Universal Am. Can

Discussion in 'Motor Carrier Questions - The Inside Scoop' started by Timflatbed, Mar 3, 2014.

  1. Timflatbed

    Timflatbed Bobtail Member

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    Mar 3, 2014
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    Questions for experienced OTR ...LTL ...
    I am dispatching my 20 year experienced driver , OTR thinking of short haul in Texas...problem: I had a very big crash course in the last two weeks and I have many opportunities to really mess my hubby up :) Trial and error BIG TIME!
    Universal had THEIR people call me ok...cool.
    THEN I heard percentages...shock! no wonder he stayed with company and drove per mile I need the best advice for wifey to keep hubby from losing his mind and or doing runs for loss of profit...
    Keep in mind I have researched and there was a point I wanted to scream....I am a new dispatch and there are keywords to grab leads...
    maybe I am very off point
    Success and the harsh realities are in play!
    We have just come from an awful year with Wiley.....Never in 20 years have I seen him make the worst money EVER!
    I will protect him but languages are necessary to deal with who and what...
    He just delivered ....canadian freight which he used to haul in the last ten years...the pay was great on the company side! but on O/O oh my word!
    I have done my best to protect and no dead head...
    I will not stop but I know that you all have quality advice.....
    Flatbed/ tarps ( thanks Universal for horrible trailer)
    I have also picked up on short haul based in Dallas and houston...area!
    There seems to be a driver trend there!
    What do you think?
    Shoot me the bad news!
    I got a 144 IQ buttttt in truck driving your IQ is not whats needed.....It is ....the driver protection via wife....advice..
    AGENTS? oh lord endless phone calls for horrible quotes? Where is my entry at that level...PO blah blah ...I want a list is this rediculous?
    Brokers how do you trust them? they can be very short whats the lingo here? i sort through...
    Can I represent him to the fullest? and if so what does this language look like....LOCAL FSC is not in play...OK..
    He is very experienced....but I cant call him 24-7 and not try to find my way through
    This is a long post and I hope for the best of all of you...to come! and straighten this lady out!
    I was surprised he got $1.84 per out of north CANADA...whew! did we deadhead sure did ...universal..sigh
    I wanted to shoot for Texas until this Canadian quotes show better rate...he used to run fragile glass for 10 grand after fuel...wow we took a hit! but had to get him out!!!
    Got the shaft in ( not I said the wife)
    Got the ok out!
    Now to Houston to try and run some local to calm this man down!
    Nothing but the truth so help me trucker god!
    Lady......in wait!
    :biggrin_25516:
     
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  3. skateboardman

    skateboardman Road Train Member

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    flatbed heaven
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    very hard to follow your post. I take it you are leased on to universal am can pulling a flatbed?

    first thing to learn is where to go and not to go. the canda load may have a killer rate going in, but as you found not so good coming out with some deadhead apparently if I followed your post correctly.

    at universal, mason Dixon etc, they have a load board but you basically deal with the agents directly. a little known fact at universal is the agents make more money if they broker a load out to an outside carrier instead of a lease truck. this is allowed and why I left there when I was leased there. I noticed I couldn't get loads until late morning or early afternoon, finally bugged an agent until they spilled the beans, called the main office in Michigan and they said it was allowed.

    also many of the agents have their own trucks and they kind of "look out" for each other , if ya know what I mean.


    I am no fan of their operation. go to landstar or mercer if ya want the help of a coordinator.

    but remember living in texas theres plenty going in but a fight to get out
     
    exhausted379 Thanks this.
  4. Timflatbed

    Timflatbed Bobtail Member

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    Mar 3, 2014
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    Skateboardman,
    you have just defined my life and Tim's in a nut shell!
    I know my post lacked fluidity! I got so much going on and these agents are not playing fair ball when I get a land star agent they are moving like precious oil! He was going to land star and by god I wish he would have! A lot of drivers going in and deadheading out but of course they cleared fifteen grand to the truck and paid for escorts ummmmm so I'm keeping him out for now will go back to Canada at auction time!! For now? I could sense a hustle going down in Chinatown and it takes one to know one!! At least I can protect him but I got to be able to manipulate through this game called truck driving and no one pushes me around
     
  5. Crash935

    Crash935 Medium Load Member

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    Stay away from the load board.

    Build reputations with agents in the areas you want to run. After they trust you and work with you for a bit they will get you the good loads if they know you will be in the area.

    Use other brokers. As long as they are approved through the main office, you can book and haul someone elses freight.
     
  6. skateboardman

    skateboardman Road Train Member

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    like I said, my exact reasons for leaving there and coming to Mercer 3 years ago. my biggest gripe with the am can group was being assigned to an agent terminal when I leased on with no say in the matter, and when I wanted to switch I had to have the original agents permission.

    it just wasn't my kind of place at all. I think landstar seems to be a better fit for your style.
     
  7. Timflatbed

    Timflatbed Bobtail Member

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    Mar 3, 2014
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    No doubt he regrets that move bad! Dealing with agents is like playing Russian roulette they won't push me and they can try but I work weekends so bring it agents feel like I'm dealing with crack dealers!!! :)
     
  8. Timflatbed

    Timflatbed Bobtail Member

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    Mar 3, 2014
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    Yup crash no doubt!!! Agents are like crack!! Better up your game or get out really!!!
     
  9. marstrucking423

    marstrucking423 Bobtail Member

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    Im with great american lines part of universal am can and its the best company i ever dealt with. It doesnt matter if your on someones terminal i move with a bunch of different agents and i do better then almost anyone else. When i read mercer drivers moving for 1.8 makes me laugh. I never move for under 2mi and thats all miles after there cut to me. This is a great operation far better then landstar with there picky rules and mercers stupid first in crap can't preload my truck with that which is bull. I will not ever go anywhere i have agents call me all the time and im looking for flatbed drivers as i have my own freight as well.
     
  10. G/MAN

    G/MAN Road Train Member

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    Universal is a decent company. I have a good friend who has been leased to them for several years. He initially had a difficult time. Once he built a relationship with a few agents, he has been doing very well. The last 3 or 4 years he has made over $200,000 to the truck. He pulls a flatbed. He works the load boards and also utilizes his agent contacts. Regardless of whom you lease your truck, it takes time to learn their system. He used to run quite a bit of Canada freight. One run he would usually reload at the same place where he delivered. Those loads paid him $3/mile to the truck. He averages over $2/mile for all miles run.
     
  11. marstrucking423

    marstrucking423 Bobtail Member

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    Gman ive watched your postings for three years and you know your stuff. Theres just not any money on your own anymore. Cuatomers want capacity and one thing i learned at any company is the better you help a agency who has trucks of their own retain high $3,$4mile stuff the more they give you runs that are extra. I couldnt get over 2.5mile on my own and i had twice the expense. After i deactivated my authority and leased on over here i stay busy and average about 2.24mile for every mile with 335wk taken out for expenses,tags,license,ifta,trailer 175-200,etc.
     
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