landstar

living in south Florida, you'll have a tough time getting a decent load out, and may have to deadhead to Georgia to get one. a lot of drivers will spend days there looking for something. I always looked for a good rate going in, and when I was empty, if there wasn't anything on the load board worth taking, I left.
In the spring, when the plants are running, the rates are pretty good, also when potatoes and melons are running, their also good. I never haul potatoes and melons cause it's not worth the hassle, but when their running, the rates on the other loads go up too.
What I would do is leave home, go to the mid west for a week or two to make the money, then go home for a couple days. Always worked good for me.
You will find a bunch of drivers that like Landstar, and some who bad mouth it. I can say for me at least that I wouldn't think of going anywhere else, and I live in Florida. But, you have to figure it out for yourself.
What you earn here is what you settle for. If you take loads into areas where the freight is bad, you'll make a lot less. Nobody holds your hand here. You make it or not on your own initiative. That's what I like about it. And yes, I do vans. Good luck with your decision.

 

We've been with LS for 16 months and really like it. But your success or failure is completely down to you. You will not get any real help from corporate. There is plenty of money to be made and lots of niche avenues to pursue if you want out of general freight. You just have to give it time in order to learn how to work their system to your advantage. Persistence is the key. Like all things it's not perfect and does get frustrating at times but I think the independents LS offers can not be beat. We run dry van and are looking to get our own trailer next year, so that should tell you how much we like it here. It's all about the $$$ ....cost per mile, profit per mile etc....so being good with the numbers is a necessity.

 

Rwdfinch50, looks like we have the same truck. Ex Abilene - D12 with the ZF 12 speed ??

 

Nah. Mines ex Interstate Distributors, D12 10 speed auto. Close though.

 

One shade of green different, lol

 

I don't have much luck out of south Florida but I really don't go there alot.You might be able to hook up with an agent that can get you freight when you need out.I can get ok rates going in but hard to find anything out so usually heading to Ga or somewhere to get anything.

I don't think you'll have a problem getting $2k a week as long as you watch the board and know your numbers.Stay out of the normal bad areas and you'll do good.Once you see how the freight runs you shouldn't have to run hard to make it.

Alot of the people bad mouthing Landstar seem to say they nickel and dime you with all their charges.I don't think its to bad but if that's all they can ##### about then so be it.They are what you make them you can do extremely good and you can screw yourself over.Landstar has the freight and gives you the tools just up to you to use them to your advantage.

 

I have been with Landstar for about 9 months now and I love it. I gave up on my semi-dedicated triangle and just go where the money is. I line up freight a couple loads ahead and I will even go into a bad outbound freight area if I see a good paying load heading out a week or two in advance. Also after awhile you will know which agents have freight moving out of a bad area and most of their loads never hit the load board so get used to sending emails and cold calling (it works).

Once in awhile I will be in the right place and the right time and get a great paying load that goes to a good freight area.