Landstar

I am not sure how Landstar handles that. I remember back when I was with Landstar that there was a guy who owned a multi axle trailer with jeeps, etc., I believe that it was only one of about two in the entire system at the time. As your experience grows and agents see how you handle certain types of freight, your opportunities should expand. Landstar does have different types of trailers. The guy I noted above had his own trailer. When he wasn't doing heavy haul he pulled a flat. There is usually a waiting list for the more specialized trailers. Of course, you can always buy your own. I met one guy who was leased to landstar who owned a double drop stretch. He did well and his wife became certified to act as his escort. She traveled with the kids in their SUV and he drove the truck.

 

Landstar only has Securement class at St Augustine, FL. Harold is thee trainer. Might as well do Orientation at St Aug too if you have to do securement that way you can bang it out in one shot and go grab a trailer.

 

LS has levels that allow you to move up the food chain in specialized. Previous verifiable OS experience will let you skip levels. I started at SD3 personally.
Flat/SD1 =No oversize experience. 6 mo at F/SD1 gets to F?SD2
F/SD2= legal to 10' wide loads. 5 OS loads and 6 mo gets F/SD3
F/SD3=10'-12' wide loads and overweight. 5 OS loads and 6 mo gets F/SD4
F/SD4=12'-14' wide loads. 10 OS loads and 1 year gets F/SD5
F/SD5 is pretty much anything that'll go on a F/SD

After two years, LS will let you pull a RGN and start Heavy Haul, if you didn't have experience with it coming in, but you have to have your own trailer. A F/SD4-5 rating would be highly recommended as well.
There are different levels in HH, but I don't know them off the top of my head. Needless to say, a SD3 isn't going to be allowed to buy and run a 13 axle rig here.

 

You make your own destiny here at Landstar took me about 3mnths to get dialed in with the Landstar program very straight forward....simple business format. Not for everyone as far as cheap freight, haven’t had a problem I know what it cost me to run my business set my parameters and don't bother looking at loads that don't work for my business....period. Has worked for me, those that don't know what they need to operate are in trouble before they start (like navigating in the dark). This does not mean that you do not have to get creative like scheduling backwards to achieve your goal average.

 

Sounds like you need to prepair better. For instance if I am going to an area that is known for cheap freight i set a load ahead of time that works for me cost wise or I don't head that way. If I am sitting it is because I want to sit or I didn't prepair my week properly. The times when a load has cancelled are few and far between. But if I have set my week 2 1/2 loads out in front I am not desperate to take what I see right then and have a better selection of loads to choose from. Based on the parameters YOU set. Well it works for me anyway but my truck is payed for so my overhead is may be lower than yours. Good luck!

 

Fortycal nailed it, in this industry you have to find the area that is not overpopulated YET anyway. Van......forget it! Everything is load to truck ratio, in the area or location if you have more trucks than loads ( creats hungry truckers willing to take cheaper loads). It sucks but thats the beast like it or not.

 

I applied for L/S around Thanksgiving. Heard from them about 5 times in a short period of time and then all of a sudden nothing. Last time I spoke they where waiting for alcohol and drug history from previous emp. No worries as I have 23 yrs driving exp w/clean record...do they inform you if there not interested or just dont call you?
I made a mistake and told the company I was leased on to when he asked if I knew of somewhere that pays more, I said I was looking. He didn't like that and gave me my 30 day notice. Contract expired 12/2011 anyways so now Im really looking.
Any advice on selling myself to L/S? Really love to work for them.

 

You need to stay in touch with them. I have a friend who was going to lease to them and they strung him along for several weeks. After about 5 or 6 weeks he leased to someone else. He had a clean record. I don't know what happened. Landstar uses an outside service to check drivers record. Perhaps they had too many applicants. I don't recall how long it took for me to lease on but that was many years ago. I believe that they did their own checks in-house when I leased to them. I don't recall it taking that long. It is always good to have a backup plan in case things don't work out with Landstar or if you need to do something before they approve you. Sometimes it takes a while for former carriers to get back with Landstar. Until they verify your information they won't approve your application.

 

Keep at them. Don't take no for an answer until you've fought to the end. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you.

 

ok guys, I have a webinar on the landstar board tomorrow and wanted some advice for what to look for while cruising the load board, I live in Las Vegas and hope to be signed on shortly. what are freight hot spots in the van division? LA, Chicago, Dallas, Virginia, Carolinas? any advice and tips are all welcomed to make the most informed decision that I can. Is it best to get latched on to certain agents or just cruise the board for loads? just general info would be cool at the least, as far as it goes for me I can go anywhere, but prefer drop & hook, single pick, single drop, whatever keeps me moving and profitable, so any advice is welcomed, thanks and have a great night.