Mercer

There is alot that goes into fuel discounts that most people don't know about. The other company you were talking about may have pre-bought that fuel six months to a year ago. Also when company's negotiate fuel prices with truckstops you can get better pricing if you gaurantee them that you will buy (x) amount of gallons per month. Mercer is not going to gaurantee them so many gallons a month. The only negotiating power Mercer has with them is "we have 2000 trucks running for us" on average these trucks buy "x" amount gallons from you a month. What kind of pricing can we get?

Mercer has had to good of a reputation for to long to be trying to pull a fast one over on their owner operators.

The company I was leased to before I came here got the same discounts as we do here and they were only running 450 trucks. They also did not pre-buy any fuel.

 

Did I not mention about all the major truck stops along that vecinity?

Plus, checked fuel stops in other states, bigger discount then Mercer.

Pre buy fuel? How many would have a problem fueling at the truck stop that you did not fancy much if the fuel was $.75 cheaper then pump price? I think: year in and year out, Mercer knows the average amount of fuel bought at each fuel stop therefore, they can guarantee that as well. I would not be surprised if Mercer is making money on fuel stops.

 

Well, that is probably the best thing to do from business stand point. Hard to give up southwest weather, though. Creosote bush and Joshua trees make me feel at home. I'm almost certain there are decent freights in west coast. I think it's just that Mercer doesn't have many shippers over there.

Been casually thinking of what to do. My truck will be paid off in April or May, so I may consider getting my own authority. I've been picking my own loads since I got a new coordinator, since he has no interest in learning what I like to do. I can go independent and do the same thing on load boards and get better rates overall.

Or stay with Mercer and get a stepdeck. I always see $1.80+ step loads out of CA going to midwest on the board whenever I go home. Of course, that'll be pointless after 2014 unless I put DPF on my truck.

Decisions, decisions...


How are you doing?

 

Dpf and egr will make sence if you can enable and dissable them with
The push of a button. I wouldn't be surprised to see freight go up $.70 to and from CA.

 

Anybody in Louisville tomorrow? Will be there around 9am for truck inspection.

 

Might be.... In Somerset right now for a 8:00 am delivery then will head that way..

 

Go to Louisville and ask them if they are. I don't know if they do or not. If they are then I guess it's their company to do with as they please. Maybe some of these loads that we see on the load board Mercer or its agents are taking more than their fair share on to. I don't think they are, but others I've talked to on the road think so.

 

I just signed on last week with Mercer (Live in Indiana) and was told about the load board and I'd get a password but I wasn't given the website for the loadboard. Does someone on here have it?
Sadly my dispatcher couldn't find me a load out Friday. Maybe cause I have a stepdeck. Maybe cause I'm new. I sure hope Monday I can get out. I know when ran my own authority, it was easy to get a load out of southern Indiana but harder to get back. So now it makes me wonder about getting back around christmas.
If I could see the load board that the dispacthers use, would be helpful.

 

Did you get your user ID and password? Freight out of IN and all the midwest area should be plentiful. What happened that it took until Fri to try to dispatch you, rather than Weds afternoon or Thurs?

 

No didn't get userID and password unless userID is same as driverID? Was told it was going to be emailed to me but never got it.
Actually got out of class a week ago but the permit dept. had a problem with my LLC paperwork but didn't say anything till Friday afternoon a week ago. So I got them the correct form Monday morning but they ignored it till Wed. So waiting, I put truck in shop for air valve. Called in Friday morning available and corridator said he'd look. Called back at noon and he said he'd call me when something came up. Called back around 5:20 and he was gone for the day.
I would've thoght he'd offer something to me but hey I'm the new guy.