load boards and buying a truck

Great, then stay with Landstar. I did not like the freight lanes in Schneider and the intermodule (train freight-east-west) No east west runs to speak of. Sad state of affairs for drivers/owner operators, but then I went to Landstar because I have always loved Independence.

Associated was Landstar's big mistake. But, you are wrong about freight west because some of my best paying freight was from a broker out west that took care of me. Also, leaving home the freight rate was not bad, but back east? I got stuck far too many times in places where the rates were just too cheap to consider. I talked with drivers going bankrupt and I just received correspondence from the legal services where a number of drivers filed a lawsuit against Landstar three years ago.

Unfortunately I could not stay in the freight lanes that paid. If you can; Great; but what I went through with Landstar is no different than a lot of other drivers out there and like I said, I don't provide assets for others to get rich off of while I starve to death.

So you are wrong again and all you show is you know a few that make good with Landstar. I have already admitted to that so you have prove nothing.

It is amazing how there is always one in every company that will die for the Company Name and I don't know of any Company that is worth that loyalty today; anywhere. Even the best have their down sides but if I were to drive again I would go with Crete.

Someday when you finally retire and look back at what you did in your life you will wonder what it was all for. Life is changing faster than the American Vision; homes now over $250,000 for nothing. Automobiles that are half way decent start at $35,000. Mortages and Interest payments all your life and what do you get when it is all said and done?

Retired with much less to live on in a world where your property taxes eat you out of house and home or your medical expenses will take it all away from you. Ask any accountant and then call me an idiot!

Kind of like the blind leading the blind in this world today. I guess that is why I sit on the side line and within the next few weeks I will earn more money than I ever did driving trucks. No, you can have your Landstar and when you are in Jacksonville, go up and give the big boss a big juicy kiss and see if he invites you to T-Off.

So I have stated before and agreed again, with the fact some drivers do well with Landstar, but that is not the rule.

Sorry Pal, try again. I would be nice but you placed the statement at the bottom so back to you: Never argue with an idiot as they will bring you down to their level where they have lots of experience! Old saying! Thanks for reminding me!

One last comment. When I was sitting and waiting for freight and all I was offered was cheap cheap freight, I had contacts that I could have used to haul freight at decent rates, but it was not allowed without giving my sources to Landstar and that would have been a big mistake as Landstar would have undercut the rates.

Now, I don't have anything good to say about Landstar so I won't comment on them in the future. But I will thank the agents that took good care of me when I was in their traffic lanes.

 

The DAT board is a nationwide load board, normally located in a truck-stop. It's one of the oldest if not the oldest that trucking companies, brokers, and shippers use to post their available loads and equipment.
You can scroll through the loads on it and get the contact information on loads that the posting company has available. There are other load-boards as well such as the one in the Flying J, or on line load boards which are much cheaper. Most brokers, not all, that post their loads on the DAT are pretty decent as the cost of using the DAT is not cheap, it runs between $150.00 to $300.00 per month depending on the type of account you have, then you pay extra for each posting of a load, available equipment, etc. It works on either a monthly or yearly subscription. They allow you X number of postings etc then the additional charges kick in. In contrast the on line boards are cheaper between $30.00 and $50.00 per month depending on the extras that you have on your account, like credit checks, payment history etc. There are pros and cons to all of them, but they are a useful and lucrative tool for those that use them.

 

didn't mean to get a pi$$ing contest started about the whole LS crap. Was just replying to suggestion about leasing a truck, putting it on at LS, and load boards.

But as far as being independent, and home time, well, I am home every night, and the o/o leased to me are home every night, except in the spring and early fall, then its gone for 3.
We haul for a few local manufacturers, farms and grocer's. And mainly one broker. Works out great. All the way around.
The point I am trying make is, yes I am home, a lot, and with money to actually do something while there.

 

It is really great for those who have the freight, rates and home time. You are the envy of the industry. Unfortunately, there is not enough of the good stuff to go around.

Some drivers get lucky and get great contracts for dedicated, but sooner or later that changes and either they have planned for it, or they get hurt because their gravy train has run out.

We all have to remember one thing in life, "The only constant is change!"

Thanks and no, I am not going to continue something where there seems to be a lack of understanding about the industry. Individuals at times do great. I have always been one to look at the big picture as it was my training and responsibility in some of my assignments while in the military.

You are one of the lucky ones and I hope your luck holds out. Experience has shown me not to count my chickens before the hatch. Always plan your future if possible.

 

How true.How true.

 

9 OUT OF TEN TIMES WHEN YOU USE THE LOAD BOARD THAT LOAD IS GONE ALREADY BECAUSE IT HAS A DELAY IN IT AT THE TRUCK STOPS IT LETS THE ACCOUNT HOLDERS HAVE 1ST CHANCE AT THE LOAD

 

independants are a thinning breed.....theres just way to much compition and pressure from the big outfits, you know the guys with thousands of trucks and can afford to make pennies on the mile

im leased to a small outfit, and at times we get loads that pay well below what they should to make a decent profit, but if we didnt take them someone else would and we would be stuck in a crappy frieght area, and noone makes any money parked in the OTR game

unless you have a good long term deal with someone, id be afriad to go independant, just the fee's, extra taxes and mountians of paperwork scare the heck out of me when i know id be running the same frieght i am now and making less

i dont think everyone should be a company driver, quite the oppisite in fact...no i dont support L/P's either....i personally think if there were more poeple with the gumption it takes just to buy yer own truck, even leased onto a company...then o/o's would have better fighting ground than we have now, and could get better paying frieght,a higher percentage of said frieght and more respect than a dishwasher

just my opinion though

 

Look close at the over all expense of running a truck. Those that give you the gross figure of their earnings do not give you the truth about the profits from running your own equipment.

Those who make more than the average, are either into a good thing or they are running illegal in order to earn those big bucks.

Do you homework before jumping in. There is not that much money in the Truck business. I have been there.

Many Owner Operators earn less than company drivers after all is said and done. Unless you have done your homework, one year is not enough experience to go out and buy a truck.

Give it more time and do your do diligence. At least then you will enter a new world with your eyes open.