Mercer

what you don't understand is none of you have never obviously had your own irp plates........mercer marks up the cost about 700.00.......the safety bonus etc is just them not overcharging you as much.........you have to have been with them a full "calender year jan, 1 to jan 1 to qualify.....doesn't matter how much you run or make if you come on after the first of the year....If I was too stay that would be about 1200.00 profit they made just off the plate....thats why OOIDA recommends all companies allow O/O carry their own plates......its a common company ripoff tatic

 

what YOU don't understand is that I had my OWN base plates back in 1984...let me do the math...yup BEFORE you ever started driving a truck.....NEXT! I was a Motor Carrier and had leased trucks. So again do you want to tell me about what I ...."OBVIOUSLY" do not understand?! OH and one more thing princess I have copies of ALL of my former MO base plate and cab cards and can gleefully present the figures.

this is what is in this laptop 2004 $1872 2005 $1946 2006 $1942 2007 $2067 and theses prices do NOT reflect the cost of permits.
I would have to go back and pull file boxes to get the prior years and I am in Houston waiting to load and will have to get home to do that. Now keep in mind that my plates are now for all 48 and the figures above reflect only mid west states and a few east coast states.....it would have cost more money than $2067 that was paid in 2007. PLUS the cost of the plates includes your permits..but what do I know only 29 years of being and O/O. Look we ALL know you do NOT like mercer......ya want Landstars phone #? We all have things,people, groups, companies, and brands of peanut butter we do not like....it's time to stop beating the dead horse and move on...oh and my husband wanted to add the comment he is NOT in the good -ol-boy club.....and he still makes money...OH and he said if you think you are NOT making enough money he can give you names of companies that MAKE sure you do not make enough money....lol

 

I don't know how much the state of Illinois charges you for the plate, but I knew what Mercer charges for it 2 months before I signed the lease. You know, it was clearly stated in the info packet.

Why did you even sign on in the first place if you knew "it's a common company ripoff tactic"? Or did you not read the info packet?


I've only been on the road for 4 years, and chances are there are things you know that I don't. I give you that.

But coming here whining won't accomplish much to improve your situation, don't you think? I understand that much.

Nobody's holding you hostage at Mercer. You're free to leave. Good luck to you, and I sincerely mean that.

 

I came to mercer because I thought they were honest......and mam I began driving in 1979..............I understood the 2100.00 for the plate...when I said that was too high I was told that next year they would knock 500 to 700 off. By the way Landstar mam charges 1600 for there Ill base plate. I know several of there owner ops.....what I originally posted was a response to a person inquiring about mercer....I posted it several times because I did not see it in the reply section...I did not relize sometimes it is hours before visible......And mam I do not know what mo plates are.......I do know ILL irp plates aren't 2100..........I have always been independent and will go back to it.........mercer as a brokerage is fine .....you transflo and are paid on the same day............but not if your leased to them..........all my responses since the original have been to questions and statements made.............and by the way mam...if your a team as you say..........do you actually drive a 10 hrs shift.....or are you just an extra logbook..........your husband told you too say..........and didn't post himself probably because he was tuckered out from runnin two 10hr shifts. I see no comments or know one wants to see what OOIDA has to say about the subject of company base plates.......you want to respond but get aggravated when givin the facts............the truth is the shape the industry is in is because of large brokerages or so called trucking companies, that doesn't pay for a gallon of fuel have ruined the industry.........as far as making enough money I did about 130,000 this year...which in my opinion is pretty dismal considering the amount of time you spend setting with mercer,,,,,had it much better on my own.....ran 10 at one time and am down to one......Money is not as big an objective to me leasing as honestly.........my equipment is paid for.........but when someone gives me their word I exspect them to keep it.....lol

 

Why don't you take a hike troll boy? Don't come on here and accuse decent long time members of the crap you just did. You can't cut it go flip burgers. In the time you have been whining and accusing others you could have hit the phones and bricks and found a load back home. You want someone to hold your hand go back to Mommy. People have posted honest answers and figures and all you want to do is whine. If you think LS is so hot head on over there. If you have been in business as long as you say and can't afford to DH home once you are doing something real wrong. Like Katz said go elsewhere and good luck.

 

wow....so much for free speech.............I gave the figures, call yourself and show me wrong....as far as calling and getting a load.......try it yourself......you have to jump through hoops......and wait so long..........the load will be long gone......you obviously must be a socialist.....you keep posting pics of your heros.....and I am home.....just wanting to warn other drivers...........and who did I accuse......who did I call names.............never said anything good or bad about landstar just the fact that they too run Ill base plate and it is 1600.........does the truth hurt,,,,,,obviously so...........you are the one reverting to name calling.......once again that is why our industry is hurting.........

 

Have you been leased to Landstar & paid this price out of your own pocket?

I guess this answers my question above.

