Landstar Questions

That is the answer i was looking for. That they will back you in an emergency.

 

I know Landstar allows you to rent a trailer but will they help you get financing to purchase a used one? Thanks in advance.

 

After one year, and in good standing, with decent revenue and ok credit, they'll finance a trailer. It MUST be brand new, never titled, and they'll only finance up to a certain amount, usually about 35,000, and require a minimal down payment or anything over $35,000. The company actually financing the trailer is LCFI, a Landstar subsidiary. The rate last I checked was 8.9% as long as it's deducted from a Landstar settlement. There is a 5% penalty if it is not, meaning if you or Landstar terminate your lease, and you lease to, say Mercer or get your own authority, the trailer is still yours, but your interest rate went up to 13.9%. This is a much better deal than demanding payment in full if you quit or are terminated.

 

By my experience thus far they will not help with break downs. If you are under a load and the agent gets involved then there may be other means of help if they cant re-power the load. I took the added coverage on my insurance that has roadside coverage and towing with a deductible. its good stuff to have if you are short on funds. Other than that I have extended warranties on my truck so atleast with the insurance perks I can get it to the shop then use my warranty. Through Gallagher insurace the bco advantage plan with the towing and roadside is only $6 a week.

 

They will not finance one off the open market. However, they will finance one that they are selling off of their fleet, or one that has been repossessed by LCAPP.

 

Jane from recruiting called me today to go over a couple of things and forward my application. How long should the background check and hiring process take?

 

I started the process back in Nov., and I they finally got all my dates of employment matched and all my verification's back Friday and I called them today and they had to get another MVR because it had been a month since they pulled one. LOL I will say they are the most thorough hiring company I have been with. Said I should here something tomorrow.

 

Yes, they are thorough. They have been for many years.

 

Sorry to be the little LS buzz kill here but what does dragging their feet have to do with being through? I can turn an app around in less than a week and have all the same information that LS has. My background check is designed by Jack Tinner (most of you that have been at LS for a while should know who he is). No short cuts here. While I am sure there are some companies that short cut the background process, every company is doing what LS does BECAUSE IT IS THE LAW. Nothing special here other than they make you wait, and wait, and wait. But you have to give them credit. They make you feel special for being strung along.

What LS is doing, and I applaud them for this (because so many companies don't do this) is make sure they have a place for you before they "approve" you and send you to orientation.

 

LS's hiring process is spread out for a multitude of reasons that I can see. First and foremost, when you go to orientation, you are approved. There is no faxing paperwork from oversights or the SOP for big companies to not do all the paperwork until you show for orientation. You're hired when you get there.

How long your app takes depends on how many jobs you've had and how many employers respond to the employer verification promptly. If EVERYONE does their part, Bill is right, it should take a week. If a former employer is less than professional or worse, out of business, it can take more time and paperwork.
Another factor to remember is that Landstar only hires about 8% or so of applicants, meaning about 90% of all applications are a waste of time for the staff.
My final thought on the matter is that stretching the process out a bit, weeds out those with no patience, very little capital, job hoppers, etc. These are the same folks that will just add to your turnover rate, CSA scores, and possibly cost LS a customer. Some of you might not like the strategy, but it makes sense, and if LS is turning down 90% of its applicants, the strategy is only helping its business. A filled out app to a small operator is worth it's weight in gold usually, at least according to head hunters, so a smaller company can't usually be as dismissive.