Mercer

Amen to that! Couldn't have said it better myself.

American Trucker

 

If I thought I am an underdog, I'd slash my wrist now. It's all about choices that we make in life that determines where we are and where we'll be.
Back before deregulation a truck owner had very little choice, haul exempt commodities or lease to a carrier that had some authority. Deregulation put a ton of people in the trucking business and also put a ton out of the trucking business. Many times people who have failed at other lines of work think they can jump into the trucking business and make a ton of money, it's not here anymore and I don't think it ever was. Trucking has about a .04 percent return, up until about 2005 you be better off leaving your money in a savings account and working at the corner store.
Mercer is a good company but if you can't manage your business , if you're upside down on everything you own, if you can't ride out the slow hard times , it's going to be hard any where you go. Mercer canceled the lease on over 100 O/Os I think in 2008, this is my opinion but I think it was because they couldn't afford to carry the weight of people who were non-producers (hobby truckers) and they knew they were in for hard times. Just because you own a truck and a trailer doesn't make you the big wheel ,you are a spoke in the wheel of transportation.
GOOD LUCK

 

4" straps 30ft=$10.00 you will need atleast 18, I would keep 20
5/16 25ft chain=$55.00 20ft-$40.00 you will need 12
binders are $34.00 for lever and $30. for ratchet
tarp straps[bunchies] 21" 50 per box=$47.00
tarps
16.6x24.6=$255.00
16.6x20.6=$205.00
20x25 with flap[ they way a ton]=$400.00
coil racks-I think we are suppose to have 8 $4.25
steel edge protectors-$1.70
plastic-$1.25 need 24
timbers-$8.00
rubber belting-$5.00 need 9
plus vee boards will come in handy, you can make them.

Good Luck, I started with Mercer last year and wouldn't go anywhere else

 

Hey thanks for taking your time and looking that up. I actually got the price list from the recruiter last week and was going over them. I was going over the list with a friend of mine and I'm trying to see if I can pick up "lighter" tarps somewhere else. As for most of the equipments, I don't know about their qualities but I see they are somewhat comparable (if not slightly higher) in pricing to other places (at least from what I've been told and what I could see on the net) but that's fine by me. I noticed their price on the (3) door headache rack seems decent but how are they in quality? Don't know which name brand they are but I'll probably get it from Mercer. So if I were to have $5K on hand at orientation, that should cover any expenses, right or do I need more? I rather not have anything charge to me from the get go.

I've been shopping for a truck (ever since I got approved by the recruiter) last week and I think I got it narrowed down. I'm waiting on the final result from a salesman but the (3) that got my attention are in Ca, Co or IL and I'm hoping for the latter. Anyway, any heads up is greatly appreciated.

 

The ratchet binders are cheaper than the lever binders???

 

Is that slang for a bunch of bungees? Sorry driver, could not resist.

 

According to the list that I've received in regards to binders are as followed:
----Lever Binder $34
----Ratchet Binder $35
----T-Handle Ratchet $32

No, they are not. Mytee Products got them slightly cheaper on their website. They may be cheaper with online order or without tax if picking up in person but after shpping / tax, I don't see that big of a difference money wise. I just want to get the decent (tarps, headache rack) equipment from the start instead of "crying" about it after forking out the dough $$.

 

I'm guessing, by your comments, that you've "made" your $ money $ and now part of the "big wheel"?

As for "deregulation", that was before when I had any interest in trucking industry. So honestly, I really don't have any position on it other than remembering lots of people / companies were going out of business or filing bankruptcy when that happened. A change our gov't felt was for the better for all those who were concerned (trucking companies, brokers, drivers, average citizens and our economy) but which a lot of people were reluctant to go along with at first. You still hear some of the old dinosaurs still lamenting about it all the time.

Trucking was/is for the most part a high investment with low yield business model. This industry, like everything else, is always changing. The time of when "as long as you keep your door closed and hammer down, you'll make money" is dead or going out the door. Now a days, people knowing the business (fuel economy, money management, social network / people skills, understanding / coping with the changing rules and regulations, personal life management, etc...) are the ones thriving while those that refuse changes are getting left behind. Currently global economy has bottomed out and many in our industry mistakes that as solely pertaining to our industry alone. Not all are in position to "ride out the slow time" but it also gives those who can, better opportunities if they apply themselves.

As for Mercer, I'm still going to see for myself what kind of mileage I'll get and go on from that. I've been in the business for over 15 yrs as O/O practically from the start and first few years were very expensive learning curves but over all, it has been generous to me. I know a lot of good people / drivers out there whose circumstances weren't as pleasant nor had such good opportunities and I feel sympathetic toward them. Ok.........no more Oprah....no more Dr Phil....

 

I don't understand your question as it is written? So I have no answer for you.
To refer to truckers who have a better working knowledge of this industry as old dinosaurs may make you feel better about yourself, but it adds little to the discussion..
Your information is also flawed if you think truckers in the past made money by keeping the door shut and the hammer down, that sounds like the information one would acquire from the "CB". The trendy business practices of today is based on what people have been doing for years. Yeah, before the keyboard and the cell phone.
Good Luck at Mercer, they do business the "old fashion way" and have many "dinosaurs" on the payroll.

 

The dinosaurs died out because they couldn't adapt (among other contributing factors) to their environment. There are always those that resists changes because it brings unfamiliarity’s to which they don't / won't foresee to understand, compare to what they were so used to for long periods of time. As in any industries, usually the ones that refuse changes are inevitably left behind (promotions, educations, social network skills, etc...) and usually it's the ones with seniority (time in - not rank) that are against it because it means they have to change / learn new way of doing their work. (Hence the "old dinosaurs" remark.) I don't need to put any one down to make me feel any better and I never did but if that's what you got out it then so be it.

You don't have a clue to who I am, social / economic / educational history or what my back ground in this industry is but have already made assumptions based on your views which are obviously different from mine. That's your opinion...........and everyone knows what they say about opinions.

As for "keeping the door shut and the hammer down" comment, I believe its dead on. From primarily running reefer, when the fuel was under .90 cents a gallon, that's how we made money. I don't want to go into (running multiple logs, "high speed chicken feeds", triple digits, etc...) all the details of the past, when simply paying fines was all just part of doing business for a significant percentile of drivers / companies. Now the feds / regulations are making those actions to be part of drivers' permanent records w/ higher penalties and accountability. I'm not unfamiliar with either way of doing business but I rather make my money legally as possible.

As for Mercer or any other companies out there, where an individual leases his equipments / himself to their services or them letting lease to be partnered with them, I'd say that the premise is based on mutually beneficial arrangements. A main part of which is both parties involved making profits. When / if I leases on w/ Mercer and I find that they are not right (money, policies, personnels, support, security) for me, there's nothing which fore bids me from leaving. I just have to see that for myself.