Mercer Transportation Co., Inc. - Louisville, Ky.?

California freight is always less coming back east, anyone with a brain going there should know that. rates coming back east have been lower than going out every since I began driving. so if ya take a load there, be prepared for it, it you continually take loads there, and continually gripe about it , where does the problem lie? with the company or the driver who chooses the load.

if you go to California this time of year especially, if ya go there you picked the load , who ya got to blame but yourself if there are no good paying loads back.

the problem isn't the company you are pulling for, its the nut behind the wheel who keep doing the same stuff over and over, and griping about the same stuff over and over.

deputy , you have beat the California deal to death. that's why I stopped going out there, it is what it is, I stay in better areas, and I bet flatbed22 isn't pulling back for 1.25

 

and tell ya buddies to recheck the load board as of right now only one load is as cheap as 1.23, a van load.

next cheapest is 1.58 and the others are higher, actually rather surprising. but since you have load board access you should know that.

 

Well I don't spend my time checking load boards anymore.. your absolutely correct on going out West. And $1.56 is also garbage rates. I was commenting on flatbed22 ... Sure , guts can move freight all day everyday, that doesn't mean your making money. Run smarter not harder

 

Again skateboardman , you missed a little of the comment. I was referring to flatbed22 when he said he never ever sits and how he got a load out of Calif.... $1.25 or $1.56 either way is not profitable...... As you said, run where rates are good. Running for free is a bit silly don't you agree ???? And when rates are lower at certain companies and better at others that isn't the drivers fault. Lol.

 

Not that I go to Cailf. anymore but I think $1.56 out of Calif. is profitable, if you can get better than $2 mile going in. And we usually do.

I realize that isn't great money, but for me it's is profitable if can average more than more than 1.75 round trip. But then your truck might eat more fuel than mine or have large truck payments or ?

I do better than 1.75 mile by staying out of there but just saying there is money to be made in those numbers.

 

I don't mean to come down on anyone who chooses to run there. what I don't understand is choosing to go there time after time and complain about it.


same as going to Laredo, although I do like flightline posted, I usually look at the average of a round trip, I get a good rate in to balance out a lower rate out, but I changed to a 37 state tag 2 years ago.

 

I agree with you and flightline..... Cali has and always will be awful for freight. $1.75 or better round trip is good . I was lucky my truck got a avg of 6.8 MPG.. Up until I sold my equipment I ran mainly Northern Canada up into Northwest Territory and to Newfoundland.. Rates were awesome. Mercer has lots of those loads too that pay great going way up North. You just got to find what clicks for you , what may good for you may not be good for others. One thing for sure though rates need to go up since every other expense is.

And skateboardman , we disagree on things and that is fine. But my only real problem with Mercer was my trailer ordeal. They handled it wrong and it made me pretty upset when it cost me several thousand dollars when Mercer should have made good on it instead of lying about it. But that is water under the bridge and history. I am glad your doing good at Mercer. My coordinator there was a great guy as was many people there.... V.P. Dale Korum and his boy in the trailer dept on the other hand have no integrity. Anyways stay safe and merry xmas....

 

Personnally I don't think freight rates will go up much. Just as OD rates have fallen so much. The biggest reason the rates don't go up, is because other carriers can haul for less. They can haul for cheaper partially because they get better fuel economy.
So the best way to compete with rates vs costs is to get cost down. Fuel economy up.
As fuel prices go up, fuel surcharges go up and the trucks averaging better than the standard will make more money. The standard is at 6.2 mpg. If you get under 6.2 you will lose money as fuel cost goes up.
I currently average 7 and plan on making my truck get over 8 this new year.
With the newest trucks coming out with such higher fuel economy, is causing the standard mpg to rise as well and again keeping the rates low.

 

Im thinking of leasing on with mercer with a van! is it a good bet to do or a no no shoo go away type deal!!?? Does anyone know of any van O/O's there I've read the post for flat beds but not a lot on vans! and if I do lease on with them I will be lease purchasing a trailer!! any thoughts?????

 

you wont go wrong bigbooger. i am leased on with mercer van. freight rates are decent for this time of year