Landstar Questions

heyyy anybody know --if at lanstar,do you get the reefer rate all the time ,or only when the reefer is running--like on a reefer load ??
i couldnt see anything on the job application, and didnt want to call and wait an hour for a simple question
thanx

 

we only get it when we are running a reefer load

 

The LS recruiter told me the average van rate was $1.25/mi PLUS FSC of about .35/mi and that all runs dont have FSC but most do, is that true?
I'm out of Portland, Oregon, are there any problems getin loads to and out of the Northwest? and My mom lives in Calif, are 2005 trucks still allowed in Calif? Any info would be appreciated.

 

Well in all HONESTY, the loads are different sometimes from agent to agent.... Im not sure of how much the agent makes from a load, so I won't try comment on that but this is what I do know...... FSC should be on EVERY load and if that particular agent isn't alloting anything for fuel then my guess is he/she's trying to put more in their pocket....

For Example:

Load pays $2500.00 and it'll note in the comment section +$350.00 fsc. I HAVE PERSONALLY seen a load that I was interested in not have anything alloted for fuel so I ASKED! she agreed and pulled $200.00 for fuel.. but the key is I ASKED! Remember the BCO gets all of the FSC. NOW, read this CAREFULLY! Landstar knows the FSC rate so an agent can't just give you 50% of the load in fuel because they hate LS or something.... They will chargeback the agent if he/she does anything out of the ordinary....

Now, here's another example..... I've pulled LOADS (plural) and I felt that the tarp charge and the FSC wasn't enough... so I ASKED! and the agent couldn't do anything more on fuel BUT they have given me another $100.00 on average on the accessorial side (tarping, etc.). This has been the case with me SEVERAL times. Now, you call and tell the lady/guy she can shove the load because the fsc isn't enough or there is not fsc and they'll tell you where to shove it! I have gotten my request about 95% of the time...... Landstar watches that.... The agent maynot be able to give you another dime in fuel but she/he can give you money somewhere else and if Landstar did call they can say well the tarp charge is that much because........

Now, Before I go... about the Onboard Recorders..... I think everyone will go to that oneday..... and Landstar pays very close attention to you running legal or not.... If it's them or you then your the one that will be without a job.... Here's something that happened to me personally.... I fueled using the ls card and my fueling didn't match the receipts and the log entry (cause I was cheating a little).... I was called on it several times....... OKKKKKK! No more fueling with ls card... I'll pay in cash! but the only problem with this is you don't get the discount.... sooooooo......

 

with the economy so bad is there enough van freight to make some serious money?

 

After LS cut 35% you will get into capt. 7 faster than you can dream ahahahhaa,just like I wrote before,you wanna make money,not at Ls piece of trash.
The only way to make money at LS is if you reside into so called HOT CORIDOR,or else.

 

Not sure of what you mean by the 35% Landstar cut. There is NO such thing as a 'Hot Corridor' at any trucking company because ANYTHING is subject to change at ANYTIME and that's ANYWHERE you go.. (thinking...just messed him up with the 'ANYS'). If you read my posts you'll see that anything is possible if you are willing to do something that others are not willing to do and get paid for it. I guess I should have told more stories about the 'Material Possessions' that LS allowed me to buy in order for some people to equate to 'SUCCESS'. I have pulled 'GOOD' loads at LS and I've had some 'DECENT' loads and I've had very few 'GARBAGE' loads. The lack of very many garbage loads is because I just didn't call on those loads that didn't seem to make sense. Did I make $4.00 a mile all the time? HELL NO! Did I make $3.00 a mile all the time? HELL NO!... It's what you make of it my friend. You know a majority of my money was made with the stepdeck that I mentioned earlier and the fact that 'I AIN'T" scared of 90 degree heat, rain, snow, tarps, chains, DOT, West coast, NE, Canada, etc.... I've conversed with LS drivers that were just plain ole' mad because they had to tarp a load in Texas in August and didn't book the load.... WHAT! you scared of the shower? Lemme tell you something..... If it pays well and the tarp charge is acceptable and it's doable, then I'm puttn' it on my trailer! PERIOD!

