Where is everyone #2!!

nope, we hang out at the t/a also, at least the old guys do. when I loaded in Houston on jan 2, there were 5 mercers total at the t/a, the thing was I unloaded in Freeport ,tx on the 31st at a chemical plant. on the way out there I booked a load that loaded on jan 2 to Lakeland,fl 1.98 to the truck on 25,000, no tarp. I booked that load on Friday the 27th. the guys still sitting for landstar , mercer and crst all gambling on getting a load on the 30th or the 31st out of Houston.

Houston is like many places, you have to be realistic what the avg rates are, take a reasonable rate and turn and burn.

 

I get paid 73% of what it shows on our board. Usually works out to more since we get 100% of the FSC and also 100% of tarp and so-on. It usually comes closer to 81% after the breakdown. i posted a pic of my load from Houston, and it was 16 pipes and a 1/4 pallet @ 8,000# tops. Not saying it was amazing, but getting over $3 mile to the truck (after their cut) is pretty good for Houston area. And like Skateboardman said, there were tons of empty trucks sitting around. I stopped in at Baytown to grab a shower after loading and the entire back row was all Mercer, LS and American Transport trucks just sitting empty. I honestly think the majority of them do not want to work. Because there were loads available.

 

This I know, but if I'm seeing it at $2.50 then Cluck usually gets them for about $1.95 - $2.00 a mile. Wouldnt u take a load from Houston for $2 mile if it didn't need tarps and went to the Midwest?? I know I would

 

In a heartbeat I would. I watched that lane closely for the past two weeks on ITS and Member's Edge. Anything @ $1.50/mile disappears in 1/2 hour. It would be a lightning strike to get $2/mile.

There are other lanes that work out of Houston, and some of the local stuff is good. But to IL or IN ? Well I didn't see it.

There's certain lanes you just really need your own customers. Landstar has customers, that's why you have $2.50/mile loads on that lane. For Cluck or myself we have to be the agent too. That's why I was down there two weeks investigating possibilities and beating the bushes.

 

i only get high paying loads out of Laredo because i have direct shippers and i deal with Mexican company, But never out of Houston. Its rare to find $1.80 plus on the Load Board coming out. And most broker post the same load. Their a company named ST transport i believe that their rates are $1.35 firm. But when high paying loads come out, they are heavy or tarp loads and they are gone quick.

Im not calling you guys liar or anything i know having the direct line or a good agent could pay up, but $2.50 plus out of Houston is Lucky. Ill be running my trucks their all the time if i had that.

 

Vacation is over. Heading across 90 to Gillette for Monday morning.

 

Did you do anything fun?

 

No, I wouldn't, it's cold and snows there