RV Transport or Expediting? Which more profitable?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Jazzed, Jun 22, 2013.

  1. Jazzed

    Jazzed Bobtail Member

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    This is a 2 part question I guess...we have been looking at been looking at Expediting and RV Hauling....my wife and I have owned a few business and like many before us, have counted the cost as best we can. We do not have a CDL....approach is to wade in the water here...and later can get CDL. We are in our late 50's...clean driving records, no infractions, etc. Boring, older and more responsible!

    Have not yet bought truck/van until we decide which way to go.....once we do, will buy used......

    Any referrals of best companies ....either RV or Expediting is appreciated!!

    We appreciate all the excellent advice and input on this forum.....the best we have seen! Please share whatever ideas you have...I can not pm because I am new ....tried to reach out to Bigfoot...could not get message to him....so, here goes.......

    Hi Bigfoot and RV Drivers

    • Here are a few questions for you.....
    • I know you are with IT...we have spoke with them....what is rate(s)
    • Any reloads or backhauls?
    • What truck do you use...and what kinda expenses are you getting?
    • Do they have driveaways as well as tows?
    • Forced dispatch?
    • How much work are you getting?
    • We have spoke with Horizon and Synergy.....do you think better off with a small co or large?
    • Both of us...wife & I will be driving....we do not have a CDL....but intend to wade into this to see if worth getting one....what is yor thought...is there enough work/profit.....profit being the key word...fot a long term relationship?
    • Open to any ideas or thoughts...we are also looking into expediting
    • Expediting or Rv hauling....which gives the best return?
    Thx!!
     
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  3. KANSAS TRANSIT

    KANSAS TRANSIT Road Train Member

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    I would imagine that expediting would be far more profitable, now, there are "some" people that do make money hauling RV's BUT overall, it is a small number. I did it for many years, and do put myself in that group.

    However there is a FAR larger number of people that have lost EVERYTHING hauling RV's, on the other hand I do see people making a living hauling expedited, although I can't give you any numbers, as I have never done it myself.

    IF I was in your shoes, without CDL's I would probably look into some type of cargo van or sprinter work, JMHO

    Unless of course if you go back to the 2008-2009 years, when EVERTHING in manufacturing was at a standstill, and they were just about giving box trucks away. Simply rules of business apply to both venue's

    How much is it going to cost you to get started?
    How much of that expense do you already have?
    How much are you "hoping" to make?
    What are your payments going to be?
    What are all of your costs?

    Sit down, take WORST case scenario's and pencil it all out, ask questions here, you will get some good advice.



    Stan
     
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  4. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Look at Panther Expedite website. No experience required.
     
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  5. RickG

    RickG Road Train Member

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    All they could do without a CDL at Panther is drive a cargo van . Owning a cargo van is still more profitable than owning a pickup hauling RV's .
    It would be well worth the investment to get CDL's and get in an expedite straight truck . You can't team hauling RV's or in a cargo van without a legal sleeper .
     
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  6. Jazzed

    Jazzed Bobtail Member

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    Jun 11, 2013
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    Thanks! Expectations are modest, and yes will do the math. Are there 'good' expediting companies you can recommend for someone reliable but inexperienced?
     
  7. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    It all depends on what you expect to get out of it.

    You want to see the country and have some freedom while living in a truck or expect to be making money and living in truck stops, walmarts or empty lots?

    Money wise, I can't speak for RV hauling although I know a couple people making 80k gross but they are direct to manufacturer haulers and using something other than a pickup.

    Expediting is a whole different thing, you can make good money, taking in consideration that you have to learn how to handle your money a bit differently than say you would in different businesses. Many don't understand that expediting isn't true expediting as in Just-in-time hauling any more but rather LTL hauling with some company imposed time constraints. Much of the time you will sit and then drive and sit some more and there are tricks to getting to where the frieght is or how you can be a step above the compitition within your fleet. I think the company matters, if you are looking for one to fit into, then you will have issues because normally you need to set your goals and find one that fits those goals.

    As for buying a truck/van, be selective and go through the process as if you were buying a tool, thoroughly get it checked out but be prepared to walk away. If you are looking into getting into expediting, then look into driving a straight truck for an owner to learn the ropes, taking advantage of someone else's capital investment. BUT with that said, DO NOT drive for an owner in a van, you won't make any money or not enough to justify the difference between owning a van which is cheap and marginal rates that you end up with.

    As for a CDL, many expedite company want CDL holders in vans, it makes sense with their insurance arrangements. IT also makes a bit better driver.
     
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  8. KANSAS TRANSIT

    KANSAS TRANSIT Road Train Member

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    As I said J, I have no expedited experience, I will defer to other's here for that, if you have any questions on RV hauling, fire away.
     
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  9. Jazzed

    Jazzed Bobtail Member

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    Thanks! Any ideas on who/What company to contact? Ideally some kind of apprenticing makes sense.....but where?
     
  10. Jazzed

    Jazzed Bobtail Member

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    Thanks Stan....good sound advice....the old saying is 'devil is in the details'.....and it's those details we are trying to get a hold of. I have thought of paying personal visits to a few select 'good companies'.....seeing what it would yield. To learn the biz without losing your shirt and pants....apprenticing I guess....
    Any good expediting companies worth visiting?
     
  11. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    I think if you believe the rumors of another financial crisis around the corner, the RV market (what little there is) is about to take another major setback, and the expedite market would probably follow suit. Look at all the RV lots around you, they are crammed to the brim with trailers they're still having a hard time selling. The larger RV transporters have rigged the RV transport game to where it's VERY difficult for a contractor to take proper depreciation and costs on a new[er] 1 ton rig and have anything leftover to eat with, let alone support a family.

    If you like driving around, sleeping in $40 roach motels or in the back seat, and having someone pay your fuel (and not much else), RV transport may be for you.
     
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