What kind of year are you having so far?

[coleman6566]

Cargo van drivers, what kind of year are you having so far? Are you an owner operator or driver?

Straight truck drivers, what kind of year are you having so far? Are you an owner operator or driver?

I've been researching this industry for years. I can't find an answer to why I see all of these nice cargo
vans and straight trucks on the road and many drivers say they are not making money? Who's paying for all of this equipment LOL????

Are any of you cargo van drivers getting more than 3 loads per week?

What about you straight truck divers? How many loads are you getting right now?

I see many newbies come in here and ask questions only to be shot down with cruel comments.

Is that the way to help someone? I understand everyone has different income needs and many factors involved in this industry. Why can't veteran drivers explain what they are doing to make it work that will help someone new? Not all on here are that way, but many are.

New people are looking for answers without all of the negative comments.

Rant over...

 

[jcochristoph]

Like anything else that's attractive with limited quantities there's all the preternatural responses to those trying to "get their piece of the pie". Competition usually increases the value of a commodity but in the case of expeditors/ Oops, we've only seen a dive in what we can command for our service. So naturally, many of us don't want any more competitors, especially those bottom feeders buying junk equipment and putting some poor slob in it paying them pennies, thus allowing them to run that equinopment cheap, keeping the rates down.
Also, I have personally know more than a few wide-eyed newbie who were not only financially ruined, but their home life and every other aspect of their lives were negatively affected by jumping into what they thought was a gravy train....driving nice new equipment you say you see with a big mortgage attached.
If you have been "...researching this industry for years..." you should have a pretty good notion as to the answers to you own questions. You know what the regular posters are saying about loads, rates, ECT.
You know that straights do better than vans, teams better than solos, and most all of us veterans are working for much less than we were before.


Sent from my SM-N920V using EO Forums mobile app

 

[xiggi]

I would say there are less nice o/o trucks and vans than their used to be. To me just being a shiny new van doesn't equate to nice. It needs roof top air, an expat, a quality generator, good sleep system and I see less of those. Many of the nicer straights are fleet owners who might profit a little less per truck but make it up over a number of vehicles.

If not mean hearted negative comments can be helpful. No one is joking when they say the van market is over saturated and rates are in the tank.

What we do isn't rocket science. For a lot of us it's cooking in the truck, save money for needs before you spend it on wants. Stay out and work a lot. Many of us have been at multiple companies until we find one that works and two years from now that carrier might not work anymore.. The one that works for me may mot work for moot. The same town that works for me at one carrier may not work for ragman if with the same carrier. Except for the basics it's hard to tell someone what to do it's more of developing an instinct.

 

[coleman6566]

Good answers. Thanks for the input

 

[Mailer]

Ever since I ran the west coast so that I can balance work and home life, the last year's gross dropped to about 60%...and this year so far Lol....

When I started 5 years ago, the market was good...Last two years, I had to improvise with different type of loads just to keep busy. But it's still not busy enough. Have to ride the wave for now.

 

[T270_Dreamin]

On track to make close to a Starbucks barista yearly income saving for a house so I can become a land lord and live in the back inside the Sprinter carriers with plenty of work and that pay well aren't bringing on 06 Sprinters so until I can hand over 40 grand for another van, it's slim pickins...

 

[davekc]

The industry operates on rates from years ago while every associated cost has risen. Technology has offset some of it, but not by leaps and bounds.
Like any business, it is a gamble. Spin the roulette wheel and see what happens. Still a great business but it has changed. Have to adapt to those changes.

 

[Ragman]

Is this for real?

 

[Treadmill]

Is this for real?

Would not surprise me if it was.

 

[davekc]

As far as I know it is.

 

[Treadmill]

About an average year for me. Staying as busy as I want and then some. O/O driving a paid for sprinter. Works for me.

 

[Moot]

The industry operates on rates from years ago while every associated cost has risen. Technology has offset some of it, but not by leaps and bounds.
Like any business, it is a gamble. Spin the roulette wheel and see what happens. Still a great business but it has changed. Have to adapt to those changes.

Cabover with a 28' box. Is the Colonel back in the expedite biz?

 

[Moot]

New people are looking for answers without all of the negative comments.

New people also come here and ask very general questions without doing any research.

What's the best company?
How much money can I make?
What's the best truck/van?
Why can't veteran drivers explain what they are doing to make it work that will help someone new?

I enjoy helping newbies. I'm currently answering questions via private messages with a newbie to Panther. These answers are to specific questions and I try to give accurate answers. But, the nature of expediting is such that what may be applicable to a certain situation today, probably won't be tomorrow.

To paraphrase Davekc: Step up and give the giant roulette wheel a spin.

What's the best color to put my money on?
What's the best number?
Where's the best casino?
What' with those green zero things?
How much money can I make playing this?

 

[crich]

The industry operates on rates from years ago while every associated cost has risen. Technology has offset some of it, but not by leaps and bounds.
Like any business, it is a gamble. Spin the roulette wheel and see what happens. Still a great business but it has changed. Have to adapt to those changes.

I love that set up.would drive it in a hartbeat.

 

[davekc]

New people are looking for answers without all of the negative comments.

New people also come here and ask very general questions without doing any research.

What's the best company?
How much money can I make?
What's the best truck/van?
Why can't veteran drivers explain what they are doing to make it work that will help someone new?

I enjoy helping newbies. I'm currently answering questions via private messages with a newbie to Panther. These answers are to specific questions and I try to give accurate answers. But, the nature of expediting is such that what may be applicable to a certain situation today, probably won't be tomorrow.

To paraphrase Davekc: Step up and give the giant roulette wheel a spin.

What's the best color to put my money on?
What's the best number?
Where's the best casino?
What' with those green zero things?
How much money can I make playing this?

What would Dave do? Lmao.

 

[geo]

like bus with a box on it, I saw one made into a car haul, for a local race team for Langley race track in Hampton VA
what ever company you work for need to learn system, for them to know you , and what are you able to do
at Roberts Express, FedEx Cc , plus at Ceva was go to person, if some one couldn't get it loaded and I was call in to take load or help load it. Still helping ceva for 2 more weeks then back into retirement