MY EXPERIENCE AS A Mercer FLATBED DRIVER

Yes, we have computer, i phone.. on the boards constantly. WHAT are you paying 24 % for?? All miles is how you do business. Add your fuel by the mile, equipment, overhead, maintenance, tires,oil, put in Driver pay at .37. And do the math. An Owner/Op should be profitable.. Does not run at cost. Rarely are there good loads on the board, they are leftover. Minimum rates going to places that you will have to DH many miles for, again, minimum rates. Good luck, I mean that.Truckers deserve better. And, yes, I want Mercer to be profitable , too. But when they are offering 2500. bonus for referrals and can not keep the ones on board busy.. that is wrong. We made a commitment to them .. ran professional .. and realized it's business suicide to stay.

 

Step deck, with load levelers and rigged for oversize. Mercer was very interested in us coming on board...

 

There the prob or what I see as the problem . I was told that around 80% was FB freight and they were limited on SD side .

I could be wrong

 

But I also understand your point on the bonus .. That scared me a bit I'll be honest 2,500 is steep and 2 classes a week.. Not sure the class size .

The only other scare I have is when I was when I asked what if I don't make it what about the trailer ? I was told it would be re leased the following week .. That's not bad Just scared me into thinking high turnover but I could be wrong .

Psrsonally I've opted to wait until after November 6,2012 to make a move and it's a mercer lean..

 

Well I turned a profit of 15-1800 a week with Swift. That's at .94 a mile. and .466 p/loaded mile fsc. 2500 a month truck payment and paying cash price at the pump.
Now you obviously got more p/mile while at Mercer.
The truck Im leasing on to Mercer is 1200 a month coupled with the higher FSC, fuel discounts, even if I get the same per mile as swift I still net a higher profit.
No offense but I'm baffled at your $800.00 a week

 

You figure in 0.34 for maint ? That's very high most do 0.07 to 0.10 maybe 0.11 with the trailer
your maint access ment is through the roof

 

And for your equip to cost 0.33-0.34 that's high too unless your truck note is 2700 a month or something crazy and you leased a new trailer .. My personal truck cost me roughy 0.10 on 2500 miles or 0.11-0.12 on less .. The trailer should only run you around 0.05 and 0.07 with maint included for the trailer

 

We knew Mercer was primarily FB but recruiter really promised how we could keep hauling with military, equipment, over size. We stated our absolute minimum would need to 1.80 ALL miles. They replied that it shouldn't be a problem. I know a few make it or are at least satisfied with mercer. the general attitude i get on this forum is that we should be grateful in this economy for anything we get. It is hard times for truckers.

 

It's the election year also

 

If you cant make it with Mercer I doubt if you can make it anywhere.If you look in the mirror you may find the problem