Straight truck driver to sprinter van.

akguy907 · Jan 9, 2014

Hello fellow expediters,

I am currently with Fedex Custom Critical running team with my wife and in the near future she will be getting off the truck for good. She has had her fill of it I guess. I have been weighing my options as this changes my job prospects. We drive for an owner and they require teams in the truck. They said they would match me with another driver but I'm not thrilled about doing that. The wife is one thing but another dude in the truck with his own funk, forget about it. I was interested in driving a sprinter van as they seem to have more solo drivers. Can any sprinter van owners/drivers tell me if it is profitable driving solo in one? Would you have to own the van to make a profit? If these do apply what are decent companies for sprinter vans? From what I understand FedEx doesn't do well with them. I would like to stay in a D unit but in expediting that seems impossible unless you team. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

David

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zorry · Jan 9, 2014

Where do you live ?You can do well as a solo in a D in certain areas. Think of how many decent runs you've turned down because it was too short for a team.
I'd look hard into that.
With so many non-Ca paid off trucks out there you may get an owner to try you in one.

Supply Chain has opportunities for M-F solos in some areas.
They advertise in the classifieds here under Business Opportunities.

runrunner · Jan 9, 2014

akguy907 said:
Hello fellow expediters,

I am currently with Fedex Custom Critical running team with my wife and in the near future she will be getting off the truck for good. She has had her fill of it I guess. I have been weighing my options as this changes my job prospects. We drive for an owner and they require teams in the truck. They said they would match me with another driver but I'm not thrilled about doing that. The wife is one thing but another dude in the truck with his own funk, forget about it. I was interested in driving a sprinter van as they seem to have more solo drivers. Can any sprinter van owners/drivers tell me if it is profitable driving solo in one? Would you have to own the van to make a profit? If these do apply what are decent companies for sprinter vans? From what I understand FedEx doesn't do well with them. I would like to stay in a D unit but in expediting that seems impossible unless you team. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

David

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Well I'll be honest, I tried a Van for a while with FedEx,driving for an owner,there just ain't enough money to go around. You have to own the Van. I went back to the straight truck real quick.

akguy907 · Jan 9, 2014

Thanks for the info. I reside in Cincinnati. I'll look into Supply Chain. Appreciate the help

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redytrk · Jan 9, 2014

runrunner said:
Well I'll be honest, I tried a Van for a while with FedEx,driving for an owner,there just ain't enough money to go around.

I made that change as well. Starvation is the route that change made. It is beyond me that FECC hasen`t raised rates (at least for vans) in over 20 years. Its like they want to starve us out.

2exp4life · Jan 10, 2014

Hi David,
My wife and I team drove for FedEx CC Whiteglove for years. We drove someone elses truck. Quit in 2002 and worked at home. I'm ready to go back to expediting now but my wife is disabled so I'm thinking about teaming up with someone. I live in NW Florida.
James

Maverick · Jan 12, 2014

They said they would match me with another driver but I'm not thrilled about doing that. The wife is one thing but another dude in the truck

Match you with another driver? Had a ST owner tell me that to....and went through 3 of these matches. Think your doing the right thing in running from that, as far as you can run. Choosing your own partner, might be another thing.....JMHO.

Don't make quite the money as a driver in a van, but I'd never go back to ST teaming. Been fortunate to have driven for two good van owners, but the real money seems to be in O/O. The plan has been to purchase whenever that door opens. Vanning is kinda fun, and like the freedom it affords. For me, it's not ALL about the money.