Why do some Fail @ Mercer

If you are leased on to Mercer do you only work off of their load board, or can you pull a load off of (just because I recognize the name) CH Robinson?

 

I been at this 34 years, first 10 as a company driver and ever since owning my own. its all about the bottom line. I was first leased to carriers then, bought my own reefer and ran exclusive exempt loads for 3 years til I got my authority, then with 6 leased trucks and 2 of my own we hauled exclusively direct freight, we eventually ended up hauling exclusively modular homes and manufactured homes, we also did setup and also did turn key on modular, foundation and all.

the escorts were all leased to me ,

we did quite well, in the 7 southern most states, and made a mint in 2004 with fema after the hurricanes.

the housing collapse got us, all the manufacturing plants closed as home financing dried up.

I did well enough that every my LEASE ops were away from home I paid for a motel room in addition to their regular percentage.

I owed no money when I called a halt to things, waited til the last lease op found a place and gave one driver the truck he drove for me and sold the other other. then bought another sleeper truck.

it had not changed much from my days pulling reefer , I had reached the age I simply wanted to cut back and not deal with all it takes to run your authority.

I have never looked at it as building my carriers customer base, since my carriers customers are my customers also, I am essence still building my customer base.

and the reality is , I am not giving away 25 to 30 per cent, considering I don't pay liability ins nor cargo ins. , don't have to beat the bushes to get paid, don't have to beat the bushes for loads, get paid within a few hours of scanning the bills, I am not giving away anywhere near 25 to 30 per cent. that's reality.

I am very content with my bottom line, I pick and choose exactly which loads I will take or wont take.

and I didn't give up authority because it was unsuccessful, or that it was to much work. I simply wanted to take a more relaxed approach after the ratrace of the previous 17 years.

there are quite a few of us former authority holders here at mercer , we all are quite content.

I honestly could care less what brokers, my carrier or anyone else gets paid to haul freight. I take loads that are profitable to me and that I agree with the rate offered. I never fall into the trap of worrying what anyone else is getting.

to many folks get their authority and think its the gravy train, its not.

 

you basically work off their load board, at certain you might broker a load. but I have never had to do that, more than enough freight to choose from

 

Im in on June 2nd. Iam fortunate too have a couple friends there too help me along with my own lane knowledge.

Asking questions from a Mercer O/O and actually listening can really help. Many people fail in business because of pride. Too stubborn to ask for help.

 

I've been at Mercer for about 6 weeks. I've already done a couple loads that I never thought I would do going places I didn't want to go, but I like money and that's why I'm out here. I'm very happy.

 

I've only been a O/O for a very short time Compared to most at mercer almost 3yr, I Hauled my 1st load out of Mercer Oct 5th, and Decided to lease a Step instead of a Flat... I AM DOING AWESOME! My Net Income for this Time of year is Outstanding. There is a Slight Learning Curve, i ran different lanes for the agents i used to work for, and i let my Coordinator plan my truck and to tell the truth he run's it like he owns it no complaints. i only have a 1 thing i wont do and that only applies to NYC not worth the stress everything else is wide open and i love OTR my Pay per mile is steadily rising. I only have 1 complaint and that's the Elog never had one before and not a fan for the past 10yr i liked driving how i felt tired i sleep awake i drive.. but times are changing.

the only way i could see someone failing has been Previously stated. Too Many i wont do that's, poor work ethic, no drive, and not financially responsible. this isn't rocket science you just gotta adapt and go with the flow. and remember its called work for a reason its not always gonna be easy. And don't sweat the small stuff, cuz it happens all the time best example hauling a tarped load only to get to the end customer who takes it off and set's it outside with everything else in the dirt and mud so what you just got paid between 150-250 to tarp their junk not your problem what they do with it

i will also give mercer props on Tarp pay coming from Malone who never paid more than $75, Since I've been here I've never been paid less than $100 to tarp a load the most so far has been $300 lol love seeing that on a settlement

 

I know this is an old thread...but this caught my eye.

So, you had been at Mercer for 3 years and the truck numbers grew by 2,000 ? That's a lot of turnover unless they increased the fleet size?

 

Well, after posting, I thought about more as well. I think I read somewhere that they have 2500 o/o's. Is that accurate? If it is and let's say the actual number change I those 3 years was 1800, that's not bad divided by 3 years in a 2500 truck operation. A lot of guestimatin' but good fun

I'm wondering if there is gonna be a huge influx of o/o's now that they have a truck lease available. If so, that turnover rate is gonna get adjusted a bit...I would guess.