Too many vans!

[stupiddog0-3]

I would like to say to those of you thinking about buying a van and getting into expediting after the first of the year. Don't Do It. First off I would like to say that I am new to the business and started under the promise that the company who was hiring me had plenty of miles. I wont say who they are but the name has an E and a 1 in it, the guy who hired me in said the van drivers were getting 1500 to 1700 miles a week and I think I got 1700 the first week that's all but the rest were less then a 1000 and a couple less then 500. I bought a 08 Sprinter for $26,000 with payments of $723 a month just to start the job because this company wanted less then 5 years old vans. These companies should be accountable to false promises. I am now in more debt with a van I cant take back after putting several miles on it, probably a third from deadheading for said company. You have to think also that the first 1000 dollars of gas went on a credit card. After I changed companies I got my last statement saying I was in debt to them for the drug test, the Qualcom install, and comdata charges they had not charged me back yet! ? How is that possible? I hope this new company will pay off because I am in it now and the next step is bankrupt. Expediting is a 24/7 job and sometimes you are stuck for days a long way from home with no gas to get there. All I am saying is think twice before jumping in head first. Some companies have tooooo many drivers and just keep adding because they don't care about you.

 

[highway star]

When did you find out about EO?

 

[stupiddog0-3]

Just looking for Sprinter driving jobs before getting into it first I ran across the site. Love it but if I knew then what I know now I may not have gone this direction. I like driving but I hate sitting and broke.

 

[Ragman]

Just looking for Sprinter driving jobs before getting into it first I ran across the site. Love it but if I knew then what I know now I may not have gone this direction. I like driving but I hate sitting and broke.

First mistake is calling it a job. Think of it as your business.

 

[rcox1729]

That's the business of expediting, this time of the year is slow. I run local in Indianapolis for a courier and get expedited loads some and lucky still staying busy enough to make it in the winter time

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[highway star]

Just looking for Sprinter driving jobs before getting into it first I ran across the site. Love it but if I knew then what I know now I may not have gone this direction. I like driving but I hate sitting and broke.

I ask because a little research would have helped quite a bit. There were too many vans when I started expediting 14 years ago and nothings changed. Starting in a van with no money for fuel, let alone anything too fall back on, makes it very tough for a newb. On top of that, the 1st quarter is here, a historically slow period. You're not in a great position, but if you're as frugal as you can possibly be with your money you may pull through.

 

[stupiddog0-3]

Doesn't matter if you are not making enough money to eat and drive, business or job, If you cant drive for more then 1 company then its a job. 2 companies you have choices then and its a business then. These companies wont let you drive for more then one and if they have no work then you have no work. It is a business in the fact you take all the risk on loosing everything when there is no work. No unemployment for subcontractors with van payments.

 

[highway star]

Doesn't matter if you are not making enough money to eat and drive, business or job, If you cant drive for more then 1 company then its a job. 2 companies you have choices then and its a business then. These companies wont let you drive for more then one and if they have no work then you have no work. It is a business in the fact you take all the risk on loosing everything when there is no work. No unemployment for subcontractors with van payments.

Again, a little research would have helped. Seriously, you've never heard of the multi-carrier business model for vans?

And, it's a business!

 

[stupiddog0-3]

Got no choice now! I did lots of reading on here and I didn't see anyone say don't do it like I am. I really don't care if people get into it, I love to meet new drivers and have met several new friends in the process of sitting around for days at truck stops. I am just saying look out for people making promises they know is for lack of better words is Crap. I could have made it fine with 1500 miles a week but they lied and the same company is still hiring more and more people with the same lies. If you cant run the ones you have why keep adding. I only turned down 1 run the whole time I was there also.

 

[Ragman]

and have met several new friends in the process of sitting around for days at truck stops.

Get away from the truck stops.

Try to learn where the freight is coming from and position yourself in that area.

 

[stupiddog0-3]

Tell me who. Its not the main companies. Every truck stop I sit at has van drivers sitting from lots of different companies and I talk to all of them. Are you with Highway Star? Who else?

 

[purgoose10]

Doesn't matter if you are not making enough money to eat and drive, business or job, If you cant drive for more then 1 company then its a job. 2 companies you have choices then and its a business then. These companies wont let you drive for more then one and if they have no work then you have no work. It is a business in the fact you take all the risk on loosing everything when there is no work. No unemployment for subcontractors with van payments.

