Yes, still in my 2001 Columbia. It's been a great truck. I want a Peterbuilt but I don't want the payment. LOL

I still use the Broker board from time to time because some of the loads on the Brokerboard aren't listed on the Online board and vice versa.
So sometimes I use the Broker board to get out of areas that have low freight. You get a better rate than a non-LS truck so it can be worth the call.

Landstar will Fax a form over to each of your employers and wait to get a response. It's no big deal, but can sometimes take longer than you might think.

Check the details on the Select Truck purchase plan. You might be able to get a better deal on your own. My Salesman talked me out of the first time buyer program and I got a much better deal from G.E/ Capital.

I've had my truck for 9 months now. I've been driving since the middle of Feb of 2006 and have been with LS for near 4 months now.

I'm very happy here. I can pre-load my truck in many instances way before I even get empty or even leave home to get my first load out. I pull a Stepdeck or Flatbed. (Flatbed for now) in March I'll decide if I'll buy a new Step of Flat.

The agents with LS are independant contractors just like the BCO's. You'll find that there are plenty of bad agents out there. I haven't been able to find one that will load me or get me to run their freight on a regular basis. I get all my loads from the load board.
I have had agents call me but the loads weren't what I needed at the time.

I don't know how the Dry Van guys make it. But the Flat and Step pay much better and seem to be plentiful.(So far) LOL

Hope this helps.

__________________
2001 FreightShaka Columbia With Flatbed in tow!

___~____~____~____~____~__``` |__,_
'''Like a Rocket Sled on Wheels'''||.....|||'|";,__.
_...._______HONDA Racing______|__||_|_|...,]
"(#)'""""""(#)"""""""""""""""*|(#)(#)********( #)

I have stickers of things that I'd like to buy for my bike, so people better watch out.

would it be better to own your own stepdeck with landstar or use their trailers? Are most of the stepdeck loads live load or drop and hook?

Nero

I think they charge $270 a week for their step decks, you do the math. Plus you can get a lot nicer of a one than what they provide. I never saw a drop and hook load for a flat or step. Some times there'll be loads that the trailer has to go into MX. I always left those for the guys pulling a company trailer. Mine wasn't going across the border without me.

__________________

Thanks fo rht info AGAIN. I really need to sit down with you buy you lunch and pick your brain. Thats what i had figured out abou the trailer. But was woried about the pre loaded trailers. But if they are live loads that cool. I figured out that even if i bought a new trailer it would be cheaper in the end to buy my own instead of use theirs. Thanks again brick, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Nero

No problem. Merry Christmas back at ya.


If you ever get thru here I live 3 miles from I 80.

__________________

well if you are going thru Rapid City SD after March let me know and i could buy you that lunch.

It is extremely rare to find a drop and hook platform load in the Landstar system.

It would be best to own your own. But there are as many different Stepdecks out there as there are options of frieght to pull.

LS charges $170.00 per week for a Stepdeck and a Flatbed is a bit cheaper.

LS takes care of all the tires brakes and lights and registration ( All Maintenance on the trailer.) so if you are just starting out and don't want to have that trailer note on top of your Truck note and want to pull higher paying frieght then it's not a bad way to go.

On your weekly settlement they will break down how much the trailer made at 8%. So you can track if you are making the extra money to lease the trailer or not. The trailer always makes more than $170.00 per week for me. So the extra is mine.

Some of the agents for LS have drop and hook loads but the use there trucks which they pay drivers per the mile for them. And the are more rare.

Just about 100% of loading and off loading is live. It works better for the BCO in my opinion. Most people are happy to see thier frieght appear on a stepdeck.

You can claim the depreciation of your own trailer for up to 5 years I believe, on your taxes.

Hope that helps.

Happy Holidays Y'all!

__________________
2001 FreightShaka Columbia With Flatbed in tow!

___~____~____~____~____~__``` |__,_
'''Like a Rocket Sled on Wheels'''||.....|||'|";,__.
_...._______HONDA Racing______|__||_|_|...,]
"(#)'""""""(#)"""""""""""""""*|(#)(#)********( #)

I have stickers of things that I'd like to buy for my bike, so people better watch out.

I have a friend that lives in N.D. and pulls a stepdeck for LS and never has a problem getting out.

I live in Austin, TX. It's hard finding loads out of Austin. So when I come home I usually have to DH out to Houston or Dallas or the surrounding areas.
But it's worth it to me. I usually get home with enough fuel to DH my self home for one. But usually also have enough fuel to DH back out to get a load.

And if not I just pay for the fuel myself and will let Uncle Sam bite it.

I usually have a wait to get good freight out of SD.

Right now 8 loads listed coming out of ND for a Step. All listed as Flatbed loads. And 4 of those not available until after the 1st.

__________________
2001 FreightShaka Columbia With Flatbed in tow!

___~____~____~____~____~__``` |__,_
'''Like a Rocket Sled on Wheels'''||.....|||'|";,__.
_...._______HONDA Racing______|__||_|_|...,]
"(#)'""""""(#)"""""""""""""""*|(#)(#)********( #)

I have stickers of things that I'd like to buy for my bike, so people better watch out.