Beware of Landstar Sky Bitz and E-Log Mandate

Thanks. Glad it was helpful, but consider the actual amount Landstar is charging BCO's for e-logs it is right now $27.25 per month for the basic service plan. This is for Hours of Service tracking, their so called unlimited messaging and a totally not needed ability for location of your truck "Ping"....just so Landstar and the agents can know where you are at all times! BEWARE of the Critical Event Reporting option they will give you! It's to track your "hard braking" and "manual triggers"....Landstar says this is no charge with their service provided plan and that this is BENEFICIAL for driver's safety! B.S. Landstar has no viable need to know when the truck stops suddenly in avoidance of a stupid 4-Wheeler! BTW Landstar says this optional service is at no charge....of course that's because they have already "padded" the cost into the total for the service plan and just haven't told you that they include it regardless. Getting the same monitoring service directly from the service provider is cheeper for the base plan and you have the option to add the Critical Event Reporting as an additional service. Keep in mind though, Landstar finds a way to say that service is not compatable with their system. Lastly, don't believe the option they send to Opt Out of Critical Event Reporting. Keep in mind they are the ones setting it up.

 

Landstar has had fees for most everything that they do and have had for many years. I would wager that Landstar either owns or gets a kickback from everyone that they send to Gallagher, their insurance agent of choice. They also make money from those using their fuel cards. BCO's don't get the entire discount. At one time Landstar offered discounts on equipment if you purchased through their vendors. I recall when I was leased to them that I got a price on a trailer from a vendor in Jacksonville. I found the same trailer on my own for $500 less at a different dealer and the one I found had more equipment. Landstar is very good at making money. If you don't want to be forced to install elogs there are plenty of other carriers around where you can do just as well or even better than at Landstar. I think that forcing owner operators to pay for installing elogs in their trucks will blow up in their faces at some point. You can always get your own authority. It only costs $300 plus your insurance. If you are leased to Landstar, you are already paying for your fuel tax, base plates, etc., Elogs are not federally mandated so I don't see how Landstar or any other carrier can force any owner operator to install elogs in their trucks at the owners expense. If you don't want to get your authority, there are many options available to you where you don't have to pay for elogs. You can even pull vans for other carriers, such as JB Hunt, if you don't want to buy your own trailer. If you have your own base plates, you should be able to get your authority and pay the down stroke on insurance for less than $2,000-2,500. If you add the base plates, you could be talking about another $2,000, depending on where you live.

 

I didn't think you worked enough to have to worry about it.

 

Yeah United has had them for a long time,I avoided that Qualcomm thingy for years,they could never pin me down,but they got smart and put them on the trailers.. Not why I made my exit,but to load a 3800 sq ft house AND drive AND be anywhere legal wasn't happening. I have no idea how they are going to adjust to all this mandated babysitting. I guess the str8 trucks are going to have to bring it into the warehouses and big ens pick em up from there...

 

Simple and to the point

 

Leased on in Late May, unfortunately had to get the E-Log installed... I just had to install another battery (had 3 fresh new batteries) due to the Qualcomn draining the batteries over night since it stays on 4 hours after you turn the truck off and there's no way you can change it.

I like leasing on here for the most part, the biggest kickbacks and savings I see is with the Fuel Discounts with Petro/TA.. but this micro policing and oversight that Landstar does is garbage and when they force the whole fleet (if they end up doing it) I can see alot of Old Timers hanging it up and going there separate ways or retiring.

And Landstar8891 I got the same letter about going 0.10 over my 11, which was due to an accident which I put in the comment section and I was still legal due to the 2 Hour rule and not over my 14... and not filling out the load section on the e-log. I came from a smaller company where the guy who oversaw the E-logs put two and two together and could tell what happened, these people at Landstar seem like Robots and can't tell the obvious.

 

If you can run Landstar's system, you can run your own authority. About the only difference between running your own authority and leasing to Landstar is that they act as your bank. Landstar will advance you money for base plates and permits and deduct the cost, plus a handling fee, from your weekly settlements. You are probably paying more for your fuel taxes by them doing them for you rather than having your own IFTA account. Running your authority you pay for all the insurance. Landstar brokers a lot of loads to outside carriers. If you run your own authority, you can still haul their loads and without all the micromanaging. You can also get your money within a couple of days. You will need to run with your own money, but are not limited to only running Landstar loads. There are a lot of brokers and shippers who need freight hauled. With your authority, you can haul for any of them. There are some shippers that will only allow Landstar BCO's to haul their loads.

At the time I leased to Landstar I did well, but I have always done better on my own than when I leased to another carrier. I also have more flexibility than I would leasing to any carrier. I don't necessarily think that everyone should run their own authority, but if you want more flexibility and opportunity and have the resources and initiative, then you may do well getting your own numbers.