As with a lot of people getting into trucking they think all's going to be okay with the 3,000 + miles they will get everyweek, after all the recruitor told me so. They also treat it as a job instead of a business (or an adventure whatever). Between Oct and Feb of the next year most company's cut back on contracting new operators unless they are experienced. If you start any business in the desperate column there's not much that can help you. Right now everyone is slower than usual, but I think when they get fix the fence by the cliff we're all supposed to fall off of, things will start to pick up. Only the strong survive in the trucking business, are you strong????

 

[stupiddog0-3]

Dude! Its a 75 mile radios of where you are sitting. The new company has less vans and I am doing well now because I am number 1 or 2 in the area and not 4 or 5 like the other company. All I am saying is watch out for empty promises! You can say I am doing it wrong but I am a smart guy and I study everything. Lies are Lies are Lies. No matter how they are said. I have also met a couple van drivers that are full of it.

 

[purgoose10]

Dude! Its a 75 mile radios of where you are sitting. The new company has less vans and I am doing well now because I am number 1 or 2 in the area and not 4 or 5 like the other company. All I am saying is watch out for empty promises! You can say I am doing it wrong but I am a smart guy and I study everything. Lies are Lies are Lies. No matter how they are said. I have also met a couple van drivers that are full of it.

How many operators with your company did you talk with?? I'm not talking about the operators who have been with that company several years, talk to 8-18 month people. See how and when they started ( time of the year). Best time to start in trucking period is April, the weather breaks and manufacturing picks up. Find out what kind of freight they specialize in and I don't mean expedite. Automotive or whatever. Automotive manufacturing has retool time as well as peak marketing times. As far as other van drivers just sit around the truckstop for awhile the BS is more than Vanners.

 

[Opel2010]

Some companies have tooooo many drivers and just keep adding because they don't care about you.

My friend, why didn't you do more research about exp. co? I wouldn't sign with E-1 or Bolt, or TST, or Panther and many other bad names. Try Nations Express or Landstar if you wanna work for well known companies, or if you have enough moolah for fuel til you'll get your first paycheck (5 weeks), I'd recommend Hana Express. I made really good money with them.

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[Brisco]

You can say I am doing it wrong but I am a smart guy and I study everything. Lies are Lies are Lies. No matter how they are said.......

Smart Guy......

Studied Everything.......

Doesn't look like it to me..........and probably most other members here too.

I too was Told that I could make $100K a year traveling around the country in a "Cargo Van" by a "Recruiter" from a large Expediting Company. This was back in 2000-2001 when freight was GOOD.

Needless to say....I "Studied"....and Thank Gawd I found this site here. Here it is 2012....the last day of 2012, and I have YET to get behind the wheel of a Cargo Van for ANY Expediting Company.

THANK YOU EO!!

I have also met a couple van drivers that are full of it.

Haven't "Studied" THIS site that much yet either.................Have Ya??

 

[stupiddog0-3]

After the first company an experienced van driver that I trust said I should try where I am now and that he wishes he had never left them to and I should give them a try so I did. Now I am doing ok. I ran around 1700 my first week with them but then Christmas came around and now New Years so no work this week. I plan to deadhead to the work on the second and get the new year started and I am hoping for good things in 2013. I have had to learn a lot of stuff in a short time and like I said I have meet several good people in the process. Van drivers are a different breed and most will look out for you even after the first time you meet them. I am going to stick it out but it is not easy. Everyone just should know there are too many of us out there and the money is not a sure thing. I also say just watch out for companies who lie. That's all. Too many van drivers.

 

[Ragman]

Haven't "Studied" THIS site that much yet either.................Have Ya??

We are kind of full of it, arn't we?

 

[Ragman]

After the first company an experienced van driver that I trust said I should try where I am now and that he wishes he had never left them to and I should give them a try so I did. Now I am doing ok. I ran around 1700 my first week with them but then Christmas came around and now New Years so no work this week. I plan to deadhead to the work on the second and get the new year started and I am hoping for good things in 2013. I have had to learn a lot of stuff in a short time and like I said I have meet several good people in the process. Van drivers are a different breed and most will look out for you even after the first time you meet them. I am going to stick it out but it is not easy. Everyone just should know there are too many of us out there and the money is not a sure thing. I also say just watch out for companies who lie. That's all. Too many van drivers.

Sounds like you are getting the gist of it.

Good luck.

 

[stupiddog0-3]

I like people who have an opinion for no good reason like Brisco here. Drive then talk. I wasted my time reading your post. Isn't Brisco a name brand of lard?