Required startup cash for Cargo Van? TriState?

Okay I'm new to this as a Trucker trying to get into Expedite Cargo Van with a fleet owner under Tri-State. It's a different world as an Independent Contractor but I think I'm getting it figured out.

I have about $600 cash available for expenses and my credit card which I hope to not use.

My understanding is I should be setup with a Fuel Card that has money on it coming from the Customer Fuel Surcharge to keep rolling. Otherwise the rest is my own misc road expenses like food.

I'm sure this has been gone over before but I keep having these weird circular conversations on the phone with fleet owner about it. I mean $600 doesn't sound that great for a few weeks but I've stretched money before while trucking. I think I've managed to make it through a week on $125 before.

Otherwise I have one local job lead through a Staffing agency or I get in a Semitruck again. The local economy here is really bad.

 

Thanks for the info. It seems like a strange business sometimes as I try to learn about it.

Did you run for a fleet owner or did you have your own Van?

 

Okay been thinking about it and I'm going to try rolling with Tri-State. I'm in a really bad area of Michigan and the economy has totally tanked here. Tried for months to find a decent local job and couldn't make it work.

I'm tired of big trucks so I'll see how this Cargo Van works out. Hoping easy access to more stores will save money by avoiding truck stop prices.

 

Started in mid-July. From what I've experienced you can get started with a few hundred dollars plus an emergency credit card and try to live cheap. With a Comdata Card to advance for fuel and a little extra to contribute toward meals it worked out.

I'm finally at the point where I feel like I'm getting established and feeling more comfortable with this financially and I got my first decent paycheck and settlement showing expenses, advances, and that yes I still having earnings after paying for all that gas and tolls.

 

This is a very unusual job but it's only been just over a month. It's really hard to tell how this is going.

I get the feeling that most of my pay will be mediocre but on average every 4th check will be high. I've had some $250 and one over $900.