If you're not ready to invest $200, 000 in a new straight truck to become an expedite owner-operator, perhaps a cargo van is a more practical starting point.
But with numerous van options and configurations available, what should you consider in a van for expediting? Use this seven-point checklist as a guide.
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What van specifications does your trucking carrier require? Get the answer to this question before you begin van shopping. Otherwise, you take the risk of making a substantial investment in a van that won’t be acceptable to the carrier you plan to lease with.
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Also, if you’re new to expediting, why try to reinvent the wheel with cargo van specs for expedited freight? Instead, lean on the carrier’s expertise to help point you in the right direction.
The Mercedes-Benz/ Freightliner Sprinter has been the most prominent van used in expedite applications for nearly two decades. It was the first diesel-powered Euro-style van to enter the U.S. market, offering multiple roof height configurations, which maximize cargo space and enable drivers to stand up inside the cargo area.
And in recent years, other automakers have introduced Euro-style vans to the U.S. market, including Ford (with Transit) and Ram (with ProMaster), giving expediters more van options to choose from.
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Payload capacity refers to the maximum weight the vehicle can safely carry after subtracting the weight of the vehicle itself and its occupants.
So, how much payload capacity do you need? In other words, how much cargo weight must the van be able to haul at full load?
Your answer to this question determines which model/ class van to choose. For example, most expedite vans are either three-quarter-ton (Sprinter/ Promaster 2500 or Transit 250) or one-ton (Sprinter/ Promaster 3500 or Transit 350) models.
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How much space does your cargo take up on a full load? This helps you select the right length and roof height configuration for the job.
That’s because, with most manufacturers, you have two to three length/ wheel base options to choose from–regular, extended and long. And with the Euro-style vans like the Sprinter, Ford Transit and Ram Promaster, there are also multiple roof heights to consider depending on your cargo area requirements.
For example, if you’re looking at a Sprinter to haul pallets of, say, auto parts, you would select the single-rear wheel 2500 van, instead of a dual rear wheel 3500, because the wheel wells in the 2500 take up less space than those in the 3500.
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However, the trade-off with selecting a Sprinter 2500 vs. the dual-rear wheel 3500 is about 2, 000 pounds in legal payload capacity. So, make sure the weight of your anticipated maximum loads will fit within the capacity of the van you select.
If you’re interested in a diesel engine, this limits your options to the Sprinter and the GM vans which offer both gas and diesel engine options.
Ram offers one gas engine—the 3.6 liter V-6. And Ford has two gas engines—a 3.5 liter standard V-6 and the 3.5 liter EcoBoost V-6, which offers higher fuel-efficiency for about $1, 500 extra.
Sprinter Van Freight Carriers
Here’s the typical rule of thumb. The higher the numerical ratio, the slower the gear will be. This higher ratio gives your truck greater pulling power, but since the engine must work harder to spin the driveshaft more times for each turn of the rear wheels, you sacrifice top-end speed and fuel economy.
The inverse also holds true. When you lower the numerical ratio, you increase available top-end speed. And since the engine doesn’t have to work as hard to turn the wheels faster, fuel economy improves. The downside is that pulling power diminishes.
So, when selecting the right axle ratio for your application, use these general guidelines to help point you in the right direction:
Sprinter Van Loads
Rear view cameras are now standard on all van models. And the manufacturers have added numerous available comfort and safety options in recent years, such as:
When the cold and winter months begin to encroach upon us, we typically discuss ways to prepare a truck for the harsh we...
Consider what it may feel like to be, in some cases, thousands of miles away from the ones you love, especially during t...If you're considering becoming an expeditor but not ready to take the plunge and invest $200, 000 for a new straight truck, consider a lower risk option: an expedite van. You can get into a fully equipped van for under $70, 000. And if it's rated under 10, 001 gross vehicle weight, you can avoid many of the Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, such as hours of service requirements, which add a lot of complexity and cost to your business.
Find Cargo & Sprinter Van Freight & Loads Easy
So, if you’re looking to haul freight that can fit into a van — such as auto parts, overnight packages, or medical supplies and equipment — a van might be the perfect fit for you. But with numerous van options and configurations available, what should you consider as an expediter? Keep these seven points in mind.
The Mercedes-Benz/ Freightliner Sprinter has been the most prominent van used in expedite applications for the past decade. It was the first diesel-powered Euro-style van to enter the U.S. market, offering high-roof configurations, which maximize cargo space and enable drivers to stand up inside the cargo area. This way, drivers can avoid having to bend down and strain their backs while unloading freight, like they often had to do with the conventional roof vans, such as the Ford E-Series and the Chevrolet Express.
In recent years, other automakers have introduced high-roof Euro-style vans to the U.S. market, including Ford (with Transit) and Ram (with ProMaster), giving expediters more van options to choose from.
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After all, you can purchase a gas-powered van for about $7, 000 to $8, 000 less than a comparable diesel van. But if you’re purchasing the van for expediting, where you might run it for 70, 000 to 80, 000 miles per year, you’ll be better off paying the difference for the diesel because of its longevity and resale advantages over gas, says Jeff Smith, sales manager at Neely Coble Company, a Freightliner Sprinter dealer based in Nashville, Tenn.
According to Smith, the useable life of the diesel is about 400, 000 miles, compared to 250, 000 for the gas engine. “So, if you’re running the van for 80, 000 miles a year, and you have a gas engine, that van will be used up by the end of three years. And you probably still have two more years of payments on it, ” says Smith. “But with a diesel engine, after three years, you still have much more life left in the van, which will give you much higher resale (than gas), giving you more options if you choose to trade out of the van at that time.”
Which vans offer a diesel engine? The Euro-style vans — Sprinter, Transit and Promaster — all have an available diesel engine. Chevrolet Express also offers diesel, but the van is only available with a standard roof height.
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For example, if you’re considering a Sprinter to haul pallets of auto parts, you would select the lighter single rear wheel 2500 van, instead of a dual rear wheel 3500, because the wheel wells in the 2500 take up less space than those in the 3500.
“The most popular configuration for expediters is the single rear wheel, high-roof extended 2500 because you can fit a pallet in between the wheel wells, ” says Smith. “If you go with the dual rear wheels, the wheel wells come in too close together and the pallets won’t fit between them. You would have to build a false floor but that detracts from your overall cargo area.”
However, the trade-off with selecting a Sprinter 2500 vs. 3500 is about 2, 000 pounds in legal payload capacity (2, 994 vs. 4, 956 lbs.). So, make sure the weight of your anticipated maximum loads will fit within the capacity of the 2500.
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“If they’re getting a sleeper built, they go with the Sprinter 2500 extended van to make sure there’s enough room for both the sleeper and cargo, ” says Smith.
He says that a sleeper conversion adds about $10, 000 to $15, 000 to the price of the van and takes about three to four months to complete, depending on the production schedule of the sleeper manufacturer.
But the vast majority of Smith’s expedite customers — about 80 percent — don’t add a sleeper to their vans. “They’ll put a cot or a bunk in there or they’ll just pay for a hotel room when they stop, ” says Smith.
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Smith recommends that expediters add an optional auxiliary battery to power refrigerators, TVs, laptops and any other equipment. “If you’re running all that equipment on a starting battery, there’s a good chance you’ll drain that battery at the worst possible time, ” says Smith.
You may also want to consider installing fuel-powered heaters, such as those available from Webasto and Eberspächer, to minimize the need to idle the engine for long periods of time during harsh winter months, which can create issues with your diesel engine’s regeneration cycles and cause very expensive repairs.
“With the new emissions
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