Landstar Questions

I'm from Tracy City, TN and I have no problem getting loaded out from home, plenty of freight in a 100 mile area.

 

I have read most of all the pages here in this forum last night and this morning and thanks to everyone for all the information. Here is my question if any who have experience can comment. I am a new o/o of 7+ months (been driving for 15 yrs...company driver for 3 different companies) and heard about a local o/o who needed a driver dedicated to Walmart fleet, so I drove for him with the understanding he would fill in for me to have days off, however that didn't work due to his health and when he knew he could no longer drive after 4 months, I ended up buying his truck from him. So now am on call 7 days a week, the company made a new "voluntery dispatch" (which is basically forced dispatch) and I have refused to go on it for the reason I want choices, so unless we are busy I may not run as those drivers are given preference over the board drivers. I am frugal and can live off of very little so while aggravating this isn't a killer, but I know it is only a matter of time before I will have to be forced dispatch and I have decided I don't want to do that just as a matter of principle I guess freedom of choice is my main motivation at this point in my life. Here is my question, would I be insane taking my truck which is a 2002 frieghtliner with a detroit motor and 950,000 miles over to Landstar and try to make it through the learning curve with it rather than go spend a lot of money on another truck? Over my driving career I have met many Landstar drivers who spoke highly of the company and I have always said if I ever got brave enough to buy my own truck I would want to work there because of the choices... well here I am an o/o. I will have to go re apply for my hazmat as I let that drop when it was up for renewal as I wasn't using it but I don't see that as a problem, and my driving record is good. I don't have a lot of experience with brokers, but the ones I did deal with for backhauls with my previous company soon had respect for me as I take seriously on time and try my best to deliver the load safely without damage. I expect I will make mistakes, I understand freight lanes from my previous driving experience but having been pretty dedicated to the mid-west/south last 4 years may be a bit behind on what is and is not a good place. And the fact I have been in such a limited area may be a deal breaker for landstar hiring me, though definately have had snow/ice experience every winter and when I started driving I learned the hardway by running pretty much I80 for 4 years in and out of Utah.

My biggest concern is my truck blowing an engine out on the road, but then I guess the choice at the time would be scrap it, rent a car and come home and then buy an upgrade truck or not OR just have it fixed and keep running it until it has paid for the extra investment of a new engine.

So do you experienced BCO's think this 56 yr old woman should go ahead and make the leap and start the process of applying to Landstar with her old truck

 

You might want to check with Landstar. They may have a minimum requirement on the age / miles of the tractor.

 

Your '02 is only 10 years old. My truck was already 15 years old, when I leased it on 13 years ago. It currently has about two and a half million miles on it.

 

O.k. I'll try to answer your questions for you. as I am what could be considered a new o/o with Landstar, having been here since March, I think I can give you a little insight.
First, there is no age requirement for a tractor at landstar. It has to pass their safety inspection before they will lease it on, and every 90 days, just like every other tractor leased on here. If it is in good shape, and will pass a D.O.T. inspection, it will pass Landstar's too. I was in Grand Prairie, Tx. at the LS yard last week, and the one BCO (o/o) had a 1960 Kenworth conventional. It was a really nice truck. Nothing special, but that's what made it nice, if you know what I mean.
Now, it takes between three to five weeks to get approved here. I was told they only accept about 3 of 10 applications. I used to work for FedEx, and I know as hard as it was to get on there. Landstar was harder. If you do intend to apply, make sure you have all your dates written down for everything, and that they are as accurate as possible. Make sure you write them down, because you may have to refer back to them at some time during the process.
Get a copy of your CSA report. you will find it helpful, ans LS will be checking it. Also get a copy of your license report, so you have the dates exact.
Next, go get your hazmat. Since it take so long to get hired on, you will have it when you start, and if it didn't come yet, they will lease you on based on you having done what is needed to get it.
I am still figuring out the learning curve, but I can say that I am making money while I learn, though not as much as I will when I get my agents in place. If you're worried about breaking down far from home, then book short runs for a few weeks until you are more comfortable with it. There are plenty of them to chose from, and some of them pay pretty good.
I bought a 2007 Volvo when I hired on, because I thought I needed a newer truck. While I am making money with it, I now think it would have been better if I had started with an older truck, and saved up the money for a newer truck. You shouldn't worry about your truck being older, and I've seen brand new trucks break down. I remember in the 1980's when I got my new truck from my boss. It was an FLD back when they first came out with them. I made it as far as the scales in Georgia on I-95, where they put it out of service because of a safety issue with the steering boxes that Freightliner had just reported. I had to get towed to Savannah Freightliner, where the truck sat for 3 weeks waiting for a new box, since everybody wanted one and there were none available. I ended up taking a Greyhound home. So don't worry about your truck.
I hope this answered your questions a little.

 

Thanks for the replies, yes I had checked they don't specify it being too old just had to pass a Dot inspection which I hear they are pretty strict about their inspections which is fine with me. Autocar that is good to know your truck has held up so long. So I guess that says I would not be insane to consider this from my truck standpoint

 

Thanks RWDfinch50 you typed that while I was typing I guess, but it was very helpful. I plan to go start the hazmat process this next week and am looking at trying for September as a hire on date.

 

I guess I should have said lease on date duh LOL

 

ive been a bco now for 2.5 yrs.came on w/a '99 fld.now in a 05 binder.i really wish i would have had the insite to get on here in '97 when i bought my first fld.what a great deal!you have the dispatch possition,the office paperwork position,the customer relations position and the best driver position.pick your own load,book it run it. if you want to stay regional,thats what you do.stay in the state if you want.it doesnt matter.however you want to run your truck. As far as your engine goes,i highly reccomend Diesel power & machine in pierceton IN.DO NOT HAVE ANY WORK DONE @ ATLANTIC cummins in va.

 

Quietbreeze, whatever you do, don't get rid of that pre-EGR Detroit. That thing is like a gold nugget and if taken care of will last almost forever.