Didn't realize these big doghouse kw's & petes were so popular until I rolled up to the mercer yard lol. I've counted at least 50 since yesterday . One more day of "red tape" an hopefully I'll be outta here.
Believe it or not half the class is dry van. It's about 30 of us here. Half dry van Half drivers for contractors An the rest are quality guys I'm the only guy here who brought on a truck an trailer. You'd figure I would be outta here faster. Not! I had to buy $500 worth of equipment just to pass inspection ( btw the same equipment is sitting in my garage back home) smh. I just don't haul all that crap around but mercer says you have to so basically I've bought this stuff twice. They are running a little behind this week because they haven't had such of a big class like this in a while so things are kinda haywire. As I mentioned before the mercer inspection lane is like standing before God waiting to be judged. Lol. If you pass it with flying colors you a truly a supertrucker!!!! I salute the man that does! Knowles came out an knocked out an air leak I had behind the firewall ...didn't charge me hardly anything for labor so that was a plus. Overall I'm glad I brought it in because I had no idea it was even leaking air. You literally have to be able to hear a pin drop to be able to hear it. Met with my coordinator today..seems like a nice girl she's been here 2 years an a lot of the old heads under her approve of her so it eased my mind a bit. I told her I would prefer if she ran my truck for a while until I can get used to the way mercer's system is setup an I can fully understand their lanes of freight.
You can keep those dog houses lol. I would hate to get in some of these tight shippers or customers in that thing!...
Saw a lot of loaded trucks here but one thing I didn't see on the back of them was LUMBER!!...does mercer not dibble in the lumber yards much? I see more vehicles an machinery on trucks than anything else!
One more thing!...how in the hell am I supposed to measure this truck an trailer?!! I'm a truck driver not a carpenter so the last thing I would have is a tape measure in my truck
30 is a huge class. From what I understand 20 is avg. seems like a lot of people are bringing there small fleets on right now. I was there the week before Xmas week and I think the class was 8. 5 was a small fleet signing on flatbeds. 2 were van guys and 1 was a flatbed guy. Bet Mercer as been growing the van side for some time now. Soon they will outnumber flats and they already have more freight offers in most areas (although as to be expected the rates are a little lower) As for passing the inspection? Well I passed when I brought this new truck in but you are correct. Passing the first time through is hard to do. Luckily Knowles rates are not bad at all. My only suggestion is learn the system FAST. It's good you are finally here, Good Luck!
