Box Truck or Van/Serious replies needed...

[ds1450]

Last question of the week. I have done the math, figured CPM for both, fuel milage and current/expected costs, maintainance etc and it's almost a wash.

Truck will make more money but I am stuck with HOS rules and more paperwork.

Van makes a bit less for the same miles but no HOS, better tax break and I can drive the wheels off of it and nobody complains.

I am a single driver...(Will never, ever team again) I will get a 65/35 split and only have to pay for fuel and tolls. Out 3 weeks, home for 3-5 days.

I can base either at my home. Both owners will not micro manage me, allowing me to make all decisions on the truck.

I am leaning toward the van because I can get more miles (more time)
and if I have to dead head home, the cost is 1/2 that of a truck.

Your opinion is needed... I did this last winter and took the summer off and I am ready to go out again...

Thanks

David

 

[FIS53]

I used to run a truck years back but have been in a van for the last 10. Personally I prefer the van and have had some good years making over $2000 per week. Costs were a factor to me in making the decision originally.
With the vans I've been getting home more and maintenance is a lot easier to accomplish when on down time. I can also take the van shopping as the truck is hard to park (hehehe) at Wal Mart.
It is a hard decision so choose carefully. I have seen the van side be much worse for the drivers than the truck side on several occasions in the last 5 years.
The company your going with and the amount of work they have will matter greatly as well as a practice up here of over hiring vans to service at a high level (reduces available calls).
I have found in the vans that attitude and showing the dispatchers you're willingness to work and the desire for a decent income (show them you want the money, don't just say it SHOW IT) will help a lot to a decent income.
If your good and your dispatchers like you and want to use your van you can keep working even in the slow periods and do ok.
We had a slow summer this year and I still made 5000 a month easy. But in order to offset I worked more hours and did the crap calls (funny thing though still doing them, but making money still).
Hope this helps, any questions e-mail [email protected] I run deisel vans as the fuel is cheaper than gas and i go further on a tank.
Fis