Changing to cargo van, have questions

impaler · 11-17-2009, 01:10 AM

Or, at least, I might be changing to a van. Was in a straight truck until recently. The owner wasn't much into maintenance. He said he was going to run that truck into the ground. A month after he said that, it went into the ground. He's debating buying another truck or two cargo vans instead. I'd like to think he'd get a Sprinter, but he doesn't like to spend money so something more common and cheaper is more likely.

So, if he does buy cargo vans, I want to have done some research in advance. So here are my questions:

1. What vans are more beneficial or comfortable for the driver, and which should be avoided (I'm hoping to influence his decision)?

2. I know van freight is slow, but he finds his own freight and dispatches his own units. He says the checks he cuts for cargo van drivers are about $200 on a slow week and $1200 on a good week. I'll be HQd out of Chicago. I know Detroit is the place to go if you're ready for a couple days off. What areas should I avoid, or DH out right away if I find myself there?

3. Do van drivers need a medical card?

4. For years, I've heard very different stories on where and when van drivers have to log and scale. Can someone give a DEFINITIVE answer, preferably backed up by references? If you're in a state in which you have to log, do you have to be able to produce logs for the previous 7 days as well?

5. I'd like to set up the interior of the van as nice as I can. I'd prefer not to have any sort of bulkhead or permanent bunk. Does anyone have any recommendations or web sites they can recommend that show nice setups? I can get by with an inflatable mattress on the floor but I don't prefer it. Has anybody taken out the passenger seat and used the space for something else?

6. Do you buy all your showers? One guy with our company bought a gym membership and seeks out those gyms wherever he goes so he can shower there. I don't think I like that option. What do other cargo van drivers do?

TIA for the answers.

**greg334** · 11-17-2009, 11:54 AM

Do van drivers need a medical card?

Yes

**highway star** · 11-17-2009, 12:13 PM

Wouldn't that be to satisfy the insurance company? I don't think it's legally required as they aren't commercial vehicles. There are small companies that don't require that or a DOT on the van.

**LDB** · 11-17-2009, 12:28 PM

If you buy fuel at Flying J you get 1/2 shower credit with 15 gallons. If you buy 15.1 gallons per purchase you maximize your shower credits and you also maximize your effective discount per gallon as well.

**Doggie Daddy** · 11-17-2009, 03:12 PM

Why would you want to stay with an owner who 'wasn't much into maintenance" ?

**DannyD** · 11-17-2009, 03:49 PM

Hope this can help some.

Originally Posted by impaler

Or, at least, I might be changing to a van. Was in a straight truck until recently. The owner wasn't much into maintenance. He said he was going to run that truck into the ground. A month after he said that, it went into the ground. He's debating buying another truck or two cargo vans instead. I'd like to think he'd get a Sprinter, but he doesn't like to spend money so something more common and cheaper is more likely.

So, if he does buy cargo vans, I want to have done some research in advance. So here are my questions:

1. What vans are more beneficial or comfortable for the driver, and which should be avoided (I'm hoping to influence his decision)?

Comfort is subjective. I personally found the Sprinter to be about as comfortable as Fred Flintstone's car. Some people like it though. I think the Ford's are pretty comfy, but again that's just an opinion.

2. I know van freight is slow, but he finds his own freight and dispatches his own units. He says the checks he cuts for cargo van drivers are about $200 on a slow week and $1200 on a good week. I'll be HQd out of Chicago. I know Detroit is the place to go if you're ready for a couple days off. What areas should I avoid, or DH out right away if I find myself there?

I'd think each company is different in terms of freight lanes. Michigan was brutal for my last company. My new one says there's plenty of freight out of here. This isn't in stone, but as a general rule of thumb I'd like to stay east of the Mississippi. I'd at least try west of it w/ your new company though, until you know for sure.

3. Do van drivers need a medical card?

For most companies I'd think they would. Not all of em require it though.

4. For years, I've heard very different stories on where and when van drivers have to log and scale. Can someone give a DEFINITIVE answer, preferably backed up by references? If you're in a state in which you have to log, do you have to be able to produce logs for the previous 7 days as well?

You have to scale at the places where it says "All Commercial Vehicles". Ky is like that. Any other state I can't tell ya.

5. I'd like to set up the interior of the van as nice as I can. I'd prefer not to have any sort of bulkhead or permanent bunk. Does anyone have any recommendations or web sites they can recommend that show nice setups? I can get by with an inflatable mattress on the floor but I don't prefer it. Has anybody taken out the passenger seat and used the space for something else?

Sorry I can't help. I'm sort of in the same boat you are here. So if ya do find a site, please report back. On the passenger seat Q, no I haven't but that's a good idea. A small fridge would fit nicely there.

6. Do you buy all your showers? One guy with our company bought a gym membership and seeks out those gyms wherever he goes so he can shower there. I don't think I like that option. What do other cargo van drivers do?

Flying J has half showers for 15 gallons. 30 gallons will get ya a free shower. But if I had to buy my shower outright, I'd prolly just get a hotel room anytime I could get one for under $30. There's a few other factors in here, like if it's 5PM or 2AM & some things like that. I def. want my showers. I think $10 is a bit steep for one though.

TIA for the answers.

**greg334** · 11-17-2009, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by highway star

Wouldn't that be to satisfy the insurance company? I don't think it's legally required as they aren't commercial vehicles. There are small companies that don't require that or a DOT on the van.

Depending on who you work for, the medical is part of the package. The big boys require it and if the CSA 2010 hits some of these little carriers, then they will also have to deal with it. So I said yes

impaler · 11-17-2009, 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by Doggie Daddy

Why would you want to stay with an owner who 'wasn't much into maintenance" ?