Who was inquiring? The original poster who posted this 5 years ago?

Your post is visible just as soon as you push the post reply button

For someone who claims to always being independent, your doing a lot of complaining instead of seeking out a solution.

I didn't see anything posted that says that she teams with her husband. But since I personally know her & her husband, I know what goes on & you can continue speculating if you wish Mr. Independent.

since you are so gung ho, why don't you post a actual link to what OOIDA has to say about the matter?

Show some facts.

No. The problem with the industry is people expect to have everything handed to them without actually do any work on their part.

You did 130 grand already this year? Stop your belly aching.

I didn't see no factual figures. I just saw you whining about the cost of the base plate.

I ask again.... Have you been leased to Landstar & actually paid this out of your pocket? Or are you relying on what others are telling you?

 

I have called landstar...... a year ago before I leased to mercer and they confirmed the 1600....a year ago......I am in no way defending them just stating the price on an ill plate..landstar charges for everything an unbelievable amount....I have looked at their statements......I have pulled alot of their brokered freight.....AS far as my posts coming up immediately......they did not originally.....the screen would say something about checking for spam.....I have pulled both landstar and mercers freight..as well as admiralmerchants....tenneesee steel etc.......I leased to mercer because I believed they were more honest....on the broker side I had no complaints.......they tell you if you lease on you can pull brokered freight but like I said just try it sometime.......they have so many stipulations and roadblocks it is almost impossible..............I don't remember complaining about what I made......Like I said honesty and keeping your word is of more importance to me.........as far as the problem with the industry,,,you have contractors paying for all the equipment, 99 percent of the labor.........and paying for all the fuel....While these big brokerages..landstar..mercer whoever make landfall profits...for example if you follow the market of the publicly traded brokerage companies they will have a big increase this year because of fuel prices,,,,,,I use to lease offices to a broker and was shocked how they pencil whip truck owners,,,,,,fuel goes up 20 percent and they will ask the shippers for 20 percent more..........the brokers then breakdown what they will pay for FSC....their excuse is always well the shippers just won't increase their fuel surcharge,,,but I got more line haul.....the truck owner then gets a little more for fuel not realizing the brokerages profits soar when line haul goes up.....the trucker is paying all the fuel and the brokerage is getting 20 more commision with no overhead.mercer posts the fuel surcharge weekly but check your mileage and the pay on the statements......It usually is not the posted FSC,,,sometimes but not usually look ask your coordinador...........now on DOD stuff they have to pass that all on OOIDA got that passed through congress two years ago..............As far as the solution the only thing I think will solve it is if truckers banded together and formed coops like the farmers did years ago to get a fair price for their commodities.....but truckers never will...landstar drivers hate mercer and vice a versa As far as why I don't post up about OOIDA.......to be honest...I don't know how....my computer knowledge is limited.....if your an OOIDA member just call them.........and to be clear I did about 130 gran in 12 months....not this calender year...........if my posting does nothing else but help someone be aware of the pitfalls..,,,,I will be happy

 

The prices you paid are a little high. I have my own tag and haven't paid that much, but I also don't have all 48 states. My dad on the other hand who got a plate thru a company and has all 48 and canada was also paying less. This is a much smaller company too, so you may want to do some checking around.

I think alot of you are missing the point totem is making...... He helped an agent cover a load and then was forgotten. Can't blame the guy for being upset about it, it happens to everyone at some point in time, some just don't realize it. He's just telling the other side of Mercer that the pro Mercer clan don't want anyone to hear about. Its the same for all companies.

 

Yeah, I get that. Don't think I haven't been screwed a couple times? I still haven't been paid $680 for the US Coast Guard load I hauled last May for Fontana agent. One LTL I hauled for the same agent, it was supposed to pay $500 - I got $495 instead (I don't get my butt hurt over $5, it's the principle).

And you're right. It's the same for all companies. Yet, he comes over here whining, hoping to keep people on the fence from choosing Mercer out of spite, over one incident that happens at any company on regular basis. That's a little pathetic for a grown man who's been around this industry for a couple decades, don't you think?

Maybe I just have problems with the tone of his posts. "Don't lease to Mercer!!!" etc. I think I'd have been a little more sympathetic if he just calmly stated he got screwed, just as a data point for the world to see. And personally I think that would have made his posts look more credible.

I don't have any loyalty to Mercer. The company has its faults just like any other place, and it's not for everybody. But overall, I can't really complain much, considering this first-time O/O who was a mere Swifty made $139,000 in 11 month (minus 13 weeks I took off). And bear in mind, Mercer foots the bill for liability/cargo insurance (which would have been a sizeable chunk for a newbie O/O) and IFTA tax, and I get decent discount for fuel, tires, etc.

I'd like to go independent one of these days, but given the amount of knowledge I had, I don't think I would have done as well if I started out as an independent.