Mercer or landstar

I am calling Mercer right now. I looked into Fikes, They dont do much out west. I dont know about Landstar.
Im going back to flats, I like them.

 

I worked for Mercer for about 9 months. The people in louisville were some of the nicest people I had ever worked for. You have to have your own trailer or they will lease purchase on to you. Price varies depending on age of trailer you get.
They are a 1st empty 1st loaded dispatch but since they have agents the guys with seniority and are known by an agent do get bumped ahead. Not by dispatch but by the agent. Sort of a good old doy thing.
Their rates werent bad, but I didnt go west. Phy. damage was cheap and no workers comp since Ky. doesnt require it, or it could be the commonwealth thing. Dont remember.

 

Mercer is a great company. Family folks that care. We've been there 2.5 years and have no complaints! They pay fast, they have a true "open-door" policy, they have freight, ect. This is a hard time to get started, you need to have some flexible capital, you can't go in with no resourses. But, they'll work with you the best they can. Good Luck!

 

Landstar.

I've heard nothing good about Mercer or Fikes unless you've been with them for years.

Buy a great mileage truck.

Been driving for two years and bought my truck ofter my first year. I've driven only 7 months out of the last 12 with Landstar and really enjoy my home time.

It's not all great but that's trucking.

 

I've been with Mercer for almost 4 years now.. I have never been with LS but have 1 relative and 1 friend that were with then for a while.. I think I'll stay where I am..

Mercer is a laid back company, no forcing you to do anything. Yes, they do have their share of poor freight.. so does LS.. But, the good buddy thing in my opinion is way more prevelant # LS.. Mercer pays for ALL your fuel taxes, you fuel wherever it is cheapest. No chargebacks each quarter. (You must run their base plate to get this.. If you come on board with your own you can run it out but come renewal you must run theirs)

Yes, you must have your own trailer.. They can lease purchase 1 for you.. I had a 2005 Great Dane stepdeck, 48', combo, fixed spread, 12 winches, 1 tool box.. a pretty standard entry level trailer. I have since upgraded to a RGN. Mercer is pretty much a flatbed company.. though steps do okay.. RGN's are few but getting more all the time.

You want more specific info just ask away I'll try and answer you the best I can..

 

Would you recomend mercer to a first time o/o? Ive got the funds to purchase a truck but don't want to buy untill i know that i have a solid company to lease on to. If you have your own trailer is the pay any different?

 

Mercer is a decent company in my opinion.. They're not the holly grail of trucking companies, but I am happy with them for the most part..

You HAVE to have your own trailer here # Mercer, there is no alternative, They own NO company trailers to lease to you or run.. You must come on board with one or lease purchase one through them to haul for them..

They pay 75% of the line haul. You get 100% of all accessorial charges like: fuel surcharge, tarp, expedited, detention, special equipment..ect. Pay day is 5 days a week, no waiting for your $$. Deductions are calculated on a day to day basis. They figure out how much a day the monthly deductions add up to and that is how many days deductions that are taken from your settlement.. (IE: If it has been 5 days since your last settlemant.. 5 days worth of deductions are taken out, 2 days .. or a month.. that'll be the amount taken out..)

They're not for everyone, and freight is slowing down.. expecialy right now, I don't care who you drive for or pull with.. rates are plummetting, freight is drying up.. You have to be flexable to survive today.. If you "need" a min. amount of say $12,000 a month to make ends meet.. then I wouldn't recomend getting into a truck right now. Sure some months you'll make that even more BUT, not every month....Having a huge truck and trailer payment with freight the way it is.. I wouldn't do it.

My truck is paid for, I just bought a 35Ton RGN so my only payment is $855 a mo. for a trailer.. I can handle that.. I wouldn't dream of taking on a $2500 truck note, and another $700 - $800 trailer payment and then the big $$ insurance on a new truck.... Yikes!

Thanks for showing a interest in Mercer.. If I can be of any further help just let me know..

 

Thanks for the useful info. The down payment for the loan I got approved for will count as my first 7 months of payment so if I buy in Jan. my first payment isn't due until the first of July. and the payment is 1350 a month after that....I am looking into getting a 2004 Reitenour 48'/102" from a friend of mine. He said I could make payments to him instead of financing. With that being said do you think I could make enough revenue by July to be ok when the payments start to come?