What's best for the solo driver: Van of Striaght Truck?
- Thread starter chada75
- Start date
Leaving the money out of it, it's still a matter of preference, assuming one is qualified to drive either.
A straight truck is more comfortable, but the tradeoff is that it won't go places a van can, like the drive through windows.
A straight truck is eligible for more loads, because it can handle a vanload, (I have one onboard right now) but the driver must log, and is subject to HOS and scales.
A straight truck is limited to fueling at specific places, but the drivers can literally 'look down on' 4 wheelers, lol. (Doesn't do much for me, but some of the guys enjoy it very much)
A straight truck has room for much more of the 'comforts of home', but when you go home, it won't fit in your driveway, most likely, so you have to shlep the comforts to & from wherever it's parked instead.
It's all according to what you prefer to deal with every day, but in general, if you want to go home more often, a van makes it easier. If you can stay out for long periods, a straight truck makes it more comfortable. (There are exceptions - some vans are pretty nice, I know).
And if you tend to 'job hop' - the stickers come off a van a lot easier....
A straight truck is more comfortable, but the tradeoff is that it won't go places a van can, like the drive through windows.
A straight truck is eligible for more loads, because it can handle a vanload, (I have one onboard right now) but the driver must log, and is subject to HOS and scales.
A straight truck is limited to fueling at specific places, but the drivers can literally 'look down on' 4 wheelers, lol. (Doesn't do much for me, but some of the guys enjoy it very much)
A straight truck has room for much more of the 'comforts of home', but when you go home, it won't fit in your driveway, most likely, so you have to shlep the comforts to & from wherever it's parked instead.
It's all according to what you prefer to deal with every day, but in general, if you want to go home more often, a van makes it easier. If you can stay out for long periods, a straight truck makes it more comfortable. (There are exceptions - some vans are pretty nice, I know).
And if you tend to 'job hop' - the stickers come off a van a lot easier....
Good analogy...cheri....
Being a vanner for almost 8 years ya know where my vote goes...admittedly I've been in some of them "BIG" bunk trucks...very nice...sweet!! But if your only going to be a driver don't expect more then a common 72" bunk...and minimum comforts....If your with a carrier that watches your every movement the HOS is a BIG draw back....
I"ve seen some pay stubs of the C's and D's and I am not impressed...considering thier expenses in relatonship to mine. Some runs look to be big payers but it's more common for a solo to run 100-500 mile runs..runs that can be achieved within the limitations of the HOS. Some carriers in dead areas will offer van runs to the big guys and go around the vans sitting there...so thats a plus I suppose to a C-D....
Being a vanner for almost 8 years ya know where my vote goes...admittedly I've been in some of them "BIG" bunk trucks...very nice...sweet!! But if your only going to be a driver don't expect more then a common 72" bunk...and minimum comforts....If your with a carrier that watches your every movement the HOS is a BIG draw back....
I"ve seen some pay stubs of the C's and D's and I am not impressed...considering thier expenses in relatonship to mine. Some runs look to be big payers but it's more common for a solo to run 100-500 mile runs..runs that can be achieved within the limitations of the HOS. Some carriers in dead areas will offer van runs to the big guys and go around the vans sitting there...so thats a plus I suppose to a C-D....
60MPH
Expert Expediter
OVM wrote- Some carriers in dead areas will offer van runs to the big guys and go around the vans sitting there...so thats a plus I suppose to a C-D....
Well I ain't never!!!! "said in a sarcastic voice"
my vote is for a van I am single and have been out here in a van since late 1999. And I make it with no problem at all
Well I ain't never!!!! "said in a sarcastic voice"
my vote is for a van I am single and have been out here in a van since late 1999. And I make it with no problem at all
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
I just put together a van setup for a solo driver WITH the comfort items, dorm room size frig, mirco wave, 13" TV, DVD player, Direct TV Dish, Laptop on a "Ram" Stand, XM Radio, Twin side ned that folds out of the way and gives me all the orginal cargo floor and I only lost 250 lbs in freight capacity, I can still do 2700 lbs ( the van scaled at 5860 with me and all i added and a half a tank of gas.
A van works for me........
Oh its a 1 ton extended body GMC 9600 lb gvw chassis, with the passenger seat removed and a cabinet built to hold everything. It all runs off of 2 700 cca batteries and a 3000 watt inverter connected to a battery isolator.
I am home out of service this week due to a committment with one of my other businesses, and will be insulating the area i "lougne and sleep" in ( lay back there and watch TV or a movie) and will also be adding a "Mr Heater Big Buddy Heater" ,come spring I will be adding a 12 volt roof top AC unit to cool "my area" and will also add a 3rd battery and also switch all 3 batteries to "jel" type instead of the acid batteries I am using now.
As I said, a Van works for me, but then I don't do this to pay my household bills either..........but i still don't see any reason a person can't make good money doing this as long as they are ok with working hard and are hooked up with a company that will get you a fair amount of freight.....
A van works for me........
Oh its a 1 ton extended body GMC 9600 lb gvw chassis, with the passenger seat removed and a cabinet built to hold everything. It all runs off of 2 700 cca batteries and a 3000 watt inverter connected to a battery isolator.
I am home out of service this week due to a committment with one of my other businesses, and will be insulating the area i "lougne and sleep" in ( lay back there and watch TV or a movie) and will also be adding a "Mr Heater Big Buddy Heater" ,come spring I will be adding a 12 volt roof top AC unit to cool "my area" and will also add a 3rd battery and also switch all 3 batteries to "jel" type instead of the acid batteries I am using now.
As I said, a Van works for me, but then I don't do this to pay my household bills either..........but i still don't see any reason a person can't make good money doing this as long as they are ok with working hard and are hooked up with a company that will get you a fair amount of freight.....