Curious about OTR Straight Trucks with sleepers

They are expedite . Check out the expedite and hotshot forums here . Expedite carriers don't own trucks . Most are owned by fleet owners that hire drivers as I/C's . The usual contract is a 60/40 split . Drivers buy the fuel and get 60% of the gross revenue plus 100% FSC . Drivers pick and choose the loads
There are few regular expedite routes . Most is time sensitive and you move as soon as you are called .
Accepted availability is 75% and fleet owners prefer husband and wife teams . Drivers often stay out 3 or 4 weeks then take a week off .

 

Never seen one or noticed ... Though I think once I wondered why a small str8 truck looked so weird ...I think the company was that one with a Jaguar or cougar on its logo ...anyone got any pics?

 

Youre talking about Panther Expedited (now owned by ABFS)




They can make a lot of sense. Occasionally I'll haul just a few of pallets of cell phones (just under $1,000,000 retail) in a 53' trailer and wonder why we dont use pups or straight trucks. The guys at New Breed/Verizon told me their favorite is getting a 53' trailer with 1 box on 1 pallet...

 

1 reason you do not see many at truckstops as they can park in places a tractor trailer cannot , usually at their customers

 

They are also accepted at some campgrounds and some like to park in hospital parking lots because hospital cafeteria food is healthier and cheaper than the food at fuel stops .

 

A similar life, BUT different. Many are OTR, but often can entail lots of waiting on the next load, like days. Other times just run, run, run. It definitely requires a different mindset than typical freight.

TS

 

Here's a rare example of an expedite driver that's home every night . Do you think he's making enough money ?

http://www.overdriveonline.com/hauling-expedited-in-a-nissan/

 

I know that truck! This is nicer than most, looking right at $250K for that one when new in 2006.

TS

 

No he is not, the guys doing this as a hobby can and do drive rates down! He is netting (after taxes) around $0.30 mile with NO vehicle maintenance or replacements costs taken out, definitely is NOT a sustainable business IMO. You can't drive a brand new van 10000 miles a month and it NOT cost something other than fuel. Doesn't sound like he is running the long hours, BUT there is no reqs on the vanners, pretty much a free for all, no logs, no HOS, no nothing. It is hard to make it running a van from what I read.

TS