Where do I start (again)?

I can't say too much about Landstar without getting glared out for recruiting...though I'm not a recruiter. The majority of the guys I talk to say they enjoy pulling as an O/O with the Star and enjoy specifically the freedom it gives them.

Deck ops and overdimensional will help you go far here. If you're doing vans, get teams and get em approved for AA&E. I wish you luck regardless of what you do and who you choose to drive with. It sounds like you've got a pretty decent head on your shoulders.

 

I would roll with your own numbers man. Granted I am just starting out but I watched these companies bleed my old man. Hence the reason I got my own authority. Wait till that Landstar rep really needs that load moved and you say no. My experience is say no too many times and guess what your looking for a new lease. Just my .02.

 

Plus with his own numbers he can pursue direct outbound freight.

 

I'm sorry but you have no concept of how LS works. You can say no to who you want, when you want and there is nothing we can do. That's why they call you a Business Capacity Owner, because it's your own business. And I'm not a rep, merely an independent agent.

 

That's great for small companies with a load or two here and there, but a lot of these bigger companies aren't accepting new carriers, and the ones they do are 50+ truck fleets that can provide drop trailers and guaranteed capacity.

 

@74- NO NO I wasnt suggesting that at all, i'm sorry if you misunderstood. I was just stating there is a lot more to flatbed than that, which i'm sure you know. I do apologize if you thot that was my intent, farthest from..

 

Sounds like a bunch of corporate hogwash to me. Business Capacity owner? Come on!!!!!! Jesus Christ. Your right I have no clue as to how LS works. I think I am better off with my own numbers and not a business capacity owner. Lol.

 

Getting back to your original question, you need to look up your authority status on the FMCSA carrier search page.

My guess is that your status is inactive with a voluntary revocation. Check it out and call OOIDA for help/advice if you aren't sure. If I'm right, you'll need to have your insurance company post coverage first, then log in to FMCSA and complete a reinstatement request ($85). Of course, you'd likely need to buy a truck to have something to insure in the first place.

I'd also expect a little delay while they check you out. Applying for authority then immediately going inactive for a year will throw some red flags up when they review for reinstatement.

 

There's some pretty decent power only opportunities out there, maybe mentioned earlier. Use your numbers, pull their trailers, run your own show.

I've been doing the power-only gig for better than half a year now, running under my Authority and really like it.

Putting my reefer up for sale (pictured below)