Time to quit lurking and ask ?'s

semi_crazy

Expert Expediter
Been reading and studying this stuff for awhile and have decided to come out of the closet and ask some questions.

I currently drive over the road as a company driver. I average about 3000 - 3500 miles per week, running solo. I have been doing this for over 5 years now. I have been eyeballing the little B units and have thought it would be interesting to give the expediting lifestyle a try, and would like to solicite yall's opnion on my particular situation.

I live in Arkansas about hour outside of Little Rock (definatly off the beaten path for expedite work, i know). I'm about 20 miles south of I40 betwen Little Rock and Memphis. I'm not interested in moving anywhere so I'm stuck with this bad location.

What I would like to do is start off in a B unit and stay out 3-4 weeks and then come home for about a week. I would drive as many miles as I can during those weeks out. I would consider upgrading to a C unit later on, but I think I know where I can get me a cheap B thats in good shape (2000 model so it shouldn't be too hard to lease it on somewhere) so I would like to start with that.

So what I would like to know is this:
1) How many miles per week could I reasonably expect to do on average?
2) What is your best questimation for the average cost per mile on a B unit? While I'm asking how about a C unit?
3) Just how hard do you think it would be to get loads back to the general area where I live when its time to go home, or would I have to deadhead a long way to get here?
4) What areas near where I live would I most likely have to travel to to get loads after I been home for a while?
6) Is there a busy and slow seasons for this type of work and if so when is it?
5) I keep seeing people complain about a B unit not having a TV, not being able to stand up, and no place for extra clothes. I understand the not standing up part, but what's up with the TV and clothes? Seems to me you can just yank the pasanger seat out and create a space to keep an ice chest and TV for virtually no money. Am I missing something here?
6) Final question: I average between 40K and 50K now, working the way I have described would I be taking a pay cut (and how much) to start doing this kind of work or would it stay about the same or go up? (that would be Gross revenue - expenses but before taxes and assuming the van is paid for)

I am not expecting hard and true numbers to any of these questions, I would just like to have your best estimations. If you need some information I have not listed, please make some assumptions and list what those assumptions are.

Thank you for being patient with us newbies and our questions.
 

teacel

Veteran Expediter
Charter Member
To give you a start on getting some answers is to look at the past posts in the archives. A lot of your questions will get answered just by reading those.

The 2000 van is not a good investment because most companies require a van be replaced every 4 or 5 years. This van will put limits on who you can drive for. the miles -- 1500 to 2500 a week.

It shouldn't be hard getting a load to your area.

A company requirement is to leave the jump seat in place. I don't know why, but it has something to do with testing the vans. I guess if you wanted to pull it out who would be the wiser?
 
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