Landstar trailer question

Hi guys

I'm an owner op with Werner currently, my truck is almost paid off, and I was thinking of doing Landstar for a while and learning the business a little better before getting my own authority.

But I noticed a troubling thing... Most Landstar trailers don't seem to have side skirts. I have some family in California and I like to go there a few times a year.

So my question is:
Is it going to be a problem getting ahold of a California legal Landstar company trailer?

I'm planning to haul company trailers while I save up to buy my own.

 

So would you recommend a different owner op company as the next step from Werner? Being an owner op with them is basically just like company driving except for $1.20 a mile and with my own truck. Forced dispatch, paid deadhead, etcetera. It's safe but it's boring and not that profitable. I'd like to start getting into choosing my own loads.

Also, what about those California legal trailers?

 

Oh and one more thing... Please define "failing". I run with Werner for a lousy buck 20 a mile and I still seem to be doing alright, paid off this truck in 6 months of running 3000 miles a week or so. Landstar money can't be worse than that, can it?

 

in the $1500 to $2200 range per week, after truck payments and insurance, health insurance, 7 cent a mile maintenance escrow, etc. Once the truck is paid off at the end of the month, should go up by like 400 bucks. I'm kind of satisfied with the money, although more is always better... I mostly just want to play with picking my own trips, that's my main motivation for wanting to try landstar.

 

Well, I don't have many expenses, once the truck is paid off. I'm a happily homeless PermanentTourist, so my only non truck expenses are snacks and phone bill, and I have 15k put away for breakdown emergencies. So I'm pretty sure I can afford to hang in there if things start slow. Although I would prefer a company that had a fair unbiased load board instead of having to kiss up to brokers who are playing favorites. But there probably isn't a company like that, everything is corrupt. Oh well. At least Landstar allegedly has Alaska runs, something that's on my trucking bucket list.

 

While we're on the subject, what's with Landstar Ranger? Is it the same thing, or a subsidiary, or what?