That may be mostly due to the truck itself. It had about 1.5 million on the odometer. Hard to say for sure because the odometer was stuck at 575000. It wasn't worth sinking much money into.

**chefdennis** · 11-17-2009, 06:33 PM

Ok lets see here:

1. What vans are more beneficial or comfortable for the driver, and which should be avoided (I'm hoping to influence his decision)?

I have a 05 extended wheelbase GMC 1ton...that gives me the ability to haul 3000 lbs, and the long wheelbase helps in ride quality...but as was said, comfort is sublective, and you will see that i have to be comfortable as this goes on

2. I know van freight is slow, but he finds his own freight and dispatches his own units. He says the checks he cuts for cargo van drivers are about $200 on a slow week and $1200 on a good week. I'll be HQd out of Chicago. I know Detroit is the place to go if you're ready for a couple days off. What areas should I avoid, or DH out right away if I find myself there?

Each carrier has spots that are good for them, you can sit in one area for 3 days while another carrier will run 3-4 CV a day thru that same place, its up to you to learn where your carrier works the best...

3. Do van drivers need a medical card?

I think most do stictly for an insurance standpoint..but i do know of 2 that don't require anything other then you, a van, and your ability to saty awake...not sayin I'd drive for them, but they are out there..

4. For years, I've heard very different stories on where and when van drivers have to log and scale. Can someone give a DEFINITIVE answer, preferably backed up by references? If you're in a state in which you have to log, do you have to be able to produce logs for the previous 7 days as well?

Fla. has a few AG inspection stations, and
i have heard Ala, and Ky males you scale...i have never scaled anywhere and i do not carry a log book either...

5. I'd like to set up the interior of the van as nice as I can. I'd prefer not to have any sort of bulkhead or permanent bunk. Does anyone have any recommendations or web sites they can recommend that show nice setups? I can get by with an inflatable mattress on the floor but I don't prefer it. Has anybody taken out the passenger seat and used the space for something else?

No website, but i can tell you it ain't that hard. when i decided to do this, the one thing i demanded was that i was comfortable. Yes I pulled the pass seat and built a cabinet that has a small frig / freezier. microwave, dvd/vcr player, TV, and alarm clock mounted in it and on it. I also have 4000 watts of inverters mounted o it and they are powered by 2 6 volt golf cart batteries mounted in the pass seat area footwell. I also have a laptop stand mounted to the floor using the lt ft pass seat mounting bolt.

I insulated the whole cargo area with foil backed bubble insulation. the area right behind the seat going back roughly 4 ft is also insulated with "blue" 3/4 in foam board insulation and that is covered with 3/16" luann plywood. I nstalled a 3/4" x 5'8" x 38 inch piece of plywood that was cut the full length at 18 ins and a piano hinge was installed. I use a twin size air matterss on the board, oh the board sits on top of 2"x10" boards that run the length od the van and are screwed to the insode of the wheelwells. I have a "Big Buddy" propane heater, a 12,000 btu portable room AC unit that runs off of a 2000 watt generator.

The reason for the piano hinge on the board for the bed, is that i can fold that up and still 110 inchs of cargo floor length.

Oh i have aslo installed a "MaxxAire" root vent. And i use a heavy quilt over a shower curtain rod to seperate the cargo area from the area i sleep in..that us about to change as i am having a "tarp" guy make a snap in insulated curtain that will seal to the walls, ceiling, and floor, and can be simply unsnapped and taken down when i need to.

I do need to install a bit more and better "lighting" and i am also going to cover the wood walls with in door and out door carpet asap and will then be installing a flatscreen TV/DVD on the wall and doing away with the one on the cabinet, and i will also be cutting down the height of the cabunet then also. Food and misc "stuff" is stored under the bed and along the side walls in the back.

6. Do you buy all your showers? One guy with our company bought a gym membership and seeks out those gyms wherever he goes so he can shower there. I don't think I like that option. What do other cargo van drivers do?

I also have a Max "Y" memberships and i use it from time to time, but i buy my gas as much as possible at Flyin J and get the shower credits there...its never been an issue..

So there you go, hope that helps....Oh, one more thing, i also pulled the factory drivers seat and added a Conversion Van "Captains Chair"... a bit more padding and a bit more "comfortable"...

**Jack_Berry** · 11-20-2009, 12:16 PM

setting up your van.....read the archives. lots of posted pix and explanations.

**fastrod** · 11-20-2009, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by greg334

Do van drivers need a medical card?

Yes

According to federal regulations a van driver does not need a medical card or a cdl unless they are hauling hazmat or transporting 16 or more passengers including the driver.

**OntarioVanMan** · 11-20-2009, 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by fastrod

According to federal regulations a van driver does not need a medical card or a cdl unless they are hauling hazmat or transporting 16 or more passengers including the driver.

Laws mean nothing...

Most major carriers require a DOT check up....mostly it is the insurance companies wanting it...

**BillChaffey** · 11-20-2009, 06:37 PM

In regards to your question on how to outfit a Van. I would think it's best to drive for awhile, make sure you like it before spending money on a class A suite that you may be out of in a few weeks or months.

**guido4475** · 11-29-2009, 09:09 PM

Sorry if I sound too harsh here, but I think I would be looking for another owner, one who peferably knows how to maintain equipment in the first place.If he doesnt maintain his equipment on a regular basis, wait till he gets a Sprinter and see what happens when one of those are not maintained on a regular basis..ouch !!

impaler · 11-29-2009, 10:17 PM

He has other Sprinters. Only problem I know of is a guy who rolled one.

Originally Posted by guido4475

Sorry if I sound too harsh here, but I think I would be looking for another owner, one who peferably knows how to maintain equipment in the first place.If he doesnt maintain his equipment on a regular basis, wait till he gets a Sprinter and see what happens when one of those are not maintained on a regular basis..ouch !!