Thinking of giving expediting a go

[BobcatBob]

Hello, I was thinking of switching into expediting preferably starting in a cargo van and eventually moving into a straight truck and probably at some point purchasing my own. I currently drive a limo/cab in the Chicago area I keep seeing all the nice Panther and FedEx custom critical straight trucks driving around and feel that would be a better fit for me over a tractor trailer ( which is my fall back plan). With my current job after I pay vehicle lease and expenses I walk away with about $600 on a good week on a slow week I am lucky if I break even. Would similar money be a realistic expectation with a cargo van? I am use to sitting for hours between rides I understand that may change to sitting for days between loads. What would be a fair realistic expectation for wait time between loads. Would driving as a team help? As there is a guy I work with who maybe interested as well. Also would be a good company to start with I know they all very greatly I have done some research but I find it difficult to weed out disgruntled drivers who cause their own problems from it being more of a company problem.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Turtle]

Your best chance at success, and making any money, is as a straight truck team. Expediting is swamped, as in over-saturated, with cargo vans.

 

[Tobster317]

You would need experience, so teaming for 6 months would probably be better for you. Yes you can make $600 as a team if your co-driver and company are good.

 

[Tim Xpedites]

In my honest opinion, I am brand spankin NEW to the business and it has been rewarding to ME. Now thats not to say others have the same experience in it as I have up to this point (4 months in) in a cargo van. I do approximately 2000-2500 miles a week, and once doing 3000 miles. I have had a slow week where I just made over breaking even but it was at a fault of my own needing to be home for family issues. Teaming keep in mind the person you run w/ IE - smells, habits, needs are all gonna be different between the two of you, thats a HUGE reason I will never run teams nor even give it a chance less of course its your wife/girlfriend then thats obviously different & your options open up a lil'. But yes sitting sometimes can be quite the pain staking process but so long as you stay positive & understand the freight will come, you can sit for 2-3 days and feel like life is closing in on ya, bills piling up, omg what am I gonna do, then you get a nice run that pays for the sitting and a few xtra bucks in your pocket and sits you in a better freight area to give you a great chance of finishing the week strong.

 

[schwanman]

Straight truck
Team (wife / significant other)
Drive for owner 6 months - year

 

[Lawrence]

Your best chance at success, and making any money, is as a straight truck team. Expediting is swamped, as in over-saturated, with cargo vans.

I agree with Ken 100% - this is what I've been saying for the last few years. We warn people on a weekly basis on this issue - most disregard it and comeback to this forum and say's there isn't "any real opportunity in expediting".

We have data from several straight truck team drivers who DO NOT own their own trucks and they average anywhere from $800 - $1200 per driver, per week.

 

[ttruck]

as aeam we have been in tt and straight truck,we worked at Conway for a while averaged 5500 to 6000 miles a week drop and hook take home for a 10 month period was 1800.00 per driver per week we did 177000 miles in that 10 month time period did well but it was forced dispatch hatted it loved the $.

 

[M. Moy]

In my honest opinion, I am brand spankin NEW to the business and it has been rewarding to ME. Now thats not to say others have the same experience in it as I have up to this point (4 months in) in a cargo van. I do approximately 2000-2500 miles a week, and once doing 3000 miles. I have had a slow week where I just made over breaking even but it was at a fault of my own needing to be home for family issues. Teaming keep in mind the person you run w/ IE - smells, habits, needs are all gonna be different between the two of you, thats a HUGE reason I will never run teams nor even give it a chance less of course its your wife/girlfriend then thats obviously different & your options open up a lil'. But yes sitting sometimes can be quite the pain staking process but so long as you stay positive & understand the freight will come, you can sit for 2-3 days and feel like life is closing in on ya, bills piling up, omg what am I gonna do, then you get a nice run that pays for the sitting and a few xtra bucks in your pocket and sits you in a better freight area to give you a great chance of finishing the week strong.

What company do you work for ?

 

[morningwood]

me

 

[ttruck]

What company do you work for ?

I work for landstar and I have no complaints I can only think about 1 time had a problem and I don't take loads from that agent any more but on the whole no matter who you chose it will be a learning experience use your head get your sleep,stay out of the casinos and most of all be safe.ps I also work for myself