Advise Needed for New Co to Lease on with

Check with Stevens Transport in Dallas, TX. I have a friend now that is leasing a new 2007 KW T2000 for $648 a week with insurance. They pay $.85 a mile plus a fuel surcharge of $.21 a mile. Also, they give him a ton of miles so the truck really never stops. Between him and his girl they will clear over $130k a year.

 

Be careful with Stevens Transport lease, its starts out good, but then miles get less and less, and many drivers never finish the lease.

 

Hardway, I know exactly where you are coming from, as I have also been through a lot of frustrations in the past couple of years. Of course everything depends on what you really want to do, but here are a couple of ideas.

If you want to stay with van freight, and you don't mind driving at night, I highly recommend Forward Air. I have been driving for them since August 2006. They have plenty of freight, run 100% terminal to terminal and 100% drop and hook. It is also 100% night driving on very tight delivery schedules. They pay .93 plus FSC on ALL miles loaded and empty. Pay as of today is $1.15 per mile, all miles loaded and empty. Your problem is going to be getting home often. They have only small terminals in Mobile and Pensacola but eventually you would probably get a chance to run dedicated out of one of those two places. I have pulled many loads into and out of those two terminals.

If you want flatbed, CRST Malone will train you to do the load securement and tarping and the pay is good. They pay on percentage on what they charge on the load and are averaging $1.77 per mile loaded. Average for all miles, they say, is $1.40. You will have to rent a flat but they have them cheap, I can't remember the exact amount, but it was reasonable. I have thought long and hard about getting into flatbed since it pays so well, but I have never done it. If I did go the flatbed route I would go CRST Malone. They have lots of contracts with major corporations so they have consistent, good paying freight. I know they need drivers right now and have plenty of work right now.

Have you considered reefer? Your location would seem a natural for pulling a reefer as so much seafood comes out of your area. Sunco Carriers has more work than they can cover and pays very well. They offer regions or you can drive the whole country. The last time I checked, they were averaging about $1.30 for all miles. Like CRST they pay on percentage, so it is going to be slightly different on every load. Based on your location, I would give reefers a good look if I were in your shoes!

Forward Air, CRST Malone and Sunco Carriers are all on the interet. All are very friendly about answering hard questions. So why am I with Forward Air when I know about other opportunities that pay more? The answer is low stress and steady home time. I was very stressed out when I joined Forward Air in August and it has been very good for me. Atlanta is where I live, and it is a major hub for Forward Air, so I get home just about every other day. The good hometime and low stress made Forward Air a good choice for me.

 

try newline transport pretty good company to lease on with,but with everbody,they have their bad days to

 

i would try recommending to you some other companies not too many others think about. like FedEx, UPS, DHL, even any LTL company in your area. most provide daily runs as well as overnighters, or longer distance runs.
but freight is a bit slow in some parts of the country right now. i suspect things will pick up by early spring...??

 

I have a friend live sway up North in Virginia leased to Mercer, been there 10 years and no complaints. Says they pay fuel surcharge, owns his own flat. I was leased to Watkins-Shepard out of Misssoula so cant tell u about Southern thangs. Keep yer siick on the ice.Karl

 

I had email "conversation" with Schneider recruiter a couple months ago (I'm the one whose wife suggested we both get licensed and go team driving). The discussion drifted over to the idea of leasing with them after driving for them for one year. I asked about slack time, not having enough loads to pay the bills. The recruiter told me that their leasing contract permits the drivers to pull for other companies if Schneider doesn't have an available load. Now, I don't know if this is true, I don't know if Schneider has their hands out waiting for some kind of % of the fee received for pulling loads for other carriers, but that is what the man told me.

dave

 

The company I am leased to, Great Wide, has a couple terminals in your general area. McClenny, FL, and Brundidge, AL. They service Wal Marts.