How do those Class A expediter straight trucks stay in the green

I recently left an expediter job (Solo), driving a Frieghtliner straight truck, I was a driver with a 60/40 split, on the 60 side of things. Previously I teamed with the same company same type of truck expediting, money is not very good, actually really poor wages. I would say at the very least once every week (on weekends) I would regain all my hours ready to roll for my full 70, seems no one bids loads on the weekends. The companies basically have their fleets sitting in strategic (for them) areas waiting in hopes of winning a bid to get you moving. As an owner making good money is all about how many trucks you own and of course the drivers. I think if you own a truck and are leased on to a good company you can do fairly well, this is not gospel, just my observation. I'm currently heading back to tractor trailer, even as a company driver there is much more money to be made.....my two cents....

 

There are no class a rigs, they are class 8 rigs.

People make money with them. It all depends on what company you are with, how much they use that type of truck and if they are bidding on freight or have a sales staff.

 

The fact that you have a straight truck doesn't mean you HAVE to be an expediter. If this was even 10 years ago, I would be out buying a straight truck with a sleeper and a 24' flatbed. I would have air ride. I would have a tarp system installed so that I could run as a van, and/or avoid wrapping odd loads like Christmas packages the way I have to do now.

That rig would allow me to take MANY types of loads, and if I was careful about destinations it would allow me to minimize deadheading.

I haven't talked to anyone who does only expediting that's making a good living.

 

I left the expedited world in 2013 and with one company but when through 3 different fleet owners.I did both 60/40 40/60 splits in a ST and both solo and team.I made pretty good money but here was times where I made min wage pay.You do sit on weekends a lot if you don't get a load on Friday and I made more money while I was a team but that due more miles than what a solo can do.When freight was moving I avg about $800 a week sometimes $1,000 + a week.Lowest I took home was about $300 but that was because I was with a bad fleet owner.

 

We have some tractors on with FedEx and only run teams. Our teams are doing maybe 3,000 to 5,000 miles a week at most and are taking home $1,100 to $2,000 a week gross each driver. But, with a tractor - we can pull the company owned trailers (not an expense we had to incur) and we can haul anything from 1 lb to 40,000 lbs. The straight trucks are limited to either 5,000 lbs or 13,000 lbs … plus the reefer guys had to invest in their cargo box, reefer unit, etc.

Rob

 

It's no different than any other segment. A few who get it, know what they're doing, and a bunch who don't have a clue getting used up like the commodity they are.

 

Harsh driver, harsh. All true, no take away there but harsh.