2 solo drivers one Van

mouse549 · Nov 14, 2009

Hello Drivers,

A Buddy of mine and I have a Cargo Van and we were thinking of driving it one at a time, so the Van would hardly ever be unavailable. We each could be out a week at a time and switch. Do companies allow this and does this sound like a doable plan?
Also, any suggestions would be helpful. We are unable to Team.

Thanx

OntarioVanMan · Nov 14, 2009

mouse495 said:
Hello Drivers,

A Buddy of mine and I have a Cargo Van and we were thinking of driving it one at a time, so the Van would hardly ever be unavailable. We each could be out a week at a time and switch. Do companies allow this and does this sound like a doable plan?
Also, any suggestions would be helpful. We are unable to Team.

Thanx

What happens at the end of the week and one is say 600 miles away..are you going to DH back to make the switch?
It is doable if you stay close...but that will limit your flexibility.
A great deal also depends on eachs monitary needs as well...

letzrockexpress · Nov 14, 2009

OntarioVanMan said:
What happens at the end of the week and one is say 600 miles away..are you going to DH back to make the switch?
It is doable if you stay close...but that will limit your flexibility.
A great deal also depends on eachs monitary needs as well...

It can be done. I know a group of 3 friends who used to switch off being a team in straight truck with each other. Flexibility is the key. If you made a specific time frame such as the week you suggest to switch, deadhead is likely to be an issue. If you and the other person were a little more flexible and were willing to go with the flow, switching off when closer to home, it could work, but both of you would have to be awfully understanding of the fact that when getting loads, one week can be really good and the next really bad. In my opinion animosity would likely rear it's ugly head.

OntarioVanMan · Nov 14, 2009

letzrockexpress said:
It can be done. I know a group of 3 friends who used to switch off being a team in straight truck with each other. Flexibility is the key. If you made a specific time frame such as the week you suggest to switch, deadhead is likely to be an issue. If you and the other person were a little more flexible and were willing to go with the flow, switching off when closer to home, it could work, but both of you would have to be awfully understanding of the fact that when getting loads, one week can be really good and the next really bad. In my opinion animosity would likely rear it's ugly head.

Oh it CAN be done.....but I see more negatives then plusess?

letzrockexpress · Nov 14, 2009

OntarioVanMan said:
Oh it CAN be done.....but I see more negatives then plusess?

Oh yeah, I was just trying to turn a frown upside down!

Crazynuff · Nov 14, 2009

I just hope both drivers have other sources of income while they are out of the van . Spending half the time in the van results in half the income .

greg334 · Nov 14, 2009

Sorry but no it can't be and shouldn't be.

It is easier to use the van for local delivery than to try to share a van like this.

If you are inclined to do this work, just buy a van.

letzrockexpress · Nov 14, 2009

greg334 said:
Sorry but no it can't be and shouldn't be.

It is easier to use the van for local delivery than to try to share a van like this.

If you are inclined to do this work, just buy a van.

I agree it shouldn't be but it definitely can be done.

LDB · Nov 14, 2009

Expediting is an A to B to C to D to E to F to G to C to H to I to J to K to F to L to D to who knows where. Presuming you live in/near A you may or may not be anywhere near A when it's time to make the switch.

greg334 · Nov 14, 2009

LDB said:
Expediting is an A to B to C to D to E to F to G to C to H to I to J to K to F to L to D to who knows where. Presuming you live in/near A you may or may not be anywhere near A when it's time to make the switch.

Leo, thanks - That's why it can't be done.

fastrod · Nov 15, 2009

LDB said:
Expediting is an A to B to C to D to E to F to G to C to H to I to J to K to F to L to D to who knows where.

Not for me. Expediting for me is A to B and back to A every time. So yes it can be done if you really want to do it that way.

LDB · Nov 15, 2009

The tomatoe/tomatoe debate. A-B-A would be hotshot not expedite in my lexicon. Not knowing the next destination is key to expediting vs. anything else for me. A-B-A without having to wait a week or two to set it up with Hunt/Swift/Werner etc. isn't so much expediting as it is general trucking in a bigger hurry. That's in no way to minimize what anyone does, just an expression of my viewpoint of expediting.