mercer transportation

Oscar, my issue is some of the loads are routed over so many 2 lane roads that take so much more time and fuel. Like kalispell, MT to michigan. It is routed over 2 lane roads through the whole way through montana, that its hard to make the delivery time they want. Of couse if I had seen that first I wouldn't have taken the load in the first place. So I guess its my fault, but I took it cause I wanted to go home. Sorry for the rant.

 

hey, if ya end up in Kalispell,mt you screwed up to begin with, lol. just to get a load out of there is wonderful.

lets see, you took a load of those military boxes out there ??

the mile thing happens anywhere ya lease, you just got to stay ahead of it, streets and trips is your friend.

bad monkey , if ya went to Montana, you must have gotten out of your comfort zone, don't go west of I-35

 

Regardless of what can be said in a controversy about the company, I am making double what I was making where I was at before. That being said we all have to understand that empty miles is a business necessity that we can't get out the way, just like fuel fluctuations, dps checks and others.

 

No boxes. I hauled plastic pipe from iowa to north of spokane. I've been doing pretty well coming out here, I seem to bank more doing these long runs than the short ones. Grossed 8k a few weeks ago. I know you guys don't like going west but it works for me. I just see when the rates get good the miles start getting shorted, not just here I've been dealing with this for 28 years. Its quite a sore spot for me. I guess ill just be on my own on the miles thing.

 

Well I'm sorry Lucar, you say that's just part of the business yet at the bottom of every one of your posts you have "JUST SAY NO TO CHEAP FREIGHT". Well shorted miles is cheap freight my friend.

 

its not anything new. many of the customers figure the miles, like firestone. most times my loads come out fairly close if not to the better. this load I just pulled paid 1425 miles, I did it in 1353

 

I have a suspicion that Mercer transportation regulates the rates and shaves off the "bacon" of the rates before they offered to the owners operators.Every single loads that I have hauled for them had similar or the same rates.I mean 1.45-1.80 cents per mile before fuel,dead miles,plates+permits and other deductions and I tried to haul to everywhere, east coast, canada,west,oversized,overweight anything that normally pays well outside Mercer's world.I started to work with a step deck but quickly realized it does not make any difference in rates between step deck and flats which is unusual in normal trucking business.So I switched to a flatbed.There are however a higher rates for double drop but dead miles between p/u and drop can easily exceed 400-500 miles (according to the D/D fellas),so I guess it defeats the purpose.
Another thing I hated about this company, is the load distribution system by dispatchers. You WILL WAIT in line for the load that you want regardless if you're empty since yesterday and ready to do go now.Every area I went I was forced to wait in line and you cannot take any loads before your turn. A load count to choose from in every state is very slim and at very cheap rate and there are abundance of cheap cheap freight.Every owner who is waiting for a load has 15 minutes rule to reply if he wants this load or not.You cannot jump the line or sweet talk anyone to get ahead.I mean this system will not let you to get ahead.I consider myself hard working willing to put in miles and make money trucker but,boy this system and rates took on down all my efforts.3000$ per week of total profit was a rare occasion,150-200 dead miles is guaranteed between loads.Dispatchers (working on commissions) constantly would hustle me to take a cheaper load with a promise that it will take you to a "better area" and when you get there,you will hear the same sales pitch and if I don't take it,the next guy will,basically it's forced dispatch in therms of cheap rate and slim pickings.Finally I ditch my dispatch and started to look myself for loads on Mercer's load boards.I lost a count on how many times the dispatcher won't call you when a load comes available on board.First off and this is funny, all dispatchers at the same take a lunch break of 1 hour from 12-1,so the whole dispatch office goes DEAD regardless of your load situation,so you will wait.Anyway afloat for awhile and I was able to work the way I was accustomed to but eventually could not stand the rates I was working for and leased on to a different company and I am happy pig in mud now.I mean if you like to mess around,don't like to put in miles,a bit lazy,then it's sorta OK company to work for with a fast pay.But if you're looking to make serious money look else where.

 

Cheap to you or to me? I'll clear that cheap to me is anything under 1.90 given my mileage break down figures
"2 people never see the sky the same blue.. now 2 drivers...

This really puts a different perspective on this thread

 

Cloudbox, that entire post was so full of misinformation and flat out lies. The only thing in that entire paragraph that had any shred of truth is the no sweet talking your way ahead of the other guys in front of you. It's first empty, first offered. And imo, that's the best way to operate. No company is perfect, you will look like less of a fool if you keep complaints in the realm of reality.

Anyone gonna be in Louisville tomorrow or Thursday? It's that time of year again and I got a real good hunch this inspection is gonna hurt. I'll be needing a fresh batch of kool-aid for sure.

 

My truck was inspected 6/9 so I'm passing on that till dec