Van to Straight Truck or ST to Van?

[DannyD]

Hi,

Have any of ya's went from a van to a straight truck or vice versa? If so, what aspects of the switch are ya happy w/ & which things did ya enjoy more in the previous vehicle?

Some of the common ones I can imagine (don't like logs, HOS, like how a van rides more, etc) but I'm thinking there's things I'm not considering & who better to ask than someone who's been in both?

I'm asking this because I'm working towards getting a straight truck. I've always enjoyed the driving (except for the occasional blizzard or what have ya) but hated the sitting. I'm thinking if I drove for someone, I might make less in a ST than my own van, but I'd enjoy it more.

Anyway, any thoughts ya might have on what ya liked & didn't care for on each type of vehicle would be appreciated.

Thanx & be safe.

 

[moose]

'

I'm asking this because I'm working towards getting a straight truck. .

I'm thinking if I drove for someone, ... .
.

"That's the way to do it ,
money for nothing & chick's for free..."

 

[guido4475]

Hi,

Have any of ya's went from a van to a straight truck or vice versa? If so, what aspects of the switch are ya happy w/ & which things did ya enjoy more in the previous vehicle?

Some of the common ones I can imagine (don't like logs, HOS, like how a van rides more, etc) but I'm thinking there's things I'm not considering & who better to ask than someone who's been in both?

I'm asking this because I'm working towards getting a straight truck. I've always enjoyed the driving (except for the occasional blizzard or what have ya) but hated the sitting. I'm thinking if I drove for someone, I might make less in a ST than my own van, but I'd enjoy it more.

Anyway, any thoughts ya might have on what ya liked & didn't care for on each type of vehicle would be appreciated.

Thanx & be safe.

I still have my straight truck, which I cannot seem to sell, after 4 months, for the bargain basement price of 13,000 so it will end up going back soon.

I got out of the straight truck and ito a van for many reasons.

1-Cheaper and easier maintenance,more of which I can do myself.trans,engine replacements I have the proper tools to do as far as an engine rebuild. Class 8 straight truck I am not capable of doing this.

2-Cheaper to go home on a friday if freight seems slow, therefore giving me the hometime I have been desperately missing for the last 5 years.I was actually home 6 times in 3 years.My fault, not the straight trucks,but if it was cheaper and more affordable to go home, as in a van, I would of been home more.

3-More enjoyable driving a van, it makes waiting for a load more enjoyable as far as there are so many more things and places to go to and do in a van.no hassles with people not wanting a straight truck in their lot.I do love this aspect of a van.

4-fuel mileage-19mpg is alot better than 8 on a good day.

5- revenue compare the fact that in the end I was getting over 50% van freight in a 10-wheeler at $1.10 a mile, when I am hauling van freight in a van for .85 cpm.There is a .25 cpm difference here, but the difference in expenses is far more greater in a s/t.One thing that helps is the van is paid for, where the truck is not.

6-The one big downfall to a van is the fact I built a 30" sleeper behind the seats, with a permanent bulkhead,therefore limiting my space for sleeping, but it does work.and I can find alot more places to park at that are quiet in a truckstop versus in a straight truck.

7-Another downfall is that there seems to be alot more less van freight, supposedly.But when I was in a straight truck hauling van freight,there was plenty of it. My company has yet been able to give me a complete and accurate answer to this.

8-A van comes in so much more handy at the house, especially if it has a hitch on it.

9-overall costs difference is huge.Ins, plates,oil changes, maint, etc.

10-parking at the house is alot easier. Even though I live in the country,Getting here is not easy or very truck freindly. alot of steep hills/grades to go down, narrow bridges going over rivers/creeks with weight limits, etc.

11- these are just a few of the many reasons why I went to a van from a straight truck. I hope this helps.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

7-Another downfall is that there seems to be alot more less van freight, supposedly.But when I was in a straight truck hauling van freight,there was plenty of it. My company has yet been able to give me a complete and accurate answer to this.

The answer I get most often is...."It had to be dock level"


Guido...don't you also find you don't usually have to wait for a dock to open up? You get unloaded/loaded quicker?

 

[guido4475]

The answer I get most often is...."It had to be dock level"


Guido...don't you also find you don't usually have to wait for a dock to open up? You get unloaded/loaded quicker?

