Landstar Questions

Chiricahua, the approx $1.90 a mile I posted was to the truck not gross. It was also based on actual running miles not map miles. I pull a flat and am making a comfortable living. Maybe I misunderstood what you were trying to say but I wanted to clear up that my numbers are net not gross.

 

To talk "REAL" numbers we must compare apples to apples. Your numbers are for a flatbed operation. And losttrucker and I are talking about dry van.

Congratulations on such good numbers. Can you make that much consistantly, or were you just at the right place at the right time?

 

most of any profitable trucking is "right place, right time"

dry van is always cheap......no matter where you are, its the same

quite being a monkey, and find a different trailer

 

What's up with the name calling? J A C K A S S!!!

 

After FSC and discounts on fuel what are you guys paying for fuel?

The L/O I am training with pays $1.49

Landstar has a discounted fuel price? How does that work. Do they update what discount you get on a daily basis?

 

I got ya, but it's easier to explain to the people making the quires when it's broken down. Most are going to assume Gross. I understand what you're saying.

 

Landstar pays 100% FSC based on the National average. If a customer pays more Landstar mostly only allows the agent to break out 100% of the national average. Sometimes if you talk the agent into more LS will deduct it off your next settlement. So you have to keep an eye on it. Load sheet faxed to your truck is a binding agreement and it'll help you keep what you get. It's best to ask for an assessorial fee increase like tarp fees to get some extra cash towards fuel. That way it's broken off the line haul before the agent and LS get their cut and 100% goes to the truck.
You need to check with each truck stop. For instance Pilot may give you an additional 10 cents off the cash price and across the interstate the Petro might give you an additional 11 cents off the cash price for being LS. However the cash price at the Pilot might be 2 cents less than the petro so it would save you some if you plan on getting 300 gallons or so.
Sometimes you have four truck stops next to each other and you have to check with each one to find the best deal. You can check online or call each one. Time consuming. But fuel is your #1 cost so it’s up to you to do the math.
Myself I drive slowly so for approx every three long runs I save from my advance 3 to 4 hundred dollars per run..
Your advance on each load once you book the load is meant for fuel, maintenance and food or what ever you want to spend it on. Myself running at 63 mph I pocket what I have left and take it home and make a honey pot. (it’s like having a part time job when your driving)

So the average one pays can vary. But fuel never is a problem for me. The higher the price the higher the fuel surcharge. No deed to drive 70 everywhere.

Hope that helps.

 

When there is freight it's hardly ever a problem. Problem now is the availability of freight.

Last time I did the figures I had to pull two loads to make what a dry van O/O maid pulling three loads at LS.

But you have to work. Secure, tarp and what not. But the assessorial fees go 100% to you.
So that puts you up on the dry van from the get go.

Plus it depends on the equipment that you have for availability. The more you can haul the better choices you can make.

Plus run the houston to chicago to kentucky triangle. No mountains and pull light freight.(LOL)

 

I'm gonna go out on a limb here,,,and expose myself to all the jokes,put downs and bashings so common on this forum,,,
After running my own company,employing drivers and such,I went belly up in the end of 09. I started a lease with Landstar in the end of Feb,been running 100% by the book,like expected,,,now for the killer,,6 weeks into the lease,I just destroyed my truck by not seeing a barricade made to block tall vehicles.Most likely the insurance will place the value of the vehicle below the repair costs.I am following all the protocols as per Landstar's directions,,does anyone think that,even though I've never damaged a truck before in my career since starting in 2000,,that Landstar will want me to fix my truck and keep me around,,,or will they want to just total out the truck through their physical damage policy and send me off with a preventable on my DAC,thus killing any hopes of regaining employment with anyone else..

 

Wow, tough one, but one mistake should not destroy your career, but some of these carriers could care less. Best of luck and you should be ok even if they wanna get rid of you.