Vehicle Question / Which Carrier

halexh · Jun 24, 2014

Straight to the question what companies are worth trying (Panther, FedEx CC, LandStar) since I have a 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500 most of the info I have read suggests that 6-8 year old vehicle is the limit for the bigger names. Also is it better to sign under a company's authority or use my own. So to recap:

2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500 I have Operating Authority/Insurance/Cargo Insurance is it better to try to find a company to sign me with an older vehicle or go out on my own ?

danthewolf00 · Jun 24, 2014

It depends on how well kept the van is for some of the big carriers. Because they hate it when you break down on a load and have to scramble to get it deliver'd

xiggi · Jun 24, 2014

If you have no expediting experience going alone would not be a good first start.

Sent from my Fisher Price - ABC 123

LDB · Jun 24, 2014

xiggi said:
If you have no expediting experience going alone would not be a good first start.

^^^^ That.

The only ones who can definitively answer are the companies themselves. Your van is 11 going on 12 years old. That's going to be too old for some no matter how good condition it's in. You'll have to contact companies to see if they'll inspect it and give an exception.

FlyingVan · Jun 24, 2014

xiggi said:
If you have no expediting experience going alone would not be a good first start.

Sent from my Fisher Price - ABC 123

If you don't have expediting experience some/most companies will not sign you on.

paullud · Jun 26, 2014

halexh said:
Straight to the question what companies are worth trying (Panther, FedEx CC, LandStar) since I have a 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500 most of the info I have read suggests that 6-8 year old vehicle is the limit for the bigger names. Also is it better to sign under a company's authority or use my own. So to recap:

2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500 I have Operating Authority/Insurance/Cargo Insurance is it better to try to find a company to sign me with an older vehicle or go out on my own ?

Why do you have operating authority? How long have you had it?

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Daffyduck528 · Jun 26, 2014

paullud said:
Why do you have operating authority? How long have you had it?

Sent from my SCH-I535 using EO Forums mobile app

I second that question. Most people come here having a van and wanting to know what to do. Very, very few have operating authority right out of the get go.

Turtle · Jun 26, 2014

Daffyduck528 said:
I second that question. Most people come here having a van and wanting to know what to do. Very, very few have operating authority right out of the get go.

Because he's doing everything exactly backwards - he got operating authority and bought a van, and NOW he's asking questions.

paullud · Jun 26, 2014

Turtle said:
Because he's doing everything exactly backwards - he got operating authority and bought a van, and NOW he's asking questions.

I was thinking that but he might be a former truck driver that had his own authority and decided to "retire". That was why I wanted to know how long he had it because a new authority makes it much tougher.

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halexh · Jul 8, 2014

Sorry, about the slow reply. Long weekend with the 4th and all.

I am not a retiring truck driver.

The reason I already have a van and operating authority is because I am currently using them for a business that I started at the beginning of the year. I have been using my Sprinter to haul motorcycles for hire.

But since I've had some time to crunch the numbers on the motorcycle hauling business. It's not turning out to be as profitable as I was hoping it would be that combined with the fact that its a lot more work finding 4-5 loads (thats how many motorcycles fit in the sprinter).

As opposed to just getting one load from one location as an expediter would is turning out to be a very time/mileage consuming task. So I have decided to get a little bit more information about the expediting business.

It doesn't seem like anyone is willing to sign a van that old from the 4-5 companies I've contacted which was expected. But since I have no experience expediting it seems like going out on my own wouldn't be the smartest thing to do. Although the idea of running 2 businesses into the ground in one year is appealing

Anyways looking for ideas at this point I guess. As it stands right now Sprinter has 120,000 miles on it and is paid in Full same with Insurance for the rest of the year.

x06col · Jul 8, 2014

I would use the total list of the Carriers that advertise on this site until you find one that would
accept you and your Sprinter and insurance coverage. You then would have the advantage of finding your own freight if things get slow, or, if the stars line up, getting a two or three banger once in a while. There is no real advantage working with the biggies anymore.

zorry · Jul 8, 2014

I always thought having a cashable paycheck show up on time is a nice benefit.

Moot · Jul 8, 2014

x06col said:
There is no real advantage working with the biggies anymore.

I agree and it is turning into a disadvantage. I'm leased to a "biggie" and estimate that at least 60% or more of my loads are booked through a 3PL. The 3PL takes a cut and the biggie with their large overhead takes a cut. Smaller carriers have lower overhead due to fewer employees and modest sized offices. As the Colonel mentioned there is also the opportunity for the occasional "two or three banger".

Just about anyone with half a brain, a computer and a couple of phone lines can duplicate most of what the biggies are doing (booking loads through 3PLs) for less.

blackpup · Jul 8, 2014

Moot said:
I agree and it is turning into a disadvantage. I'm leased to a "biggie" and estimate that at least 60% or more of my loads are booked through a 3PL. The 3PL takes a cut and the biggie with their large overhead takes a cut. Smaller carriers have lower overhead due to fewer employees and modest sized offices. As the Colonel mentioned there is also the opportunity for the occasional "two or three banger".

Just about anyone with half a brain, a computer and a couple of phone lines can duplicate most of what the biggies are doing (booking loads through 3PLs) for less.

Sheesh ! Amazes me how that happens. Always wondered how that system evolved.

jimmy

zorry · Jul 8, 2014

Moot said:
Just about anyone with half a brain, a computer and a couple of phone lines can duplicate most of what the biggies are doing (booking loads through 3PLs) for less.

Looking for office space yet ?

Murraycroexp · Jul 8, 2014

zorry said:
Looking for office space yet ?

Is that supposed to be a dig?
Check.
Check.
And check!!
Is bigger better?
In some respects, yes.
In some respects, no.
The drivers need to determine what THEY need. If the carrier can provide that, who loses, regardless of that carrier's size?
Anyone?
Bueller?
Bueller?
Ummm......

x06col · Jul 9, 2014

zorry said:
I always thought having a cashable paycheck show up on time is a nice benefit.

Y'all gotta understand the employee mentality in that statement.

zorry · Jul 9, 2014

x06col said:
Y'all gotta understand the employee mentality in that statement.

You're so independent that you don't care if you get paid ?

x06col · Jul 9, 2014

zorry said:
You're so independent that you don't care if you get paid ?

I love getting paid and paid well. However I do prefer to take care of it myself rather than be on the dole and grovel for it.

Turtle · Jul 9, 2014

x06col said:
I love getting paid and paid well. However I do prefer to take care of it myself rather than be on the dole and grovel for it.

Paying someone to do your accounts receivable collections, and to grovel with slow-paying and non-paying customers for you, is hardly being on the dole. There is no employee mentality in that whatsoever.