There are no taxes to pay in a cargo van Greg. After I write off my mileage and per diem, I end up with a negative income. As far as running an older van is concerned, it is the only way to go. I just bought a 2004 cargo van with little over 100k miles on it, there are no oil leaks, no mechanical problems, and it just passed smog test in California with flying colors. The best way to operate as a cargo van deiver is to have no payment. It makes the slower periods easier to weather.
So lets say you make 4k a month and you are driving 5k paid miles at an average of 80 cents per mile and another 1k of deadhead. You get 15 miles to the gallon on average, which is 450 miles on a 30 gallon tank, considering you are driving a gasser. So it takes 5 tanks of gas to go 2200 miles and you will be driving 6k miles a month. So we will round it to 15 fill ups at 2.50 a gallon average which is 75 times 15, wich is 1125 dollars for fuel every month. Bobtail insurance will run you around 60 a month, 100 a month for unlimited nationwide cell service, another 35 plus 25 a week for qualcomm and personal injury insurance which will be another 240 a month. That is 1,465 dollars a month, plus 100 bucks a week for food on the road, 300 a month for oil changes and basic maintenance, and lets say another 200 a month for deadheading home or idling the van to stay warm or cool. That makes your total monthly expenses 2,365 dollars minus 4k, which leaves you with a net profit of 1,635 dollars.
Those are conservative numbers, and they are completely attainable. You might only make 2k one month and 6k another month, so you gotta average your numbers out over a years time. You will also have to deduct your fixed operating expenses when you take time off. Lets say you decide to take January off, you still have to pay 240 a month for QC and personal injury insurance, 100 for cell, and 60 for bobtail insurance. So at any given time, whether you are working or taking time off, your fixed operating expenses will be around 400 a month. Now if you were to add a 350 dollar van payment on top of these fixed expenses, your monthly average net income would be 1,285 bucks. You can still do better than this, but this is the reality you're looking at here.
I did a lot of one way trips last year; leave home in Los Angeles, Deliver in San Frincisco, turn right back around and drive home empty. But I was making over a dollar a mile. I also spent 6 weeks on the road and ended up piecing together 10k in savings after expenses. That was with putting all new brakes, rotors, tune up, all new tires, and other maintenance to the van. You can make more than a minimum wage schmuck in a cargo van, but you will work longer hours to get it. It all depends on what you need to earn. I can do well on 1600- 1700 a month after expenses. I just save it all in the bank and it is there when I need it.
Any how, I hope this helps you out. Also, your rate per mile may be more around 85-90 cents per mile depending on who you lease on with. If you want some real info about different companies and other ways to operate outside the box, just semd me a pm and I will give you my number. Good luck man.