Looking to get started in Expediter Work

Do you really think you are getting a good return on investment with a couple of trucks ?
I'm retiring in a couple of years and thought of teaming with my wife in a straight truck for a couple of years and then just becoming a fleet owner with 2 or 3 trucks . The revenue seems to have dropped from what it once was though

 

I was in this about 20 years ago, just got back into in 2011 and the rates are about the same, believe it or not. That said, yes, you can make money....you won't get rich, but I got into it to supplement retirement a bit. Driving yourself you can do very well if you don't mind living on the road...some of these things are practically rv's these days, so not a bad way to travel. Two biggest things are which company you go with and the truck you end up with. I had one truck bleed me all of last year (don't get an '08 was the lesson I learned, with the dpf systems that they had not figured out yet). Once you get a driver or two in your truck, then they become the most important component of the business....they can make you or break you, too. So, while nothing is guaranteed, you can make some additional money and driving yourself, see the country, too. It is a lifestyle choice, I think, at least the driving part of it.

 

Hey Tenn Trucker,

Maybe you could address the above question for me too please? Except I live in central FL. Want to drive a ST...similar to yours. Drive at first for a fleet owner, six months or so...til I learn the biz. Then buy my own, yes? And yes I can stay out 3 weeks. Any suggestions? Spoke to Load One, but they didn't like my location or lack of expediter experience. BTW, I've been OTR for 12 years in a TT, but not expediting yet. Thanks!

 

Florida and the west coast are too bad areas. FedEx has their operations tied up with regional operators in both and the real money is made east of ol' miss. The best of any and all of expediting is with tractor trailer drivers, they take everything from that high rate per mile single skid to a truck load of stuff for the customer.

As far as where you live, it does matter. A lot of companies like FedEx, Panther and Load-1 will take that in account because if you live in Miami (example) and your truck is in North Carolina, they may not want to take the chance of you getting to it tomorrow when they have a customer who needs something moved and your truck is the only one in the area or within 200 miles.

 

Well that's sort of true. FedEx has regional drivers/owners who run the coast and they do a lot of this work. The best thing on the west coast is flexibility and the only way you get that is with a tractor. The one thing that those who think FedEx is a great company is that they have a large selection of trucks in any given area plus 3pl carriers who take their freight so even if you think you are the only truck say near Napa and there is a load there, you may not even get a call.