Jones Motor? Mercer?

I heard aliens landed in New Mexico.

 

Reading the link, it sounds like you lease the truck from Quality (Celadon) and Quality is leasing the unit to the carrier with you as and approved driver. Am I wrong? Those carriers are Quality's "partners", sounds like your hands are still kinda tied. There's been enough threads on here that you should know better than to even mention the words "lease purchase". Should have just stuck with "which is better Jones of Mercer", of which I too would like to hear the opinions.

 

Was told by a mercer driver yesterday they are now days. Is he right not sure just what he said.

 

Well if a truck driver on the internet told you it MUST be true

 

Do you have a nice reserve for the bad weeks and unexpected expenses? Something like at least 10k

 

I think this is the most important post in the thread. Everyone knows L/P are bad but more importantly I think it's a horrible time to get in to o/o in open deck right now.

I see so many guys posting about staying home for extended periods because its not worth going out with the low rates.

I'm glad I made the change in January from running for a carrier to working for a paving / road construction company. When I hauled equipment before , it was largely based on oil, whether it be refineries or the oil field but being in road construction in Texas right now is a much more consistent paycheck.

 

Freight a little tight rates on low side just like others have said and iam all for taking chances but the odds are stacked against you right now one blowen head gasket, tow bill and hotel or truck rental because you was under a load and it still has to get there because rec dont care about your problems he wants his product and sounds like you would be done for and if that truck don't get any mpg you will be running for fuel money. Call me negative but most companies like keeping there o/o hungry makes them more complaint to take cheap loads there ain't enough good paying loads for everyone this is a cutt throat business. More like a race to bottem at times. Me I would never l/p unless it was threw a 3 party maybe that has no ties to any trucking company. But I would rather go to bank before that and really pick a good truck on my own and I mean check that thing over real good it can make or break you. On a lease your letting some else decide your future. Ask any o/o reliability and mpg and good freight gotta have all three. Or you might as well sit in front of slot machine taking chances not me I want odds in my favor.

 

Please reread what Larry stated about timing. Being that he's a veteran O/O and I know him I'll tell you to value his advice about timing. These guys have been there and done it. Now with that being said. Since you seem to be a risk taker, If you have $25k start up if I were you I'd be looking for a $10k-$15k starter truck kinda like the ones @double yellow and @blairandgretchen bought. Have at least $10k in the reserve (which is low) since your taking a gamble. If everything works out you'll have limited repairs and can grow your reserve. Worse case scenario the repair bill is more than you have then sell the truck take what little money you have left and walk away not owning anyone. Now if that doesn't seem like your cup of tea then I'd say go to lone mountain before quality. Reason being if you make it to the end of the tunnel then the truck is yours title in hand and also you don't need a list of "approved" carriers. Take the truck where you want or get your own numbers. Not sure if you know but with the quality trucks it's a $65k buyout at the end of already paying $156k good luck and let the numbers do the talking

 

Mercer is not the Mercer of years past, Yes they do have a LP thru Quality. They also lease trailers in house. I say it's not the Mercer of years past, but it is still a great company