Landstar Questions

Actually, the key to success is learning to NOT rely on the load board. So much freight never makes it onto the board. Whenever I talk to a driver who failed at Landstar, one of the recurring factors was their reliance on the load board.

You have to work it to get great freight. When you start off using the board, whenever you talk to an agent don't just talk about the load you called for. Ask him what he has regular. Look for trends. There are loads on the board a week or two out that won't be there a day or two before they load, but if you have seen them before, there are usually more of them. Once you find the good ones, make note. You can set up a loop with loads that never make it to the board because you called before they got posted due to your knowledge from past postings or experience.

Last week, I pulled three loads that never made it to the board.

 

Very well said GMAN!

 

I know of several people who've lost their agency contract over things like this. For you to sit here and make accusations on something you have no proof of is ridiculous. You're better than that...start acting like it.

 

What you say makes a lot of sense. I know over the years when I would work with the same broker over time, I would be informed of loads that he hadn't posted yet, as he would call me, knowing I would usually be in his area on a specific day, and I would get first chance on the load. I guess that's what you mean by trends. It's nice when you can get on a good trend, but unfortunately, they never seem to last long.
Thanks for the advice. I put my app in yesterday, and I was advised that it would take 2 to 3 weeks for a decision. No problem, as I'm planning on starting around April 1st. Hope to see you out there someday.

 

For us personally, we move so much freight it's hard to know what we'll have from one day to the next. I can tell you though if you call us or shoot me an email and tell me when you're going to be somewhere and where you want to go that I'll keep an eye out and hold a load for you.

Good luck to you! Hopefully you get on board.

 

Thanks, I'll do that. I have a reputation developed over the last 30 + years of being a person who delivers on time, safely. I have over 3 million safe miles and a clean record. I believe they'll hire me, unless my limited exposure as an owner operator, ( I haven't done it in awhile), stands in the way. I'm just tired of doing it for somebody else. I have between 10 and 20 years left out here. I want to own my own truck again. I know what it takes to make it work, and I'm patient. I'll just take my time and figure everything out. Wish me luck.

 

well if you say so it must be true I must have just dreamed these calls up over the years, or perhaps the is a legal way to drive over 700 miles a day and I just didn't get the memo.
the primary fact I was trying to get across is that LS. is very serious about compliance

 

I'm not saying that at all buddy...but you come off attacking agents as a whole and acting like Landstar treats us like royalty. There are bad agents just like there are bad BCO's. Landstar doesn't employ either of us, we're contractors. If we do something grossly negligent or illegal, you can guarantee they're going to be on our behinds just as they would yours. The way your previous post reads, it's easily misconstrued. That's all I'm trying to say...

 

Why would you need a memo to legally drive over 700 miles a day?

68MPH X 11hours = 748
10hr break
68MPH X 3hours = 204

That's 952 miles in 24 hours. If you are out west where the speed limit is 75 MPH

73MPH X 11hours = 803
10hr break
73MPH X 3hours = 219

1022 miles in 24 hours.

 

Yeah BCO's are responsible in the end, but the agents and LS departments are supposed to be in your corner as a part of "Team Landstar". The answer to something that could be illegal should be that LS is against all illegal activity. After all of their ranting and raving at the safety meetings and Appreciation Days, you would think that they would be bending over backwards to make sure every BCO is safe and legal.Instead they say they don't know and leave it up to the BCO.

This will absolutely lead to LS safety ratings going down if they can't assist the BCO's in making the legal decision. I am not saying to tell the BCO what to do, but to help them in not doing anything illegal. After all the safety rating will be tarnished even if the BCO is terminated. As far as LS knowingly allowing a BCO to do something illegal, I am sure it happens all the time and when confronted, LS turns the other way and says they didn't know anything about it. This too will lead to poor safety ratings and ultimately hurt the drivers.