Any Mercer VAN drivers out there?

Discussion in 'Mercer' started by saab1985, Feb 8, 2014.

  1. larry2903

    larry2903 Heavy Load Member

    786
    983
    Oct 18, 2009
    On the trails
    0
    @spyder7723
    I think you kind of down play the responsibility of flat bedders a little. Yes common sense helps, but you must also be willing and able to do the work. And pulling a flat is work, much more work than swinging the doors shut on a van or reefer.

    Then there is the responsibility of securing the load, cause if anything comes off that trailer its your but, not the shipper, not the company, not the other guy that told you that it doesn't take that many chains or straps to tie the load down, it your responsibility to make sure the load is secure. There's a reason open deck usually pays more, more work and more responsibility involved.

    If you like to pull vans, want to pull a van for Mercer, call em up and ask the important questions. Better yet, fill out an app and let them see that your a a driver that they want, then ask the important questions.
     
    poppy"s toy and stormy379 Thank this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. spyder7723

    spyder7723 Road Train Member

    15,442
    24,743
    Mar 31, 2013
    sarasota, fl
    0
    Larry you may be right but it just seems so common sense to me. I also don't consider it actual work either. I'm one of those guys that says if anyone thinks chaining and tarping is work, then they've never done real work. the most physical party of the job us tarping, and while it takes a bit of time, and being out in the hot and cold can suck, it's really nothing but rolling it out and hooking some bungee cords. growing up I spent my summers and early falls baling and loading hay. That was work, even an odd shaped ugly load requiring 8 ft drops ain't nothing compared to throwing 80 lb bales of hay for ten hours.
     
    mrchristia and larry2903 Thank this.
  4. bam7

    bam7 Light Load Member

    52
    10
    May 27, 2015
    0
    Larry are you on the dry van side at mercer and if so for how long
     
  5. larry2903

    larry2903 Heavy Load Member

    786
    983
    Oct 18, 2009
    On the trails
    0
    No, I'm on the flatbed side. I've pulled flats off and on for 7 years altogether.
     
  6. larry2903

    larry2903 Heavy Load Member

    786
    983
    Oct 18, 2009
    On the trails
    0
    I agree with you for the most part spyder, and I sure don't miss those days throwing around hay bales.

    I guess the main point I was trying to make is that a flat ain for everyone. Some driver would prefer the ease of putting in load locks and swinging the doors shut,not that easy pulling a flatbed. And occasionally I see someone short cutting the load securement that I wish was pulling a box.
     
  7. rescue909

    rescue909 Bobtail Member

    26
    3
    Sep 17, 2014
    Monterey, Tennessee
    0
    Are these ball park figures close folks? Vans about $1500 weekly flats $2200 weekly?
     
  8. spyder7723

    spyder7723 Road Train Member

    15,442
    24,743
    Mar 31, 2013
    sarasota, fl
    0
    Got no idea what the van guys do, but the only weeks I don't bring home 2200 are because I sat home all week. It's nothing to see me never even start my truck for a week. Or a month for that matter. That's the beautiful thing about Mercer, they truly let you work when you want, and go home for as long as you want. never any pressure here to take a load you don't want.
     
  9. rescue909

    rescue909 Bobtail Member

    26
    3
    Sep 17, 2014
    Monterey, Tennessee
    0
    Good to hear, I'm gonna stay flatbed I reckon after reading everything on here.
     
  10. amsn

    amsn Light Load Member

    90
    7
    Jun 12, 2009
    mississippi
    0
    Does anyone know if you can come on as a van then swItch to F.B . I lease to the wrong carrier and really don't have the 1500 Mercer wants for the equipment.
     
  11. larry2903

    larry2903 Heavy Load Member

    786
    983
    Oct 18, 2009
    On the trails
    0
    Yes you can switch.
     
    amsn Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.