thinking about a career in expediting

Stay in school, get that degree and then think about it. This isn't as great a life as people make it out as and too many fail to make even basic income to support themselves. If you establish yourself in a career and take a couple years off to try it, great but don't do it with a future in front of you or the chance of losing your opportunity to become a bit more stable in your life.

 

You are in a decent area for Expediting in WI. I am trying to get into it living in the Pacific Northwest, and it's been difficult. I have gotten some offers but they always get side tracked by something else or the drivers want me to fly into mid west. The complaints I hear are always about how the freight and pay isn't what it used to be. Also, being that your 20 you may have to wait until you are 21 until you get going, most fleet owners, and insurance companies need you to be at least 21, if not 23 or 25 depending. I also believe you need to be 21 to go interstate with a CDL. You may get lucky and get a non cdl cargo van deal, but again most companies want you to have the ability to haul hazmat, that will require a CDL. Also, be sure to have a clean background and MVR, some expedite deals want you to run into Canada, and Canada has some extremely strict rules on having criminal convictions or major driving offenses. If you really serious, get a passport now (if you don't have one already), and get a CDL w/hazmat. Cargo vans don't pay as well as tractor trailers or straight trucks, but unless it's hazmat you wont need to run log books, stop at scales or deal with any of that BS that the bigger guys deal with. I like the idea of being able to just get out there and pound out the miles and get the freight moved in a cargo van. I know I could be successful because I am one of those types of people who are extremely focused in getting the job done. No fuss no muss, and you get to actually enjoy the countryside while doing it, as opposed to driving the bigger rigs. Good luck and hope things work out for you.

 

Speaking of vans, do not drive for someone else, why bother making just part of the amount you would make, get a van (they're cheap) and get all the whole rate.

 

So can you make money with a cargo van at 95 cents a mile? Do the expedite companies run long distances like Chicago to LA for example or is it just short 200 or 300 mile hops?

 

Anyone operate a cargo van out there?

 

Yes you can make money at 95 cents a mile but it depends on the company and how you want to run. Many companies will stay with NLM (auto) type freight and as long as the auto companies are working, you are. A good idea of what you can make would be hard to tackle without putting into who you are running for, etc. BUT I would say on the gross side you could easily reach $40k without killing yourself.

The loads vary, most of the good rates are gone and if you ran with FedEx before they decided to go to a flat rate, you could make better money in a van than many did in a straight truck with E-1 or Panther.

 

Thanks for your input. I crunched some numbers earlier today and liked what I found. If for example I was to run to Los Angeles and back that would be 4100 miles. At 95 cents would gross me $3,895. I calculated fuel for my van would cost $1,100. $2,800 for running 4100 miles is good money. And best of all no logbooks, scales, etc. I am liking this idea more and more. The question is would any expedite company give me long haul runs like that?

 

No . Solo van you would be lucky to get a 500 mile run . Expedite is pick it up , run straight through , and deliver .
You didn't crunch enough numbers . Figure how many miles you'd get on a set of tires , how often between oil changes , truck payments or replacement fund , insurance , registration , taxes , etc . Then check around and see how many vans are getting $.95 a mile on a regular basis .

 

I own my van outright so no payments. Tires last about 25k miles. 5k miles between oil changes as I run semi synthetic. Only thing i don't know how it costs is cargo insurance. Basic liability runs me $275 every 6 months. Lastly I just saw an ad yesterday for cargo van O/Os that pays 95 cents a mile.

 

drvertobroker who did u see the add for i am interested too and close to you.