Mercer

you got a list? wow.......

 

So I'm on my first LTL load. I was going to go home, but Eric found me good stuff that I couldn't resist, $6k for 2800 miles, so I told him to go ahead and book them for me.

He got one load, but somebody else grabbed the other part (maybe I should have turned it down at that point). He found another LTL but there's a big detour and it'll end up at $5k for 3600 miles, not to mention it increased DH by 300 miles.

The rate is OK considering the miles, but I'd rather do a bunch of short hops at higher rate. I made real good money last month doing that (details available upon request), and it saves wear and tear on my truck.

Anyway, half of the load will come off in El Paso, and I'll have 30 feet/30k lbs available.

So hopefully, I'll be able to put something else on the trailer after the first drop off without doing another long detour. If not, I guess I can chalk it up to a part of learning curve.

 

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Hello everybody. I have been following along with your posts and I find them very helpful. I have been saving my spare change with the hopes of getting a truck up and rolling by spring of "11". Looking to sign on with Mercer. I find some of you fine folks in the pipe yards that I am always at here in Houston. I hope that everyone has a safe holiday weekend.

 

Which pipe yards in Houston? You won't ever see me in Texas Pipe.... Well OK, if the rate is good I'll go. I won't be excited about it though.

 

Hehehehehe, Oh my, Ain't place that a hoot. I find that Womble coatings on Industrial road can be a bit longer if yer waiting on those MTR's. 11 hours just to get my bills. I have been doing this local gig for about three years now and in Texas, local covers a good bit of ground. There is good money here if worked right. I find that less can be more. After my youngest graduates from high school next year I am gonna hit the road again. Houston has tons of freight, but it is the home of the endless summer.

 

How's your load going katz. I am not sure I follow what happened to your load but it seems like some money was lost in the deal. That is compared to what it was and then what it ended up being. I hope it all comes together.

 

This load is already starting to look like a failure.

Two Mercers were supposed to get loaded at the same time, as the loads required a special crane. So I showed up at Sierra AD an hour before and check in my phone, camera, and laptop.

8:00. Still no sight of the other guy. He showed up about an hour later. Apparently he lost a fan belt, and it took out his coolant hose. Repairing delayed him. Can't blame him on that.

Took a while before the crane showed up, then loading took about an hour and change. I get it secured and tarped, helped the other driver tarp his load.

By the time I hopped back in the truck, Limbaugh show had long ended and 2nd hour of Hannity (whom I don't listen much) was starting. The pick up for the aforementioned load going to El Paso was in Sacramento. It was not looking good.

I get back to the check-in building and get my phone back and called Louisville and Stockton immediately.

They cancelled Sac - El Paso load when they determined I wouldn't make it, and put me on another LTL out of Carson City. At that point, it was 14:30 local time, and the shipper normally closes at 16:00 but there's a guy who would load me after hours if I bribe him $50.

I hauled my arse down to Carson City. The guy called his supervisor when he couldn't find the shipment I was supposed to get. It turned out they already loaded it on another truck from some other carrier earlier that day.

Stockton agents profusely apologized and told me I'll be compensated. Unlike some other agents, they usually treat me pretty good, but I'll believe it when I see it. I have yet to be paid on impromptu weekend load I did in May for LA agent.

So it looks like I'm going to NY at lousy $1.30 a mile, not counting DH. It's a comedy if I wasn't in the middle of it. I guess God needed a good laugh.

While I was at Sierra AD, I saw rows of remains of MaxxPros that I assume came back from Iraq or Afgan - looking at some of them almost made me choke up. Makes my problem look like nothing in comparison.

Happy 4th to you all!

 

Hey maybe one of those blown up Maxxpros was mine that hit a 120lbs IED.

 

Mercer Blog shows as to why you should do a pre-trip inspection!

http://mercertownblog.wordpress.com/2010/06/29/pre-trip-inspections/