Mercer

I know a RGN guy from KS that parked his rgn last year about this time and went home and got his step..saw him last month and he is still puling the step RGN freight is tough......

 

I've been sitting in central CA since Sunday morning. May need to go south and take a container, possibly one going to NJ ports. I will need a SeaLink card to do that. Can I get the card when I get out that way, do they take your photo there and do everything on-site? Makes the TWIC card kind of a joke when the ports won't accept it because THEY can't afford to install the devices to read the cards yet.

 

The new system sounds good to me - one less thing for me to learn. Ms. Pony explained the old system to me over the telephone, and it seemed choosing which board to go on was sort of a crapshoot, especially if you were in a slow area with a bunch of other Mercers.


I had a good week - about 3590 paid miles and 460-ish total deadheading. Ran out of hrs, and I'm doing a reset. Gotta get up at 1am local time tomorrow to deliver on time.

I had to buy a set of tire chains (going to Portland, OR), and truck was due for an oil change. I was in a real hurry the other day, running 70+ most of the time and got rewarded with 4.8 mpg average, confirming C15 Acert's fuel efficiency goes down the toilet above 1400 rpm cruising. I idled all night in Laramie as it was 11 degrees, so that didn't help either. Those things ate up a good chunk of profit, but what else am I gonna do?

It still was a good week, though. Unfotunately next week isn't looking good so far. I see no load out of OR, and not much from WA either. We'll see what turns up tomorrow or Tuesday.

 

I have been looking into Mercer.
I have a question...would I be better off with a drop deck or flatbed trailer?
Since I am looking to buy a trailer I could go either way and was wondering what would be the better way to go.
Thanks for any help ...much appreciated
Chris

 

I would say flat. When I would be up in MN flat freight was iffy at best. I always seen decent step freight there, but that was about the only place where drops had the advantage. A drop deck will limit you in a lot of areas. Some of the military freight is drop, but mercers military freight is not top dollar. You can get a lot of flat military loads with them.

 

I beg to differ with No tarps.. most of Mercers freight will work on either a drop OR flat.. There are a few step only loads but when they do come up they do pay more than flat freight. (usually around .20cpm more min.)

As for Mercer's military rates being cheap.. well, it depends on what base your talking about.. I know places like SLC, UT yes, they chopped the rate so low to get any freight they can just to get the heck out of there.. so it was either haul cheap military loads or even cheaper bullfrog hot tubs with multiple drops on to get out of SLC... Las Vegas is about the same... but other areas are not.. I get darn good rates hauling out of Charleston, SC, Norfolk isn't bad, I've had both good and bad out of Blount Island, FL... Ft. Stewart was good when they ship.. Ft. Polk is good , Houston.. shall I go on??

I think a drop is easier to work off of (lower to the ground, hence easier to tarp) when you get a true step load it does pay more, get one with a 40' bottom and you'll loose less freight (don't worrey about getting can / container locks just yet.. they don't pay enough to make the dam things worth buying in my opinion but to each his own.. If you do get then for two 20' cans.. one heavy 20', & a single 40') Ramps... if you just have $$ to burn and need a tax deduction sure why not you can use them every now and then... not a lot..

Definately get a dump valve on your rear axle to save on tire wear.. you'll be replacing a lot of tires on a spread axle. If you haven't bought a step yet and have deep pockets my choice would be to get a drop with 17.5 tires.. so I could haul some big stuff every now and then.. but hey that's what I am into, it's not for everyone. Some guys hate O/D loads and refuse to pull them..

 

Well; that's good because differing with me often leads to begging...

 

Does Mercer do any OD? I have been driving extendable step for last year. Only 38' on bottom when closed. Will extend to over 70'. Have seen others that are 53' extends. If I bought one that would be my choice if I could find a decent used one. 17.5" tires. Usually find some kind of machinery or military out of Denver, Vernal, or a few other areas we go.

 

yes they do......

 

Mercer isn't known for their over abundance of O/D freight.. most of what they do isn't BIG stuff (usually doesn't require escorts) but there is a little once in a while here and there.. I do RGN and about 90% of what I do is O/D or overweight.. (my empty weight is 42,600 so it doesn't take much to make me heavy..)

U gotta watch the rates, I've seen some stuff that was O/D and it didn't pay worth a dam.. I saw a perfectly legal load paying more so why do the O/D?? I wonder where they come up with these #'s some times.. Mercer does pay for all permits and escorts if required.. the truck pay quoted on the load does not change. That is what you get, period.