Looking at O/O thinking of joining Mercer

I'm in Cali, I haul building products.

 

Yes it's very common they'll always help. Your father shouldn't have a problem tarping if hes an active person at all. We've got a driver doing flatbed work with us @ 73yrs old.

 

You make a living with flats. I loved being on with Mercer. People are nice, quick pay, good tire and fuel discount. Kentucky is safe spot for loads with them.

 

Yep, tarping is so much fun! As a good friend, 60 years old with bad knees and back, told me who runs flatbed.

Tarped a load of hay in Boise area last winter.

Used a ladder to climb up on top of the hay, 10 degrees and 35 mph winds! Crawling around on top of the stack on his knees trying to stretch out the tarp holding on for dear life LOL.

Doesn't sound like much fun, or too safe, but that's just me

 

Easy peasy...

 

Most loads aren't to bad and I've never had a loader not sit my tarps on top.The hardest tarp jobs in my opinion is machines.I pull a step and would occasionally pick up 8 or 9 foot tall machines trying to get the tarp on top and all the pads on the sharp edges is the hardest jobs imo.Tarpping a load of hay would be tough I've pulled some out of Cortez never put a tarp on them

 

I moved to Mercer almost a year ago and wished I had done it sooner. I ran my own authority for several years, but due to certain circumstances decided to give up the authority and lease on to Mercer. Since coming on board as a flat bed o/o (which I have been doing for six years), our operating costs are down, income is up and Mercer keeps me plenty of busy. When I need to go home, no issues and I get home on time.
I can't tell you anything about van freight. As for tarping, it isn't hard and as said previously, the fork lift drivers will put them on top of the freight. Some companies will even roll the tarps out for you as company policy. I use only steel tarps with 4' drops and lumber tarps with 6' drops. From my perspective anything requiring 8' drops isn't worth the hassle.

My suggestion is that you contact Mercer at Mercer Town and start talking to a recruiter. They don't pull any punches and can answer all your questions.