Sprinter vs semi

[igaronya]

Sprinter vs semi, money, questions, start up business

I am thinking about going the expedite route. Also the idea of a Sprinter seems a bit more relaxed to me.

I have been driving 53 foot semis for about 10 years and made some good money. Went for a while into constuction industry, but now when things are slow there, trying to get back into transportation.

The plan is to create a small business, about 5 units, but
tossing the idea of buying 53' semis or better off with Sprinter vans? Less load, no sleeper, but on the other hand no weights, logs stuff, no CDL drivers, fuel economy, purchase cost, maintenance cost.

I know I can get loads to 48 states with a 53 foot trailer, but maybe should I buy a 170" Sprinter? Pros - no weight stations or logs books sound great to me or should I buy a straight truck with a sleeper?

What will make me more money? Or at least if not significantly less but with less headache of DOT regulations.
Im used to making anywhere from 800 to 1500 a week but Im willing to work less for somethig im happy with
I like that fact its easier to park Sprinter too.

Sprinters carry less but after subtractiong all the cons maybe it would come close to the money of a semi and really be worth to buy Sprinters?

Please give me your advice between strarting a carrier company with a Sprinters or continue with a semis?

What are some of the best expedite companies to work for
I talked to Express-1 and they seem good.

Gladly appreciated,
Thanks

 

[highway star]

The standard, canned answer applies here. Spend some time researching the forum. There's a ton of info.

As to the best company, or companies, there's no specific answer. The folks here are with a wide variety of companies and are happy with them.

IMHO, you'd have to make more money with semis. But, yes, there are advantages to non-DOT regulated units.

 

[Moot]

igaronya, my reply my come across as flippant but I am being serious. Since you have construction experience I would like to ask you a question about getting started in the construction business. Please think about my question before you respond and decide if it is even remotely analogous to your Sprinter vs. Semi post.

My plan is to create a small construction business. I'm tossing around the idea of buying 5 trucks with aerial lift buckets or just buying 5 heavy duty extension ladders. What should I do?

 

[xiggi]

Baby steps. First you really want to get one truck and drive for an expedite company yourself or even better yet drive for an owner for at least six months. Without knowing what it is like out here or how the business really works your chance of being a successful fleet owner is very small. This is not like the same as driving for a normal trucking company at all. Also you left out one of the most used vehicles in the industry, the straight truck.

 

[greg334]

If I was you I would seriously think about this carefully.

Having seen the failure of a sprinter fleet and the failure of a truck fleet, the truck fleet is more apt to make any money for the amount of capital you need to have while the sprinter fleet was hard to obtain and then hard to get rid of - no one wanted to pay the prices that the owner wanted for his used vans.

Your inexperience may be the issue for credit, which you will need. If I were you, I would ditch the idea of a sprinter fleet and focus on what you know - the tractor.

Start with ONE tractor and a business plan and sign on with a good company (hint not expedite) that will keep you rolling for at least a year, then buy another one. Don't have to buy new, there are a lot of trucks out there cheap cheap cheap that can be fixed without a lot of expenses and then driven for at least two more years. When you get that second truck, get that put on with an expedite company.