I heard stories day in and day out about companies and drivers that say they are starving and not making it. I hear talk of Mercer, Landstar, etc. So I think it's 'YOU', the person in the mirror that either MAKES or BREAKS your success. Anytime you LIMIT yourself then you are limiting your income and advancement in ANYTHING that you do. If you don't run here or don't run there or refuse to do this or that then what else can you expect? Hell! any married person knows about doing some crap you really don't wanna do.... but then again! WAIT! guess that's why the divorce rate is so high huh?

Here's another factor.... DEBT! I've talked to sooooo many people that say they aren't making any money and when you talk long enough you find that they have a Mortgage, CC's, mamas SUV note, Harley note, pickup truck note, 4 wheeler note, big truck note, trailer note, child support, paying for childs car note, etc..... then you see why he/she needs to make $40,000 a month. Success is mostly determined on an individual basis. LS was more than fair for me and I did really well while there.... Are they 'Gods Gift to the Earth'? NOPE! I could talk allday about SUCCESS and FAILURE but that's up to you.

I can talk about that load that I picked up in New York, in freezing temperatures that paid really well. Why? Because nobody wanted to tarp it in 18degree weather. But I did!...... I didn't just buy that 'Thermal' suit for nothing! How about the loads going to the NE? I'll go... I'm not moving up there! Imma pick it up....drop it off....and get back down South.. If your waiting for that magical load 'EVERYTIME' then start your own company.... I'll admit that LS ain't for everybody.... what company is?? If you do well at Mercer, etc. then you've found your niche. Alot of people said "I wouldn't go to LS cause you'll starve!" but I didn't... Everthing isn't for Everyone.... I've got a Corvette and I thought that everybody liked those... but the other day a fella told me he wouldn't get caught in one..... YEAH! I guess not because he was 300 lbs. and couldn't fit in the drivers seat! ....... see what I mean? There are other good companies out there but you've gotta find them like evrything else... There's good women in the world but you've got to weed through the 'BAD' ones.....

Now, back to the percentage thing.

READ CAREFULLY:

You can get ALL the money and keep all the money if you

1. Apply for your own Authority
2. Start your own trucking company
3. Put on a shirt, tie, and slacks and solicit work for your newly found company.
4. Realize that anytime you 'WORK' or 'LEASE' on to someone elses outfit then they're going to make more than 'YOU'.... PERIOD!

BTW, making $4000.00 a month and bills totaling $4600.00 a month will land you into Chapter 7 too......... JMO

 

I see a lot of LS vans...... not sure if they're making any money though. A friend pulls a LS van but he has a dedicated run year round account....

 

I will honestly say it will be extremely difficult to make serious money right now at landstar if you are new. They just came out friday saying that all trucks will have on board computers by years end and all new trucks will have them installed at orientation.

Along with the new hours of service thats proposed and landstars obsession with csa2000 which have already cost alot of bcos their job. I would not want to try and learn the landstar system under this incredible restrictive environment.

I guarantee you will starve.

Along with the fact that there is little to no good freight right now being posted because of the economy.

Good freight will be hard to find on a regular basis unless your already connected with a list of good agents which takes a minimum of 1_2 years of putting together.

I have been here 5 years and personally I am looking forward to the obrs because I am in with good agents and I dont have to lie on my logs to get a good settlement everyweek.

With new drivers running around like chickens with their heads cut off and old drivers either quiting because they dont like the new ways or getting run off because they will continue to run the same way and get fired the rates should go up and there should be more freight for those that have been here a while and are willing to play by the new rules.

Just my opinion.

 

I recently inquired into Landstar. In the packet I was given a snapshop of loads to and from my area. I asked recruiter and got a vague answer, so I will ask here.

The loads had an amount listed, now I know you get say 65% of that amount pulling a van. That much I understand. The question is: Does that rate include the FSC or is the FSC added to that amount? The now $0.39cpm difference will determine whether I will make the change or not.

Van loads in my area were listed from $1.34-$2.25 cpm before Landstars cut. Some of those are fine if they DO NOT include the FSC in the listed rate. If the FSC is included then there is no way in hell I am making a change.

I currently get .87 empty and .90 loaded for all dispatched miles plus the FSC on all those miles and I can get 3000 plus miles anytime I want. Plus all my scales, lumpers, tolls, fuel taxes are paid.

I would like to work less and make more, and be home more often so that is why I was taking a look at Landstar. I did a mock roundtrip based on the snapshots I was sent and also adding the FSC and the numbers looked better than what I get now. But that FSC question makes or breaks the decision. Any help is appreciated.