Any Landstar BCO's on here?

Are the rates you quote the amount paid to the truck? Is the FSC included? Or do you get 65% of this rate?

 

The FSC is usually included at the rate that is stated but, it is broke out at %1OO. For instance. My load pickin up tomorrow in is paying $3568.67 on 11OO miles. of that $3568.67, $6OO is included for fuel surcharge{1OO%}

so here is break down

2968.67 LH
$6OO for fuel


of the 2968.67 i get %72 percent If you dont have your own trailer your percentage varies.

 

I think you are convincing me that when my lease/purchase is done switching to Landstar maybe the move to make. At the rate you quoted I could drive 700 miles to get that load and still make what I'm making now. It is really frustrating pulling freight for someone who gets insulted when I try to run my own business. I had planned on getting out early, but I ended up with a truck I like. If I can figure a way to buyout the lease I think it will be time for a change. Thank-you for some real life numbers.

 

I agree with how Nik has explained it. The percentage drops to 65% if you do not have your own trailer. We try to keep our deadhead to less than 10%, but if it is a exceptional trip or one that puts us in a good area we will deadhead about 500 miles. But also remember the rates may be flexible so if you can get a little more per mile then ask the agent for it. They also have ways to code these into the Landstar system that will allow you, as the BCO, to get a certain amount paid at 100 % rather than 65

 

I understand keeping unpaid miles to a minimum. I was only commenting on the potential earnings differential between what I get now in a "take-it-or-leave-it" mileage based system, compared to choosing from a loadboard and negotiating a rate. I understand the system and every driver I've talked to has said they like Landstar once they get over the learning curve. I like the fact that it's a great compromise between the freedom of having your own authority and the security of a company backing you up.

 

Deadhead is not as dirty a word as many think. A 700 mile trip with 300 mile deadhead at 2.45 a mile is better than a 1000 mile trip with no deadhead at 1.65. You have to look at the big picture.

 

All of the BCO's I've spoken to so far LOVE working at Landstar. It's all about you. You have potential to make $200,000 a year, or $50k a year. It's all about how hard your willing to work and how well you can forge relationships. Your reputation and professionalism are key.

If you're interested in signing on with an Agent to get regular loads or just seeing what I have available week to week, please PM me. I'd be glad to get to know you and forge a relationship.

 

The biggest challenge I see is going from thinking in terms of miles and pay per mile to thinking about total dollars for a load divided by time to pickup and deliver the load as well as miles. Not that dollars per mile don't matter, it's just that I get a lot of loads with decent miles, but there's way too much time on it, so a good load becomes a bad one. I also like the idea of setting my schedule based on finances and needs at home. Right now I still have stay out longer than I would like to make a good impression on dispatch. Even at that I still have to put up with their complaining if I refuse short runs. That I will be making a change has already decided, only the timing has to be decided.

 

You usually control your appointments, at least on the platform side. Certain ones like crane appointments don't have that flexibility, but in general you or the agent makes the appt. based on your schedule.
Most BCOs setup their load board to show highest revenue first, not distance. I'll dead head from Seattle to Miami to pick up a $7,000, 200 mile run! While that may be unlikely, I have hauled $4,000 on 460 miles, legal light load. I'm on a run right now which pays THE TRUCK 10,000 ON 3500 miles. Gross pay is 13,000.

But, but, but everyone says Landstar sucks. I've only been here 2 years. Be prepared to give it 6 months to get the hang of it, and make dumb choices. Learn from your mistakes, and you'll make more and more money.

 

That's the thing about greater opportunity, with it comes greater responsibility. Along with that comes the opportunity to screw up. Going from a dispatcher wanting to run your truck like a company truck to a system where you choose loads based on total dollars paid and doing your own dispatching based on connections and load boards will take time to adjust. I had the same issues when I went from company driver to I/C. It took a while to find the best way to balance time at home with the ability to get enough miles to make a living.