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

i realize that and most vans are under 10k gvwr. The execption being the 3500 Sprinters.

Okay, let's compare a good courier gig to something like driving a day cab doing local P and D for a company like Old Dominion. They pay what $25 an hour and over time after 50? You'd make just under $1,500 for 55 hours. Pretty good but look at what cost. The truck driver has to bump 20+ tight docks a day and manuever the behemoth around the city while dodging low viaducts. Then there is all the trucking DOT ######## involved. I get into my own van, not something one hundred other people drove, play my own music on the USB/Bluetooth radio I installed instead of some crappy AM/FM set up, and just cruise around. Sometimes making longer runs and getting out on the road. I did the trucking thing for many years and hated most of it. I found my niche driving a cargo van. Sure I could make a bit more money going back into a truck but the headache and misery of doing something I hate is not worth it. Do something you love and you'll never work a day in your life. I found my calling.

I am trying to figure out why you like driving a larger vehicle more. I think cargo vans are the perfect size. They have much more room than a passenger car while still small enough to park just about anywhere and not have to worry about height restrictions for the most part. I can put a twin size mattress in mine and sleep just as well as a semi sleeper.

 

Personal prefrance. My truck seat is more comfortable than any van. I have bluetooth, usb and audio input in my company truck, so that is irrelivent. I am not afraid of tight places. I just like big trucks, diesels, torque, power, I guess its just in my blood. I enjoy what I do, to each their own.

Also I never sleep in a truck, home every day

 

I like big trucks and I cannot lie, you other truckers cant deny.....had to do it.

 

I read all the above posts. Like I said, I am NEW to this. I know some people may think that I am crazy and don't know what I am talking about (Hence: the LOL) everyone have to start somewhere. I chose to start small and as I learn more about the business I may upgrade to a big ### semi if necessary. But for now I am just looking to do some local runs and see if I still like the transportation industry. I signed up with goshare.co and they will contact me when they start doing business in Florida. I am also planning on going to a few places in Orlando next week to find out more about delivering for them as an O/O

 

I have no clue how you'll do at Goshare as it appears to be a new start up. Keep us posted. You don't need to have much business sense to make it with a cargo van. Watch where you fuel, find a cheap but good mechanic, and don't turn down jobs unless you really have to.

Now is a great time to be in the courier business due to the low gas prices. Today I filled up for $1.69 a gallon. I love it! When I first started gas was close to four dollars a gallon and I almost got out of it but I sure am glad I stuck it out.

If you enjoy bouncing up and down like a yo-yo in an air ride seat. I prefer to be firmly planted.

 

Does anyone here work for western express flatbed or van division running NE regional home on weekends? I want to know if the $900 per week 1500 miles is correct for flatbed and the $800 per week 1800 miles van? Can someone please help???

 

Starting your own thread would be a good start.

 

I had a big cargo van working with a company as a carrier let me tell you it like working for $10 hr don't listen to what they tell you going to make good money it a bunch bull it great if u get big load that what pay but most the time they will send you to deliver 2 to 5 small boxes in a big van well it did not work out for me.

 

Depends on the company. I had a gig where they paid me $22.50 an hour and I barely used any gas as all the deliveries were very close by. That's local CDL A driver money.

 

We're you running your own van? What did you net?