year or so if the market hasn’t crashed any worse


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NorthernBill

NorthernBill

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
We just ran a load overnight, Nashville area to Dallas area. 700 ish miles, 3 drop locations, right at a buck a mile. Our contract rate is .80c per mile, plus 11c fuel. The 2 extra stops helped that run, pay wise. Now we sit with half a dozen vans/sprinters at a truck stop. Two would you could yous, but no solid loads yet.
Not easy but, we are enjoying our selves. If you get a Mercedes, make sure your alright with, and can get a performance tune for the engine(Google is your friend).
 
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NorthernBill

NorthernBill

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Yes, wife and I team. I posted our rate above, it takes some kind of accessory pay, to get the paid miles to a buck. Hand load or unload, muiltiple stops, detention, some real short loads, pay better. But we look at total miles, including where to go after the drop to figure if a load is doable.
 
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Grizzly

Grizzly

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
I'll reiterate ....

The van segment of the market is completely over saturated .. for two main reasons:
1. Entry is relatively easy. No special license is required.
2. You simply need to be comfortable with getting into debt. Finance a van & off you go.

How you pay off the debt & actually earn a living is not as easy as it appears. For all the time & energy there are more profitable endeavors. It's my opinion one cannot make any $ in this business with a van payment.

Do yourself a good solid favor. Get a cdl & drive straights ..

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T

Treadmill

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Grizzly said:
danthewolf00 said:
Don't touch a sprinter unless you got a big reserve of money in the bank get a transit or promaster.....
Click to expand...
I don't want to hijack the thread .. but I believe you may be referring to the first generation ncv3 sprinters '07-'09.

Ask some current expediters, that have over 500k mi on the newer ones, what they think.



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Click to expand...
With 631k on my 2012 sprinter no problems here.
 
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brokcanadian

brokcanadian

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
That's as hit and miss as expediting. A close friend uses a 2013 sprinter in expedite, he had $30,000 worth of repair expenses in a year at 200,000 miles (those dealers :p) I say pre 2007 sprinter :D
 
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ntimevan

ntimevan

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Lawrence said:
Met a guy from Dayton recently who get's $1.81 per mile. True story. :greedy::greedy::greedy::greedy:
Click to expand...

BigStickJr said:
So, how’s Murray doing ?
Click to expand...
3f784c3d495c2ca32e6a42e51c7a321e.jpg


All aboard the Freight Train
 
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