Mercer

Let's do the math: 1.15 plus .50-.60 = 1.65-1.75 mi. You call that bad? Are you going to tell me that you average more than this on every load? If you do, subtract your trailer payment, if you have one, maintenance, insurance, registration, plus use and abuse charge. If you are not averaging about $2 mi with yor trailer, you'll be better off pulling someone elses trailer for $1.65-1.75 and forget about tarping and or strapping.

 

Word of advice, if you can afford to buy one , even used, you'll be better off. Cheaper.

 

I'm not asking for much : at least 3k mi per week - no NY past I - 95. $1.70 mi. Their authority and trailer, plates, ifta, and I'm gone from mercer along with few other people. I'd tarpped, I've driven more then most, I'd looked on the board high and low, the $2mi is almost impossible.some od size loads pay so-so, through mercer, but, not enough to make figures work. There are few companies that I'm evaluating. I do plan on going home, so, I don't pull for cheap. I've even made the shipper/mercer pay $75hr after 2-3 hr wait. I almost told one customer to unload after loading, took tooooooo long.

 

If you are in NJ and won't run loads to NY or New England then you are missing out on the good freight. Several drivers in this area manage to get good short loads, two a day, frequently. Remember everything is not always on the load board. Friday was an exceptional day, but I had three loads, started at 6.30am and parked at 4.45pm, ran 215 miles and grossed $1400 .... I'll take a day like that anytime. Was never more than 50 miles from the house at any time. The loads are there, you just need to find them.

 

Tolls? How much?

 

No tolls, cross into NJ on either Rt1 or 95, come back into PA via 95, no tolls. Ran 130 instead of NJTP. And at those rates tolls are pretty much irrelevant anyway I'd think.

 

I don't like to run city roads on NE. Unless load is always there. I'm looking for the better stability. I'm not talking about one day or week. I do my math one month, one quarter, semi annually, annually. I'm very generous on the maintenance. I try to use synthetics or semi. Lubes. From my calculations, if I'll get that, stated above, pay package, I'll be better off, financially and don't have to worry about wear and tear on the trailer - which is not that big of a deal, if the pay is right. But, if the average is less than $2mi, it's not worth pulling your own trailer. In my opinion. This may not be the case for others. Be honest with yourself and ask yourself this question: if you'll get paid $1.65+mi with their plates,ifta, trailer, authority, +/- 3,000 mi per week, would it make sense to pull your own trailer, tarp, pay for The plates, and make less money?
To me: it does not.

 

Looking at your numbers and thoughts, I gotta wonder why you've not looked at the numbers running as a company driver.
If it's just about the take home pay, some company drivers do better.
Me personally, I love my trailer and very proud of it. I like having ramps and I like to throw straps and chains. Wish I could say the same about tarps but hey.

 

With one company it might make sense to get your own authority and run power only. As far as numbers: give me the way you do the math and how it is worth on having your own trailer running under $2 mi.

 

So are you running regional or 48? What exactly are you wanting to do? Personally I'd rather not run 3K+ miles/week, wearing out my truck faster. I have a 98 and just turned 750K two weeks ago. I believe in less miles, more money. If you are just wanting to stay more local there are companies that can do that in NJ, I don't know exactly where you're located though. If all you want it long haul I'm not sure who else I'd go with since I really haven't been looking.

It takes a while to learn your way around the company. I have worked hard to build relationships with agents, shippers and receivers. You want agents to be calling you and offering loads, and when shippers/receivers request you that is even better. Not saying it is easy, but it can be done. There are a couple drivers around here that are home just about every day, get their inspections done when Len comes through, and never go to Louisville for years. They are doing just fine.

Now of course not every company is a good match for every driver or o/o. Since Mercer tends to leave us pretty much on our own it is up to us to find a way to work toward our goals, how and where we want to run, etc. Simply relying on your coordinator may or may not produce the revenue you desire. And as I've said before, not all the loads make it to the load board. I kept seeing drivers getting loads even though I was empty before them, and there were no loads available so I was told. Once I figured that out and decided to address the situation things got better.