The dock level thing-I actually kept track of that, at both ends,as to if it was cargo van freindly,and went as far as to ask the guy if i was in a van, could you of unloaded it here? and many replies to that question was, "a van is what I asked for in the first place!!"

But it is cool getting unloaded so quick, yes it is.Record time.One consignee I was delivering to I called to let him








know I was going to be there early, is this a problem? He said no, as long as you bring the doughnuts.So I stopped and got a dozen and he about fell over when I walked in with a dozen."I was only kidding! he said." We got a good laugh out of that.

 

[moose]

Just an observation here DD :

one of the first steps of being an O/O is answering the question :
where will the freight come from ?

once you figure it out , you buy the best tool for the job.(some will say that you will be better off driving for an owner first...)

go back to your carrier of choice , and find out if they have more freight to put on a truck then on a van. and what the rates are.
see if you can fit it into a realistic business plan that will work in the real world.
don't trade a wolf for a tiger.

 

[Dakota]

Straight trucks will beat you up going over bumps.
I think class 8 trucks ride nicer or at least have air ride cab

 

[FIS53]

I have both vehicles. I don't get many van or other small calls with the s/t as I usually only have it sent on appropriate calls. This means better money per mile and less of the lower priced calls. The an for me has been the main vehicle of choice for the last 15 years. I've made money with them and the freedom as Guido mentioned is great. I love sailing past the scales and no logs etc. I love being able to stop at any lake that has a little access road I can use and park in nearly any spot (I like fishing or at least the relaxed sitting at the lakes)
even at the truckstops.
Yes the maint and other costs are lower on a van but you also usually do not make the same money as the straights do. There are advantages an disadvantages to both. So the compromise would be a Sprinter or something that allows for little larger loads but still allows the freedom of a van.
Rob

 

[cheri1122]

I've done both, and as Leo says, it's just a matter of deciding which 'warts' you can live with.
The van is claustrophobic and lacks the power and facilities for meal prep, if you'd rather do your own [I would].
The truck requires logging, HOS compliance, waiting in line for fuel, constant awareness of potential limits [height/weight restrictions, 'no truck' signs, etc], and sometimes searching for a parking spot.
It's just a personal preference - if you're solo, the income isn't that much different after subtracting expenses, usually.

 

[DannyD]

Some great things to think about. The claustrophobia thing is a good way to put it about the vans. Income, I don't need a ton. My van will be paid off tomorrow & after that I'll need less than $1,000/month to live on. I wouldn't get into a truck that had a $1500 payment. My absolute max would be $500. Even then I'd like it lower. I realize that's going to limit what kind of truck I can eventually get, but if things don't go as planned, I'm not buried. If things go well, then I can pay mostly cash for the 2nd truck.

I agree that working for an owner is the way to go at first. The exception there would be if the ST was less $$ to get than a van when it comes time to replace my current van. Overall though, I def. think working for someone would be the way to go.

As it stands now, I'm in the gathering information stage. I don't even have my CDL yet so it's not like I'm doing this tomorrow. I need to get back on the road & kind of get a feel for what I want out there. Also I need to get a feel for what the company's need too. These replies gave me some things to consider.

Guido, that list definately helped. Moose, the idea of asking my company (companies) is also a pretty good idea. It makes sense to know they even need a ST before getting one.

In a ST getting home wouldn't be that important. In a van it is. So then it becomes what are the trade offs? A slew of things are going thru my mind right now. Thanx all for the input.

 

[moose]

and get a Haz Mat while you making a go for the CDL thing...
O'h yah , and that grand a month is a realistic goal eider way...

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Hey now...without a bulkhead and when empty I have 13 feet of living space! Almost twice as much room as an 84in sleeper in a straight truck....

 

[morningstar55ny]

i thought of a van several times.....
but when im having to sit...... and play the waiting game.
I enjoy my space.,.. and being comfy heh.....
the rest is well....... something i just deal with.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

i thought of a van several times.....
but when im having to sit...... and play the waiting game.
I enjoy my space.,.. and being comfy heh.....
the rest is well....... something i just deal with.

And if ya drove a Sprinter you'd have minimum 13 feet to walk upright and 5 feet side to side.... more room then you have now....unless you have one of them whoopers of 96in.