Landstar load board

Landstar bad

 

Called Landstarve for many good reasons

 

It does take some time to figure out the system with Landstar. I hated it, absolutely hated it when I first got out of orientation. Swore I was going to run long enough to pay the plate off and go elsewhere. But once I got the hang of it, it's easy peasy. There are definitely some piss poor agents. But there are many good ones as well.

 

How long you been there? How many nights a week you stay out? Can you take passenger? If so is there an age limit? Sorry to ask you so many questions. I’ve been thinking a lot about going there and going dry van.

 

Search lease to landstar. They have a faq page

 

You pick your own loads so stay out as long as you like or as short as you can afford.

Passenger has to be added to the insurance. It takes a phone call. Your passenger can't do any work though.

Age limit? You have to be 21 to have an interstate CDL. You have to pass your physicals every two years. Otherwise no limit.

You'll need a hazmat endorsement, or be willing to get one. Tanker is also recommended.

 

I have been here about 6 years and learned within my 1st year that I’m better off choosing direct shipper only. It does drastically cut down the number of loads, but cuts down on the headaches too. I will look at the other loads ONLY when I screw up and find myself in a horrible freight area

 

I meant age limit for the passenger my son is 5 I’ve been told by places they have a 13 year old limit.

 

Here's what is printed on the passenger authorization check sheet:

Minors are allowed in the truck after operator has been qualified to Landstar for one year.
Minors under 12 years old are not allowed on the truck.
Minor must be immediate family
No preventable accidents or out of service roadside violations in the previous year if requesting authorization for a minor

Also, you are not allowed to have more than two people in the truck at a time, so no wife and child together.

 

Yeah - that's kinda my approach too. This week I've had to do the 'load board dance', and it's over-run (80%) with #### box agents like you said, cut and paste agents, in foreign lands.

So there's 3 I called today for platform work that have no idea what the product is, have to make calls, or the "load is already covered" story that I'm pretty short with, but shame on me - AUS agents, Frisco, TX , Artur Akopyan etc. Waste of time. Landstar sent a message saying they were going to clean up load postings that never eventuated in a shipment, but I've yet to see any change.

To note - I'm platform semi-specialized - 3 years ago it was round trip , one and done loads. Now - 2025 - it's a struggle to get that, or for whatever reason you kinda need to look for something to support a sub-par outbound. And it's that minefield of BS agents that don't know a flat from a step.

What I've found this week, is there is still a few US based agents with basic legal loads like pipe or insulation, that know what's up, have direct communication lines, but are NOT direct shippers. Sure - after LS cut, it's $3/mile loaded miles - but if you lived in the same zip code, and found some other links to get you paid loaded and back, you could do alright.

I've never run van for them, I bet there's probably some good paying van gigs there, but I don't recommend guys go there for 65% with company trailers, unless they have a specialization they can offer.

Anyway - it's a nightmare system to navigate if you come into the deal without some kinda plan.