New to this. I want to be an owner/operator planning on buying a cargo van to start with

I've spent the last year delivering in a Class-B straight truck for a nursery wholesaler/retailer on an hourly salary. It paid very little and hours were inconsistent. I did find however I loved the road as I always thought I would. When the hours dried up again in the fall I decided to take the plunge and go to the best school (that I could find) in my state. I am now interviewing with a couple major companies again trying to find the best deal for myself. I have newbie stars in my eyes but with a high level of patience as well as realistic monetary expectations for the first year I look forward to starting a new career.

Dig deep and commit to a new lifestyle and give yourself efficient time to transition into a new world. It will take up to six months to complete training (my position currently) then another year of rookie mistakes to fully become a driver (2016 for me). My history is retail IT and management, I use those experiences to understand I don't know s*** yet and will except free knowledge when it is offered.

 

where are you working? that sounds awesome

 

I sent you a pm

 

OK this is funny,

it won't work.

Freight won't wait and no one has patients to deal with a part time driver.

 

Sounds like uber has the business plan you're looking for now that I think of it.
Strange as that is it might work for you.

 

Why would you go with an expedition? Get either a large pickup 3/4 ton minimum, to row a large trailer. Or get a cargo van, it can tow as much as an expedition and can also put cargo in the van.

 

That's ridiculous advice. If you have noticed the CDL driving industry is becoming more and more regulated. Cargo vans are still the Wild West. As long you're vehicle is under 10k lbs you don't need a medical or logbook and can just drive and not worry about the BS. The key is finding a decent courier company that has been in business for a while. There have been weeks I grossed close to $1,500 for six days work, home each night. There are people slaving OTR for bottom feeder trucking outfits for $600 a week. Plus a van is much more fun to drive than a truck.

 

You are very bitter on the trucking industry. You are comparing apples to oranges. You can't compare the pay of a good cargo van job to the pay of a bad cdl job. Compare a bad van job to a bad cdl job, cdl will make more. Compare a good van job to a good cdl job, cdl will make more. There are many good cdl jobs. As far as vans being more fun to drive, you are free to your oponion, but I will take a big truck any day. A truck is much more comfortable, and I prefer driving a big vehicle. I like my job and enjoy what I do. I have a great schedule and decent pay.

 

That's 10k gvwr. Many vans are above that