Mercer and All other

1.80 on how many miles per week? is it after their cut or before?

 

Mercer doesn't pay by the mile. They pay a percentage of the load. Their average may be $1.80 a mile to the truck, and a guy can probably make that work if he has very low overhead and can work on his own stuff.

Not much room for profit at $1.80 a mile tho, in my opinion. But the Mercer guys (good group on here) can tell you there are ways to make it higher.

 

$1.80 might be the average TTT. But as with averages go that the lower 50%.

My concern is your lack of capital. 28k without a truck and trailer isn't much to start. And doing a walk a way lease while you "learn" how to be an LO much less an OO will raise your overhead a lot.

But you are doing the right thing. Ask advice and do your research. Keep doing that and you will find your answers.

Good luck Sir.

 

If a guy can't make it with this rate WITHOUT having to drive an old truck & work on it himself then something is wrong. At least that's my experience. I avg less than that with a new truck & I'm the only source of income from my family. Now, I'm just barely getting by right now (compared to where I want my business to be) which is why I'm looking to go to Mercer myself but it sure can be done.

To the OP, Some will tell me I'm crazy & that's fine. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. If I were in your shoes & I wasn't over extended with the bills at home, I would use that 28k for a down payment on as new of a truck as possible, which would include setting it up to pull a flatbed & then get a trailer through Mercer (if that's where you go) & then learn all you can from the guys on the Mercer thread. Of course, when I say new truck that can also be a glider.I have confidence in my abilities to make money with a truck payment. I'm not scared of the payment or new trucks. Good luck to you which ever way you go.